ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
As women began asserting themselves, gaining rights, entering the workforce and are now beginning to achieve higher social positions such as CEOs of companies, powerful positions in politics and key researchers in a variety of fields, issues of female identity remain unresolved for many women. Magazines geared toward business women sold in supermarkets continue to highlight titles that focus on image and appearance rather than accomplishment and achievement. Although the choice to work has largely been taken out of the hands of women in today’s economy, article titles reveal the degree to which women continue to struggle with external appearance. For many women, the feeling is that they must conform to a socialized external ideal image if they are to achieve any degree of success. While many are willing to pin the blame for this attitude on the women themselves, there is plenty of evidence suggesting it is a concept perpetuated and emphasized by the cosmetics industries through the medium of the media. The media world depends to a large extent upon the money it receives from advertisers to stay alive, but these advertisers depend to a large degree upon selling their products. The best way to sell a product is to ensure that the product is something that will be needed perpetually, that there will always be some kind of demand for the product. A very effective technique in doing this is to set an ideal that is nearly impossible to achieve and then selling products that are geared toward bringing someone closer to this ideal, as has been done in the dieting and cosmetic markets. “Women are sold to the diet industry by the magazines we read and the television programs we watch, almost all of which make us feel anxious about our weight” (Jean Kilbourne, media activist, cited in “Beauty and Body Image”, 2009). This is only started with the portrayal of women in the media as “the images of impossibly thin models overwhelm today’s teenage girls. Unbelievably, most models are thinner than 98 percent of American girls and women” (Bartell, 2008), which is also the source for everyone else to form their ideas of what the ideal female body should look like. Thus, friends, boyfriends, parents and others all add to the pressure for girls to attain, regardless of how impossible it might be, the shapes and forms represented in the media. While some may argue that this isn’t really as prevalent as the reports seem to indicate, it has been demonstrated that “women’s magazines have ten and one-half times more ads and articles promoting weight loss than men’s magazines do, and over three-quarters of the covers of women’s magazines include at least one message about how to change a woman’s bodily appearance – by diet, exercise or cosmetic surgery” (“Beauty and Body Image”, 2009). These widely apparent examples of how women portrayed in the media represent an impossible ideal to which ‘normal’ girls are constantly compared has also been proven to have the potential for long-term psychological and physical problems. Girls who are constantly compared to
In its essence, “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Poe is similar to his other short story “The Black Cat.” However, instead of the narrator, a person of insanity is observed through someone else’s eyes. Both stories possess dark imagery and symbolism of burial behind a wall, which in turn lead to gloom imagery of the Usher house and family that serve as a direct contrast to the narrator. Both “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Black Cat” have imagery of burial behind walls. In “The Black Cat” the narrator uses the wall as a hiding place to put away the body of his murdered wife. It is a cowardly and fearful burial, meant to hide a hideous act. Meanwhile, in “The Fall of the House of Usher,” the burial of Madeline was the last farewell to send the woman to her grave. Both burials happened under strange circumstances and caused people discomfort. The entombment in the wall can be seen as an improper burial, and those with belief in the supernatural, such as the narrators or Roderick Usher, could be haunted. However, it is most likely a psychological phenomenon of being overwhelmed by guilt. In “The Black Cat,” the narrator is persistently haunted by a cat whose reality is questionable. In “The Fall of the House of Usher.” There are hints that Madeline was buried alive or that Roderick had something to do with her death judging from his behavior. Both narrators suffer from psychosis in modern psychological terms. The burial in the wall serves as a catalyst to their behavior and anxiety. From the first lines of the story, Poe establishes the gloomy atmosphere of the Usher house in the narration. “The shades of the evening drew on, within view of the melancholy House of Usher” (Poe 64). Melancholy served as the expression of the Usher house, as it was in the heart of Roderick. The narrator uses heavy imagery to give a sense of darkness and bleakness to the house, almost overwhelming him at first. Poe writes “…utter depression of soul which I can compare to no earthly sensation” (64) to give a sense of the eerie atmosphere emanating from the house. Analyzing the mood and colors of the Usher house, scholars state that the imagery presents a connotation for the reader of what awaits inside the house. The house is a direct representation of the lineage of Usher, and perhaps even a reflection of Poe himself (Avelar 174). The house’s gloomy tone serves as a contrast to the characterization of the narrator. It can be considered symbolic, as the narrator is a small light entering the depths of darkness, and in the end barely managing to escape as the House of Usher plummets into metaphorical hell. The character is not well described, but it is kno
