Employment Law, First Examination (Essay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Employment Law, First Examination ( - Essay Example To be noted, Momma Mia operates through a total of around 1000 employees, which is greater than the minimum required size to be classified as a Title VII included company, whereby the employees are protected under the provisions of the Civil Rights Act (US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, â€Å"Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964†). Security, Inc. However, in doing so, she will have to prove few elements, which will support her action of whistle blowing. Laws and elements that Jill needs to prove. In order to avail the benefits liable to her for whistle blowing against the sexual harassment she had to face in Momma Mia, Jill has to prove that she is an employee in the company and not an independent contractor by policy as was mentioned in her contract. In order to prove that she was an employee and correspondingly, justify the contractual term ‘independent contractor’ as void, Jill needs to satisfy the 6 silk criteria as was declared in accordance to the case of [Schultz v. Capital Intern. Security, Inc. No. 05-1192. 460 F.3d 595 (2006)] (Leagle, â€Å"Schultz v. Capital Intern†). ... o share the profit/loss of the company depending on their managerial skills, which signifies the second silk factor and hence should be proved by Jill to obtain the legitimate rights in the case. The third silk factor states than an independent contractor and not an employee will have rights to invest in the resources to make the work done in the best interest of the company. As Jill did not make any such investment and also because no such clause was mentioned in her contract, she can prove that was an employee in Momma Mia. However, a critical understanding to the factors depict that the fourth and the fifth silk factors do not clearly advocate in favor of Jill but also do not oblige Momma Mia to suffice the conditions required to prove Jill as an independent contractor to the company. In the sixth silk factor, Jill can prove the significance of her job role in the company as a public relations manager, which in turn would suffice her stance as an employee and not as an independent contractor to Momma Mia (Juffras, 2008). Jill can furthermore prove the selection process of the company, through which she was hired, as unjustifiable and irrelevant for the position on offer. In the selection process, the employers intended to select candidates on the basis of their physical appearances where the educational merits along with other professional skills commonly argued as mandatory for such a job role became decorative features. Additional preference to females rather than to males also indicates towards the fallacy of the selection process, which might turn the case in favor of Jill. Correspondingly, taking the advantage of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Jill can also file for privacy rights violation conducted by the employer in her interview

Maya Angelou Essay Example for Free

Maya Angelou Essay As a woman you are created with a special gift, it’s like little extra ingredients that all women have within them. The poem â€Å"Phenomenal Woman† by Maya Angelou, she speaks about the elegance of a woman, her inner being the way she glow without saying a word Maya expressed how men are amazed by her presence â€Å"men themselves have wondered what they see in me† (line 31-32). It’s hard to put your finger on it all women were born with the power. In the poem â€Å"Still I rise† by Maya Angelou she described the struggles of life trials and tribulations you face in society and the way people may judge you. As if she was writing about a woman â€Å"does my sassiness upset you? †She also wrote in another stanza â€Å"does my sexiness upset you? †She used this comparison to show she is a sexy woman who demands respect. Maya’s attitude in this poem is portraying a confident black African American woman. She is really laughing at men challenging them. They cannot stop her from rising above all expectation. This poem gives you not only inspiration encouragement to be fearless; to the end of it all you must believe you still rise above it all. The title gives a sense of entity and power. This masterpiece the poem â€Å"phenomenal woman† has also empowered women to get more in touch with their inner beauty. Maya describes in great detail the mystery of women and the behavior of men and their reaction. It shows women to not only love your-self but to embrace every aspect of your mind, body and soul. Maya show that sexuality isn’t only related to outer beauty, or by the way you dress it more about how you feel within your own skin . she shows you instead of hating your body love it from the crown of your head to the sole of your feet. In society today women enhances their body by doing plastic surgery to feel accepted. She feels inferior clearly stating that every part of a woman is beauty. In comparisons to â€Å"Phenomenal Woman† and â€Å"Still I Rise† both poems Maya speaks about not bowing to the â€Å"oppressor†. You can feel her compassion in every word in Phenomenal Woman â€Å"now you understand why my head’s not bowed† (lines 47). Still I Rise forth stanza â€Å"with head bowed and eyes lowered? †Within these lines she stresses that she will not conform to what society made her out to be, that she will soar above and beyond everyone expectations. The little gives a sense of entity and power. In conclusion these two poems have few similarities; Maya characterized the strength of an African American woman. By using powerful words she described the emotional aspect of inner beauty, standing proud professing no one will ever bring her down not by the color of her skin nor the fact of being a woman that there’s more within.

