Literary Devices Essay

Alliteration Repeating the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. AllusionA figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication. BildungsromanA type of novel concerned with education, development, and maturation of a young protagonist. Essentially, a Bildungsroman traces the formation of a protagonist’s maturity (the passage from childhood to adulthood) by following the development of his/her mind and character. Breaking the fourth wallAn author or character addresses the audience directly (also known as direct address). This may acknowledge to the reader or audience that what is being presented is fiction, or may seek to extend the world of the story to provide the illusion that they are included in it. An example is found in the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off when the main character speaks to the audience by looking directly into the camera. Chekhov’s gunInsertion of an apparently irrelevant object early in a narrative for a purpose only revealed later. See foreshadowing and repetitive designation. Cliff-hangerThe narrative ends unresolved, to draw the audience back to a future episode for the resolution. Deus ex machina (From Latin: a machination, or act of god)Resolving the primary conflict by a means unrelated to the story (e. g. , a god appears and solves everything). This device dates back to ancient Greek theatre, but can be a clumsy method that frustrates the audience. This has come to mean that a force steps in to ‘save the day’ or a helicopter shows up just as the hero must jump off a building. EpiphanyA sudden revelation or insight—usually with a symbolic role in the narrative—in a literary work. First Person NarrationA text presented from the point of view of a character (esp. the protagonist) and written in the first person. Oftentimes, the first-person narrative is used as a way to directly convey the deeply internal, otherwise unspoken thoughts of the narrator. Occasionally this narrator can be seen as unreliable. In some cases, the narrator gives and withholds information based on his/her own viewing of events. It is an important task for the reader to determine as much as possible about the character of the narrator in order to decide what â€Å"really† happens. Important note: See page 4 for point form recap. Flashback (or analeptic reference)General term for altering time sequences, taking characters back to the beginning of the tale, for instance Flash-forwardAlso called prolepsis, an interjected scene that temporarily jumps the narrative forward in time. Flash forwards often represent events expected, projected, or imagined to occur in the future. They may also reveal significant parts of the story that have not yet occurred, but soon will in greater detail. This has been highly popularized by several television shows. ForeshadowingHinting at events to occur later. See also Chekhov’s gun. Frame story, or a story within a storyA main story that organizes a series of shorter stories or a short story that is used within another to add meaning to the other. Framing deviceA single action, scene, event, setting, or any element of significance at both the beginning and end of a work. HamartiaThe character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall. HyperboleExaggeration used to evoke strong feelings or create an impression which is not meant to be taken literally. ImageryForming mental images of a scene using descriptive words, especially making use of the human senses. In medias resBeginning the story in the middle of a sequence of events. The Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer are prime examples. The latter work begins with the return of Odysseus to his home of Ithaka and then in flashbacks tells of his ten years of wandering following the Trojan War. IronyThis discrepancy between expectation and reality occurs in three forms: situational irony, where a situation features a discrepancy between what is expected and what is actualized; dramatic irony, where a character is unaware of pivotal information already revealed to the audience (the discrepancy here lies in the two levels of awareness between the character and the audience); and verbal irony, where one states one thing while meaning another. The difference between verbal irony and sarcasm is exquisitely subtle and often contested. The concept of irony is too often misunderstood in popular usage. Unfortunate circumstances and coincidences do not constitute irony (nor do they qualify as being tragic). Reader’s note: â€Å"Isn’t it ironic? † by Alanis Morisette contains several examples, but many of them are not ironic at all. JuxtapositionUsing two themes, characters, phrases, words, or situations together for comparison or contrast Narrative hookStory opening that â€Å"hooks† readers’ attention so hey will keep reading OverstatementExaggerating something, often for emphasis (also known as hyperbole) OnomatopoeiaWord that sounds the same as, or similar to what the word means, e. g. , â€Å"boom† or â€Å"squish† OxymoronA term made of two words that deliberately or coincidentally imply each other’s opposite, e. g. â€Å"terrible beauty† ParadoxA phrase that describes an idea composed of concepts that conflict. A good example occurs in the first sent ence of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens: â€Å"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times† (1). ParodyRidicule by overstated imitation, usually humorous, as in MAD Magazine Pathetic fallacyReflecting a character’s (usually the protagonist) mood in the atmosphere or inanimate objects—for example, the storm in William Shakespeare’s King Lear, which mirrors Lear’s mental deterioration. PathosEmotional appeal, one of the three modes of persuasion in rhetoric that the author uses to inspire pity or sorrow towards a character—typically does not counterbalance the target character’s suffering with a positive outcome, as in Tragedy. PersonificationUsing comparative metaphors and similes to give living characteristics to non-living objects. Plot twistUnexpected change (â€Å"twist†) in the direction or expected outcome of the plot. Poetic justiceVirtue ultimately rewarded, or vice punished, by an ironic twist of fate related to the character’s own conduct Self-fulfilling prophecyPrediction that, by being made, makes itself come true. Early examples include the legend of Oedipus. There is also an example of this in Harry Potter. SatireThe use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices. Sensory detailImagery, sight, sound, taste, touch, smell Stream of consciousnessTechnique where the author writes down their thoughts as fast as they come, typically to create an interior monologue, characterized by leaps in syntax and punctuation that trace a character’s fragmentary thoughts and sensory feelings. An example is â€Å"Ulysses†. SymbolismApplied use of symbols: iconic representations that carry particular conventional meanings.