Introduction Many countries have made significant strides in improving the welfare of their citizens. Arguably, poverty has declined in many liberal democracies, such as America and Canada. However, it remains a huge impediment to social and economic development in most of these countries (Gustafson 644). In this regard, many countries grapple with the problem of identifying the best strategies for managing the social, economic and political problems associated with low income. Historically, Canada has financed many social welfare programs for the poor (Ismaili et al. 248). America has also had similar programs, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs, designed for the poor. Although these programs have been around for many decades, there has been a shifting public policy regarding the economic viability and morality of sustaining such programs (Gustafson 644). Particularly, such concerns manifest in today’s uncertain economic times because governments struggle with huge wage bills and low tax collections (Gustafson 644). Therefore, it is becoming untenable for such institutions to finance such programs. However, this is only one way of looking at the poverty issue. The criminalization of poverty is an alternative view of managing the social, economic, and political problems associated with poverty. This view stems from a wider philosophical thought that sees the end of social welfare programs as a way of punishing the poor (Stevens 106). This paper investigates this perception, in detail, by understanding the policy shift that underscores the transformation of public focus, from the social welfare approach to a market-based (individualistic) approach. Key segments of this paper highlight how the neo-liberal approach describes the wider social framework that has created the public policy shift of welfare improvement. In this regard, with a special focus on Canada, the objective of this essay is to investigate how public policy has transformed alongside the public perception of social welfare reform. Similarly, this paper aims to identify the background and socio-historical context of the public policy shift. Background and Socio-Historical Concept of Theory In the last couple of decades, criminal law has changed to reflect the changing nature of welfare systems. The Canadian government has championed this shift by advancing a peculiar perception of viewing poor people as a “criminal class” (Wacquant 401). In Canada, this treatment has manifested at local, state, and federal levels. At the center of this policy shift is a growing concern about welfare fraud. The statistics of people getting irregular welfare payments have worried policymakers because it means unscrupulous people are abusing social welfare programs for personal gain. To mitigate this problem, policymakers seek better ways of making sure that all people who get state welfare funds are eligible entrants of the program (Ismaili et al. 248). Such concerns have created a tight policy framework for welfare recipients (Stevens 106). Here, the governm
Sickness behavior refers to non-specific adaptive response of the innate immune system and is an expression of a central motivational state (Dantzer and Kelly, 2007; Aubert at al., 1997). Thus, cytokine induced sickness behavior refers to a motivational state that belongs to the realm of physiology, similar to other motivational states, such as fear or hunger (Dantzer and Kelly, 2007). Withdrawing from the environment to seek rest and care for the body is as normal in response to infectious agents as being able to shift to a state of increased arousal and readiness for action when confronted with a potential external threat. Sickness behavior refers to an adaptive response of the host to infectious microorganisms. In theory, cytokines released in response to infection or inflammation alert the brain of any real or potential threats and initiate behaviors that are important for survival (Frink et al, 2009). The result of a hyperactive proinflammatory state marked by excess production of proinflammatory cytokines may contribute to the pathogenesis of various human diseases such as allergy, autoimmunity, obesity, depression and atherosclerosis (Sternberg, 2006). Some even refer to the ability of the immune system to alert or communicate with the brain as a “sixth sense” (Blalock & Smith, 2007). Sickness behavior is adaptive in that it forces an individual to rest and withdraw from activities so that physiological processes can effectively produce healing (Blalock & Smith, 2007; Kelley, Dantzer, Zhou, Shen, Jhonson & Broussard, 2003). However, sickness behavior is no longer adaptive if it goes beyond the organism’s resources and/or out of proportion with the triggering contributory factors that initiated the adaptive response. This is prevalent during a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases (Dantzer and Kelly, 2007). Proinflammatory cytokines released during infection, inflammation, injury and even psychological stress can signal the brain to initiate behavioral changes that facilitate adaptation to these threats. Cytokine-to-brain signaling leads to mood disorders, particularly depression that accompanies the illness (Dantzer, 2009: Dantzer et al, 2008). Cytokines signal the brain to induce sickness behaviors through neural, hormonal, and cellular pathways (Capuron and Miller, 2011). Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to describe how cytokines signal access the brain, then describe the key evidence that supports the concept that cytokines signal the brain to induce sickness behaviors through shedding the light on the two crucial models; the Dantzer’s Motivational Model of Sickness Behavior and The Two Hit Model of Cytokine-induced-Depression. Finally, the paper will derive clinical implications. Cytokine Signals access in the brain Cytokines are relativel
