Something Trendy in Film Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Something Trendy in Film - Research Paper Example Since that film, other films have worked towards breaking stereotypes and have sought to portray people who happen to be attracted to the same sex, rather than caricatures of a type of human that must fit into a category. The first decade of the century has seen a rise in realistic portrayals of people who happen to be attracted to the same sex rather than conceptualized as gays and lesbians. Stereotyping in film is not a new concept and has in no way been limited to members of the gay and lesbian communities. The way in which film frames many different social groups has created stereotypes that time has had to wash away in order to fully explore the experiences of these groups in American society. One of the most horrific ways in which stereotypes have been created in American cinema was through the ‘blackface’ where African Americans were portrayed with black makeup and white lips, their social position reduced to a comic portrayal and the nature of their character hav ing to fight through the physical manifestations of stereotypical concepts that worked to hide the humanity within them (Benshoff and Griffin 76). Once the ‘blackface’ was wiped away, the social stereotypes varied and struggles were made in order to create realistic portrayals of the members of social groups whose lives had been reduced to specifications made through categorizations. The problem with stereotypes is that while they have a tendency to diminish humanity, they serve a purpose in creating ways in which members of a society can identify themselves and brace themselves against those who are different then themselves. The stereotypes create a standard through which an individual can identify with a group. As an example, a woman who drives a mini-van and wears jeans that are uncommonly high on her hips with a sweater denoting the most current holiday might be termed as a ’soccer-mom’, specifically identifying herself in contrast with a woman who we ars six inch platform heels, a mini-skirt, and a halter top. While no one may actually know anyone who fits into either of these stereotypes, most Americans can identify them with social groups. According to McArthur and Mulvihill, â€Å"If one has proper concern for the other as a real person and shares knowledge for the benefit of relationship, stereotypes and biases will begin to dissolve† (80). While American film has a deep history of stereotyping people who represent African Americans, Native Americans, women, gay and lesbian social groups, the films of the past six years have increasingly begun to show signs of the dissolving of stereotypes associated with people who are attracted to the same sex. A wonderful phenomenon has emerged in which the character of people who are attracted to others of the same sex no longer must affect mannerisms, gestures, and associated tendencies that signal their sexual orientation. The characters that are being developed in modern films are now beginning to be indistinguishable from heterosexual characters, stereotypical effects no longer relevant to the emergence of their portrayals of lives rather than only lifestyles. One of the first portrayals of the social position of gay men in the United States that was made from the point of view of a man who happened to be gay, rather than a portrayal of a ‘gay’ was in Philadelphia (1993) starring Tom Hanks as a man who was a lawyer with a large law firm who contracts AIDS, which

Key microeconomic and macroeconomic factors that are likely to Essay

Key microeconomic and macroeconomic factors that are likely to influence the price and output of that product over the next five years - Essay Example are several key microeconomic and macroeconomic factors that have a heavy influence on the price and output of ‘Phenomen’Eyes.’ In the course of this paper these factors will be further explored and explained. The factors that affect the individual will be looked upon under microeconomics and can range a time span of less than a year. Where as the factors that affect the entire economy and will last five years or more will be looked over under macroeconomics (Mankiw, 1998). In short macroeconomic factors are centered on things which affect the nation i.e. inflation, interest rate, unemployment, exports and imports, where as microeconomic factors consist of those that affect people on an individual level e.g., personal income, preferences, price of competitor products. To start with, microeconomic analysis aims to take a better look at how individuals and organizations work in any given economy, in our case this would be the economy of Australia. Here we look at the small scale issues and problems related to the decisions of prices and output for the Phenomen’Eyes. Prices here arte based on individuals and how they would act and react to the market and the product. The output is directly linked to the demand that is being targeted. In this case, Givenchy is going after consumers who are interested in high end beauty products. The prices are based on their preferences; these individuals will most likely not be looking to invest in mascara that has a lower price tag on it because they associate money with quality. Similarly, because a relatively small amount of consumers are being targeted their demand will come in small numbers as well, which means that the production will not consist of a large scale massive operation. Demand the production is directly related here, the lower the demand the lower the number of units that will be produced and vice versa. The microeconomic analysis assumes that the consumers are acting with a proper rationale for all their

