Speed Quality in Apparent Motion Essay Example for Free

Speed Quality in Apparent Motion Essay ABSTRACT Seven participants each viewed two flipbooks of slow and fast speeds of hand-drawn dots and stick figures. By counterbalancing the conditions, each participant watched the flipbooks according to the sequential order. After viewing either the slow or fast flipbooks, a questionnaire was used to collect and calculate raw data of the experience; which concerned realness, enjoy ability, smoothness, and speed quality. Hypothesizing how speed affects the quality of a flipbook supports Gestalt’s theory and dynamic case of apparent motion perceived. However, contradicting and compromising with the low-speed assumption and case first reported by Wallach. Introduction A popular and thorough explanation for brain and visual functioning, perception, and sensation is known as ‘Gestalt Theory.’ Gestalt theory explains that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Individual parts alone cannot conclude to be as great or effective as the whole entirely. This is important to recognize because a better understanding of why and how the world is viewed as a whole picture can be related to real world instances. Such as in motion pictures and in flipbooks, which helps to differentiate between perceiving apparent motion and actual, real motion. For instance, we involuntarily blink our eyes everyday, and although this is an action of real motion, apparent motion plays its part by filling in the blanks of blackness or darkness when blinking occurs. Furthermore, the theory then can translate to: the whole experience of sensation and perception is greater than the sum of individual parts of sensation and perception. The theories of Gestalt help to explain extraordinary circumstances and phenomena’s of perception that are experienced in life, whether that may be visual or auditory illusions as well. In particular,  apparent motion is a more specific area of study in Gestalt theory which touches upon this psychological and perceptual experience. Apparent motion previously studied suggests that it â€Å"may result when stationary stimuli are presented sequentially to different retinal locations. Apparent motion is inferred from information about change in position. (Green, 1983).†The successive presentation elicits an impression of motion (Sato, 1989).† â€Å"The perception of motion depends on the integration of visual information over space and time.(Snowden, 1990).† This information subsequently leads to the research question to pursue of: does speed effect the quality of apparent motion perceived in a flipbook? It may seem like a simple question to ask, but also factoring in a questionnaire, participant feelings, two flipbooks of with two speed settings of slow and fast, and different colored pages can lead to possible, unsuspecting findings about the phenomena of apparent motion; which has mostly been individually considered in previous studies. There has been many studies on dot patterns, biological factors, vision, sound perception, and real motion in relation to apparent motion. So, this experiment is quite different than the usual, although it may be as simple as using a flipbook and participants. However, previous studies helped strengthen the answers of the research question and hypothesis. Therefore, supporting studies reported by Gepshstein and Kubovy (2007) suggest that: for every speed, there â€Å"exists a condition for which contrast sensitivity is maximal.† They also found results that determined speed concludes the regime of motion; which can strengthen the hypothesis of speed effecting apparent motion being perceived. Method Participants. Seven participants from Connecticut participated in an independent research project concerning a class of psychological sensation and perception. There were four males and three females who had normal to corrected vision. Participants ranged from 21 to 52 years of age. Materials. Two hand drawn flipbooks were created by using bamboo paper and binder clips. A Likert rating scale was used as the method of answering questions. Design and Analysis. The experiment was a 2 (sequence: flipbook A and flipbook B or flipbook B and flipbook A) X 2(speed: fast or slow) design with four questions manipulated between subjects. There were two  independent variables in this study, which were the flipbooks and the questions. The flipbooks had two levels of fast and slow; the fast flipbook (A) consisted of all the same colored paper and an image of a ball in different locations on the ascending pages. The slow flipbook (B) had different colored pages of paper on every other page, on every other page there was not any image drawn on it. This flipbook had a drawing of a stick figure walking and bumping into a wall. The dependent variable was the effect of speed quality through the obtained scores from participants from the questionnaire. Since there were not many participants available for this experiment, it was necessary to counterbalance the conditions. The first participant seen the fast flipbook first, then took the Likert scale questionnaire; secondly, the slow flipbook was shown to the first participant afterwards and then answering the questionnaire. The second participant was shown the slow flipbook first, then took the questionnaire, following that the fast flipbook was shown second and then the questionnaire was answered. The questionnaire was made up of four questions. This would continuously go on from participant to participant until the last, seventh participant. From these factors, a two-way, within-subjects ANOVA of within-subjects was the design Procedure Participants were seated at a table and were informed that they would be participating in an experiment and to answer all questions honestly. Then, the first flipbook was presented to the participant by the experimenter whom operated both of the flip books which accurately set the speeds. This happened continuously until the last participant. There were two trials of this experiment, which consisted of showing a fast flipbook (A) and slow flipbook (B). Upon completion of watching each flipbook, participants were questioned about their experience by using the Likert Scale rating. The responses were collected and recorded in Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS 20. The experiment lasted about 35 minutes. Results The main effect of flipbook responses for flipbook A (fast) had a mean of M=3.36. The responses for flipbook B (slow) had a mean of M=2.14 (see table 1 and figure 1). A two-way, within-subjects ANOVA illustrated that the  difference between the mean of flip book A and flipbook B was statistically significant; F(1,6)=12.892, p0.05. The error bars represent the standard error of means (SEM) and flipbook A SEM=0.31 and flipbook B SEM=0.51.The main effect of flipbook was significant due to speed manipulation. Flipbook A had the highest score of the two, which made it the fastest and flipbook B the slowest. The main effect of questions (see table 2 and figure 2) response for question 1 had a mean of M=2.43. Question 2 had a mean of M=2.57, question 3 had a mean of M=2.07, and question 4 had a mean of M=3.93. Based on a two-way, within-subjects ANOVA, the results showed the questions were a statistically significant factor of the experiment; F(3,18)=3.627, p0.05. However, the questions as well differed irrespective of speed quality (Q4A/B). This showed the differences among the four question conditions were impactful in determining other factors such as animation realness (Q1A/B), enjoyment (Q2A/B), and smoothness (Q3A/B). | Table 2: main effect of questions| | | | Q1 Mean| Q2 Mean| Q3 Mean| Q4 Mean| Mean| 2.43| 2.57| 2.07| 3.93| SD| 2.31| 1.87| 2.27| 2.13| SEM| 0.62| 0.50| 0.61| 0.57| The interaction effect between the flipbooks (shown in figure below) and the questions showed that in flipbook A the mean values for the questions were as the following: Question 1 mean M=2.57, question 2 mean M=1.71, question 3 mean M=4.14, question 4 mean M=5.00. In flipbook B the mean values for are as follows: Question 1 mean M=2.29, question 2 mean M=3.43, question 3 mean M=0.00, and question 4 mean M=2.86. This shows that the interaction between the flipbooks and questions were highly significant and falls on a boundary as reported by the two-way, within-subjects ANOVA; F(3,18)=8.144, p=0.001. However, the questions differed irrespective of the speed. The questions received different scores, however not too different to make it insignificant. It had nothing to do with the speed manipulation; rather it showed the differences among the four question conditions were impactful in determining other factors such as realness (Q1A/B), enjoyment (Q2A/B), and smoothness (Q3A/B). Q1 asked about the realness of the animations and they were perceived as real regarding both. The scores show that flipbook A was a little more real than flipbook B by a 0.28 difference of interaction. Q2 asked about the enjoyment of the flipbook and showed that flipbook B was more enjoyable than flipbook A by a 1.72 difference of interaction. Q3 showed that flipbook A was most smooth than flipbook B, and that flipbook B had no perceived smoothness. Q4 showed that speed mattered and affected the quality most in flipbook A, and flipbook B had the slowest speed of the two. The impact of experimental manipulation has shown to be significant between the two independent variables of flipbooks and questions. Discussion The hypothesis in question was to discover if speed affects the quality of apparent motion perceived in a flipbook through research and experimentation. Results indicate that the hypothesis was supported because speed did matter according to the findings. Gepshtein Kubovy (2007) indicated that motion was not always seen along the slower path. It was interesting to find out that the slower flipbook was determined to be most enjoyable in this experiment when interactions were looked at (see figure 3). In Gepshtein Kubovy’s study, they challenged Wallach’s previous study about low-speed assumption, which viewed low speed as prevailing when in competition with faster speeds. However, the results of their existing theory and experiments that challenged Wallach’s found that the ratio of two speeds were always less than unified. Which means motion was not always seen along the slower path. These results may be different because of altering procedures between the two studies, but the most current  research conducted by them indicates what is most rationale when deterring speed effectiveness. In flipbook B, every other page was a different color. The pages that had different colors also did not have any drawings or images on them This was a technique used to find out more through speed manipulation. In a previous study, Giaschi and Anstis (1989) reported that â€Å"apparent motion created by two spots illuminated in alternation looks faster when there is a dark temporal interval between the offset of one spot and the onset of the other than when spots are presented immediately after one another, even though the temporal frequency and spatial seperation spots are held constant.