Nursing Essays Progressive Urge Incontinence

Nursing Essays Progressive Urge Incontinence Care study of a woman with a care issue which related to the module content. You are expected to analyse the evidence base, which informs choices and practice and evaluates client care, making recommendations for improvement. Introduction In this essay we shall consider the case of Mrs.J. a 32 yr. old primigravid mother who has had a totally uneventful pregnancy. She is a large caucasian lady with a BMI of about 30. Her blood pressure and biochemistry were normal throughout her pregnancy. She is a non-smoker. Her major problem was that she has suffered from progressive urge incontinence as her pregnancy progressed, which developed into stress incontinence by about the 33rd week. She subsequently had a normal vaginal delivery of an 8lb 2oz baby boy, which proved to be unexpectedly rapid so there was no time to do an episiotomy. She suffered a few small 1st degree tears. Post natally her stress incontinence got very much worse and now ( six months post delivery) it is a major problem for her. Stress incontinence Stress incontinence is a common post partum condition which can occur over a full range of severity from subclinical to catastrophic. It is usually described as â€Å"the involuntary passage of urine associated with a sudden, or impulse, rise in the intra-abdominal pressure† (Arya et al.2001) It occurs in about 11-13% of post partum women (Cammu et al 1997)). Other authorities such as Norton (1996) put the prevalence of the condition in the whole adult population at about 40 per 1000. The Continence Foundation (2000) estimates that there are about 3 million women who are over the age of 40 who suffer from varying degrees of the condition. Aetiology of the condition Pelvic floor trauma during childbirth has been recognised for a long time as being a major contributory component (if not an actual cause) of stress incontinence. Many studies have been done to try to ascertain the most effective modalities of treatment and others have looked at the factors associated with pregnancy and childbirth which are germinal to the condition. In this essay we shall consider the work that has been done in specific relation to the case of Mrs.J. The first factor to consider in respect of Mrs.J. is the fact that she is pregnant. This may seem to be blindingly obvious at first sight, but it has only recently begun to be recognised that quite apart from post natal and delivery-related factors, there are a number of antenatal factors that relate directly to stress incontinence. Rortveit (et al 2003) produced a carefully executed study which pointed to the fact that, even if no other factors were apparent, pregnancy, by itself, was an independent variable for the development of stress incontinence. This study showed an increased incidence of 1.7 times the incidence for nulliparous women when corrected for all other variables. This study supersedes (in both time and quality) previous studies by Nielsen (1988) and Olsen (1997) which looked at the same issue but could not produce a statistically significant answer. If we consider the actual mode of delivery we see that Mrs.J. had a fairly precipitate delivery of a large baby without the benefit of an episiotomy. We might observe that she was fortunate not to sustain a major perineal tear. There have been many studies (of variable quality) which have looked at the issue of the relationship between the mode of delivery and the eventual incidence of stress incontinence. A recent study by Burgio (2003) found that there were a number of independent variable factors that were predictors of an eventual increased incidence of stress incontinence. These included â€Å"smoking during pregnancy, length of time spent breast feeding, a vaginal delivery, the use of forceps to assist delivery , the frequency of urination prior to delivery and BMI†. In specific relation to Mrs.J. we can see that a number of these identified factors are present. She had a vaginal delivery, suffered from urge incontinence prior to delivery and has a high BMI. Other factors such as a large birth weight baby, (Groutz et al.1999) precipitate delivery (Perry et al 2000) and lack of episiotomy (Reilly et al. 2002) have also been identified by other investigators as being potent causative agents in the development of stress incontinence. The study by Perry (et al 2000) considered the intra-partum factors that influenced the eventual incidence of stress incontinence and concluded that factors such as a precipitate delivery (together with malpresentations and malrotations) increased the incidence of perineal floor damage which was a prime factor in the aetiology of stress incontinence. This factor was examined further by Reilly (et al. 2002) who came to the conclusion that episiotomies exert a protective effect on the perineum (by minimising damage in labour and by allowing the various structures to be safely surgically repaired), and the presence of an episiotomy statistically reduced the eventual incidence of stress incontinence. The issue of the relationship between BMI and stress incontinence was settled by Seim (et al 1996) whose study showed a statistically significant increase in the incidence of stress incontinence with increasing BMI. The study by Handa (et al. 2000) ties many of these factors together in a well constructed and meticulously executed study. The additional factors that this study can add to our discussion are the relationship between birth weight, head circumference and speed of delivery to the eventual development of stress incontinence. All of these factors are found to be positively associated with its development. Care issues We have examined the literature on the subject and have been able to identify the various factors that are relevant to the case of Mrs.J. In line with the guidance of reflective practice (Gibbs 1998) we can reflect on the factors that may have contributed to the subsequent morbidity in Mrs.J. and equally consider how they could have been minimised or avoided so that further practice can be guided by the experience. Equally, we must not loose sight of the fact that it is not just the mechanical management of a case that is important, it is the understanding of why decisions are made and the appreciation of the evidence-base that defines those decisions (Kuhse et al 2001). Some of the factors that are relevant to Mrs.J. are potentially avoidable, such as the increased BMI. Sensible pre-natal or antenatal advice to loose some weight may well have reduced her risk factors (not only for stress incontinence, but also for other conditions such as hypertension and eclampsia). Other factors such as the size of her baby are clearly unavoidable, although, given the fact that it was known that the baby was large, it would have perhaps been sensible to have considered and performed an episiotomy to allow controlled descent of the head together with avoidance of potential damage to the perineum. We have not got any information on prophylactic measures that could have helped reduce the incidence of stress incontinence in the case of Mrs.J. Pelvic floor exercises have been shown to exert a beneficial effect on the incidence of stress incontinence. There is evidence to show that both ante natal (Salvessen et al 2004) (Morkved et al 2003) and post natal (Chiarelli et al. 2002) pelvic floor exercises will reduce the incidence of post partum stress incontinence. It would appear that the effect of these exercises is accumulative. In short, the more that are done, the better the result. It would also appear that antenatal exercises are marginally more effective than post natal ones (Wilson et al. 2001). There is also considerable evidence to show that patient compliance with pelvic floor exercises is not intrinsically good and that high rates of encouragement are required to achieve good patient compliance. (Viktrup et al. 1992) This really