ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Gender is a socially constructed phenomenon, which has no relation to the biological sex of a person. Today, gender is regarded as a vast spectrum, and the global community tries to treat people of all genders equally. This was not always the case. Gender issues have a long history, and the present paper is aimed at exploring the assorted problems about the perception of gender and how society treated it at varying times. Gender discrimination: History The Ancient world The historical timeline of gender-related issues shows several contradictory tendencies. Today, humanity can trace them through early art depictions of sex and gender, as well as what is left of documented history. Overall, the artifacts and documentation create an impression that humans were generally regarded equally as persons, with some minor exceptions. There were some occasions that archaeologists interpreted as spanning the boundaries between sexes. For example, some Neolithic to Bronze Age art items represents humans with both male and female sexual characteristics. Later, they discovered some remains of males buried in female clothes in about 2900-2500 BCE (“Grave of stone age transsexual excavated in Prague” n.pag.). The Etruscan Tomb of the Bulls is a well-known piece of craftsmanship illustrating a pair of bulls watching humans having intercourse, both heterosexual and same-sex. From that, they conclude that gender fluidity was an important motive in ancient cultures. Perhaps, the motive originated from pagan religious convictions. In literature, especially in the works of Greek philosophers, there is a striking discrepancy in the perceptions of women’s place and homosexuality. Such thinkers as Phaedrus, Eryixmachus, and Aristophanes defended romantic feelings between males and stated it was the purest feeling a human was capable of (Sheffield 22). At the same time, they regarded intercourse with women as a necessity to produce offspring. The male relationships were regarded as being higher than male-female, and many Greek aristocrats were known to be in such relationships openly. The word “pederasty” did not mean a bad thing because the practice was quite common. Traces of such practices were noticed in historical accounts of Ancient Egypt where some of the pharaohs were known to be openly homosexual. The same tendencies were present in Ancient Chine, with some of the leaders being in same-sex marriage. Therefore, while the ancient societies tended to regard homosexual relationship positively, women were seen as mere utility designed to produce children. The Middle Ages The Middle Ages put an end to sexual self-expression for non-binary people and further enforced female discrimination. The Roman Church, in particular, was extremely misogynist and homophobic. Considering that it was given a right to subject people to capital punishment, the situ
This paper is aimed at discussing the article The Grand Tour by Evan Osnos, and Mike Pugh’s post called Vagabonding since these sources can though light on the role of traveling and its value for an individual. To a great extent, these readings are aimed at showing that traveling can be viewed as a form of education; nevertheless, the authors examine traveling this issue from the perspective of very different cultures; these are the main questions that should be discussed more closely. At the very beginning of his post, Mike Pugh states that he regards “travel as life’s great educator” (Pugh 1). This is the main argument that he tries to elaborate in the post. Moreover, this author argues that “there’s no better way to learn about people and nature and your place in the world” (Pugh 1). To a great extent, this author shows how an individual can learn about different cultural norms, values, and attitudes through traveling. So, this experience is very enriching. These are the main issues that can be singled out. In turn, Evan Osnos describes the experiences of Chinese tourists who become familiar with Western cultures. This author says that many Chinese people are willing to travel to learn more about different cultures which were previously inaccessible to them (Osnos 1). To a great extent, this trend can be explained by the fact for a long time, Chinese people did not have an opportunity to travel through Western countries just for leisure (Osnos 1). So, in many cases, they try to bridge the existing gap, which emerged due to political or economic reasons. Therefore, these authors recognize the educational value of traveling. These are some of the main similarities that can be singled out. Nevertheless, it is vital to consider some important differences. For example, one can example, Mike Pugh regards traveling as an essential part of his life. While discussing his experiences, this author makes the following statement, “The more you travel, the more you realize how little you’ve seen” (Pugh 1). This author remains open to new cultural influences and trends. This is one of the attitudes that can be considered. In turn, Evan Osnos presents a cautious view of traveling. For instance, the writer says, “China will always maintain its way” (Osnos 15). Overall, Evan Osnos’ article reflects the attitudes of many Chinese people who remain loyal to their own culture. Admittedly, they can use the tools and concepts developed in different cultures. Nevertheless, they will not travel only for the sake of enjoyment. To a great extent, this attitude can be explained by the values embedded in the Chinese tradition, according to which a person should remain cautious of foreign cultures and traditions. This is one of the main distinctions