† This helped to support the added feature of flipbook B, which had alternating, darker colored pages. This can be a potential reason as to why the flipbook was most enjoyable than the fast flipbook A; this finding can be a contributing factor for the real world because it can often be assumed that if things move fast (er), then it is better or more enjoyable. On the contrary, it can be more desirable for things to be slowed down, even if by a few seconds, so to give an audience more time to process and comprehend what is happening. It can also aid in exposing people to pay more attention to detail and to be more particular in such a fast paced society. Although slow motion may often be seen as less effective, this does not mean it is less important. Gephstein Kubovy’s study contrasted with Wallach’s theory, but Wallach’s findings occurred between the 1930’s and 1970’s, so in more earlier and previous times his participants may have been more accustomed to slower occurrences; compared to the 21st century’s faster moving conditions. Although the hypothesis was supported by the findings and other scholarly studies, it can as well be assumed that the results could be better and stronger if there were not any major limitations of the experiment. Limitations such as not having a not having the desired facilities and equipment; for instance, in a laboratory designated only for participants or equipment such as MRI machines to factor in brain functioning and perception. It would have also been nice to have more time to conduct this study over months or even years. The use of mathematical equations and  theories might have been important. Being able to have a wide range of participants would be of importance so to look at education level, gender, race, and age to see if those factors bring about any disadvantages, advantages, patterns and/or similarities. Having multiple speeds would have been interesting to add into the experiment. Taking into consideration the amount of pages and certain colors which could effect perception further. Lastly, having considered the son and mother used in the experiment would be interesting to learn if there is some sort of similarities and/or differences between parents and their children. In the future these can be improved so to come across more findings, unsuspecting conditions and/or disregarding current information for a more updated viewpoint. The experiment may have been effected by error, such as by participant misunderstanding or misleading answers that may have been more desirable than another. It may have been an error to counterbalance conditions and control the experiment in that way by manipulating speed and sequence of the flipbooks. There was not much mathematics involved so there were no errors of numbers and data, but the procedure as mentioned potentially could have been. Cumulatively, Gestalt’s theory ties all of this information in to help better understand why we perceive the way we do and how we perceive this, as mentioned in the Introduction. When we see the world as one entire picture rather than one individual part, it assists in humans having an overall pleasurable experience when viewing, perceiving, and sensing the world. Apparent motion strengthens our abilities to think fast and fill in all of the blanks necessary to cumulatively understand any myriad of circumstances. As mentioned in the Introduction, blinking can fill in the blanks that our visual system processes in order to elude an illusionary, motion picture so to view the world as a whole, and not by just parts. This is a concept important to understand and cherish when applied to daily lives because it can help to be appreciative that we view the world so concisely and promptly, when in reality it is not as fast paced as assumed. Concerning flipbook B (slow), it could be advantageous to notice individual parts leading to better comprehension, when noticing entireties. All in all,  there are interrelated factors which tie speed, space, time, apparent motion, real motion, perception, and sensation into many theories of Gestalt. One without the other would not be as effective as when all used wholly. References 1. Gepshtein, S., Kubovy, M. (2007). The lawful perception of apparent motion. Journal of Vision, 7(8), 1-15. 2. Giaschi, D., Anstis, S. (1989). The less you see it, the faster it moves: Shortening the â€Å"on-time† speeds up apparent motion, Vision Research, Volume 29, Issue 3. 3. Green, Marc. Inhibition and facilitation of apparent motion by real motion, Vision Research, Volume 23, Issue 9, 1983, Pages 861-865. 4. Sato, Takao. Reversed apparent motion with random dot patterns, Vision Research, Volume 29, Issue 12, 1989, Pages 1749-1758, ISSN 0042-6989, 10.1016/0042-6989(89)90157-0. 5. Snowden, R. J., Braddick, O., J. (1990) Differences in the processing of short-range apparent motion at small and large displacements, Vision Research, 1211-1222. Volume 30, Issue 8.

This Issue Of Cosmetic Surgery

This Issue Of Cosmetic Surgery In recent years, the popularity of cosmetic surgery has escalated significantly. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2008, some 12 million cosmetic procedures, most of which were minimally invasive, were performed in the United States alone. As Dutta (2008) cited in Swami et al (2012, p. 55) claims, this situation is not only found in North America, but also for instance in Europe which has currently become the second-largest market for cosmetic surgery. Concerned with the maintenance or enhancement of physical appearance (Swami et al, 2012, p. 55), cosmetic surgery is an invasive physical practice, offering people an opportunity to modify their body (Lirola and Chovanec, 2002). Through discourse of cosmetic surgery, mainly influenced by the media, which as Lirola and Chovanec, (2002, p. 488) claim both constructs the need for such a practice as well as legitimizes it, more people are becoming increasingly willing to undergo such practice. Among these people and according to ASPS statistics (2009a, as cited in Swami et al, 2012, p.55) the vast majority of cosmetic surgery patients are young women. Boseley (2012) reports that 6 in 10 (63%) 16 to 24 year olds were ready to undergo cosmetic surgery to ensure feeling better about their appearance. It has become a habit that cosmetic surgery interventions are also being given from parents to their teenage daughters as birthday or graduation presents with breast implants being the most favourite (Gilman, 1999). This is because media and vicarious experiences are promoting unrealistic beauty ideals which are in turn influencing young peoples attitudes towards their own looks. Because of this, cosmetic surgery needs to be seen as an important social practice because it merges the attention given to the body by an individual person with the values and priorities of the consumer society (Lirola and Chovanec, 2002). 1.2 Personal Perspective This issue of cosmetic surgery has always fascinated me. Seeing middle aged and even older people paying good money to rejuvenate their looks, has become a common scenario. However, cosmetic surgery done by young people who are still in their prime, always fascinated me to a much larger extent. I was always curious to find out why these young people decide to opt for surgery. While growing up as a teenager and even to this day that I am now a teacher, youth worker and a mother, even I were and still am aware of things which I do not like in my appearance. However, it never occurred to me that I should go for cosmetic surgery or when it did, it was just a thought which quickly passed. This curiosity is what led me to conduct this study. When does one cross the line and decide to opt for the surgical fix? Both as a student of Youth and Community Studies and in my line of work, I meet a lot of young people who in my eyes are all beautiful in their own way. This is not however always in unison with their perception about their own self. Through this study I would like to find out what it is that really that makes young females to undergo cosmetic surgery. This study however will be more interested in the sociological motivations since it has a sociological approach. That is why this study is interested in the interaction between social actors. Is society influencing their way of thinking or are their perceptions and the decisions they take unaffected by the cultural hegemony? 