Abstract This research paper outlines the theory of Karl Marx (1818-1884) of historical materialism, discusses the views of Max Weber (1864-1920) on the forces which shape history and compares and contrasts the views of Marx and Weber on the rise of capitalism
From the Paper "This research paper outlines the theory of Karl Marx (1818-1884) of historical materialism, discusses the views of Max Weber (1864-1920) on the forces which shape history and compares and contrasts the views of Marx and Weber on the rise of capitalism. A fundamental premise of Marx is that economic or material factors determine the course and outcome of history (historical materialism or economic determinism). Weber viewed economics as one among many important factors which contributed to the evolution of human society. He laid considerable emphasis on the importance of charismatic leadership and new ideas as determinants of historical change. He saw the rise of capitalism as the psychological product of a particular set of beliefs which he labeled the Protestant ethic."
Examines the history of fashion, psychological effects on the public, sociocultural aspects, selling of body images, impact of the industry and advertising on adolescent girls, anorexia and bulimia.
5,625 words (approx. 22.5 pages), 26 sources, 1999, $ 135.95
Abstract The purpose of this research is to examine connections between the policies, strategies, and practices of the fashion industry and the phenomenon of eating disorders. The plan of the research will be to set forth the background and context in which such connections can be credibly made and then to discuss the extent to which compelling evidence exists that there is fashion-industry culpability in the reach and severity of eating disorders.
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to examine connections between the policies, strategies, and practices of the fashion industry and the phenomenon of eating disorders. The plan of the research will be to set forth the background and context in which such connections can be credibly made and then to discuss the extent to which compelling evidence exists that there is fashion-industry culpability in the reach and severity of eating disorders, where such disorders can be interpreted as a response of fashion-industry customers to social and cultural norms that the industry either shapes or leads.
The influence of the fashion industry on medical pathology that arises from eating pathology cannot be understood without an appreciation of the ability of cultural norms to influence a whole range of human behavior within that culture. Equally ..."
From the Paper "This study will examine the concept and the importance of religion in the perspectives of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Sigmund Freud, and Max Weber. The study will consider how each theorist views the relationship between religion and social stability, on the one hand, and religion and social change on the other, how each theorist sees the relationship between religion and modernization, and the strengths and weaknesses of each theorist's views, and will argue that Marx's views are most convincing.
Marx deals with the alienation which society produces in the individual, and argues that religion, which aims at healing this alienation, in fact masks its economic causes. The other theorists will be shown to take too lukewarm a view of the ills of society and the role religion plays in society, although..."
Abstract A culturally diverse work place is one that includes people from various cultural backgrounds. This paper examines how this difference can be beneficial in the current business environment and the criteria in order to make it succeed. It begins with an explanation of the various sources of competitive advantage related to it followed by a discussion of the characteristics of a successful multicultural organization. It concludes by evaluating the skills required of a manager in order to run a mulitcultural organization efficiently.
From the Paper "Having a multicultural workforce assists in customer focus because it helps ensure a better understanding of who the customer is. For example, a company consisting only of educated, white males would find it difficult to consider the many different types of customers they are appealing to. In contrast, a multicultural company with a mix of cultures would be better able to recognize the many different characteristics of their target customers. This applies equally within America and in regards to international business."
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the features of the conflict perspective. Specifically, it presents a look at the features that seem attractive, and those features that seem especially unattractive. The paper defines conflict as a constant element of society, as the part of society always fighting against dominance and submission.
From the Paper "The conflict perspective is defined as: "A theoretical perspective that focuses on the struggle among different social groups over scarce rewards" (Iverson). There is nothing so constant in society as conflict. The history of our world revolves around conflict, religious or otherwise. Society would not be society without some form of conflict. The conflict perspective is more than just war or violence; it is the part of society always fighting against dominance and submission. The conflict perspective is alive in everything from conflicts between management and labor unions (think of the recent dockworkers strike), to the struggle for women to gain equal compensation in the workforce."