Sleep Deprivation of College Students

Sleep Deprivation of college students It is 11:30 in the morning and the lecture started half an hour ago. The classroom is still half empty. Although half of the class is here, they don’t look like awake. Most of them look like zombies. The above scenario is a common condition taken place in colleges. A research done by Tsui,YY, et al (2009) shows that two thirds of the participating students reported sleep deprivation. The poor sleep quality results in their zombie looks and poor attendants in lectures. Causes of Sleep deprivationDeprival of sleep strongly affects college students’ studies and personal life. Why would students have sleep deprivation? There are two main causes. Change in lifestyle First of all, the change in lifestyle strongly deranges one’s sleeping pattern. When students in Hong Kong transit from secondary school to college, they are happy about not being controlled by their parents anymore. Since in secondary school, students have a lot of pr essure from public exams and their worried parents. The parents force them to maintain a healthy lifestyle.However, after they become college students, especially for those who are living in residence halls, they would be excited to get rid of the healthy lifestyle and doing whatever they like at night time. They can hang out with friends at midnight and have parties all night long. However, before the deadlines of assignments, students would burn the midnight oil, spending several nights to finish the assignments. When their work is done, they would use the whole day for sleeping to remedy the seized sleeping hours. The upsetting schedule of sleep would induce a strong negative influence in students’ sleep-wake pattern.Once the pattern is disrupted, it will cause varies of problems towards one’s life. Pressure Another main cause of this issue is pressure. With no doubt, stress can easily keep students awake at night. College students in Hong Kong are engaged with sort s of activities, including competitions, extra-curriculum activities and part-time jobs. They want to make everything prefect, which would definitely elicit stress. It would undoubtedly make them awake at night, or even worse, they may suddenly wake up in the midnight for several times.Some of my university friends are suffering from sleep deprivation because of stress. Sometimes, they are afraid of cannot wake up on time in the morning for examinations, resulting in them cannot fall asleep even after two hours of staying on bed. Effects of sleep deprivation Sleep deprivation affects college students in many aspects. Two main effects are health problems and poor work performance. Health problem Sleep deprived has a strong influence in health. Some of the students would try to take drugs or use alcohol to help them inducing sleep. It would be likely to have a risk of addiction.Moreover, this sleeping problem will easily drive to have increasing blood pressure tremors, aching muscles, headaches, memory loss and the like. Furthermore, Melnick (2010) stated that â€Å"Researchers found that for each hour of lost sleep, levels of psychological distress rose by 5% in nearly 3,000 17-to-24-year-olds who were followed for 12 to 18 months. Overall, short sleepers were 14% more likely to report symptoms of psychological distress on a standard test, compared with people who got adequate sleep. â€Å"Most of the students would use coffee to help them stay awake at night so that they can study hard. However, it is not a wise choice.Although caffeine could be helpful for keeping people energetic during days and nights, it would cause long term impacts to their health. Poor work performance Withholding of sleep also leads to a poor work performance, it will seriously affect the performance of tests and part-time work. During sleeping, brain would review and organize the memories, it also allows body to take a rest. However, if students deprive their sleeping, it would not allow their brain to have proper re-organizing, which would conduct poor performance. What is more, a sleep deprived student will easily have delay in reaction and tendencies to make mistakes.On the contrary, according to Dean, Lowry and Manders (2010),† College students mindful of the importance of healthy sleep patterns may be able to improve their GPAs. † (P. 16). Students would definitely feel better and maximum your brain functions if they had a nice quality of sleep. Way to reduce sleep deprivation Sleep deprivation brings college students dozens of severe negative impacts. How can we get rid of it? The method is easy, change your lifestyle! It is suggested that adults should have seven to nine hours of sleep for a day. Students should avoid staying up all the night and have better planning for their time.Time management is vital for everyone, not only students. It is understood that going to college probably is the first time students will be in charge of their sl eep habits. According to Sheehan, Unseth and Xiong (2010), â€Å"Try to go to bed and wake up at approximately the same time every day. A regular sleep pattern increases your alertness during the day. † (P. 3). Going to college would be a very good chance for students to learn to control their life and time. Apart from this, some students may have trouble sleeping. Nonetheless, this is not an excuse to become an all-nighter.The suggestion for them to have a nice night sleep is relax! If there is a lot in their mind, including school works, relationships, jobs and the like, it is hard to fall asleep. Students can jot down the things on their mind and then forget about it! If there is a noise problem, students may try to use a white-noise machine to block the noise from the resident hall. â€Å"Sleep helps repair your body, reduce stress, improve memory, and keep you healthy. Lack of sleep can literally affect every aspect of your life. â€Å" (Sheehan, Unseth and Xiong, 2010 , P. 2) After knowing all those bad impacts f sleep deprivation, students should get away your bad habit of staying up late and oversleeping considering having a better health. Let’s change the lifestyle and maintain a healthy life! References Dean, K. , Lowry, M. , Manders, K. (2010). The link between sleep quantity and academic performance for the college student. Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota. Retrieved from https://www. psych. umn. edu/sentience/files/Lowry_2010. pdf Melnick, M. (2010, September 2). Lack of sleep linked with depression, weight gain and even  death. Times. Retrieved from http://healthland. ime. com/2010/09/02/lack-of-sleep-can-cause-depression-weight-gain-and-even-death/ Sheehan, E. , Unseth, T. , Xiong, M. (2010). Sleep deprivation of college students in western. Retrieved from http://www. westerntc. edu/writingcenter/pdf/samples/Business%20and%20Technical/SheehanEtAl. pdf Song, S. (2011). Sleeping your way to the top. College Writin g Skills with Readings, 8, 729-731. Tsui, YY. , Et al. (2009). A study on the sleep patterns and problems of university business students in Hong Kong. Pubmed gov. Retrieved from http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/m/pubmed/198926541