1.3 Organization of the Study Apart from the introduction, this study comprises of four other chapters. The literature review (Chapter 2) presents a review of the literature related to the study of the body and cosmetic surgery. Starting from Descartes mind-body dualism and the difficulties it posited to sociology in studying issues related to the body, the literature then shifts to a more embodied sociology giving more importance to a lived body. Other issues tackled are how the body has come to be seen as our identity and also gender. Since this study focuses on young people, it then takes a look at what forms the body image of adolescents and how consumer culture influences the body. Finally it gives a very brief history of cosmetic surgery and how are young females being affected by it. Chapter 3 gives a detailed explanation of the methodology of the study. It explains how the participants were chosen and how the interviews were done. It also deals with how the data was analysed, ethical considerations taken and the limitations of the study. Chapter 4 presents the findings of the study and their interpretation in the light of the literature found in Chapter 2. Chapter 5 concludes the study by answering the research questions which the study was set to answer and also presents recommendations for future research. This chapter has given some brief background information of what will be presented in this study, while the chapter that follows will explore the literature that will help the interpretation of the data analysis. Chapter 2: Literature Review 2.1 Introducing the body. It was only recently that the body has become one of the main concerns within sociological theory. Before this time, the discipline of sociology looked at human beings as the social actors or the social agents whose character and behaviour depended on their social location, beliefs and values (Turner, 1984). The founding fathers of sociology viewed the body from different perspectives. Marx and Engels shared the belief that in order for society to exist, the continual reproduction of bodies was salient. They looked at bodies as both the means and the object of human labour. Durkheim believed in the dual nature of human beings which he referred to as homo duplex. He believed that the basic divisions of body and mind led to a true antagonism between our individuality and our spirituality, which according to him made it almost impossible to ever be at peace with ourselves as one cannot follow both natures, since one is rooted in morality and the other in the desires of the body. Weber w rote about the rationalization of bodies through time and space and the controlling of emotions. He believed that the more capitalism enters in the bureaucratic structures, the more dehumanising and disenchanted the modern individual feels, confined in its iron cage. Simmel wrote about the senses and human emotionality. He believed that the eye, out of all the senses, had a distinctively sociological function since the interaction of individuals is based upon eye contact between them (Williams and Bendelow, 1998). As Turner (1984) claims, it is evident that human beings both have bodies and are bodies, which fact makes human beings embodied, just as they are enselved (Turner, 1984, p.1). Recently a lot of studies have tried to address the corporeal existence of human beings. However, in spite of intriguing findings and better understanding of the subject, according to Crossley (2001) some persistent dilemmas remain. Drawing from previous philosophical theories about the body, it was not easy along the years for sociology to arrive to a decent solution to the philosophical ambiguity of the mind-body dualism. It was Rene Descartes (1596-1650) who living in the Enlightenment era was greatly influenced by scientists like Galileo and their contemporary scientific discoveries. It was a time when the physical sciences, as we know them today, were emerging and there was a strong belief that everything could be explained by the laws of mechanical causation. With this belief in mind, and always in search for the knowledgeable truth, Descartes started to doubt everything that he could not be sure of. He even doubted his very own senses, reminding himself that he had sometimes had vivid dreams (Crossley, 2001, p.9). However he came to the conclusion that the only thing that he could be sure of was that he was thinking and therefore that was proof enough of his existence. Cogito ergo sum meaning I think therefore I am is Descartes most famous statement which was the very beginning of the Cartesian dichotomy, i.e. the mind-body dualism. For Descartes, the person is the mind. He believed that the mind is clearly elevated over the body and that the body is a non-essential aspect of his true nature (Crossley, 2001).It is a common belief that in a time when everything was reduced to scientific explanations, Descartes, being the religious man he was, aimed to keep an element of the spiritual, giving importance to creativity and the soul through the prominence he put on the mind. Many were the scholars (Ryle, 1949; Merleau-Ponty, 1965) who critiqued the Cartesian dualism and exposed the dilemmas it posited to sociology. As Crossley (2001) clearly explains in his book The Social Body: Habit, identity and desire, the mind-brain identity theorists believed that there is no interaction between the body and the mind and the fact that both of them act together at the same time in a plethora of human beings everyday activities, led to the conviction that the mind and body are in fact one. Crossley (2001) argued that sociology could critique this theory for being too reductionist and for sticking to the Cartesian framework it sets out to critique. In The Concept of Mind, Gilbert Ryle (1949) depicts the Cartesian dichotomy as the myth of the ghost in the machine, the ghost referring to the ghostly nature of the mind which is not physical in nature, while the machine refers to the body that does not contain any human characteristics, also described as corpse or meat by Leder (1998). Ryle (1949) believed that Descartes committed a category error when he took the mind as distinct from the body. For Ryle, who was a firm believer that dualism was wrong, both body and mind must be reconceptualised if we really are to overcome dualism He sets the way to a non-dualistic sociology when he manages to exorcise Descartes ghost strongly and convincingly. He wanted to challenge the notion that the mind is superior to the body. For Ryle, the mind is not a separate thing. He believed that mental life is embodied. Crossley (2001) gives a detailed explanation of how language, emotions, consciousness and understanding are not as many think simply introspective. Ryles (1949, as cited in Crossley 2001, p.41) main concern was to show that such mental concepts are used by embodied agents in specific contexts of action. Merleau-Ponty (1992, as cited in Crossley, 2001), who like Ryle challenged the mind-body dualism, managed to take his work a step further. He believed that looking at behaviour was salient in dissolving this dichotomy. For him all behaviour always had a purpose and meaning in the social world. Through this he also brought up the issue of social agency. He delved into the nature of perception and posited that desire, emotion, cognition and perception are not, strictly speaking, separate parts of our behavioural life but rather integrated and mutually affecting aspects of a single and coherent structure (Crossley, 2001, p.89). Merleau-Ponty sees the body as more than an object yet less than a subject since it both looks for and reacts to meanings in diverse everyday situations. This is Merleau-Pontys sentient and sensible body, presented to us as a body which can touch yet can be touched, can see yet can be seen, can perceive yet can be perceived. As Crossley (1995) explains the key is to understand that the perceiver and the perceived are relational beings (ibid, p.46) like two sides of a coin, not separate from each other but changeable facets of one and the same being. Therefore to the question What am I? Am I a body or am I a mind? one can quote McGuire (1990, as cited in Williams Bendelow, 1998) when he posits that human beings are embodied agents who experience the material and social world in and through their mindful bodies (p.4). My body is not something additional to me, it is not something which I, as a disembodied spirit, reflect upon. It is who I am. (Crossley as cited in Martin, 2012). 2.2 Shifting from sociology of the body to embodied sociology. Williams Bendelow (2002) claim that sociology has shifted from seeing the body as disembodied to giving more importance to a lived body referring to ones own experiences of his/her own body, as him/herself. This gave rise to what is today called embodied sociology, a kind of approach which lets us reflect upon the interconnectedness of bodily, mental and social interaction. Crossley (2001) posits that the human body does not simply exist in itself, but also for itself. This is the main reason why social agents continuously inspect themselves in the mirror and worry about how they are portraying themselves to others. Through a reflexive process, individuals, being embodied beings, turn back onto themselves and work to effect the change they want to see. They turn to excessive exercise, dieting and sometimes go as far as having their bodies surgically transformed. This duality of being and having also applies to habit making us habitually self-reflexive. As embodied beings, it is not just us who have our bodies and habits. Our bodies and habits are also perceptible to others which mean that we are never in complete possession of ourselves (p. 141) because our selves depend on something beyond our control the collectively valued forms of representation. Crossley claims we only manage to have ourselves by learning to see ourselves from the outside through social interaction as other. Our embodied self depends on the way the body that I am and I have is positioned in the intersubjective order that results from the social significance of our corporeal appearance. This echoes Cooley (1902, as cited in Crossley, 2001) when he argues that individuals develop their sense of self from the image of our self which others reflect back to us in interaction (p. 143). Meads (1967, as cited in Crossley, 2001) concept of I and me where the I takes the role of the other as a means of turning back upon myself, to reflect upon myself as me (p. 147) is at the root of this concept. It is in this way that individuals develop their concept of self by acting out the role of the other. The I and the me are not in competition with each other for predominance but rather enjoy a temporal and reflexive self-relationship of an agent who chases her own shadow (p. 147). The split between I and me is between a sensuous and socialised bodily agent and the image which that agent is able to form of itself (p. 147). Meads main emphasis is about reflexivity and how the self (as I) becomes conscious of itself (as me). By adopting the role of the other, social agents are able to scrutinize themselves and this helps them to free themselves from self-blindness, which is caused when embodied agents look out upon the world from their very own place. In this way the views, values and perspectives of the generalised other directly influences what Bourdieu (1996) calls the individuals habitus, and the sedimented dispositions that result have a direct impact of her sense of self which unsurprisingly influences her behaviour. This reflexivity highlights why the human body, although specific, gendered and once regarded as fixed, cannot nowadays be as easily defined (Evans, 2002). As Foucault claims there is no natural body (McNay, 1992). Evans (2002) believes that the notion of the body is always accompanied with an already deeply socialized set of expectations. Bordo (2003) confirms this by stating that cultures grip on the body is a constant, intimate fact of everyday life (p.17) showing that our bodies, like anything else that is human, are heavily influenced by culture. Feminism, especially in the work of Judith Butler (1990, 1993) and Susan Bordo (1993) has also questioned the belief that bodies are biologically given and fixed, and argued that the human body is both culturally and historically specific. 