ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
How is gender socially constructed? The essay answers this question. It defines gender as a social construction and explains its significance as a cultural phenomenon. Introduction Gender as a topic has become very popular over the recent past. The global society has witnessed many changes in social construction of gender. According to World Health Organization, gender is a socially constructed trait, conduct, position, and action that a given society considers suitable for men and women. Lockheed (45) defines gender as a given range of characteristics that distinguishes a male from a female. Gender refers to those attributes that would make an individual be identified as either male or female. As can be seen from the above definitions, gender is more of a social than a physical attribute. We look at gender from a societal point of view. Lepowsky (90) defines social construction as an institutionalized characteristic that is largely acceptable in a given society because of the social system. Social construction, in a narrower term, refers to the general behavioral patterns of a certain society shaped by beliefs and values. A socially constructed characteristic therefore varies from one organization to another. Different societies have different beliefs and cultural practices that help define them. Therefore, a social construction of one society would be different from another society. To social constructionists, social construct is a notion or an idea that is considered obvious and natural to a certain group of individuals in a given society, which may be true or not. This means that it holds just to the specific society. In this regard therefore, gender and associated beliefs would vary from one community to another depending on perceptions. On the other hand, essentialists hold there is a set of characteristics that are universal in a certain entity. This means that a given entity can receive a single definition, regardless of the societal set up. In this regard, gender is a universal entity, irrespective of the society and the cultural beliefs associated with it. This perspective dilutes the notion that gender is a social construction. This is because it gives it a universal definition, where there is a remarkable difference in the social construct of different societies in the world. This is due to differences in religion, cultural beliefs and civilization. To validate this discussion, the essay is based on social constructionist thinking as opposed to essentialism. Social Construction of Gender Gender is socially constructed. As Lepowsky (31) notes, there is a remarkable difference in the way different societies view the two genders that is, male and female. This scholar says that issues related to gender purely take the approach of social constructionists. He says that societies in the world have varied characteristics, depending on cultures. He notes that the way one society would view the relationship between the two genders would vary from another, which also depend on a num
A study by Parikh, Lasky, Kennedy, McDavid, and Tyson (2013) explored various clinical antecedents of brain volume abnormalities in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBW). Preterm infants are associated with an exceptionally high rate of neurodevelopmental impairments. By using volumetric and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the scientists examined a range of perinatal antecedent factors in a group of ELBW infants in order to better understand modifiable risk factors related to the abnormalities. Upon measuring brain volumes with the help of automatic tissue segmentation methods and correlating the data with total brain volumes and white matter hyperintensities adjusted for age, Parikh et al. (2013) discovered that ELBW infants’ regional brain volumes were noticeably lower than those of term newborns. Relative percentage difference for brain volumes was from -11 percent to -35.9 percent (Parikh et al., 2013). The following risk factors were clinically associated with the abnormalities: seizures, apnea/caffeine therapy, total prenatal nutrition (TPN) duration, and pulmonary hemorrhage (Parikh et al., 2013). Relative difference range for these factors was from -1.4 percent to -15 percent (Parikh et al., 2013). In addition, it was discovered that cerebral atrophy plays a major role in the reduction of total and regional brain volumes (Parikh et al., 2013). The findings of the study were consistent with the extant literature on brain volume abnormalities and helped to broaden understanding of clinical precursors of white matter hyperintensities. However, the researchers did not adjust their data for head size, which prevented them from discovering additional risk factors such as secondary atrophy (Parikh et al., 2013). Other limitations of the study were a low incidence of the antecedents and differences in magnetic field strengths for two groups of infants, which resulted in volumetric distortions. Reference Parikh, N., Lasky, R., Kennedy, K., McDavid, G., & Tyson, J. (2013). Perinatal factors and regional brain volume abnormalities at term in a cohort of extremely low birth weight infants. PLoS ONE, 8 (5), 1-19.