Caligua Roman Empire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Caligua Roman Empire - Essay Example While most likely not intended to last a lifetime, the name stuck and most of history remembers him under this name. His reign only lasted from 37 to 41 A.D., ending bloody as many of the reigns of Emperors of Rome would end. For most of Caligula’s young life, he was not in Rome. He spent his time on the campaigns of his father, his childhood outside of the socialization of the center of his homeland’s culture. In addition, his father, according to writings by the historian Tacitus, was well known for disobeying orders from Tiberius, delaying his return to Rome and taking his army where he desired, thus instilling in Caligula an â€Å"apparent disregard for prioritizing State interests over personal ones†, a point that became clearly a part of Caligula’s reign (Adams 34). Germanicus’ predilection towards the Hellenistic culture also influenced the young Caligula, many of those aesthetics appearing during his reign. Hellenistic culture was a fusion of Greek, Middle Eastern and Eastern cultures which was sometimes interpreted for its decadence, as much as for its classical philosophies, as described by Green as being â€Å"bourgeois, decadent, and materialistic (7). Germa nicus was popular, however, and when he died in 19 A.D. there was an enormous amount of grief among the Roman citizens (Adams 98). Caligula returned home to Rome with his mother and siblings after the death of his father. While the time of his youth does not specifically suggest that he was intended to be the heir of Tiberius, his later experiences before the death of the Emperor make it clear that he was then considered his heir. During his teen years, Caligula bore witness to a plot by praetorian Sejanus in which his mother and elder brothers were arrested and eventually killed. Caligula, now in line for leading the empire, did not fall under Sejanus as the plot was uncovered and he was arrested and put to death by Tiberius in 31 A.D (Burns 53). Shortly after, Caligula was made the official heir of Tiberius and would ascend to wear the laurels at a very young age. Caligula became emperor of Rome on 18 March 37 AD at the age of twenty-four. At first his reign seemed like a break from the austere and conservative reign of Tiberius, but soon the senate became unhappy with his excesses. In the first year of his re ign, Caligula put an end to the paranoia of the trials of treason and the public executions quieted for a time. Tiberius had been a dark and troubled ruler in his later years, creating an atmosphere of fear and treachery. However, from what ever cause, Caligula was falling into deeper and darker madness which manifested in all kinds of debaucheries and blood sport. He had his two greatest supporters, the praetorian prefect Macro who had helped him in holding his inheritance as Emperor and another great supporter, Tiberius Gemellus put to death (Adams 152). His excesses fell into categories of shameful behavior, some of which have been highly influential in characterizing ancient Rome as a time of great debauchery. It is said that he had incestuous relationships with his sisters, having a great love affair with his sister Drusilla who is thought to have been his true love. While he exiled two of his sisters on islands, Drusilla was made his heir (Tinsley 245). It is also hinted at th at he had made part of his palace

Rises in Rates of Cesarean Section Births

Rises in Rates of Cesarean Section Births In recent history, advancements in medical technology have resulted in an increase in labour and birth interventions. This has in turn, greatly increased caesarean section rates. Birth was once a natural, normal event in a woman’s life, however this has been replaced by a maternity system where intervention is routine and interferes with the normal physiological birth process, putting women and their babies at risk unnecessarily (Romano Lothian, 2008). Normal birth is associated with the best emotional and physical outcomes for women and their babies (New Zealand College of Midwives, 2009). However women have lost confidence in their own ability to give birth without the assistance of technological interventions. Where midwives previously spent their time supporting and comforting labouring women they now spend their time managing technology (Romano Lothian, 2008). This essay will discuss factors