Introduction Though quantitative methods are much more valid and reliable than qualitative methods, the latter provides in-depth perspectives on human behaviors, as well as reasons that predetermine these behaviors. Specifically, Dornyei (2007) realizes limitations to the quantitative research and, therefore, the researcher recommends qualitative research as a tool to examine specific concepts in a broader context. He is also aware “how much richer data we can obtain in a well-conducted and analyzed qualitative study than even in a large-scale questionnaire survey” (Dornyei, 2007, p. 47). In this respect, a qualitative research significantly enlarges on the range of possible data interpretations, as well as permits a longitudinal study of dynamic phenomena. This paper explores two research papers that apply to different qualitative research methods and evaluates whether they meet the requirements of studies. In research conducted by Smith-Sutherland (2002), an ethnographic design is implemented to highlight the differences in students’ perceptions of reading print texts and Web texts. The second study initiated by Lee, Butler, and Tippins (2007) delivers a case study design aimed at analyzing early childhood teacher’s perspectives on dealing with English language learners. Review of Literature According to Litosseliti (2010), a good literature review is a powerful instrument in deepening the analysis of research questions. In the studies presented by Smith-Sutherland (2002), the literature review section is thematically presented, but not entitled as a separate section. In particular, the authors focus on such problems as evolution of literacy and technology, criticism of technoliteracy as a new term, as well as the analysis of web-text literacy. All three components are essential for understanding the topic researched. While investigating the origins and history of interaction between literacy and technology, the scholars cite papers that particularly relate to emergence of cyber space and internet, as well as how this discovery has influenced the term literacy. In contrast, Lee et al. (2007) introduce supporting literature in the introductory part to explore such problems as approaches to promote English language learners (ELL) and advance relevant academic skills. Additionally, they shed light on linguistic and cultural diversity as the key component in literacy acquisition that teachers should consider when discovering effective approaches. Though the study makes specific references to the study of English language learners, as well as teachers’ competences aimed at meeting the culturally diverse environment, it fails to accurately introduce variables that will further be outlined in a methodological section. In contrast to the literature review presented by Lee et al. (2007), Smith-Sutherland (2002) provides a much more systematic review of necessary notions by dividing
Main Points The author of this article argues that increased government spending on higher education does not cause positive economic growth. Additionally, Vedder (2004) observes that increasing governmental funds for higher education does not necessarily increase the number of students joining college. Throughout the article, the author uses data to show that increasing government spending on higher education has a negative impact on economic growth, and it leads to a decrease in the number of students joining colleges. Finally, the author notes that universities are used only as screening devices to lower information costs for employers when recruiting workforce. My Opinion I think the author raises pertinent issues that should be addressed elaborately through scholarly discourse. I agree with the author that increasing government spending on higher education leads to better human capital, hence economic growth seems plausible until one looks critically into the underlying issues. I concur that high economic growth would attract college graduates as opposed to the vice versa argument promoted by conventional thinking on the issue. The author makes an interesting observation that a good portion of funds from the government is directed at non-instructional areas, which do not have a direct impact on economic growth. As such, resources that have been created through high productivity from the private sector are being channeled to institutions with falling productivity. This scenario may explain the negative correlation between increased higher education funding and economic growth. However, the author does not explore cases where increased funding has led to economic growth. Stating that correlation does not prove causation is a weak argument to defend unconventional findings like the ones highlighted in the article. Reading this article reminded me of a time when I worked at a small NGO with limited resources. Our primary objective was to provide humanitarian support to vulnerable individuals in Kenya. After months of struggling with limited resources, we received sizeable donor funding. In my mind, I assumed that we would help more children to access quality education in line with the set objectives. However, the management decided to move to a larger office with better facilities. Ultimately, only 20 percent of the initial donor funds went to helping children in Kenya. The increased funding from donors did not have the commensurate growth impacts on the firm’s objectives. In his article, Vedder (2004) captures this scenario where increased government spending on higher education does not yield the expected economic growth because allocations are given to non-instructional areas. Application of the Author’s Points in Practical Sense The author’s points can be applied practically by ensuring that government funds are used for instructional purposes. This aspect would make sure that such funds have a direct impact on the quality of education provided. Additionally, this move would lower the cost of educ