From the Paper "This study will provide a critical analysis of The Disuniting of America: Reflections on a Multicultural Society, by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
Schlesinger's argument is essentially that the United States is in danger of breaking up into ethnic camps, that such a breakup will be a dangerous and counter-productive occurrence, and that he hopes and believes that it will not happen after all. It is not only a short book (115 pages, not counting the Foreword), it is a book short on argument. It is probably not a coincidence that the word "reflections" appears in the book's sub-title, because there is a superficial tone to the book, as if it had been a brief essay stretched into book-length. The same basic thesis is repeated over and over: America was once a..."
This paper discusses the causes and effects of anorexia and bulimia and the role of cultural images projected in the media in promoting obsessions about body weight.
1,575 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 8 sources, 1994, $ 55.95
From the Paper "Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia have been attributed to a number of causes or sets of causes, and one of the elements that has been examined in the literature and that is often assumed by the layperson as a major reason for such eating disorders is the American preoccupation with thinness. Eating disorders are prevalent among teenage girls who can be much influenced by what they see in fashion, in the movies, and on television and who may then try to emulate the models they perceive as representing the ultimate in sophistication and success, and such images can be especially important for adolescents just learning about themselves and trying to fit into the world around them.
Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia have generally been associated with the adolescent years of growth, ... "
This research paper examines the sources of Cajun culture in Louisiana and discusses the forces in modern American life which threaten its traditions. The dominant factor which has shaped the distinctive features and character of Cajun culture is the tragic history of the Cajuns and their Acadian forbears. Ironically, just as Cajun culture is becoming more widely known, it is undergoing significant change and its fabric is gradually weakening.
The Influence of Lost Acadia
Perhaps the most remarkable fact about the Cajun people is that they have survived their ordeals during the past four centuries. Cajun is a corrupted form of the French word for Acadian. It refers to people of French descent who were driven ..."
A discussion on the differences between the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC), the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and the American Counseling Association (ACA).
Abstract This paper explores the differences among the code of ethics of the organizations listed above. It examines how many of the divergent codes are attributable to the religious affiliation of the AAPC accompanied by the not-for-profit roots of religious organizations. It evaluates how religion appears in referral policies and attitudes about the imposition of values in the AACC and AAPC and how religion seems to underlie these group's codes for therapist/client relationships and termination policies whereas the ACA is more liberal toward making profits as evidenced by policies regarding fees, record ownership, advertising and testing, to name a few.
From the Paper "There are no major differences among the confidentiality and conflict of interest mandates of the three groups. They respect a client's right to privacy and avoid disclosures of confidential information. All allow for confidentiality breaches only when the law requires it or if the client or someone else faces danger because of the client's actions. The AACC, the AAPC, and the ACA discourage dual relationships with clients that could affect the counseling relationship or present the opportunity for personal gain."
Abstract A paper focusing on the book "Ain't No Makin' It: Aspirations and Attainment in a Low-Income Neighborhood" by Jay MacLeod and how it pertains to the ideology of the American Dream. The paper shows how MacLeod's book questions the validity of the American Dream and discusses how this theory is seen by social thinkers such as political scientist and author Jennifer L. Hochschild.
From the Paper "Ain't No Makin' It: Aspirations and Attainment in a Low-Income Neighborhood is an ethnological study focusing on two sets of teenage boys living in housing projects in Clarendon Heights. Through observation and interviews, author and sociologist Jay MacLeod attempted to determine why the socioeconomic status of these young men remained stagnant, despite the mobility inherent to the ideology known as the "American Dream." Struck by the seemingly low level of aspirations expressed by the young adolescent boys, MacLeod researched the hopes and dreams of these young men, focusing on two groups: the "Hallway Hangers" and the ?Brothers.?"
Abstract This paper applies the identity theory to the case of immigration in the United States. It asks if the United States should continue to allow Immigrants to enter the U.S. seeking refuge and citizenship, when the nations states are already overly populated? It questions whether immigrants should be allowed to enter the U.S. and work when there are hundreds of citizens and native-born Americans already unemployed and desperately searching for work. It uses these questions as example of the conflicting messages immigrants and their children face in modern day society, and explains how they add to the increasingly complex problem of finding identity in a torn nation.