comes under the heading of empowerment and education of the patient. If the patient realises why they are being asked to do something, there is a much greater chance that they will do it than if they are simply told to do something. (Marinker 1997) Some sources argue that pelvic floor exercises create a strong pelvic floor that could hinder delivery. This argument was shown to be false by Slavessen (et al 2004) who conclusively showed that a strong pelvic floor actually helps to control the descent of the head and minimises perineal damage Recommendations for improvement We have discussed the case of Mrs.J. and examined the evidence to support the identification of the risk factors that are relevant in her case. We have also looked at the possibility of correcting those factors in subsequent management. To a large extent we have considered the possibilities for improvement as we have discussed the various issues that are relevant. One issue that we have not covered however, is the fact that it is very easy for a midwife to overlook the fact that a patient has developed stress incontinence. (Mason et al 2001). Women are surprisingly reluctant to discuss the issue and often believe that they are unusual in developing, what they see as a very embarrassing and awkward complaint. The corollary of this is that midwifes should be aware that they can easily overlook a source of considerable morbidity simply because they don’t specifically enquire about it. References Arya LA, Jackson ND, Myers DL, Verma A. 2001 Risk of new-onset urinary incontinence after forceps and vacuum delivery in primiparous women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:1318-23. Burgio, Halina Zyczynski, Julie L. Locher, Holly E. Richter, David T. Redden, Kate Clark Wright 2003 Urinary Incontinence in the 12-Month Postpartum Period Obstet. Gynecol., Dec 2003; 102: 1291 – 1298 Cammu H, Van Nylen M. 1997 Pelvic floor exercises in genuine urinary stress incontinence. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 1997; 8: 297-300 Chiarelli, P.and Cockburn,J. 2002 Promoting urinary continence in women after delivery BMJ 2002 324:1241 Continence Foundation. 2000 Making the case for investment in an integral continence service: a source book for continence services London: CF, 2000. Gibbs, G (1998) Learning by doing: A guide to Teaching and Learning methods EMU Oxford Brookes University, Oxford. 1998 Groutz A, Gordon D, Keidar R, Lessing JB, Wolman I, David MP, et al. 1999 Stress urinary incontinence: prevalence among nulliparous compared with primiparous and grand multiparous premenopausal women. Neurourol Urodyn 1999;18:419-25. Handa, V; Harvey, L; Fox, H; Kjerulff, K 2000 Parity and route of delivery: Does caesarean delivery reduce bladder symptoms later in life? Am. J. Obtet. Gynae Volume 191(2) August 2000 p 463–469 Kuhse Singer 2001 A companion to bioethics ISBN: 063123019X Pub Date 05 July 2001 Marinker M.1997 From compliance to concordance: achieving shared goals in medicine taking. BMJ 1997;314:747–8. Mason L, Glenn S, Walton I, Hughes C. 2001 Womens reluctance to seek help for stress incontinence during pregnancy and following childbirth. Midwifery. 2001;17:212-221. Morkved,S. Bo, K. Schei,,B et al Pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy to prevent urinary incontinence: a single -blind randomised controlled trial American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 2003 Vol. 101(2) p313-319 Nielsen CA, Sigsgaard I, Olsen M, Tolstrup M, Danneskiold-Samsoee B, Bock JE. 1988 Trainability of the pelvic floor. A prospective study during pregnancy and after delivery. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1988;67: 437-40 Norton C. 1996 Commissioning comprehensive continence services, guidance for purchasers. London: Continence Foundation, 1996. Olsen AL, Smith VJ, Bergstrom JO, et al. 1997 Epidemiology of surgically managed pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. Obstet Gynecol 1997;89:501-6. Perry S, Assassa RP, Dallosso H, Shaw C, Williams K, Uzman U, et al. 2000 An epidemiological study to establish the prevalence of urinary symptoms and felt need in the community: the Leicestershire MRC incontinence study. J Public Health Med 2000; 22: 3 Reilly ETC, Freeman RM, Waterfield MR, Waterfield AE, Steggles P, Pedlar F. 2002 Prevention of postpartum stress incontinence in primigravidae with increased bladder neck mobility: a randomised controlled trial of antenatal pelvic floor exercises. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 2002;109: 68-76. Rortveit G, Daltveit AK, Hannestad YS, Hunskaar S. 2003 Urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery or cesarean section. N Engl J Med 2003;348:900–907. Salvesen, Kjell, Mà ¸rkved, Siv 2004 Randomised controlled trial of pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy BMJ Volume 329(7462) 14 August 2004 pp 378-380 Seim A, Silvertsen B, Eriksen BC, Hunkskaar S. 1996 Treatment of urinary incontinence in women in general practice: observational study. BMJ 1996; 312: 1459-1462 Viktrup L, Lose G, Rolff M, Barfoed K. 1992 The symptom of stress incontinence caused by pregnancy or delivery in primiparas. Obstet Gynecol 1992;79:945-9. Wilson L, Brown JS, Shin GP, Luc KO, Subak LL. 2001 Annual direct cost of urinary incontinence. Obstet Gynecol 2001;98:398–406.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After watching To Kill A Mockingbird, the characters I see the author trying to teach me through is Atticus Finch, Scout and Jem, and Arthur â€Å"Boo† Radley.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To begin, Atticus Finch has experienced and understood evil throughout his life. He has been confronted with prejudice and racism, but has not lost his faith in the human capacity for goodness. Atticus understands from his own experiences and reflection that most people have both good and bad qualities. Also, through Atticus, the important thing in life is to appreciate the good qualities and understand the bad qualities by treating others with sympathy and trying to see life from their perspective. He tries to teach this ultimate moral lesson to Jem and Scout to show them that it is possible to live with conscience without losing hope or becoming cynical. For example, in this way, Atticus is able to admire Mrs. Dubose’s courage even while deploring her prejudice. In much the same way, Scout’s progress as a character is defined by her gradual development toward understanding the lessons Atticus Finch tries to teach her when Scout at last sees Boo Rad ley as a human being. Her newfound ability to view the world from his perspective ensures that she will not become jaded as she loses her innocence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Secondly, I believe the most inspirational and in depth character in this movie was Jean Louise â€Å"Scout† Finch. From beginning to end, she learns to control her temper, to back away from fights, and to respect Calpurnia. She really learns her value to the family. Scout is also able to maintain her basic faith in human nature despite the shock and unfairness of Tom Robinson’s courtroom conviction. However, Jem’s faith in truth, justice and humanity is very badly damaged. He does not understand why all of this is happening. Prejudice and racism does not make any sense to Jem. Initially, Scout and Jem assume that all people are good by nature and tolerant of others. It is not until they see things from a more realistic adult perspective that they are able to confront evil, as well as prejudice, and incorporate it into their understanding of the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lastly, Arthur â€Å"Boo† Radley has for decades been maliciously slandered in the county. The people that have done so do not know Boo and the reason they can make such judgments escapes me. When there was a series of pets being mysteriously slaughtered, the consensus was that it was performed by Boo.