Today, more than ever before, the role played by music in shaping our thought systems and our interactions with others can never be underestimated. It is safe to argue that music has not only been able to transcend cultural and racial boundaries to find appeal universally, but has also assisted civilizations across the world to find their own exclusive social niche, bringing them together with other individuals and societies that collectively share the same interest (Durant, 2010). The reggae music genre has particularly been instrumental in communicating the message of resistance against political and social systems that appear biased to the interests of the blacks not only in Jamaica where the genre originated, but also across the world (Alvalez, 2008). Through sampling some of lyrics of Bob Marley, the proclaimed founder of the Rasta movement, this paper will purpose to show how the musical messages of resistance to political and social systems have served to fuel social decadence and crime in contemporary world. It is a well known fact that music is a communicative apparatus that is used and shared by individuals around the world to emphasize their values and articulate new notions. Reggae music is no exception. Bob Marley brought into the world revolutionary ideologies of love, peace, unity, and independence, all wrapped together in a message of political revolution to free the blacks from the colonial masters that had invaded Africa and other parts of the world (Alvarez, 2008). His Redemption Song in particular rallied the blacks to be strong in the face of white domination using the following lyrics: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds, have no fear of atomic energy, cause none of them can stop the time. How long shall they kill our prophets, while we stand aside and look? Ooh! Some say it’s a part of it: we’ve got to fulfill the book” (Elyrics.Net, 2010, para. 2). Marley may have had very valid reasons for singing against the system especially with the realization that racism and subjugation of blacks was at its peak during his era. His lyrics together with contributions of other black civil rights activists such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King greatly assisted Africans and black Americans to nurture their own identity and demand for recognition as human beings rather than slave subjects (Alvarez, 2008). Bob in particular was able to question authority while vividly portraying the agony and suffering of the black community through music. It is therefore sad to note how his legacy has been used to cause social decadence and acts of crime in the name of Rastafarian movement (Rommen, 2006). Roots reggae and its teachings have become deeply entrenched in the lifestyles of many people across the world. The real value of the music, however, has undergone great transformations mostly to th
Social structure impacts a person’s life by setting expectations associated with an individual’s roles, the social networks to which they belong, and the status connected with their positions. The status determines an individual’s access to resources, affecting their education and future occupation and earnings (DeLamater et al., 2015). Women’s occupational status and earning are limited by gender segregation. Occupational role characteristics are associated with particular values (DeLamater et al., 2015). Additionally, higher education is connected with placing greater value on self-direction (DeLamater et al., 2015). Mental health is linked to hardships in occupational attainment, marital status, and social networks, as well as gender and status. Physical health can be influenced by gender; for example, men are more vulnerable to such illnesses as coronary heart disease due to the traditional role expectations (DeLamater et al., 2015). Weak social network ties affect an individual’s sense of belonging (DeLamater et al., 2015). These elements of social structure influence different areas of an individual positively and negatively. The location in social structure impacts every individual throughout their entire life. As for me, it affected my early life education and access to such resources like money and lifestyle. Furthermore, it influenced my choice of education and future occupation. Due to this choice, my mental health is negatively affected by occasional stress. My social networks are influenced by my lifestyle and have an impact on my sense of belonging and mental health. My physical health is associated with my gender and lifestyle. As such, my current life is affected by my status and choices made in accordance with this status. It will continue to impact my occupation, marital status, health, and sense of belonging in the future.