From the Paper "The United States is world known for its ethnic diversity, due in part to the immigration allowed over several years. Many people however, fail to find a means to foster inter-racial and ethnic identities, thus causing much conflict and a lack of a uniform sense of identity. The social issue relates to finding a common identity in a nation of multi-ethnicities. Children of immigrants are now coming of age, and from a social psychological stand will make the most lasting impression on society. The character of society will be shaped by their experiences."
Tags: ethnic, diversity, america, racial, employment, population
Abstract While in the 1960s and 1970s, child sexual abuse and child abuse in general was almost invisible, in recent year the issue is constantly in the pages of newspapers and magazines, and in portrayals on television and in movies. It sometimes appears that there has been a radical increase in the abuse of children, although experts believe most of this is the result of better reporting and changes in the perception of abuse. Still, there is a need for response; often that response leads to an intervention by human service agencies, including the possibility of removing the child from the home. The paper questions the effectiveness of these agencies in protecting children and improving their situation. The paper looks at the evolution of child welfare concepts, explores the current state of human service agency activity regarding children and comes to a conclusion about the effectiveness of human service agencies in protecting children.
From the Paper "This seems to echo the assertion by Wells and Tracy (1996) that there needs to be a new emphasis on out-placement of children in order to provide true child welfare services. They noted that recent practice has emphasized family preservation programs, rather than splitting-up families. However, they indicated that evidence has accumulated which shows that the intensive family preservation model has failed to protect children. Actually, that was not really its primary goal, since the initiative for the model developed in response to criticisms of Child Protective Services and their removal of children from the homes. The focus of the model, then, was to keep families together, while helping with family crises and protecting the children."
Tags: Elizabethan, Poor, Law, Social, Security, Act, foster, care, welfare
Abstract This paper looks at the relationship between poverty and race in the U.S. and how a black person is more likely than a white person to be poor, to have a lower family income, a lower paying job and fewer resources to get out of poverty. Through a literature review, it examines how experts have suggested a number of reasons for this situation, from different cultural expectations to greater historical barriers. It also argues that racism plays a significant role in perpetuating black poverty as well as contending that racism can be used as an excuse for self-perpetuation, obscuring other causes of poverty and preventing many blacks from making full use of what resources they do have to secure the kinds of lives for which they long.
From the Paper "The reasons for this disparity are not clear-cut. Civil War and civil rights have gone a long way toward equalizing circumstances between blacks and whites in America. Yet this equalization has not been economic, and one of the most significant explanations is that racism continues to be a powerful force in American life. Legislation eliminated the most blatant forms of institutionalized racism, but it could not stamp out the subtler ways in which dominant forces continue to try to suppress and discriminate against those who are different. As Jacqueline Jones points out, "From the time of slavery onward, white farmers and nonagricultural workers maintained historic advantages over black people, no matter how outwardly similar the situations of the two races" (6). Social reforms could not prevent the ruling classes from trying to hold onto whatever advantages they had already managed to secure."
Abstract This paper explains that, in a rapidly aging society, the American bias towards youth will have to be replaced by an added level of respect for the elderly. This paper reviews the theory of Erik Erikson on his life journey through many stages. This author stresses issues of family, spirituality and economic well-being and urges that American families begin to include the aged within their household as is the practice in most of the world.
From the Paper "In other more inclusive cultures, it is well understood that life's journey is circular in motion. Issues that have been dealt with in the past continually re-emerge, and the most important issue of all is that of relationships. Because human beings are above all social animals, the society one depends on is by far the most important aspect of aging. This concept is well understood in Asia and in South America, but apparently, it is not as paramount in the United States."
Abstract Domestic violence hurts every citizen as it rages against both men and women. This paper will address the causes of domestic violence, the effects of domestic violence and the solutions. The fact is that here in the United States women and children are in danger of dying as they face terror and violence.