Oedipus Tyrannos by Sophocles Essay -- Oedipus Tyrannos Sophocles Essa

Oedipus Tyrannos by Sophocles Sophocles uses a mixture of both visual and emotional imagery to create the morally questioning, Greek tragedy ‘Oedipus Tyrannos’. He presents the audience with an intense drama, which addresses the reality and importance of the gods that the Greeks fervently believed in. The play also forces the audience to ask themselves if there is such a concept as fate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From the very beginning of Oedipus, it is made clear â€Å"that his destiny be one of fate and worse†. The irony is that Oedipus unknowingly repeatedly predicts his own fate: â€Å"It was I who called down these curses on that man.† Oedipus has unconsciously married his mother and killed his father, just as the Oracle predicted. Fate is proven to be unavoidable to Oedipus as the play shows a devout belief in the Greek gods. The Gods are seen as both â€Å"protectors† and â€Å"punishers†, who can â€Å"turn fate back away†. The gods are shown to have power over everything and everyone, and whoever ignores them will be cursed by the â€Å"darts no one escapes†. Oedipus is one of these people who is seen to have ignored the gods’ warnings and therefore has brought a curse upon himself, and all those around him: â€Å"Nothing grows in the earth, nothing in the wombs of the women.† With the idea of fate comes the question of fairness. Does Oedipus deserve his pitiful destiny and if it was so pre-decided then why? It was yet again the God’s powers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It may be difficult to avoid pitying Oedipus, as despite his obvious sins, he is shown to be a respectable and honest man: â€Å"I bear more pain for the people than for my own soul†. Sophocles uses irony to increase your growing pity for Oedipus as he searches for the ‘abomination’ that is soon to be revealed as none other than himself: â€Å"That man must reveal himself to me†. Oedipus is frantic to find the killer of Laios (his real father) so as to save the city from the â€Å"hateful plague† that the gods have brought upon them. When Oedipus gouges out his own eyes, the difference between visual sight and insight is clearly represented: â€Å"Light, let this be the last time I look on you†. Oedipus cannot bear to see the destruction that he has brought upon his family. â€Å"Would the sight of my children have been pleasant?† he asks himself, now left in the depths of shame. Due to the severe punishment that Oed ipus inflicts upon himself it makes it difficult for one ... ...time to pass judgement on himself by first gauging out his own eyes, â€Å"Ranting, they would not see what evil he was suffering, what evil he was doing†, and by then ordering his people to â€Å"Expel me from this land as quickly as you can.† Oedipus’ sense of dignity also swiftly disappears toward the end of the play, but he manages to redeem himself by accepting all blame for his actions and does not even attempt to pass it on to someone else. He could have blamed anyone from his parents, the servant that saved him as a baby and even the Oracle, but he does not. He shows great courage when he says: â€Å"My evils are mine and will affect no one but me.† Oedipus goes from a man who has unquestionable and perhaps a dangerous amount of power to a man who himself relinquishes all rule of his land to live a life of misery that he feels he deserves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The gods and fate play a massive role in creating the tragedy, but Sophocles leaves it up to the audience to pass final judgement on Oedipus. There is a definite moral to this play and that is no one can ever know their decided fate until they die, for â€Å"How can we say anyone is happy until he has crossed to the other side without suffering?† Oedipus Tyrannos by Sophocles Essay -- Oedipus Tyrannos Sophocles Essa Oedipus Tyrannos by Sophocles Sophocles uses a mixture of both visual and emotional imagery to create the morally questioning, Greek tragedy ‘Oedipus Tyrannos’. He presents the audience with an intense drama, which addresses the reality and importance of the gods that the Greeks fervently believed in. The play also forces the audience to ask themselves if there is such a concept as fate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From the very beginning of Oedipus, it is made clear â€Å"that his destiny be one of fate and worse†. The irony is that Oedipus unknowingly repeatedly predicts his own fate: â€Å"It was I who called down these curses on that man.† Oedipus has unconsciously married his mother and killed his father, just as the Oracle predicted. Fate is proven to be unavoidable to Oedipus as the play shows a devout belief in the Greek gods. The Gods are seen as both â€Å"protectors† and â€Å"punishers†, who can â€Å"turn fate back away†. The gods are shown to have power over everything and everyone, and whoever ignores them will be cursed by the â€Å"darts no one escapes†. Oedipus is one of these people who is seen to have ignored the gods’ warnings and therefore has brought a curse upon himself, and all those around him: â€Å"Nothing grows in the earth, nothing in the wombs of the women.† With the idea of fate comes the question of fairness. Does Oedipus deserve his pitiful destiny and if it was so pre-decided then why? It was yet again the God’s powers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It may be difficult to avoid pitying Oedipus, as despite his obvious sins, he is shown to be a respectable and honest man: â€Å"I bear more pain for the people than for my own soul†. Sophocles uses irony to increase your growing pity for Oedipus as he searches for the ‘abomination’ that is soon to be revealed as none other than himself: â€Å"That man must reveal himself to me†. Oedipus is frantic to find the killer of Laios (his real father) so as to save the city from the â€Å"hateful plague† that the gods have brought upon them. When Oedipus gouges out his own eyes, the difference between visual sight and insight is clearly represented: â€Å"Light, let this be the last time I look on you†. Oedipus cannot bear to see the destruction that he has brought upon his family. â€Å"Would the sight of my children have been pleasant?† he asks himself, now left in the depths of shame. Due to the severe punishment that Oed ipus inflicts upon himself it makes it difficult for one ... ...time to pass judgement on himself by first gauging out his own eyes, â€Å"Ranting, they would not see what evil he was suffering, what evil he was doing†, and by then ordering his people to â€Å"Expel me from this land as quickly as you can.† Oedipus’ sense of dignity also swiftly disappears toward the end of the play, but he manages to redeem himself by accepting all blame for his actions and does not even attempt to pass it on to someone else. He could have blamed anyone from his parents, the servant that saved him as a baby and even the Oracle, but he does not. He shows great courage when he says: â€Å"My evils are mine and will affect no one but me.† Oedipus goes from a man who has unquestionable and perhaps a dangerous amount of power to a man who himself relinquishes all rule of his land to live a life of misery that he feels he deserves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The gods and fate play a massive role in creating the tragedy, but Sophocles leaves it up to the audience to pass final judgement on Oedipus. There is a definite moral to this play and that is no one can ever know their decided fate until they die, for â€Å"How can we say anyone is happy until he has crossed to the other side without suffering?†