Introduction Feminist discourse aims to discover why women become subjects to a great deal of oppression. Even in instances when women are given rights, they are often not on par with the rights granted to their male counterparts, which creates a vicious circle of struggling to attain more rights, which, again, do not meet the desired standards. In the Islamic context, the oppression, marginalization, and silencing of women have deep roots in religious history, with Sharia being the primary source of both law and ethics regarding the treatment of women. However, modern feminist research considers the treatment of women in the Muslim tradition from a negative standpoint, specifically, forcing submissiveness and mistreatment (Shizleen, 2018). The complete experience of women in Islam is veiled by myths and misconceptions that have embedded into the feminist narrative and fail to be addressed time in time again (European Network Against Racism, 2016). Even though Muslim women do experience severe limitations that hinder their equality of opportunities, the Islamophobic agenda significantly influences their lives, leaving limited capacity to express one’s religious and traditional values freely. In addition, what many fail to recognize is that the current rights given to Muslim women are just ‘rights,’ and with the pressure from the Islamophobic agenda, they do not guarantee equality. The Religious Context In the Islamic religion, men and women are considered morally equal in God’s sight and are expected to fulfill the same duties of prayer, worship, faith, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca. As mentioned in the Quran (3: 195), God said that he would “never fail to reward any worker among you for any work you do, be you male or female – you are equal to one another.” According to historical records, Mohammad himself consulted women and took his opinions into consideration. In addition, at least one woman, Umm Waraqah, was made imam over her household. Women were allowed to pray in mosques unsegregated from men and, in the early Islamic period, were both instructors and pupils seeking knowledge and education. Notwithstanding the principles of equality of men and women in Islamic trad
The documents that are going to be analyzed present different views on the role that the United States should play during World War I. The text called War is A Blessing; Not a Curse emphasizes the need to intervene into this military conflict that engulfed entire Europe. In turn, in his speech, Robert LaFollette points out that it was wiser for America to refrain from taking any part in these events. It is necessary to examine these arguments more closely. Overall, the supporters of the U.S intervention argue that this war represented the conflict between democracy and tyranny. In particular, the authors of this article believe that it was the duty of the United States to protect liberty and fight autocracy (“War Is a Blessing, Not a Curse” unpaged). Apart from that, the writers note that the king of Prussia Wilhelm II was a brutal enemy of the country. His international policies could pose a threat to the national security of the United States. However, the authors do not specify how exactly Germany could threaten American interests. This is one of the main points that the make. Furthermore, the advocates of this strategy believe that in this way, the United States can eventually bring improvements to the lives of many nations. In this case, one can speak primarily about the elimination of autocracy. Moreover, the intervention could eventually stop the war and save many lives. Finally, this strategy might help the country become a global leader. These are the main elements of the argument in favor of military intervention. In turn,
Control and Violence in Intimate Relationships by Michael Johnson Johnson discusses the issue of violence in intimate relationships since research shows that many families have broken up mainly because of the aggressiveness of partners. In his view, Johnson underscores the fact that violence is used as a control mechanism in intimate relationships. He gives an example of one of the newly wedded individuals who engaged in violence to ensure that he has full control of the other partner. Violence in marriage is justifiable in many societies since it is believed that women are properties of men. However, some other partners do not use violence to control relationships, but instead, they employ it to achieve their interests. Johnson distinguishes between four basic types of violence in intimate relationships. One of the types of violence is intimate terrorism, which takes place when the individual employing it seeks to control the other partner. In this form of violence, the individual is aggressive, as well as controlling, but the partner is not. Violent resistance is another form of intimate violence that arises in reaction to intimate terrorism. It takes place when an individual attempts to resist the actions of the aggressive partner meaning that the partner is violent and controlling, but the individual is not, even though he or she might be violent. Mutual violent control is the third type of violence that takes place in an intimate relationship whereby both partners tend to be violent while attempting to control each other. In the last type of intimate violence, situational couple violence, the individual might be violent, but the partner is not, even though the aspect of control is not present. In many cases, the male partners would want to control the entire family, including children and even workers. He will always ensure that children give him maximum respect and they have to know that he is the head of the family. Johnson suggests that this is one way of instilling fear in the other partner. Some men force children to support their violent acts, leading to more conflicts in the family. Male partners in intimate relationships employ several strategies in intimidating women, one of them being isolation. They try as much as possible to keep their wives away from family decision-making hence rendering them irrelevant. For some men, they will ensure that they are the only source of money and information, an act that disc
Introduction The text I chose is derived from the book Ancient Egyptian Literature: A Book Of Readings: The New Kingdom by Miriam Lichtheim. The text starts in page 147 of the book and runs to page 148, providing an analysis of the Egyptian literary work Amenemope. For this purpose, the author goes on to provide an in-depth analysis of the text’s structure and cites relevant examples to help classify the text as a presentation of early Egyptian writing. In producing the text, the author seeks to provide a guide for scholars trying to understand the Amenemope to utilize in enhancing their comprehension of the text. This essay seeks to provide a summary of the Lichtheim’s writing in a way that will enable the reader to understand the objectives that guided the development of the piece. To this end, the content of the text shall be broken down and presented in a way that will make a reader develop a full grasp of it, without necessarily having to read the book. No external references will be used in this project in a bid to stick to the primary objective. The usage of literary devices In the first paragraph, the author introduces us to the literary devices that are most prominent in the writing (Lichtheim 147). In this regard, he indicates that similes and metaphors are prominent in the 30 chapters of the Amenemope . The author of the text also confirms that splitting the writing into two main categories makes the Amenemope appear structurally strong. Placement of the main ideas in context In subsequent paragraphs, the author picks examples from the text to use in explaining why the text falls in the Rameside period (Lichtheim 147). The reader is made aware that