Pride and Prejudice: Mr Collins proposes Essay

Mr Collins proposes to both Elizabeth and Charlotte but their reactions are very different. What does the behaviour of all three characters during chapters 19, 20 & 22 tell us about the different attitudes to marriage in the early nineteenth century? Throughout the book Pride & Prejudice, there are many different views towards marriage expressed. For example, Elizabeth Bennet wishes to marry for love whereas Charlotte Lucas doesn’t mind marrying someone she doesn’t love just for the security of marriage. Mr Collins, on the other hand, wants to marry to set a good example as the vicar, and on the advice from Lady Catherine de Bough. These attitudes are different from ours today in that women today don’t need the security of marriage and rarely marry without even liking their prospective partner. In chapter six, Elizabeth shows that she only wishes to marry for love and not for money or security. When Charlotte tells Lizzie her advice, that you should know as little as possible about your partner before you marry them, Lizzie says â€Å"You make me laugh Charlotte†¦you would never act this way yourself!† This shows that Lizzie does not agree with this view of marriage and finds it slightly ridiculous. This is similar to our attitude to marriage today in that, like women today, Lizzie wants to know her partner properly, unlike Charlotte, and love them before she marries them. Mr Collins proposes to Lizzie in chapter 19, but Lizzie declines because she does not love or even like him. This is very admirable of her as many women in her situation would have accepted purely for the security of being able to stay in her family home. However Mr Collins perseveres in his proposal, convinced she is only joking when she refuses him, and she becomes more adamant, saying â€Å"I am perfectly serious in my refusal – you could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who could make you so.† This shows she is headstrong and will only ever marry for love. Her mother Mrs Bennet wants Lizzie to marry Mr Collins so that Lizzie will be in financial security and be able to stay at Longbourn. However Mr Bennet doesn’t want her to marry Mr Collins because he knows she doesn’t like him and wants her to be happy, also he doesn’t want her to have a marriage like his and Mrs Bennet’s because they didn’t marry for love. When Charlotte tells Lizzie she has accepted Mr Collins’ proposal, Lizzie is very surprised. She says â€Å"Engaged to Mr Collins! My dear Charlotte – impossible!† which shows that she cannot believe her friend would get engaged to him so soon after she herself refused him. This tells us that her attitude to marriage is very different from her friend’s and that she can’t contemplate Charlotte marrying Mr Collins even though she does not like him In chapter 15, Mr Collins’ attitude to marriage is described. He has decided to marry now because he has a good house and a very sufficient income, therefore he has a better chance of getting a wife as he can offer financial security. He chooses one of the Bennet girls to make amends with the family as he is to inherit Longbourn. This is not a good reason for marrying. He originally wanted to propose to Jane, however Mrs Bennet informs Mr Collins that Jane is ‘soon to be engaged’, so he changes his mind to Lizzie instead. This shows that his ‘love’ for Lizzie cannot be true because she is his ‘second choice’. Also it tell us that he is desperate to get married so won’t give up that easily. When he proposes to Lizzie he states his reasons for marrying all in the wrong order. He mentions that â€Å"I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish† and â€Å"I am convinced it will add greatly to my happiness† all before he mentions any love for Lizzie. When Lizzie turns him down he cannot understand why and thinks she is joking. He says â€Å"†¦it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man who they secretly mean to accept†¦I am therefore by no means discouraged.