2.3 The body as a form of identity Giddens (1991) argues that gone are the days when traditional stable identities were derived from ones position in the social structure. In this era of late modernity attempts to base identity on the body has become popular, and hence society is witnessing a reflexive concern with identity and the body. Shilling (1993) argued that with the individualisation of the body, the body has become an agent of symbolic value, in Bourdieus (1996) term a source of symbolic capital. Despite this, the work of Bourdieu makes us realise the importance class has for understanding embodiment. Bodies, for Bourdieu, mark class in three main ways through the individuals social location, the formation of their habitus and the development of their tastes (Gill et. al, 2005 p.5). This shows that the management of the body is pivotal to status acquirement and hence salient to identity. Skeggss (1997) work on young, British working class women clearly shows this by emphasizing the ways in which they used th e shape, styling and design of their bodies to challenge or even break away from class assumptions that declared them as inferior (ibid.). Featherstone (1991) argues that the body has become to be seen as a vehicle of self-expression, a view supported by consumerism. Efforts to create and retain a coherent and viable sense of self-identity are often called body projects. These are manifested through attention to the body, particularly the bodys surface (Featherstone 1991). This is because in contemporary times the surface of the body has become the main location where object relations are handled, not only in the individuals identity formation years but also throughout our whole life (Blum, 2003). 2.4 Gender Literature shows that females are more obsessed by these body projects, possibly because as Evans (2002) argues the female body, unlike the male, has always been regarded as unstable and malleable. Feminists claim that female bodies have significantly been more vulnerable to cultural manipulation of the body (Bordo, 2003).Women are generally seen as passive while men as active. In his analogy of men and women with animals and plants respectively, Hegel (1967, as cited in Bordo, 2003) ably represented the duality of male activity and female passivity. So powerful and deterministic was this that as Bordo (2003) writes, when Guttmacher analysed sperm under the microscope for the first time he refused to describe sperm as waiting for the ova and instead portrays them as cruising, as if they were looking to pick up girls. Despite this however, classical images in the Holy Bible depict the woman as a temptress (Eve, Salome, Delilah) as do the more contemporary secular versions in movies su ch as Fatal Attraction. In an era where sex sells, literature shows that the womens body has become sexualised, sometimes objectified and at others depicted as a manipulator. A homogenous, indefinable ideal of femininity constantly requires women to attend to the very finest detail in fashion. As Bordo (2003) continues to claim, female bodies have become docile bodies, bodies whose forces and energies are habituated to external regulation, subjection, transformation, improvement (p.166). Although male concern over appearance increased significantly during the late 1970s and 1980s, studies confirm that a huge gender gap still exists. Women seem to be much less appreciative of their bodies and show extreme negative assessments on their distorted bodily perception (Goleman, 1985). They also seem to judge themselves more severely when they realise that they are not conforming to the cultural ideals of beauty. This is becoming worse as time goes, since many females continue to be dissati sfied with their body image perception. It is interesting to note that in a study held in 1985, teenage girls were the group most dissatisfied with their appearance (Bordo, 2003). 2.5 Body Image in Adolescent Girls At the macro level, the sociocultural perspective highlights the importance of an appearance culture that honours and shapes cultural ideals of beauty (Vilhjalmsson et al., 2012). It is during adolescence that this culture, represented by the media, family and peers, manages to make adolescents internalise these normative beauty ideals (Jones, Vigfusdottir, Lee, 2004; Thelen Cormier 1995). As Blum (2003) explains, adolescents obtain their body image totally from the outside. The adolescent girl enters the world uncertain whether her face and body would be consented by those around her. There are many definitions of body image, a term coined by Paul Schilder in 1935 (Blum 2003). However it is generally understood as a mental image of ones body as it appears to others (Featherstone, 2010, p.194). He claims that body image also changes with time and space. Ferguson (1997a, 1997b) argues that there has been a shift from a closed body image in the nineteenth century to a more open and ambiguous sense of body image today (Featherstone, 2010). This ambiguity relates to another concept- the body schema, which is more related to the felt body. While body image is in simpler words the look one has for others, in which the visual appearance is essential, body schema goes deeper than this and involves the non-visual sense of the body. This draws attention to how our senses work together not just to help us perceive the world around us but also how we sense and interact with other bodies in everyday life situations. It goes beyond the mirror image, focusing mainly on body rheto ric which is central of charisma, a characteristic which most attracts peoples attention (ibid.). Despite this however, young females are increasingly becoming more concerned about their bodies and about how to achieve the ideal standards of beauty and bodily perfection. Armet (2008) states that this is leading to a body-image crisis in American adolescents, with increased numbers of young girls suffering from low self-esteem, obsessive exercising and disordered eating. Through the cultural emphasis put on judging women solely on how they look and how much they conform to standards of beauty and fashion, girls are becoming more self-critical of their own body. They try to dedicate all their energy to perfect their outside appearance. This is because for the young female her body is the primary expression of her individual identity (Armet, 2008, p.2) which she aims to improve by buying clothes and other things to further enhance her exterior surfaces. These issues form a discourse that stresses the importance of the body. The young female has learned to give priority to her bodys physical appearance since she has come to regard her body as her identity. This leads to implications in her adolescent behaviour where a quest for identity becomes a struggle with her body-image (ibid.). 2.6 Consumer Culture and Body Image As Featherstone (2010) posits, it is naturally understood that consumer culture is obsessed with the body. We are constantly being bombarded by media images of models, celebrities and other stars showing off their beautiful, perfect bodies. They are generally portrayed as happy and youthful, and enjoying luxurious surroundings. Critics have argued against this kind of narcissistic life, pointing out its superficiality and an abandonment of human values. This is because according to them the concern with body image is often dangerous as it creates a diversion from the importance of social justice and equality. Most of the images used in advertising, are technologically abused, to the extent that their level of beauty is often unattainable. These images do not simply represent what there is behind them but what one should aspire to be. These are the images that are making us compare who we are not and who we would like to be (Featherstone, (2010, p.197). These comparisons lead us to tr ansformation -presenting the before and after picture- which is today pivotal not just in consumer culture but is also one of the key tenets of Western modernity. Celebrities, media industries and sportspeople are replacing scientists, explorers and intellectuals proving the shift from the virtues of consistency and steadfastness to a charming and engaging appearance (Featherstone, 1982, 2007). The constant fascination with celebrity lifestyles made available through cable, satellite and the internet keep showing us how they maintain their good looks and bodily fitness while coping with their challenging lives. Even when they fall and have to deal with drugs, alcoholism or weight problems, they are seen as triumphant since fitness regimes, diets or gurus put them back on the road to self- improvement (Featherstone, 2010). This puts pressure on individuals especially females who thanks to the media imagery fall victims to feeling unhappy with their bodies, to start routines sometimes drastic, of self-improvement (Bordo, 2003). A new body image gives one a new improved self-image and a more exciting quality of life. Since even status and social acceptability has come to depend on looks it is indeed of no wonder that today taking extreme care for ones appearance becomes an obligation to self and portrays those who ignore this obligation as being flawed. As Featherstone (2010) remarks, clothing, cosmetics and adornment used to enhance ones look become not just a constructed appearance of what one wants others to see, but also reflexively they provide an outward image which seeks information in the returned glances of others, for the inner narrative of what one feels one should be (p. 198). This is mainly found in contemporary Western societies, where being a woman has often been referred to as a form of theatre (Sontag, 1978, as cited in Featherstone 2010)) where women are constantly watching themselves being looked at (Berger, 1973, as cited in Featherstone 2010). Nevertheless beauty has also become associated with moral goodness. The body, especially the face is seen as a reflection of the self, through which a persons inner character is manifested (Rivers, 1994; Twine, 2002, as cited in Featherstone, 2010). Kuhn (1990, as cited in Featherstone, 2010) explains however how cosmetics do not only make up the woman but also the image, capturing both the elegant appearance, but also the look which summons up the inner narrative (p. 198). This puts together a narrative, evidence of an embodied