English Essay

Culture polity, traditions, language, food, costume, belief system, architecture, arts, craft, music, dance, and sports which will be discussed in this article to give you an indication of Fiji’s indigenous community but also the various communities which make up Fiji as a modern culture and living. The indigenous culture is an active and living part of everyday life for the majority of the population. However, it has evolved with the introduction of vibrant and old cultures including Indian, Chinese and European culture, and various cultures from the Pacific neighbors of Fiji; in particular the Tongan and Rotuman cultures. The culture of Fiji, including language, has created a unique communal and national identity. Tradition and hierarchy Fijian indigenous society is very communal, with great importance attached to the family unit, the village, and the vanua (land). [1] A hierarchy of chiefs presides over villages, clans, and tribes. Chiefly positions are hereditary; a deceased chief is invariably followed by a kinsman or kinswoman, though not necessarily his own son or daughter. This reflects Polynesian influence: in most other Melanesian societies, chiefs are appointed on merit. The largest social unit for Fijians is the Yavusa, defined by R. A. Derrick as the â€Å"direct agnate descendants of a single kalou-vu† (deified ancestor). Chiefly succession was from older brother/sister to younger brother/sister, after the death of their father/mother. When the youngest brother/sister died, the eldest son/daughter of the eldest brother/sister became chief. This tradition still influences Fijian society today, though less rigidly: there is more of a tendency nowadays towards primogeniture. [2][3] Each brother/sister in the family then formed his own branch of the yavusa, called the Mataqali. Each mataqali became the custodian of a specific task. A fully developed Yavusa has several mataqali: * Turaga: This mataqali descends from the original ancestor through primogeniture – inheritance of the eldest son in each succeeding generation. The chief of a village is always chosen from the Turaga mataqali. [1][4] * Sauturaga: These are next in rank to the chiefs, support him, and enforce his commands and also have final say in the installation of a Chief[1] * Mata ni vanua: These form the official heralds of the village. They are also in charge of ceremonial functions. [5] * Bete: This was the traditional priestly class. The kalou-vu was believed to speak through the Bete. [1][6] * Bati: This mataqali forms the traditional warrior class. [6] * Dau (skill) and Matai: these are the crafts people and specialized skilled people of the tribe e. g. Dau ni vucu (Poet/choreographer/composer), Dau ni yau (treasurer), Mataisau (carpenter/or Canoe builder)[1] The mataqali are subdivided into Tokatoka, each comprising closely related families. Several mataqali comprise a village, several of which form a yavusa or district. The British colonial rulers amalgamated the districts into Yasana, or Provinces. The districts also form three Matanitu, or Confederacies. These are often said to be agglomerations of provinces, but as the latter were a colonial imposition, the boundaries do not coincide exactly, and the Provinces of Tailevu, Ra, Naitasiri, Lomaiviti and parts of Yasawa and Ba makes the Kubuna Confederacy. This Confederacy in modern Fiji is considered to be the most senior. The other two are Burebasaga (covering the rest of Viti Levu), and Tovata, covering Vanua Levu, Lau archipelago and Rotuma. Despite its isolation and relatively small size, Tovata has been politically dominant since Fiji gained its independence in 1970. Language The official language is English while the national indigenous language is Bauan which is only one of the many dialects that exist in the Fiji Group, each of the fourteen provinces more or less have their own dialect though there is a clear distinction between the dialects of the West, Central and Eastern parts of the country. Other languages spoken in the country are Fiji Hindi, Cantonese, Rotuman, Gilbertese (Rabi Island), and Tuvaluan (Kioa Island). The Fiji Islands are traditionally linked to their island neighbours Rotuma, Tonga and Samoa, and this is evident in the culture and dialects of the Northern and Eastern provinces being Cakaudrove, Bua, Macuata, and Lau. The many dialects spoken in these four provinces consistently use sounds that are heard in Tongan and Samoan, but not so with dialects from the Western and South Western parts of Fiji. The Fijian language uses a Latin alphabet. However, the Fijian alphabet is dissimilar from the English alphabet. Fiji English The existence of many dialects within the Fijian language as well as exposure to the other languages spoken have contributed to many Fiji Islanders being bilingual. For general communication in an informal environment, a very interesting cross use of the languages has developed, resulting in slang now commonly referred to as Fiji English. In formal settings, of course, correct usage is adhered to. Fiji English comprises aspects of Fijian, English and Hindi, which reflects the history and identity of the people of Fiji. Fiji English is non-rhotic. . Cultural arts and social polity In culture, its various crafts and music give it an identity along with it traditional etiquette and varying forms of clothing attire, its unique architecture also tells a story of a culture and its evolution, the following will discuss these aspects of culture in Fiji. Arts and crafts Fiji’s arts and crafts reflect local adaptations of their Polynesian and Melanesian heritage. By tradition, the men’s and women’s crafts are separate. Women’s crafts The village of Na lotu on Kadavu Island is famous for its pottery, the making of which is still governed by strict rituals. Nadroga and Rewa also produce fine pottery. Each region has its own unique style in the making of pottery. Tapa from the Lau Islands in Fiji. The making of Tapa cloth, or (masi), is another craft associated with women. Tapa is made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree and decorated in charcoal with symbolic motifs and various patterns. In modern times, it has become fashionable for a masi to bear the name of the person who made it. Masi are often exchanged as gifts on formal occasions. The island of Vatuelele of the southern coast of Viti Levu is famous for its masi products. Most Fijian mats are made from the leaves of the pandanus tree. The long process of preparation includes scraping and boiling the leaves, and drying them in the sun. There are different mats used for different occasions, and some are made as gifts for formal occasions such as weddings. Most mats are bordered with highly decorative and brightly coloured wool. One well-known Fijian mat is the kuta, made by women in Vanua Levu, particularly Bua. Weaving using various materials was another craft generally mastered by the women but also aspects of weaving were mastered only by the men, various types of weaving practiced were and still are; basket weaving, coconut rope weaving, and coconut leaves weaving. Men’s crafts Carving was practiced by the men; carving would be used for items of practical use and simple shapes and design were used. A lot of effort was put into