† This shows he is very arrogant and thinks very highly of himself. Also, the fact that he would be prepared to marry a woman who does not even like him tells us that he is desperate to get a wise and that he doesn’t want to displease Lady Catherine de Bough and has advised him to marry. He proposes to Charlotte just three days after Lizzie refuses him. This tells us that his ‘love’ for Lizzie was false as he moved on so fast. Also, if he had loved Lizzie his love for Charlotte could not have been true as he would not have gotten over Lizzie. In chapter 6 Charlotte talks to Lizzie about her views on marriage. She says to Lizzie â€Å"Happiness in marriage is entirely and matter of chance.† This tells us that she doesn’t mind if she marries someone she doesn’t love, because it is a matter of chance if she is happy or not. This is very different to our attitude to marriage today as people today marry for love and don’t share Charlotte’s views that happiness is a matter of chance. She accepts Mr Collins’ proposal because he has a good house and income and can offer her financial security. It is not surprising that she accepts because she is close to becoming an old maid and her views of marriage show that she does not want to marry for love but for security. This changes my opinion of her in that she is not as headstrong as Lizzie because she is so desperate for the security of marriage that she is happy to marry Mr Collins, whom she does not love. However, she followed her own advice from previous chapters and sticks to her views, which is admirable. Elizabeth’s attitude to marriage is closest to our views today; she believes in marrying for love and not for security like her good friend Charlotte. Charlotte’s views reflect early nineteenth century attitudes to marriage. She believes in marrying purely for the security of marriage, and money. She accepts Mr Collins’ proposal because he can offer her financial security and a good home, and this supports the views she expressed in earlier chapters. Mr Collins come to Longbourn to find a wife on the advice of Lady Catherine de Bough, whom he idolizes, and because he thinks it will set a good example in his parish. His attitude is quite different from today, as people today make their own choices about marriage and do not need to set a good example in their life and job by being married. I agree most with Lizzie’s views on marriage because I think to be happy in marriage you should marry for love and not money or security. I do not agree with the early nineteenth century views on marriage because nowadays we do not need to marry for money or for a good home.

Product Packaging Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Product Packaging - Essay Example The combination of paper and plastic to package ice cream is relatively desirable, economical and convenient. The types of ice cream intended to market are creams, cones and bars. The ice cream categories include; frozen yogurt, dessert toppings, ice cream and novelties. Similarly, the sizes of the ice cream are; 3.5 oz for creams, 5.0 oz for ice cream bars and 4.5 oz for ice cream cones. These packaging materials can conform to any size and shape (Albert 16). In addition, it is essential to ensure that the packaging criteria favor all serving size options such as; retail, pints, scrounds, family and single consumers. According to the laws and regulations governing labeling in France, the labels on the food products must be visible, easy to understand, not edible and easy to see. Furthermore, the list of ingredients must be shown, the original place of the product and the storage condition. Similarly, the expiry date must be clearly indicated, and the percentage content of alcohol in the ice cream should be included. Ice cream with alcoholic content should indicate a warning (Castellani 30). In this regard, it should not be sold to persons below the age of 18, according to the minimum age as illustrated by the French law on alcohol. Various companies in France have different packaging techniques. For example, Unilever and Ben & Jerrys have to deep-frozen the ice cream after production and it takes the shape of the equipment used to freeze (Baker 24). The ice cream of this company is differentiated from those of its competitors since the company uses packaging materials that conform to different shapes and