which promote or adversely affect the normal physiology of birth and how we can promote the normal physiology of birth within a public maternity hospital setting. Environmental factors which may negatively or positively affect the normal physiology of labour will also be explored. Normal physiological birth follows a natural sequence. Regular painful contractions of the uterus, stimulate and progress the cervix to efface and dilate along with foetal decent. This results in the spontaneous vaginal delivery of the baby and the placenta without complication to either mother or baby (Page McCandlish, 2006). It can be difficult to facilitate normal physiological birth within an environment dominated by a medical approach, where technology and medical expertise are highly valued. The midwife leaders need to show strong leadership to support all midwives. Midwives need to be well educated and competent in the facilitation of normal birth to increase the rate of normal physiological birth (Midwives experience of facilitating normal birth in an obstetric-led unit: a feminist perspective, 2009). Many of the factors that promote normal physiology are environmental in nature. When women are in labour they are extremely sensitive to feeling observed, disrupted or disturbed, this disrupts the natural hormone responses and progress of labour. Women generally find a warm environment preferable so that they feel comfortable to take off their clothing if they wish to do so. When women labour in a calm and quiet environment they feel a change in consciousness to a more primitive brain where birth instincts take over. Privacy and a home like environment also help to facilitate normal birth (Sara Wickham – Midwifery: Best practice, volume 5, 2008). Migrant women have reported that privacy is of particular importance to them (Hennegan, Redshaw Miller, 2014). Women benefit from freedom of movement during labour (Thies-Lagergren, Hildingsson, Christensson Kvist, 2013) and if given the opportunity will instinctively choose a variety of movements to help them cope with labour inclu ding walking, swaying, standing, leaning and the hands and knees position. Allowing freedom of movement benefits the mother in a number of ways including comfort, shortening labour, increased uterine contractions and less need for pharmacologic pain relief. It can also correct poor progress, malposition and sometimes foetal heart rate anomalies (Romano Lothian, 2008). When women push spontaneously without being coached they are less likely to require suturing from trauma and have less pelvic floor dysfunction than women who are coached to push (Romano Lothian, 2008). The AWHONN (2013) recommends women should not push until they feel the urge to push and should do so spontaneously without direction. Women’s experiences of control during labour and birth are overwhelmingly associated with their involvement in the decision making process (Christiaens, 2010). The process of writing a birth plan also increases a woman’s feelings of control as it gives her the opportunity to think about possible scenario’s and plan her responses and choices (Kuo, Hsu, Yang, Chang, Tsao Lin, 2010). Freedom to move around, scream out or make decisions about who enters the birthing space contributes further to the perception of control (Ford, 2009). Women also feel more in control if they have access to information during labour (Tiedje Price, 2008). Health care providers can help to facilitate a woman’s access to information by answering any questions she may have allowing her to make informed choices. When women feel a sense of personal security, derived from feeling respected, trusted and supported by the health care provider who is looking after them, they will experience less fear and an increased feeling of control (Meyer, 2012). Continuous support for women in labour from a female with specialised training is thought to reduce anxiety and stress hormones known to cause vasoconstriction and lower uterine blood flow, which may slow down progress and potentially harm the foetus. Continuous support is said to increase the chance of a spontaneous vaginal birth, lower the use of analgesia, epidural, risk of caesarean and instrumental delivery (Sosa, Crozier Robinson, 2012; Romano Lothian, 2008). These are all important factors in the facilitation and promotion of normal birth and positively affect the woman’s labour and birth environment. There are also many factors that adversely affect the normal physiology of birth, including induction of labour which increases a women’s need for analgesia or epidural and puts her baby at an increased risk of needing neonatal resuscitation. Induction of labour also increases a woman’s risk of caesarean section, instrumental birth, shoulder dystocia, intrapartum fever, low birthweight babies and admission to neonatal intensive care (Tracey et al, 2007). Augmentation of labour can be a tempting option to speed up labour, however amniotomy and oxytocin administration are not without risk. Options such as changing position and talking to women about their