Ezra Holdings is a company that offers offshore support services. Throughout its lifespan, it has exhibited a successful rapid growth and is now deemed as an example of the entrepreneurship and wise business decisions. It began in 1992 as a relatively small company that offered the management and operation of offshore support vessels. It has steadily grown its capabilities by partnering with the local contractors until the Asian currency crisis of 1997 when the already stagnating O&G market has experienced a dramatic throwback. As a result, Ezra (then known as EMAS) has lost the majority of its fleet, as one of the clients has sold all of his OSVs which Ezra has managed. This has led to the decision to buy their vessels instead of relying on the small and vulnerable client base. By 2003, the company had six OSVs at their disposal. At that time, the major shift towards fast-paced growing has begun: the first bank loan was acquired, and the management team necessary for operating a large business entity was assembled. From 2002, when the market has recovered, and the demand for vessels surged, the company has collected funds intended for the purchase of new OSVs, but with the arrival of the Initial Public Offering in Singapore, the company’s policy has changed. Until 2007, it still expanded its fleet, now working with international clients, but it also started expansion through acquisitions. It began with the 50-50 joint venture with KS Tech Ltd. Since then Ezra proceeds to acquire small companies that boost its capabilities, like the ability to undertake fabrications and engineering instead of outsourcing it. Finally, with the decline of the O&G boom, Ezra ventures into new fields, investing in the Deepwater Subsea segment in 2009 and the ice-class vessels in 2009, both of which are promising areas for the long-term development. Throughout its entire lifespan, Ezra Holdings has exhibited all of the ri
Introduction A scientific approach to sociology has been the concern of many sociologists and there has been extensive work on the way different social aspects. These can be described based on the theories developed in social sciences trying to describe the various social phenomenons. One such phenomenon which needs attention is the war on Iraq. The war started by the United States on suspicion that Iraq was helping terrorist organizations and Saddam Hussein, the autocratic leader, was planning to build a nuclear power. The result was American soldiers along with soldiers from other countries being deployed in Iraq and the war against terror. The problem is to understand if the war an outcome of the “Iraq’s political culture had been poisoned by a crude theory of race and a racialist Arabism that had wrecked and unsettled Arab and Muslim life in the 1980s and 1990s” (Ajami) or was it American fear or hatred of the Arabs in a post-9/11 era? The basic question of race culture and war are again intertwined through America’s war in Iraq and that is what is discussed in this paper. From the point of view of Du Bois American war on Iraq was an outcome of the white supremacy that America while Parsons believes that all sociological acts are outcomes of a process of marinating a social equilibrium and are done to maintain stability in society. Thus, from Parsonian point of view, it can be argued that the war by America on Iraq was a process to maintain stability in the culturally discoursed institutional stability while Du Bois would argue that it is a process of establishing America’s white supremacy on non-white Iraq or the Arab world. War in Iraq The starting point of the war on Iraq was the terrorist attack of 9/11 on WTC, which presented America with the shocking event of demolished WTC and the whole country in the throes of terror. The consequence was President George Bush’s decision to strike war on terror, namely the Islamic jihadist who brought about the disaster. In the name of tracking down Al Qaida the jihadist organization, America attacked Afghanistan and then attacked Iraq under the suspicion of the country’s alleged sponsor of Islamic terrorism and the country’s plans to proliferate weapons of mass destruction (WMD). According to Ajami, Iraq’s political culture was the outcome of the extremist Islamic teaching which resulted in the country’s non-democratic government and the bitter fights amongst the Shia and the Sunni population. The Americans ousted Saddam Hussein from his autocratic and despotic rule and prosecuted him. The next was 2005’s Iraqi elections which showed the light of democracy to the country. But this came at the cost of more than two thousand American soldiers who had died in the war away from their country (Ajami). The American war in Iraq has been compared to the country’s attack on Vietnam with the same purpose of ending despotism has been criticized, as has been its venture into Iraq: “ The American withdrawal from Vietnam is widely remembered as an ignominious end to a misguided war — but one with few negative repercussions for the United States and its al
There are gaps that have been found to exist between practice and research. As a result, Buick, Blackman, O’Flynn, O’Donnell, and West (2016) examined an arrangement in the Australian Public Sector which brought together practitioners and scholars with the aim of improving performance. It is based on this arrangement that a continuum of co-production was analyzed to determine its successes and shortcomings. According to Buick et al. (2016), coproduction denotes a situation in which different parties are engaged in the contribution of substantial resources to aid in the creation of value. Based on the case background of the Australian Public Service, Buick et al. (2016) were able to establish the dynamics that relate to co production partnerships concisely. The coproduction formed the basis of determining the relationships between scholars and practitioners in the design and delivery of public services and goods. For instance, by reframing the performance management, the key enablers and barriers to high performance were identified. As a result, based on the diagnostic approach adopted by Buick et al. (2016), it