person. Charisma and stardom draws attention to presence, which is an additional aspect to body image. It is something which needs to be felt and works in a different way to beauty. It is an experience communicated between bodies which create affective resonances, and hence is trusted more than just an image. This is the affective body, which contrary to the body image, is a body without a specified image. Here we think about the feel good impression sensed via affect. The moving body presented on television, cinemas and video captures a body in process. Affect is communicated by non-verbals such as gestures, and facial and body movements. Here, the image has become a process where in contrast to the conventional sense of body image, is presented as an affective body which provides additional embodied information. Consumer culture is still, however, constantly asking consumers to scrutinize themselves for imperfections, and to measure up to ideal bodies presented in the media (Featherstone, 1982). This points towards the work of Giddens (1991) who wrote about a high degree of reflexivity in late modernity, since these actors are investing in body projects as a means to enhance their self-identity. This view was criticized for keeping with the mind-body dualism and for its overemphasis upon the rational choice of those who seek to control their bodies (Budgeon, 2003; Shilling and Mellor, 1996, as cited in Featherstone, 2010). But really and truly, is the choice rational, when we are constantly being bombarded by all these pressures to look good, almost convinced that this will lead us to a better life? The body has become to be seen as salient for a good life, the look good: feel good transformation which, thanks to consumer culture, is portrayed as available for purchase to one and all. It is common belief that body works will not just upgrade the body to reach societal constructs of beauty but are also pictured to open a full range of lifestyle opportunities. Body modifications have nowadays become the means to create a beautiful appearance and hence a beautiful self (Featherstone, 2010). 2.7 Cosmetic Surgery -a brief history According to Albin (2006) body modifications are defined as changes made to the body, either self-induced or by the hand of another, that result in permanent alterations visible to the unaided eye. These modifications, which include tattooing, piercing, and cosmetic surgery to name a few, all share a common motive that in the end the individuals find pleasure in bodily expression, decoration, and attractiveness that can ultimately be admired by others. Cosmetic surgery is certainly one of the most impressive techniques for body reconstruction. It is the kind of surgery where the surgeon cures the cosmetic defects and emotional pain resulting from lack of liking and acceptance of ones appearance (Blum, 2003). Cosmetic surgery falls under the umbrella of plastic surgery, however cosmetic surgery only deals with surgery that has to do with the aesthetic, referring to surgery done on a healthy body simply for the improvement of looks. Haiken (1997) reports two separate developments that account for the emergence of cosmetic surgery. The first development was when early cosmetic surgeons were considered charlatans or beauty doctors and were not taken seriously albeit certain techniques they developed are still in use today. The second development came with the First World War, when surgeons gained expertise while trying to treat disfiguring scars of soldiers for cosmetic purpose. From the late nineteenth century, cosmetic surgery was associated with actresses since their careers always depended on the longevity of their good looks and by 1923 it was set in the public imagination as a celebrity practice (Blum, 2003). Gradually, a technology that was primarily aimed at replacing malfunctioning parts has caused an ideology promoted by desires of transforming and correcting, challenging the very materiality of the body (Bordo, 2003). Sarwer et al.(2004, as cited in Swami et al, 2007) believe that a rise in media fascination, higher incomes and loss of stigma are but a few reasons why even the common people in postmodern times are opting for the surgical fix especially in countries like the Netherlands, where cosmetic surgery is offered free through publicly funded healthcare (Gimlin, 2007, as cited in Swami et al, 2007)). Studies show that rates of cosmetic surgery have risen significantly both in Western and non-Western countries during the past twenty years (AS APS Statistics, 2008; BAAPS Statistics, 2008; Jones, 2008, as cited in Gimlin, 2010). Recent studies show that young people between the ages of 16 and 35 are turning to cosmetic surgery more than ever. 2.8 Young females and cosmetic surgery Body-image scholars claim that it is much easier to succeed in the world if one is good-looking (Blum, 2003). Appearance culture imposes the thin hourglass shape as a female body ideal (Vilhjalmsson et al.,2012). Although many were the researchers who have indicated that this contemporary feminine ideal of thin attractiveness is unattainable for most women (Irving, 1990; Levine Smolak, 1998; Silverstein, Perdue, Peterson, Kelly, 1986; Wilcox Laird, 2000), it still triumphs despite its opposition. As Ferron (1997) claims body image lies at the heart of adolescence and hence young females enter the world longing for their looks to be approved by those a

Milk Adulteration and Its Toxicological Effects

Milk Adulteration and Its Toxicological Effects Introduction Despite the governing the control of quality and sale of milk existing for decades, adulteration of milk could not be checked. With the increase demand of milk, the adulteration of this commodity is on increasing day by day. The problem of adulteration is more during summer and rainy seasons, when milk production in comparatively much less than the winter season. Adulteration of a food article may be defined as making the article impure by the addition of some of the legally prohibited substances into a more valuable product or the subtraction into a more valuable component a product to devalue the latter or the combination of both, with a view to increase the bulk or quality and to increase unlawful, excessive profit through sale of such a food. Ever since the system of organized milk collection was introduced in this country, the quality of milk received by our dairy industry has not been improved. The adulteration is carried out through a number of fraudulent practices, which not only lower down the nutritional value but makes it unfit for human consumption with toxic effects. The adulterated milk also leads to the production of standard dairy products resulting in economic losses. The practice of adulteration has become extensive due to existing conditions of production and handling of milk. Various no. of tests determine the nature and extent of adulteration of milk and even adulterants. The purchasing power of many consumers in our country is very low. Consequently such consumers often go for the lower price of milk, even knowing about the poorer quality of the same. Such attitude of the consumers makes adulteration of milk possible to a greater extent. [1] Types of adulteration The commonly used adulterants are Addition of water. Addition of separated milk. Addition of thickening agents when milk id watered it becomes deficient in density and also viscosity which may be restored by addition of substances like gelatin, cane sugar, starch, glucose. Partial skimming. Addition of coloring matter to restore color lost by skimming or diluting or to make naturally poor looking to appear rich. Unusual adulterants-of late, due to more wide spread use of fertilizers by farmers in India, who are also the primary milk producers, a few new types of adulterants like urea, ammonium sulphate etc. have come up. [2] MILK ITS COMPOSITION Milk is an emulsion or colloid of butterfat globules with in a water based fluid that contains dissolved carbohydrates and protein aggregates with minerals. Milk is the secretion, practically free from colostrum, obtained by the milking of healthy udder.it represents one of the sources of essential amino acids for human nutrition. These nutritional attributes of milk have long made it a mainstay particularly in the diet of growing children. There are estimated to be the 8 to 10 thousand milk products made of milk available in world thus making it exceptionally versatile raw product. Milk is composed of water, fat, protein, lactose, and minerals. The concentration of these products varies between cows and breeds. Total milk solid refers specifically to fat, protein, lactose and minerals. This is to be differentiated from SNF (solid not fat), a frequently used term which describes the total solid contents minus fat. The nutritional as well as economic value depends upon its solid contents. The higher the solid content the greater the milk product yields. Cheese yield are directly relayed to milk casein content. Milk contains dozens of other types of proteins beside the caseins including enzymes. These other proteins are more water-soluble than the caseins and do not form larger structures. Because the proteins remain suspended in the whey left behind when the caseins coagulate into curds, they are collectively known as whey proteins. Calcium, phosphate, magnesium, sodium, potassium, citrate, and chlorine are all included as minerals and they typically occur at concentration of 5–40 mm. [3] Composition off milk Water 84-90% Fat 2-6% Protein 3-4% Lactose 4-5% Ash .1% NEED FOR PROCESSING OF MILK A multitude of events takes place in the process of delivering milk from the farm to the dinner table and all are designed to provide the consumer with wholesome, nutritious and safe products. The production of quality milk and milk products are begins in the farms and continuous through further handling, processing and distribution. Milk processing has two primary objectives: Destruction of human pathogens through pasteurization. Keeping the quality and shelf life of the products without significant loss of flavor, appearance, physical and nutritive properties. Milk processing and plant procedure seeks to: Prevent further bacterial contamination of raw material. Reduce bacterial numbers in milk. Protect the finished products from recontamination through careful handling, proper packing and storage. Pasteurization is the means whereby raw milk is rendered safe for human consumption. It is the process of heating milk to a sufficient temperature for a sufficient length of time to