well adorned weapons and items for the home and ceremony, today carving is practiced for its use in tourism and no longer plays a major role in Fijian society and life except in the case of the Tanoa used from drinking Kava. Drua, the most impressive Fijian canoe. Canoe Building was another art practiced only by the men, canoes were not only the major form of communication, but were important in all aspects of Fijian society, from the gathering of food and transporting of crops to use in presentation ceremonies and they were instrumental in wars and politics which were rife in Fiji. 9] The art of Canoe building was varied across the group and had several different types but of a similar design, the Camakau was a small twin hulled canoe for fishing or small transportation purposes, the most impressive of Canoes in Fiji were that of the Drua. In Fiji’s early history before European involvement, Control of the seaway was a major and decisive objective ; disrupting or cutting off the enemies supply and reinforcements gave great advantage in battle and would ensure victory. Sea battles involving hundreds of canoes were frequent. The canoe, which inspired fear and awe and so often held the balance was the mighty Drua. One of the most elaborate and beautiful artifacts of Oceania, the Drua was a product of considerable group efforts and human sacrifice. Double hulled and of gigantic proportions, the Drua was a masterpiece of design and craftsmanship, requiring total community involvement in its construction and human sacrifice in its launching. 10] Its speed out at sea would be in excess of twenty knots and still remained highly manoeuvrable, it was capable of carrying upward of 150 warriors and took some 6 to 7 years to build and would vary in length from 100 feet to 118 feet and have a mast height of 60 to 70 feet, in the mid-19th century the following accounts were recorded: â€Å"Up went the huge sail, down went the great steering oars, splashing into the sea, and away we shot like a racehorse. Owing to the great rate at which we were going, the sea was like a hissing cauldron on either side of our course, and the vessel, instead of having time to mount over the smaller waves, cut its way through them. † (West, 1869). â€Å"It had a magnificent appearance with its immense sail of white mats; its velocity was almost inconceivable. † (Wilkes, 1840). Ratu Seru Cakobau commanded an impressive fleet which had Several Drua with armed warriors ready for battle the led Canoe was named ‘Rusi I Vanua’ or ‘Cursed is the land’. 11] Much of the art of Canoe building has been lost and only a small few still practice the art on a very small scale as its use in this modern era seems to have lost its place. The craft of Canoe building was traditionally reserved for the male. Performing arts Fijian Rugby Team Performing a Traditional War Dance before their Rugby encounter against Canada. The Meke An indigenous art form is the Meke, which may incorporate the seasea (women’s fan dance) or a meke wesi (men’s spear dance). It is usually a narrative of an important event such as a war, a chiefly installation, or even a scandal. Some mekes are generations old, and form an important part of Fiji’s oral history. In olden times, the meke was considered to be an oracle from the gods, and the Dau ni vucu, or composer, would often go into a trance before a performance. Others are modern, composed for a particular event, much as a poet laureate might write a poem to celebrate an event in a Western country. Each district of Fiji has its own form of meke, performed in the local dialect. Other forms of Polynesian and Melanesian dance art forms exist with most widely known being dances of Rotuma and Tonga. There are also various Indian dances and Chinese dances which are performed at relevant festivals marking important times for these communities which are now a part of Culture in Fiji. Music Music of Old Fiji consisted of various chants which often told a story or preserved information to be passed on from generation to generation, these songs used various traditional instruments. With the introduction of European and Asian cultures music in Fiji has evolved and songs sung in the Fijian vernacular are popular but so also are songs in Indian and English, some local artists mix all three languages and traditional instruments from each culture making for a very interesting musical experience. A distinct Indian sound has evolved in Fiji that some see as influencing modern Indian music and even jazz. Clothing and costume The traditional attire was loin cloths for men and grass skirts for women. Skirts were short for single women, and long for married women, with girls wearing virgin locks before marriage. Most ladies of rank had the lower parts of their bodies decorated with tattoos. Chiefs dressed more elaborately. Modern Fiji’s national dress is the sulu, which resembles a skirt. It is commonly worn by both men and women. One type worn by both men and women is the ‘Sulu va Taga’ pronounced Sulu vah Tanga which is a wrap around piece of rectangular material which is elaborately decorated with patterns and designs of varying styles this is for more casual and informal occasions. Many men, especially in urban areas, also have Sulu va taga which is a tailored sulu and can be tailored as part of their suit. Many will wear a shirt with a western-style collar, tie, and jacket, with a matching Sulu va taga and sandals, this type of sulu can be worn to a semi formal or formal occasion. Even the military uniforms have incorporated the Sulu va taga as part of their ceremonial dress. Women usually wear a multi-layered Tapa cloth on formal occasions. A blouse made of cotton, silk, or satin, of often worn on top. On special occasions, women often wear a tapa sheath across the chest, rather than a blouse. On other occasions, women may be dressed in a chamba, also known as a sulu I ra, a sulu with a specially crafted top. There are many regional variations throughout Fiji. Residents of the village of Dama, in Bua Province and Cakaudrove i Vanua (Province), Fiji wear finely woven mats called kuta, made from a reed. While traditional and semi-traditional forms of dress are still very much in use amongst indigenous Fijian culture, there is a greater influence for Western and Indian Fashion in urban areas as in neighboring developed nations. Traditions and ceremonies Etiquette in indigenous Fijian ceremony is rather intricate depending on the function as various formalities and presentations which do several things; firstly it shows respect between two communal groups, strengthen tribal and family ties and reinforce social, tribal and family ties. Various items are used in ceremony and surrounded by ceremony, Kava, known in Fiji as yaqona, is Fiji’s national drink. Traditionally, it was used only in important ceremonies. Nowadays, it is a social beverage. There is a strict protocol associated with yaqona drinking. One should clap once, clasping the hands, take the cup, and drink the yaqona in a single draft before returning the cup to the bearer. Another highly prized item in ceremony is the tabua or Whale’s tooth, other items also the use of mats (masi) are also used traditionally in ceremony also various regions have tradition that has been passed down generation to generation for centuries one example are the firewalkers of beqa. The Sawau tribe of Beqa are noted for their ability to walk on white hot stones without being burned. 