emotions, which are low or not risk options, can be as effective and more pleasant for labouring women (Romano Lothian, 2008). Amniotomy can increase the risk of infection, may cause pressure injuries or ruptured placental veins or arteries resulting in significant foetal blood loss. It is also associated with cord prol apse (Cohain, 2013). If amniotomy is carried out early in pregnancy it can set off a cascade of intervention and increase the risk of caesarean section. If labour is still not progressing oxytocin is usually administered and makes contractions stronger and more difficult to cope with as it is exogenous and does not cross the blood-brain barrier, so endorphins are not released to decrease pain perception (Romano Lothian, 2008). Oxytocin administration also puts women at risk of hyperstimulation (Selin, Almstrom, Wallin Berg, 2009). Other interventions such as intravenous cannula and electronic foetal monitoring are also used in this intervention and there is an increase in other interventions such as epidurial which all have added risks. Amniotomy should only be used if progress is truly abnormal while oxytocin augmentation should only be used if labour is truly prolonged with sluggish uterine activity (Romano Lothian, 2008). Epidural analgesia relaxes the pelvic floor muscles mak ing foetal decent and rotation difficult (Al-Metwalli, Mostafa Mousa, 2012). The absence of pain in labour can interfere with the natural oxytocin release. There is also a risk of hypotension so electronic foetal monitoring is used along with an intravenous cannula. Women who use this type of pain relief are less likely to have a vaginal birth and at a higher risk of instrumental delivery, prolonged labour and fever. Their babies are more likely to have infection (Romano Lothian, 2008). All of these interventions carry risks to mother and baby and adversely impact upon the normal physiological birth process. Some of the environmental factors that adversely affect the normal progress of labour include restriction of eating and drinking which began in the1940’s when general anaesthetic was commonly used in obstetrics to reduce the chance of aspiration. General anaesthetic is now rare in obstetrics as is aspiration due to the use of airway protection. Women prefer to have the choice to eat and drink during labour and there is no benefit in restricting them to do so (Singata, Tranmer Gyte, 2013). When women are prevented from eating or drinking they are hydrated with iv fluids, this is also used to access a vein in case of an emergency. Although emergencies do happen there is no evidence to suggest iv access in low risk labouring women improves outcomes. Women with Intravenous lines are not free to move around, may have increased stress levels, may result in fluid overload in both mother and foetus and does not adequately hydrate or provide nutrients. Continuous foetal monitoring has been found to reduce neonatal seizures when babies have been exposed to high doses of oxytocin but has not been linked to positive long term outcomes. It does however increase the risk of caesarean section and instrumental delivery without a clear benefit to the baby and reduces the mother’s ability to mobilise (Alfirevic, Devane Gyte, 2013). These environmental factors have a negative affect on a woman’s normal progress in labour and should be avoided if possible. A midwife-led continuity of care model has been found to benefit women and their babies in a number of ways when compared with medical and shared models of care. Benefits include decreased use of epidural, less episiotomies and instrumental births and less preterm birth or loss of baby prior to 24 weeks gestation. Women also had more chance of having a spontaneous vaginal delivery. As a result a midwife-led continuity of care model gives women the best chance of having a normal physiological birth (Sandall, Soltani, Gates, Shennan Devane, 2013). For a midwife to promote the normal physiological birth process and give effective and appropriate care, she needs to establish a relationship with women antenatally. It is important for the midwife to get to know each woman and her wishes and dreams for her impending birth (New Zealand College of Midwives, 2009). This allows a partnership of trust and respect and helps to alleviate any fears or anxieties and share appropriate and correct information before the birth. When women talk about their fears with the midwife, she will be better informed and able to provide woman centred care (Pairman, Tracy, Thorogood Pincombe, 2010). Midwives need to use evidenced based practice staying within their scope of practice. Whenever a midwife interacts with a woman, she needs to support normal physiological birth and the natural cascade of normal labour. Every interaction she has with a woman affects this cascade either positively or negatively (New Zealand College of Midwives, 2009). When wome n are in labour midwives need to consider the woman’s birth plan while maintaining a private warm room. It is also important to encourage her to find a comfortable position