make it free from pathogens, and spoilage bacteria. [4] TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ADULTERANTS FORMALIN Formalin is added in milk to preserve it for longer period. Formalin is very toxic. Many cases of biological mutation and reproduction complication have been noted. On toxicity it causes tumors formalin causes CNS disorders and also irritates nose, throat and lungs. When taken in high dose it cause cancer and may lead to coma. UREA Urea is generally added in the preparation of synthetic milk to raise the SNF value. Potential symptoms are burning sensation in throat and chest; cough, dyspnea, exercise-induced asthma (one case); redness, in eyes and skin, headache; nausea, vomiting, lung damage-fibrosis, inflammation (HE11). Affected organs are respiratory system, skin, eyes, it has also used medically as an abortifacient and a skin moisturizer. AMMONIUM SULPHATE The presence of ammonium sulphate increases the lactometer reading. The product has low toxicity. However, the following points should be noted. On skin contact prolonged contact may cause some irritation. On eye contact it may cause irritation. On ingestion small quantities are unlikely to cause toxic effect and large quantities give rise to gastro-intestinal disorders. On inhalation high dust concentration of air-borne material may cause irritation of the nose and upper respiratory tract with symptoms such as sore throat and coughing. Inhalation of some decomposition gases may cause irritation and corrosive effects on the respiratory system. Some lungs effect may be delayed. HYDROGEN PEROXIDE Milk is treated with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05 and 0.06 % of H2O2), along with control sample (untreated sample), for the purpose to activate Lacto peroxidase system, which destroy the bacterial population by its antibacterial effect. Lacto peroxidase (LP) system is naturally present in raw milk that prevents the bacterial multiplication due to its bacteriostatic effect. By activating the LP-system, shelf life of milk can be increased for 8 to 12 hours. Lacto peroxidase (LP) system consists of three components; LP, thiocyanate and hydrogen peroxide. And it is active only when all of three components are present. Lacto peroxidase catalyzes the oxidation of thiocyanate by hydrogen peroxides and generates an intermediate product with antibacterial properties. These products have a broad range of antimicrobial effects against bacteria, fungi and viruses. Objectives Raw milk preservation by use of H2O2 is done for many important purposes like; To enhance the shelf life of milk for consumption without microbial contamination. To minimize the processing cost by heating the milk. Side Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide Eye exposure to dilute hydrogen peroxide may cause extreme irritation and pain, but is unlikely to cause permanent damage. Enemas of dilute hydrogen peroxide have been reported to cause serious gastrointestinal side effects. Skin contact with concentrated hydrogen peroxide can cause severe burns and even gangrene. An overuse of H2O2 can cause damage to DNA cells, and prevent them from replicating, hence leading to premature aging. The use of hydrogen peroxide can cause your skin to dry out or rather drains away the moisture content in skin, which is required to keep your skin looking young and supple. Vitiligo is a disease that is marked by the loss of skin pigment, which affects a lot of people. Studies show that it is due to the high levels of hydrogen peroxide in the blood and epidermis. It can cause irritation in gums and teeth, since H2O2 is a highly reactive compound. Hydrogen peroxide being highly reactive can easily pass through your tooths enamel and react with the dentin and pulp part of your tooth. Throat soreness is another common side effect of hydrogen peroxide. [5] SUGAR The common sugar present in milk is lactose. The fat content of the milk is more compared to the protein content. Table sugar like sucrose is added to the milk to increase the carbohydrate content of the milk and thus the density of milk will be increased. So the milk can now be adulterated with water and it will not be detected during the lactometer test. Ketose sugar will react with the resorcinol to give a red colored precipitate, indicating the presence of Table sugar in milk. SIDE EFFECTS OF SUGAR Sugar can suppress your immune system. Sugar eaten during pregnancy and lactation can influence muscle force production in offspring, which can affect an individual’s ability to exercise. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses and return them to fasting levels slower in oral contraceptive users. Sugar can increase reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage cells and tissues. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, inability to concentrate and crankiness in children. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides. Sugar causes a decline in tissue elasticity and function – the more sugar you eat, the more elasticity and function you lose. Sugar reduces high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Sugar can lead to ovarian cancer. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose. Sugar causes copper deficiency. Sugar can make tendons more brittle. Sugar can increase the levels of glucose in the blood much higher than complex carbohydrates in a glucose tolerance test can. Sugar can cause two blood proteins – albumin and lipoproteins – to function less effectively, which may reduce the body’s ability to handle fat and cholesterol. Sugar can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Sugar can cause platelet adhesiveness, which causes blood clots. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance – some hormones become underactive and others become overactive. Sugar can cause free radicals and oxidative stress. Sugar increases the concentration of bile acids in stool and bacterial enzymes in the colon, which can modify bile to produce cancer-causing compounds and colon cancer. Sugar combines with and destroys phosphatase, a digestive enzyme, which makes digestion more difficult and can aggravate premenstrual syndrome (PMS).[6] Salt Addition of salt in milk is mainly restored with the aim of increasing the corrected lactometer reading. All four cationic electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) are available in unrefined salt, as are other vital minerals needed for optimal bodily function. Too much or too little salt in the diet can lead to muscle cramps, dizziness, or even an electrolyte disturbance, which can cause neurological problems. Excess salt consumption has been linked to: Exercise – induced asthma. Heartburn. Osteoporosis. Gastric cancer is associated with high level of sodium. Hypertension. Left ventricular hypertrophy (cardiac enlargement). Duodenal ulcer. [7] Vegetable Fat Milk fat is the natural source of variable variety of fatty acids diversified in nature. It is separated to make the cream and sold at high prices. People separate the cream from the milk and add vegetable fat into the milk and then sell it after homogenization. Vegetable fat is unsaturated and it gets oxidized and becomes rancid when exposed to air so become hepato-toxic and may cause liver cirrhosis. Small milk globules become rancid when oil and vegetable fat is being added and interesting thing is that color and consistency of the milk remains normal. [8] Starch Milk contains relatively large amount of fat. Addition of carbohydrate to milk increases its solid content. There by reducing the amount of fat present in the milk. Starch is one such component that is added to adulterate milk. The test to detect starch in milk uses iodine solution, addition of which turns the milk solution to blue black color due to the formation of starch Iodo complex, in the presence of starch. Potential symptoms are irritation of eyes, skin, mucous, membranes, rhinorrhea, cough, chest pain, dermatitis. Soap Soap is added to milk to increase the foaming of milk and thus to have thick milk. Addition of such chemicals will cause health problem especially related to stomach and kidneys. Soap can be detected by adding phenolphthalein indicator to the adulterated milk. A pink color will be observed if soap is present as the alkali will be neutralized by the acidity of the milk when phenolphthalein indicator is added. [9] Neutralizers The new Neutralizers Test manufactured by Astori Tecnica allows the immediate colorimetric determination of the presence of added neutralizers (such as NaOH, KOH, carbonates, bicarbonates, ammonia, various alkalis, etc.) in milk or cream. These prohibited substances may be added to fresh or badly preserved milk with the tricky purpose to correct its pH and acidity values to optimal ones, and so pretend the milk is freshly milked or perfectly preserved. [10] REFERENCES Research Can Lead To Longer Shelf Life For Dairy Products (http: //www.sciencedaily.com/releases /2002/12/021223084204.htm).Sciencedaily.com. 2002-12-23. Retrieved 2010-08-28. Detect Adulteration in Milk: Empowering Consumers to Test Themselves (http://cgsiindia.org/2013/05/detectadulteration-in-milk-empoweringconsumers-to-test-themselves/). Henriksen J, (2009) â€Å"Milk for Health and Wealth. (ftp: //ftp. fao. org/doc rep/fao/011/i 0521e/i 0521e00.pdf) FA O Di versification Booklet Series 6, Rome. Schultz, Madeline (April 2012) fluid milk profile (http: //www. agmrc.org/commodities products/lives tock/dairy/fluid-milk-profile/). Iowa State University. T. Matsuoka (2004). Detection of adulterants in milk using near infrared spectroscopy. J. Food Sci. Tech. 41(3): 313-316. Borin, A., M. F. Ferrao, C. Mello, D. A. Maretto and R. J. Poppi (2006). Least-squares support vector machines and near infrared spectroscopy for quantification of common adulterants in powdered milk. Analytica Chimica Acta. 579:25-32. Tipu, M. S., I. Altaf, M. Ashfaq, S. Siddique (2007). Monitoring of chemical adulterants and hygienic status of market milk. Handbook published by Quality Control Laboratory, Lahore, Pakistan. pp.: 7. Jha, S. N. And T. Matsuoka (2004). Detection of adulterants in milk using near infrared spectroscopy. J. Food Sci. Tech. 41(3): 313-316. Sengar, M. S. (2007). Milk adulteration on rise in Agra. Friday, November, 07, India. Accessed from www.google.com. Anonymous, (2012). Introduction to dairy science and technology: milk history, consumption, production, and composition. International Dairy Federation, Bulletin 423/2007. Accessed from: http://www.foodsci. cuoguelph. ca/dairyedu/intro.html.