can be pointed out that the analysis of the relationship achieved the intended mandate that can be applied in the design of future public service partnerships. The work by the authors is critical in understanding how coproduction can be enhanced to ensure that high performance characterizes the public sector. For example, one of the key enablers in co production was the importance of knowledge. Knowledge or information determines how various stakeholders interact to ensure that there is an improvement in the performance of the public sector. It connotes the importance of co production such as the complementary insights, the access to participants and the integration of theory and practice. A case in point, Buick et al. (2016) noted that coproduction “represents a research strategy in which scholars and practitioners work together at each stage of the research process: identification of research problems, research design, undertaking fieldwork, analyzing and interpreting the data, and disseminating the research findings” (p. 38). Also, throughout the piece, the factors that hinder coproduction are identified such as time constraints, conflicts due to lack of clarity and veto rights and censorship which relate to the terms of an agreement. It is through the discovered knowledge that it becomes possible to enhance performance across the public sector
Obesity is a chronic, complex, and multi-factorial preventable problem. It is a process that usually begins in childhood and adolescence, which is set by an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. However, there is an increase in obesity, which affects children socially, environmentally, or metabolically. It is observed that in the third world countries children are starving; on the contrary, in developed nations, there is an increasing trend towards obesity. The US tops the list of countries in the world with the highest rate of people with obesity, and it has reached to the extent that this public health problem threatens to overtake smoking as the leading cause of death (Johannsen et al. 431–439). In previous national surveys of nutrition and health, an alarming number of school-aged children have been recorded suffering from overweight or obesity issues. It is a strong indicator resulting from greater unhealthy practices, which cause obesity or overweight diseases. The growth of childhood obesity in the US is striking and disturbing. Since the last 15 years, the number of school-aged children obesity problem has increased at a great pace. There are now three times more obese children than there were 15 years ago. The consequences of this development can be very troubling, but solutions exist which require a change in the habits of individuals. The figures are a clear warning sign that must be addressed soon. It is proven that overweight children are more likely to be obese throughout their lives; hence, consequent problems will arise from this notion (Faith et al. 1711–1722). There is the existence of a strong genetic component in overweight children. However, the increasing prevalence of obesity is attributed to the environmental factors that promote expression and excessive caloric intake and decreased physical activity. Unfortunately, most parents, who need to play an important role in guiding and controlling school-aged children, live a sedentary lifestyle. They fail to control what their children eat, encourage them to exercise, and help them not to eat under stress and anxiety (Wrotniak et al. 1089–1096). Considering these circumstances, it is clear that the attitude of parents plays a major role. Indeed, other than the genetic, endocrine, or neurological factors that can lead to obesity there are many environmental factors that may predispose a child to suffer from this disease. Moreover, family socioeconomic status and educational level of parents matter towards habits and customs within the home that children later follow. There are several dangers involved for children with the growing trend of obesity. First, obesity may lead to severe physical problems including diabetes type II, hypertension, triglycerides and cholesterol and psychological issues such as low self-esteem and social stigma (Faith et al. 1711–1722). The question is simple, but the answer generates excessive debate. What is the cause of this epidemic? It is a rea
Introduction The education system has been dynamic ever since its inception in various countries across the world. The dynamism of the education system revolves around the curriculum, syllabus, and content; however, there is a new revolution of educational materials used by students. In the contemporary world, the education system has turned digital through the introduction of e-learning over the Internet and softcopy reading materials, which demand the usage of computers in schools. The system pioneered in the developed countries, but it is quickly getting into developing countries although the system has not replaced the old one entirely. School notebooks, which are now referred to as the old norm, have numerous benefits. Laptop notebooks have not yet been fully tested, as they are not fully adopted into the system yet. Therefore, notebook laptops should not replace school notebooks. School Notebooks Notebooks have been in use ever since the invention of writing papers in the Middle Ages. They were the basic writing materials in the development of academic systems even before civilization. Notebooks demand from the students to be fully attentive in the classroom since they are supposed to write notes as lessons continue. It is paramount for students to learn how to write notes for reading and reference purposes for such practices enhance their understanding capabilities and attentiveness in the classroom. Therefore, eliminating school notebooks from the academic systems will make students less attentive to class work, as they will not be fully engaged in writing. Notebooks are very essential for the development of writing skills. Writing skills help students to communicate effectively through writing coupled with enhancing handwriting neatness. Education begins at the early childhood education level. The student is taught the basic skills, which include writing skills. However, writing skills develop gradually as a student progresses to advanced stages of education. Therefore, eliminating school notebooks at early stages of education would deny students the opportunity to improve their handwriting in terms of neatness and speed, which are necessary elements in writing skills (Weaver & Nilson, 2005). School notebooks are easily affordable and they need no maintenance costs, thus they are more practical for learning purposes of people with low income. The education system should have cost-effective mechanisms that enable the majority of people to afford it with less or no strain. Hence, it is very important to ensure that every student can easily find the money for the basic learning requirements in order