12] Strict rituals have to be observed before the firewalking ceremony. There is an ancient myth about how an ancestor of the Sawau tribe was given this power by a spirit god in exchange for his life, after the god was captured by the man who was fishing for eels. Cuisine The cuisine of Fiji in pre-colonial times consisted of root crops, vegetables, and fruits, as well as various land animals such as wild pig, human, and various birds. The coastal tribes wou ld have had the same, but also had a large amount of local seafood. These would have been prepared with local herbs and spices on wood fire rock ovens. Most cooking areas were located in the center of house so the smoke would repel insects and strengthen the roof thatching. Another popular method of cooking, which is still used today, is the lovo which is an earth oven[13] — a fire made on in a pit in the ground lined with heat-resistant stones. It closely resembles the hangi of the New Zealand Maori. When the stones are hot, food wrapped in (banana) leaves, is placed in the pit, covered with soil and left to cook before being exhumed and eaten. Dishes cooked this way include palusami, parcels of taro leaves saturated with coconut milk, onions, and sometimes tinned meat. Modern Fijian Cuisine is rather diverse with great influence from Indian cuisine and spices. When these are applied to local traditional dishes, it makes for interesting eating. European, Indian, and Chinese variants of cuisine, along with traditional foods, are common place in most, if not all households in Fiji. Architecture A bure kalou, a sketch done in the early 1800s. In Old Fiji, the architecture of villages was simple and practical to meet the physical and social need and to provide communal safety the houses were square in shape and with pyramid like shaped roofs,[14] and the walls and roof were thatched and various plants of practical use were planted nearby, each village having a meeting house and a Spirit house. The spirit house was elevated on a pyramid like base built with large stones and earth, again a square building with an elongated pyramid like [14] roof with various scented flora planted nearby. The houses of Chiefs were of similar design and would be set higher than his subjects houses but instead of an elongated roof would have similar roof to those of his subjects homes but of course on a larger scale. With the introduction of communities from Asia aspects of their cultural architecture are now evident in urban and rural areas of Fiji’s two main Islands Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. A village structure shares similarities today but built with modern materials and spirit houses (Bure Kalou) have been replaced by churches of varying design. The urban landscape of early Colonial Fiji was reminiscent of most British colonies of the 19th and 20th century in tropical regions of the world, while some of this architecture remains, the urban landscape is evolving in leaps and bounds with various modern aspects of architecture and design becoming more and more evident in the business, industrial and domestic sector, the rural areas are evolving at a much slower rate. Literature The emergence of Fiji’s literature (as distinct from oral literature) coincides with the country’s transition to independence in 1970. Among the first published works of Fijian literature, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, were Raymond Pillai’s short stories (in English) and Pio Manoa’s poetry (in English and in Fijian). More recent notable Fiji writers include Satendra Nandan (poet and novelist), Sudesh Mishra (poet), Larry Thomas (playwright), and Joseph Veramo (novelist). Religion Religion is quite diverse with Christianity being the dominant faith in Fiji. Many Christian denominations are present in Fiji, the most prevalent of which is Methodist. Of the other Asian religions the Hindu faith is dominant, followed by Islam. There are other belief systems observed by Fijians as well. The impact of Christianity The impact of Christianity in the 19th century resulted in certain traditions being proscribed. In the pre-Christian era, human sacrifice was practiced. Men were buried alive to hold the pillars to the house of a chief. Cannibalism was practiced, too:[16] the bodies of enemies slain in battle, or in sacrifice, were piled up and cooked for festivals, such as the installation of chiefs or the launching of a great canoe. 16] Seru Epenisa Cakobau. The Bauan warlord who united the disparate tribes of Fiji and proclaimed himself King in 1871, renounced cannibalism on his conversion to Christianity in 1854. A bure kalou, a pre-Christian Fijian religious Building. Old religion Fiji’s old religion is no longer practiced by the majority in the indigenous community who have adopted Christianity. Old deities are still acknowled ged and respected, but not worshipped. Fijian rituals still exists in private. Demographics Of the various faiths, Christianity is the dominant belief system and ncluding all the various denominations of the Christian faith they number in total 449,482. Hindus, with their various denominations, number in total 261,097. Muslims make up 54,324 of Fiji’s population. Followers of other belief systems make up 10,166 of Fiji’s population. Sports Sports culture is unique as different racial mixes and cultures come together in a common interest. Fiji is fanatical about sports and the two most dominant being rugby and soccer. Traditional sports Sports in older times had a practical place, apart from recreation, helping to train young warriors. One such practice would have the older men bring the male children a severely injured captive of war, allowing the boys to practice their archery skills against this living target. There were other sports that were practiced in older times which are not practiced now. Notable traditional sports used to be played were tiqa, ulutoa, veisaga, and veisolo. Modern sports The Fiji sevens team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Sports have developed greatly over the past two decades in Fiji with a wide variety of sports undertaken. Fiji is most well known for its prowess in the game of rugby union and in particular rugby sevens. Rugby union Rugby union is the most popular sport in Fiji. The highest level of competition is the Colonial Cup. The Fiji national rugby union team has competed in five Rugby World Cup competitions. The Fijian Rugby Sevens team is constantly one of the top two or three teams in the world, often the premier team. Rugby league Rugby league is a popular team sport played in Fiji. The Fiji national rugby league team is known as Fiji Bati, with the team competing in three Rugby League World Cup competitions. They made it to the semi-finals of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Football Football was a minor sport, but over the last decade with further international funding from FIFA and sound local management of the sport has grown in popularity amongst the Indian community initially but now also the Fijian community. Other sports Many sports exist in Fiji and in many ways has its own cultural following, sports such as golf which has been made famous by Fiji athlete Vijay Singh. Sports such as cricket and surfing which was brought to prominence by former world champion and Fiji athlete Tony Philips. Sailing in varying forms, various adventure sports, athletics, various Asian martial arts, boxing, and the list goes on.