Article Overview The reviewed article is a journal publication in the social and behavioral sciences (Tanksale, Neelam & Venkatachalam, 2014). The article is about research conducted in India on consumer decision-making styles among young consumers aged between 18-21 years. According to the researchers of the article, targeting this age group was worthy of the investigation as it comprises one of the major market segments in almost all the economies of the world. The authors were convinced that investigating this age group’s buying behavior and its associated traits would be a major milestone in defining specific marketing strategies that can suit this segment within the Indian context. The article justifies that the selected group is special, and its traits call for marketers to understand the different ways of developing products tailored to meet the needs of this market segment. The authors assert that this group has a great influence on the buying or shopping behaviors of their families, given the fact that they belong to the generations Y and Z, which are generally viewed as tech-savvy. The article defines decision-making styles as mental orientations consumers have in making choices when buying goods and services. The styles can be determined using three approaches, namely consumer characteristics, consumer typology, and psychographic approaches, among other dimensions of the US eight-factor model. Based on these dimensions, the research used quantitative analysis based on a sample of 254 students. Specifically, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method was applied as the analysis strategy, using the SPSS version18.0 as the statistical software. The results from the study did not concur completely with the US eight-factor model. However, the findings confirmed the six styles, namely: recreational shopping consciousness; novelty-fashion consciousness; perfectionistic; brand-conscious, habitual, and confused by over choice. The results further ended up with new consumer behavior, which the authors referred to as shopping avoidance. Th
This discussion can be better started with a question that is related to the most important issues in theology and philosophy. Namely what are the mysteries of God and what is the place of a human being? Moreover, it is important to find out what famous philosophers and theologians such as Karl Rahner, Brian Swimme, Saint Augustine, and Bernard Lonergan can tell about these issues. This paper is aimed at discussing the works of these thinkers and their conception of God and an individual. Overall, these authors recognize the limits of human intelligence and cognition; therefore, the mysteries of God and the universe are not fully knowable. In his work The Universe is a Green Dragon Brian Swimme expresses very interesting ideas on God, the universe and a person. This author compares the universe to a green dragon or a creature that cannot be fully understood by a human being. God is the creator of the universe, but the language of this Supreme Being is not comprehensible to people. In turn, human beings strive to understand their place in the universe, but they cannot do it yet, even despite scientific and technological advances. Apart from that, people have to accept that they are only an infinitesimally small part of the universe. In turn, St. Augustine gives a slightly different of interpretation of God. In St. Augustine’s view, this Supreme Being is the paragon of goodness and perfection. The task of a person is to learn how to see this goodness in the things that he/she likes. These are the first steps that people should take in order to reach a higher moral level. Brian Swimme emphasizes the cognition of a human being, while St. Augustine focuses on the person’s ability to recognize beauty and goodness. This is the main distinction between these theologians. A slightly different interpretation of God and human beings is offered by Karl Rahner in his book Foundations of Christian Faith . This theologian strives to reconcile the theory of evolution with the main tenets of Christianity. In Rahner’s view, one should not see the existence of nature and living beings just as a blind accident. This philosopher believes that lack of human understanding does not necessarily imply that the universe is driven by randomness. In his view, the idea of evolution and Christian faith are compatible with one another. In turn, one should mention Bernard Lonergan’s ideas and his views on theology. This philosopher strives to develop ways in which people can understand God and the universe. One of his arguments is that a person cannot understand God and universe individually. The intelligence of a separate person is capable of collecting and analyzing every piece of evidence regarding the laws of the universe. The author does argue that the mysteries of God are unknowable, but this task cannot be done by a single individual. On the whole, there are several ideas that Karl Rahner, Brian Swimme, Saint Augustine, and Bernard Lonergan might have supported. These philosophers may agree on the idea that the cognition of a human