Aviation Security Essay -- Aviation

Airport Security around the world is an integral part of the modern times, the global web of people traveling for fun, business, adventure, and commodities are a way of life for many. Goods that were once scarce, or not available in certain parts of the world, merely twenty years ago for the general population are now easily attainable. Businesses are known to have meetings take place in various locations worldwide for their representatives. With all this moving of people from around the world who watches out for their safety as they access the plane from the different gates at the various worldwide Airports. Security personnel are the most recognizable entity prior to passengers accessing planes. Everybody knows theses personnel, they’re always telling people to take off their shoes, belts, all metal objects out of pockets, everyone rolls there eyes making snide remarks, or uploading videos to â€Å"Youtube† showing how the Airport Security groped then during a pat down. These personnel who make people feel as if they need to be stripping down to near nakedness, or in some special cases where people do come to the metal detector in bikinis, prior to getting to the terminal gate. Most will think. Wow! What a waste of money Airports are losing in paying these people, but do you know those security personnel are the last, and only, line of defense between the passenger and potential disaster in the air at thirty thousand feet. For every snide remark a passenger makes, they are thwarting a potential threat by locating someone’s knife, box cutter, lighter, or other item b eing detected through a pat down security check or a handheld metal detector; or though an X-Ray machine where bags are screened and objects that could cause potenti... ...or their alternative - patdowns. They will also be subject to random full screening so terrorists don't exploit the program to get on planes.† (Daniel Prendergast and Joseph Straw NEWS; Pg. 14) these measures should make flying bearable, maybe even brining the fun back to flying. In conclusion one should be aware of the important job of the aviation security professional. They are not recognized or respected by many but for the amount of planes that go in the air everyday, there are rarely any instances in the skies. Bibliography: †¢ The Daily Telegraph (London) November 29, 2010 Monday Edition 2 National Edition Predictable security at airports 'makes it easier for terrorists BYLINE: David Millward SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 11 †¢ FLYING TO GET FRIENDLIER, & COSTLIER, FOR 'TRUSTED TRAVELERS' BYLINE: By Daniel Prendergast and Joseph Straw SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 14

Homosexuality in Robert Louis Stevenson The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde :: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Essays

References to Homosexuality in Stevenson's Jekl and Hyde Stevenson's choice of certain words in the novel is extremely pertinent to a homoerotic reading of the text. In some Victorian circles (and most certainly not in others), certain words had very explicit homosexual connotations. The word "homosexual" seems to have come into the English language around 1869, introduced by a Hungarian named Benkert but not generally used by the British until the 1880s. Yet, according to Theo Aronson, there were other words used at that time to identify the love between the same gender. "Homogenic love," "similisexualism," and "Uranism" were apparently among the more common references to homosexuality. Within the novel, however, the word "homosexual" is never used. If it were, perhaps, then such a homoerotic interpretation as this would be redundant. There are, however, certain, rather ambiguous, words that Stevenson uses that have Victorian homosexual connotations. During their walk together, Utterson and Enfield come across the home of Edward Hyde. After relating his story about Hyde, Enfield refers to the place as "Black Mail House" (8). When asked if he ever inquired about the man who lived therein, Enfield replies, "No sir, I make it a rule of mine: the more it looks like Queer Street, the less I ask" (9). Both of these references to Hyde's home are more direct references to Hyde himself, made by a man who, at least publicly, must acknowledge the distinction between himself and the man who lives in Soho. Poole also makes a reference to Hyde's homosexuality: "Then you must know as well as the rest of us that there was something queer about that gentleman - something that gave a man a turn. . . " (57). During the 19th century, of course, homosexuality was acknowledged by heterosexuals (particularly of the upper classes) as an existing activity among the lower classes - an activity that thrived in London's own East End. Those who were thought to be homosexuals were often blackmailed. With the Labouchere Amendment in 1885, homosexuals faced a greater threat of exposure through blackmail. In fact, "the threat of exposure as a sodomite is the basis of more than half of the prosecutions throughout the eighteenth century" ("Jekyll & Hyde," par. 8). Other Victorian writers, like Oscar Wilde, faced this threat, which often damaged their reputations if the affair ever made it to a court. Enfield's reference to "Queer Street" also denotes a homosexual connotation.

How Useful Is the Boy in Striped Pyjamas About Telling Us?

How useful is the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in telling us about the Holocaust? The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, shows what life was like in Germany when the Nazis were taking over. The film tells us about two young boys with two different lives. The Boy in the Striiped Pyjamas is useful about some topics based in that time however it can also be unreliable in others. The Holocaust was mainly a target for Jewish people, black people, homesexuals, gypsies and the physically disabled, the mentally disabled and those involved in resistance movements against Hitler..The Jewish people were the main traget and this chatastrophe started when Hitler came into power. The holocaust was a bruital place for those people, they had no other choice but to do slave labour, such as people had to work in tunnels and starve to death. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas explains the Age of the Victims. The film suggests that age tended to vary from young children to old men. This showed a unuseful report beca use during that time Nazis would kill those who were old of age and useless at working.This rule would automatically apply for those who were physically and mentally disabled. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas only showed one child which meant the rest were adults. This was useful because sources show that there were the odd few of children but mainly adults in the concentration camps. This was because adults are more useful in terms of working. The film also explains the gender of the victims the film showed that there were only men in the camps. This was unreliable because other sources show that the gender also tended to vary with women also.However the sources did show that there were more men than women, so this meant men were stronger than women and could work more than women. There has been disagreement however whether or not men are stronger then women. â€Å"Men were stronger so would live longer†, I disagree with this statement because if women survived they would form a friendship with each other and therefore be able to support one another if they were sick and so could rely on each other. Also, the film showed what the work was like in the camps for a person.The film showed that people were forced to build and manufacture and they would all were the same uniform to represent that they were not and individual in the camps. The film also showed they were allowed to work outside of camps and work indoors with other families and work as a slave in their homes. This was reliable because everyone who were in the camp all had to wear the same uniform, and they did build and manufacture. But they also had to work in the tunnels , mining but mostly they worked until they died or were no longer fit to work and were sent to die.The rule that applied while working was if you could work well you would live, if not you would die. The film showed the small amount of food the people were getting. The young boy Shmall, explained the lack of food they were gett ing. The film showed Bruno bringing food to Shmall and how he ate it like a beast out of starvation. This was reliable because this represented that they did not get much to eat and some were forced to starve. Sources explains that each victim in the camp would get a slice of bread and sometime margarine and marmalade in the morning.Midday they would get potato soup and maybe a little of meat. Although the film did not show this they did show that the victims were skinny and many were starving. The film however did not show any escape from any victims in the camps. But showed that the electric fence surrounding the camp was that there was only one however sources show there were two so this meant, the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas was unreliable. Escape from the camps was almost impossible but I believe it was all done by luck. At least on stats, 802 attempted to escape and only 144 succeeded.The victims who did escape did not realise the consequences that 10 people, selected randomly, by luck, in the camp would be killed if one victim escaped from the camp. The film did not show any survival in the camp which shows that the film is unreliable. Sources show that surviving in the concentration camp had to fight against the harsh conditions they were living in. There was less food, space and less opportunity to be with friends or family. The labour was even more difficult and exhausting; there was constant punishment and stricter rules and regulations regarding every intimate detail of life.The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas also showed death in the concentration camps. They showed how men were beaten if they had done something wrong, spilt wine accidentally on the soldier and had used gas chambers to kill the people, by tricking them thinking it was a shower. This was reliable, however there were quotes made such as â€Å"Luck was the only reason people survived†, I agree with this statement because Viktor Frankl, worked as a kitchen carrier supplier, and how h e explained how he explained how without his job he wouldn't have survived by eating crumbs from the floor.There were other bruital ways of dying in the camps, some soldiers will allow you to starve to death by not giving you your breakfast or lunch, some others were immediately shot dead if they had done something wrong. I believe the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is unuseful because it has given inaccurate accounts such as, men were the only people in these camps or no one escaped from the camps. It has however given some information such as how some people were killed in the gas chambers, but did not show how other people had died in more bruital impact other than a gas chamber.Also it has given an inaccurate account by implying that the people only worked by building and manufacuring when there were more jobs, working in the mines and dug holes for those who had lost their lives in the concentration camp. So summarising my view points I think the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is unuse ful and unreliable, because it has shown an inaccurate account of what life was like inside the camp and in my personal opinion was much more brutal than they had shown.