with appropriate comforts such as pillows and beanbags. Encouraging partners to support women by providing drinks, cool washers, and other physical support is an important midwifery role (Pairman, Tracy, Thorogood Pincombe, 2010). Midwives need to be unobtrusive and well prepared with safety equipment. When women are in the second stage of labour midwives need to encourage position changes to help decent where appropriate. Soothing hot compresses can be used on the perineum and vulva while the midwife gives clear and calm reassurance until the baby is born and given to the mother for skin to skin contact. These factors will help midwives to facilitate the normal physiological birth process (Pairman, Tracy, Thorogood Pincombe, 2010). Midwives need to practice cultural safety by reflecting on their own cul tural values and identity in an effort to recognise the impact their own culture has on their practice. It is important for midwives to understand their position of power within the healthcare system (Page McCandlish, 2006). It is in most women’s best interest to have a normal physiological labour and birth as it provides the best physical and emotional outcomes for both mothers and their babies. It is the midwife’s role to ensure birth proceeds as normally as possible and interventions are only used when absolutely necessary. To achieve this, midwives need to understand the factors that promote and adversely affect the normal physiological birth process and any environmental factors that may negatively or positively impact on a woman’s labour and birth. There are a number of different models of care available to pregnant women, however it has been found that a midwife-led continuity of care model gives the best possible chance for a normal physiological birth and labour. Midwives need to create a calm, quiet, culturally safe, supportive environment where women feel safe and secure to use their natural birthing instincts and encourage position changes where appropriate. The environme nt needs to be well equipped with comforts such as pillows and beanbags and any safety equipment that may be needed. Although it can be difficult to facilitate a normal physiological labour and birth within a medically dominated environment, if midwives have strong leadership and are well educated to facilitate normal physiological birth they are more likely to increase the rates of normal birth.

Anne Hutchinson a Woman with a Voice Essay --

In the book â€Å"Anne Hutchinson Puritan Prophet† Timothy D. Hall not only writes a biography of Anne but the whole state of Christianity in the late 16th and early 17th century. The story is about woman who was not afraid to speak out and voice her views. The author gives an in-depth story of all the events that were happening and how they influenced Anne to become such an important figure in history of protestant Christianity. Anne Hutchinson was influenced by a number of people in her life. The first influence must have been her father. Her father Rev. Marbury spoke out against many ministers in the Church of England because of their lack of qualification or corruption. He was sentenced for a year in prison. Anne read many of her father’s books which shaped her into a woman that wasn’t afraid to speak out. Anne was born July 17th 1591 in Alford England. She married William Hutchinson and they had 15 children. In 1634 she and her family moved to Boston. One of the driving factors of her move to Boston was the fact that her most admired preacher John Cotton had moved to Boston. She felt it was God’s will to move to Boston as well. Upon arrival to Boston she worked as a midwife and healer. She was a member of the church where John Cotton preached. She started her own bible study group with women, which later becomes one of the reasons she would be tried in court for. Anne then gets accused of heresies in the Puritan church. She is accused Antinomianism and Familism. She then is found guilty and gets banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the short seven chapters, the author paints a picture of a major dilemma that was between different religious individuals. Within the dilemma the story unfolds the influence of Anne in the... ... the Puritans and their development as a denomination. I would say that this book is written for specific audience. This book would suite someone who is interested in studying early 17th century Christian history. This book would also suite someone who wants to know the in-depth version of the biography of Anne Hutchinson. I think those specific audience would enjoy this book and could probably use it as a great resource. For someone who just wants an overall biography of Anne Hutchinson, this book would be overwhelming do to the level of detail that is involved. This biography not only tells Anne’s story, but really goes into the where she got her ideas and why she became who she was. The author explains the Puritan beliefs and the 17th century church in Boston well and puts it in understanding terms. This makes it a well-written book that you can enjoy reading.