Introduction The feminist movement has a basis in challenging societal norms of gender inequality and establishing women’s rights. Indigenous feminism is a unique approach that connects common issues for women to the decolonization movement of the Native tribes. The focus shifts from the traditional feminist direction of defying gender-based oppression to explore issues of race discrimination, a consequence of Western imperialism. With decades of defining leadership, this branch of feminism has achieved extraordinary progress through educational and activist campaigns that give socio-political strength to establishing indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. Influence Indigenous Feminisms Indigenous or Native feminism is a branch of the socio-political feminism movement stemming from the theory, which suggests that the tribal community was historically, and to this day continues to be, oppressed. This subjugation essentially destroyed the Indigenous communities, not only in their way of life but their very right to life. The destructive force of imperialism swept across the continents, resulting in more than just mass eradication of the Native population. Their culture, tradition, language, and identity were stripped down with imperialistic ideals pushed upon ancient civilizations. History was written so that to this very day, many do not conceptualize the horror of their ancestors. The truth must be made known and accepted as part of the continued process of decolonization (Arvin et al. 9-10). Meanwhile, Indigenous communities live in designated tribal lands, many of which are in poverty and suffer from socio-economic issues. Politically, the tribes often have no voice in the US government regarding their fate or perseverance of the culture they may value. Indigenous feminism, while embracing the empowerment of women of the tribal community, also seeks the right to self-determination for the community. A wide range of problems regarding individuals, such as overt discrimination or work restrictions placed on Native Americans. Consequently, bigger issues are dealing with recognition and protection of tribal lands and culture as well as sovereignty. Centuries of oppressive colonialism have silenced or morphed the gender relations and status of women of Native America. One of the most powerful tools in Indigenous feminism is the power of personal narrative, disrupting the propaganda narratives about stability and equality within and towards the tribal communities (Goeman and Denetdale 10-11). Native feminism is a layered concept, which seeks to push its agenda, but scholars understand that allying with the liberal-feminist school of thought is necessary. To achieve recognition, academics and activists instigate and initiate the most compelling experiences and concerns of Indigen
Many versions and interpretations of the Bible provide people with an opportunity to choose the most appropriate variant of the text for them which is understandable and follows the right description and presentation of the main points. Nevertheless, various English versions of the Bible can differ in their translations significantly because of the specific word choice and phrase structure which can influence the meaning of the text. To understand the nature of differences and similarities in the English translations of the Bible and their role in the texts’ interpretation, it is necessary to focus on the analysis of the passages from The Harper Collins Study Bible (NRSV) and The King James Version of the Bible (KJV). Thus, the story of Joseph’s rise to power is presented in Genesis, Chapter 41, and translations of the verses are different in relation to the word choice. Although the meaning of the texts does not differ, the translators and editors’ word choice provides the definite connotation to the words and phrases which can affect their understanding and interpretation by readers. Chapter 41 of Genesis describes the process of Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt because of Pharaoh’s preferences. It is possible to state that the fist part of the description presented in Chapter 41 is characterized by a lot of general words and terms which do not provide any emphasis to the text. Thus, Pharaoh’s preferences in relation to Joseph are based on the certain predictions and proposals. It is stated in The Harper Collins Study Bible that Joseph’s “proposal pleased Pharaoh” and his servants (The Harper Collins Study Bible, Gen. 41.37). The unusual role of Joseph for Pharaoh is accentuated with references to the fact that this man can propose something to Pharaoh. However, there is the general presentation of the fact in The King James Version where it is stated that “the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh” (The King James Version, Gen. 41.37). Furthermore, The King James Version does not use the modern English language. The text of The Harper Collins Study Bible is more detailed and understandable in order to provide readers with an opportunity to pay attention to the logical connection between the facts presented. Thus, the succession of circumstances in The King James Version is presented with the help of the word ‘and’ which does not state the relations and connections between the situations and facts. The language of The Harper Collins Study Bible is more diverse. Nevertheless, both the versions are similar in translating the word ‘abrek’ which is the most controversial word in this chapter. The problem is in the fact that translators have no single idea about this word’s interpretation to represent the clear meaning of the verse. Joseph changes the clothes as the symbol of changing the role, and Pharaoh had him ride in “the chariot of his s