Diversity: Discrimination and Service Users

It is your role and responsibility to ensure that all staff promote equality, diversity and inclusion, whether dealing with service users directly or indirectly. This can be done in the following ways: Dignity and respect – respect individual’s need for privacy and dignity in the way that service is provided and the way that information is handled. Treat service users with tolerance and have a non-judgemental attitude Information and Communication – providing information in different formats for example large print, Braille, video, tape, total communication, other languages, providing an interpreter. Value the contribution – that each individual can make. Create a productive environment in which everybody feels valued, their talents are fully utilised and services meet the requirements of diverse service users. Embrace difference as a way of attracting and retaining staff and improving customer satisfaction. Provide relevant and appropriate access for the participation, development and advancement of all individuals and groups. Remove physical barriers – overcome physical features by removing them, altering them, avoiding them or providing access to work or service by an alternative method. Stereotypes, assumptions and bias – avoid using negative or offensive language and images which convey stereotypes. Avoid making assumptions about people’s ability to do things or not do things, their attitudes and their persona; circumstances. Don’t assume that you understand their needs and requirements. Don’t allow bias to affect decisions you make about recruitment, training, policies or procedures. Tailor services to needs – Provide auxiliary aids such as an induction loop, prayer room. It is important that staff attend relevant training meetings and supervision so they are aware of their role and accountability with regards equality and diversity. Here they are able to learn the principles of good practice and keep up to date with new developments and changes to relevant legislations. During supervision you should ensure staff are fully aware of the complaints procedure and they should be encouraged to report any issues they feel need to be challenged regarding discrimination. 2. Challenge discrimination and exclusion in policy and practice Adult social care is a complex world of diverse organisations, dispersed responsibilities and growing user empowerment. As a provider of care and support you will need to ensure that you understand the legal framework regarding equality, diversity, discrimination and rights and be able to relate this to your everyday role. Managers at all levels and in all settings, should be seeking to ensure equality and eliminate discrimination by: engage people using services and their families in shaping future support, †¢ present staff with a vision of a fair and equal service, †¢ create cultures which support equality and challenge discrimination, †¢ capture the commitment of the workforce and raise their awareness of the importance of equality †¢ equip them through training, standards and supervision to recognise and tackle discrimination, and enhance equality. †¢ work across boundaries with other agenci es and services to raise the profile of equality and promote informed debate and commitment to change. It is also about challenging others if necessary and speaking up for the individuals you support when they cannot speak up for themselves. It can be di?cult to challenge discrimination, particularly if it is institutional or practised by a colleague, so it is important that you consider how to deal with di?erent and often di?cult situations. To be able to challenge discrimination you require knowledge of policy, procedures and practice. If you feel con?dent about what is good practice, you will be able to deal more e?ectively with incidents that arise. When discrimination happens it may be intentional, but it can also be because of ignorance and lack of understanding. It is not easy to change the views of others but you must challenge discriminatory comments and actions. It is important to learn assertiveness strategies that can help when you recognise discrimination. When challenging discrimination, you should: 1. explain what has happened or what has been said that is discriminatory 2. state the e?ect of this on the individual, group and others 3. suggest or model ways to ensure anti-discriminatory practice. In my job role, you have a duty of care to challenge discrimination in a positive way and promote inclusion. When you are concerned about anti-discriminatory practice, whether by sta? or by service users, you should challenge it effectively so that future incidents of discrimination can be prevented. This will also empower individuals to understand their rights. When you are concerned about anti-discriminatory practice, whether by sta? or by service users, you should: †¢ Always act fairly and try to see things from the other person’s point of view. Consider that there could be different pressures, needs and cultures. †¢ Always use positive language and never use words or phrases that could be disrespectful towards another person. †¢ Do not allow prejudices and stereotyping to influence you and do not accept any type of discriminatory behaviour. 2. 3 Provide others with information about: †¢ the effects of discrimination As a manager the best way to provide staff with information about the effects of discrimination is to ensure they regularly attend the appropriate quality, diversity and inclusion training. You could also discuss this area during team meetings, supervision and appraisal. You should ensure all staff are aware of the procedures to follow if they suspect discrimination is taking place or they are themselves the subject of any form of discrimination. All staff and service users should be aware of their rights. An easily accessible complaints procedure should be in use which can be accessed if they feel their rights are not being observed. Studies have found that discrimination, racism and harassment may have significant mental and physical health consequences such as frustration, stress, anxiety, depression, possible nervous breakdown, or high blood pressure that can cause heart attacks. Negative effects of discrimination physically and emotionally: †¢ Depression †¢ Anger †¢ Loss of self-esteem †¢ Isolation †¢ Feeling stressed or unable to cope The long-term effects could include: †¢ Loss of motivation †¢ Reduced individual rights †¢ Restricted opportunities †¢ Limited access to services †¢ Mental illness caused by stress the impact of inclusion Research has suggested that the feeling of inclusion is a critical factor in bridging individuals’ differences in age, race and gender in the workplace. In terms of the workforce, inclusion may lead to the feeling of acceptance in an organization which links to satisfaction with the organization and commitment to it. Thi s in turn leads to increased productivity and more effective team and partnership working. In respect of the service users, by considering their needs and then designing the services to meet those needs inclusion can be attained. By enabling people to access services and informing and supporting them, developing their self-help skills and developing meaningful services. This improves health and wellbeing, reduces discrimination and increases inclusion in mainstream services. †¢ the value of diversity Having a diverse group of workers and service users simply means recognizing that all the people are unique in their own way. Their differences could consist of their athletic ability, cultural background, personality, religious beliefs, and the list goes on. There has always been diversity in the workplace, but in today society it is important to value and embrace it and make positive use of it. When people value diversity, they recognize and respect the fact that people are different and that these differences is generally a good thing. For example, when attempting to solve a problem, it is better to assemble a diverse team with many skills and many different ways of approaching the problem than it is to assemble a team that has all their strength concentrated in one area. This in turn will not only benefit both your organisation and the team as a whole but also the service users who use your services. 2. 4 Support others to challenge discrimination and exclusion In your role as Manager one of your most important responsibility, with regards discriminations and exclusion is to ensure all staff have attended the respective training and are fully aware of the workplace policies and procedures in this area. By ensuring staff have this information, knowledge and skills they will then be more able to identify situations where discrimination is taking place and will be aware of the correct procedures to follow in the event. Supporting both staff and service users to challenge discrimination and make a complaint will also be part of your responsibility. Service users should also be supported and encouraged to complain if they feel discriminated against or excluded. By providing service users with details of where they can seek further support and advice egarding discrimination, will allow them to feel they have more choice and control over their lives. Every workplace should have the following in place to aid both service users and staff to complain; †¢ Whistle blowing policy †¢ Complaint procedure †¢ Appeals procedure Once a complaint has been made it is important to monitor and review the situation periodically to ensure no reoccurrence happens. Some complaints may result i n a review of practice and a change to the workplace policies which you would need to oversee. This would ensure that there is a clear directive for future similar events, should they occur.