Commentary on Dorothy Parker’s Essay

â€Å"Mr. Durant’ is a prose about a man, who he had promised his children they could keep a dog but seems to no longer want to do so. He promised so while on their back he is trying to kick the dog out of the house. He does is on their back because he wants to remain the authority figure of the house who does nothing wrong. On the other hand, to his wife he gives stupid reasons like â€Å"all the males in the neighborhood will be running after her† and â€Å"first thing you know, she’d be having puppies.† Mrs. Durant is not very educated and also very ingà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½nues and so blindly trusts and believes whatever her husband tells her. She idolizes him because she does not read and is not very educated and therefore her husband’s knowledge might impress her a lot. The family relationships where the father is the dominant figure remain the same through the whole passage. 2. Chronology/time  Dorothy Parker has written this passage in such a way, tending to give actions one by one, making so the piece more intriguing and interesting. However, she often goes backwards and forwards when describing Mr. Durant’s den and character to give us a deeper understanding or certainty of his character. However, time in either case is significant but not essential and does not affect directly the themes of this passage. 3. Themes  Some themes implied through the passage are:  Authority is one of the main themes in this passage and Mr. Durant conveys this authority very easily. His wifes lets him do so, because she thinks that he is very educated and in consequence his actions and word is always right. This shows another theme, the ingenuity of Mrs. Durant who blindly believes everything her husband tells her. The relationships between these two characters seem very cold and unpleasant, not only because there is no agreement and understanding between this couples there is no evince of affection as well. Dishonesty is another important theme is this passage, which Mr. Durant is clearly characterized by because brutally beguiles his children on their back. Sexual perversions 4. How literary features convey/enlarge the themes  The prose has many adjectives which are very useful in strengthen the meaning of the themes since the prose is very descriptive. For example, the two adjectives â€Å"insatiable reader† and â€Å"indefatigable collector† show that although he wanted to seem as tireless reader, he is very unintelligent because is easily manipulated by the advertisements. A comparison in this piece is â€Å"young woman with wings like a vampire bat† which is very significant because in my opinion this is another hint of Mr. Durant’s sexual problems. 5. Point of view/ Tone  The passage is told from the third person point of view and that is the narrator, Dorothy Parker. She is more informing rather than evaluating because she tends to rely more on the facts leaving so up to us to interpret them in our own way. Because the atmosphere is not humorous at all, this shows the seriousness of the narrator’s attitudes towards her subject. She presents the main character, Mr. Durant as a very cold, distant and selfish person. The tone of the passage is very serious and desperate (fruitless) because the main character, Mr. Durant has all the power and his word for the others (his wife and children) seems to be a rule. This is shown when after he asks his daughter if he had ever â€Å"broke a promise†, she replies â€Å"No Father† but â€Å"conviction was not hers† whish shows that even she wasn’t convinced, she was obliged to reply so because of fear that he might get angry or react. Parker obviously do esn’t have a high regard for Mr. Durant at all, however using irony she enjoys mocking his attitudes of superiority and of the one who is so full of himself that wants others to believe that he â€Å"he has never broken a promise yet.† 6. Structure  The passage falls into many short and long paragraphs. Usually, the short paragraphs are made of dialogues while the long ones are mainly descriptive which might signify the greater importance of the descriptions. The two longest paragraphs are mainly about two subjects: Mr. Durant’s den and books. This shows that he is the main character since everything is mainly about him and also because he is always the one who gets the word. The short paragraphs in the first page have only three lines. They are short maybe because the piece is carefully described and avoids telling everything at once to let the reader get the themes one by one, making it more interesting. However, the dialogues although short, are very significant in understanding the personalities of the characters. 7. Lexis (language)  The language used is formal and this is because the issue that is being discussed is serious or at least that’s how the atmosphere is conveyed to us. This formal language has a positive affect on the piece because it is appropriate with the message that the author is trying to transmit, that of authority and stereotypes. The language is also particularly descriptive and therefore the author tends to give the themes by hints in the description. The language used by Parker in written in an ironic form towards this character, which although she doesn’t seem to admire at all, she enjoys mocking his attitudes of superior and of the one who is so full of himself that wants others to believe that he never â€Å"breaks a promise.† Parker uses satire which is a form of exposing of foolishness within a society through ridiculing them and that is what she does with the character of Mr. Durant. 8. Specific Images  Mr. Durant is clearly shown as the authority figure in this piece. An image that indicates this is † he jerked his head backwards† which shows that his order is not only an obligation to his wife but he does not even need to say it. Mr. Durant might not even be as knowledgeable as he wants to seem. There are two reasons why I think this. Firstly, the fact that his â€Å"books were lined up behind the glass of the bookcase† might show that they were not even used and were there as decorations. Secondly, as we notice in the passage, he seems very impatient and narrow minded because does not allow others to have their word yelling â€Å"Quiet!† to his daughter while he interrupts his wife who for once was about to protest against her husband, saying â€Å"Now you just leave all that to me.† This shows disrespect and impatience to listen to others and therefore might not even have the same patience to read a book. I personally, from this piece got the feeling that Mr. Durant is not a very sane person because there are many controversies on his character, like he tries to be the perfect father in his children eyes who â€Å"has never broken a promise†, while on their backs beguiles them being very ambidextrous. 9. Rhythm  The rhythm in this passage is very irregular for the reason that it is continually moving from â€Å"crescendo† to â€Å"decrescendo† form, creating so anxiety and tension to the readers. There is a high tension in the beginning of the passage because the author starts this passage with the word â€Å"Quiet!† which strait away gives a kind of conflict and makes the atmosphere very dramatic. Then, the author jumps into descriptions, going into a â€Å"decrescendo† form for a while. On the third part of the passage, again we have a â€Å"crescendo† in rhythm because the tension increases, especially when Mrs. Durant says ‘But the children, They’ll be just simply†¦Ã¢â‚¬  which in my opinion is an initial and tiny bit of revolt against her husband’s opinion.