Alzheimer disease is a form of dementia which grows severely as it progresses. It is a fatal disease which was named after Alois Alzheimer. The latter was the first scientist who explored and fully described the existence of the disease among human beings (Brill 34). The ailment usually develops with multiple symptoms that may be easily confused with those of other similar or closely related complications. The most remarkable feature of the disease is the loss of ability to remember events in an individual’s life. Thinking abilities of patients are significantly compromised. As a result, it becomes quite cumbersome for them to maintain a regular mental sequence. It is also worth to mention that the malady advances with more evident symptoms such as total memory loss, confusion and irritability (Green 90). The affected persons begin to move away from family members and they also develop some kind of aggressive and repulsive behavior which makes it difficult to control them. The most specific causes of this condition have not been fully established in the past medical records and diagnoses. The most reliable sources argue out that the disease is caused by tangles and plague in the brain (Harris 102). The two factors are yet to be studied in detail in terms of whether they are indeed responsible for this kind of ill-health or not. Currently, there are still wide array of opportunities through which more specialized studies can be undertaken to examine the etiology, prevalence, treatment and cure of the disease. It is true that there is no particular cure for this disease. It has proven to be quite difficult to reverse its occurrence which usually culminates into full blown Alzheimer (Lau and Berg 163). It is worth noting that exercises conducted with the aim of stimulating the mind remain as a major way of helping victims. It is clear that patients have to depend on the care of others. As pointed out earlier, the exact cause of Alzheimer is not clear yet. There are many hypotheses which have been put across in an attempt to explore dominant cause or causes of Alzheimer. It is important to look in to each of these studies in a bid to come up with a significant and conclusive understanding of the condition. The oldest known hypothesis that attempted to examine the cause of Alzheimer claim is that of the neurotransmitter agent in neurons (Warner 198). The latter explains that a problem in acetylcholine which is the neurotransmitter between neuron synapses is responsible for breakdowns towards the smooth flow of communication. This condition has not been able to receive any amicable repair and hence remains a protracted medical and health challenge (Warner 123). Another hypothesis on the etiology of this disease is that which relates amyloids to Alzheimer. According to the latter hypothetical medical study, it has been exemplified that the presence of deposits of amyloidal cells is the major cause of Alzheimer. This postulation is equally supported by the fact that amyloidal deposits lead to the creat
Introduction The fast-food industry has gained massive popularity in the United Arab Emirates, especially the City of Dubai that has experienced massive growth in the recent past. Most people prefer fast food joints because of their convenience and the variety of foods they offer. However, health experts have warned that this industry poses health risks, especially among the young population (Schlosser, 2012). However, it is worrying that many people in this society are not aware of the dangers that this industry poses to young people. The industry has continued growing in Dubai as many people like most of the delicious products such as chicken, hamburgers, and fries. What they fail to realize is that such foods have high calories that put their health at risk when consumed in large quantities frequently. According to Smith (2012), children were previously considered to be at less risk of high-calorie foods because of their physical activities. Outdoor games such as football, athletics, hide and seek, and many such games are very effective in burning the excess calories in the body. It means that if these youngsters take excess calories, the calories would easily be burned off in the body through the physical games. However, that is no longer the case. Children are embracing indoor games, especially computer games. They no longer have time to go to the field and get into physical activities. This means that the food rich in calories found in fast food stores poses dangers to them (Width & Reinhard, 2009). There is a need to create awareness in society on the dangers that this industry poses to young people. In order to get the primary data from people involved in this sector, we conducted research by interviewing a dietitian within the City of Dubai. Below is part of that interview. The Interview The Researcher: For how long have you been practicing in this field within this city? The Dietitian: I have been practicing in this field for about six years now. The Researcher: Do you believe that fast foods pose a danger to the young people of this city? The Dietitian: Yes, I strongly believe that some of the health problems that have been reported in the recent past are directly related to fast foods. The Researcher: Do you believe that the people of Dubai have the knowledge that fast food poses