Preperation of an evidence based clincal guideline informed by critque Thesis

Preperation of an evidence based clincal guideline informed by critque of relevent evidence - Thesis Example This review considered three types of studies, namely the randomized control trial, a systematic review and a qualitative study. It emerged that, water immersion presented a reduced need for the use of analgesia during labor. Moreover, women felt more confident and in control of the birth process when water immersion was used. However, one of the studies highlighted that there was a higher risk of infection when water immersion was used. The three studies considered in the review presented evidence that water immersion had the potential to reduce the use of analgesia during the first two stages of labor. However, it also highlighted that failure to take precautions regarding the safety of the water may lead to infections in the unborn baby. Evidently, further research concerning this issue is needed. This review considers three different types of studies in a bid to gain the evidence of the potential benefits of using water immersion during the first two stages of labor. A close analysis of the results from each study reveals that water immersion may serve to reduce the pain experienced during labor and hence eliminate the need for spinal analgesia that is normally given to women in labor. Even when there is a need for analgesia, the studies reveal that it is usually limited when using water immersion. There is a need for advanced research in this sector because the available evidence does not give conclusive findings on the rate of infection during water immersion. In the 21st century, water birth has become one of the choices that women make regarding their preferred methods of delivery. There has been an increasing controversy regarding the potential benefits of water birth as well as the new challenges it may pose. This necessitates the presence of a clinical guideline that highlights the critical issues related to water birth (da Silva, de Oliveira, & Nobre, 2009). Notably, it has

Profile of a Member of Congress Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Profile of a Member of Congress - Research Paper Example He and his wife Katherine have been married over thirty years, have two children and grandchildren, and attend Grace Episcopal Church in Jacksonville. Crenshaw is a fairly typical member of Congress: he is white, Protestant, and wealthy (â€Å"Representative† n.d.; Tannahill 249; â€Å"Biography† n.d.). Before procuring what The Washington Post calls a â€Å"safe Republican seat† in the House of Representatives in 2000, Crenshaw had a â€Å"rollercoaster political journey† as a member of both houses of the Florida state legislature (â€Å"Ander Crenshaw† n.d.). He has spent most of his career in politics; he was a member of the Florida State House of Representatives from 1972 to 1978. After three failed attempts at statewide office, he returned to the state legislature as a state senator in 1986 and stayed until 1994. His long period of political service, beginning shortly after graduating from college, most certainly makes Crenshaw a career politic ian. Crenshaw calls himself a â€Å"third-generation resident of Northeast Florida† (â€Å"Biography† n.d.), and that is the district he represents in the House of Representatives. The 4th Congressional District of Florida consists mostly of the Jacksonville, the largest city in the state. 78 percent of the district is urban. It is strongly conservative, with 62 percent of the voters going for Senator John McCain in the 2008 Presidential race. The district, much of its geography situated along the northern Florida coast, is also strongly pro-military. Crenshaw is a strong supporter of defense issues, and as his webpage states is â€Å"a champion for our men and women in uniform.† He supports veterans’ rights and has worked to establish Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville a nuclear aircraft carrier homeport. Anders serves on the House Appropriations Committee, and as a member of that committee, serves on two subcommittees, the Subcommittee on Military Co nstruction and Veterans Affairs and the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. He has chaired the Legistlative Branch Subcommittee and is a past member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. Since 2003, he has been Deputy Whip and has worked to help mobilize Republican members for key legislative votes (â€Å"Biography† n.d.). His work on these committees and subcommittees has mostly been focused on procuring and retaining funding for military installations and for the support of veterans’ benefits in Northeast Florida (â€Å"Ander Crenshaw† n.d.) In 2006, as member of the House Budget Committee, Crenshaw was chairman of the Republican Budget Task Force, a group that worked on budget issues that attempted to â€Å"rein in federal spending† (â€Å"Crenshaw† 2006). In 2010, Crenshaw raised $554,327 for his campaign, close to the half a million dollars average spent by Congressional campaigns last year. His opponent, Independent Troy Stanley, raised $15,799 (â€Å"Total Raised† n.d.). About half of Crenshaw’s campaign funds came from individuals and half from political action committees (PACs), although PACs made up the majority of his largest contributors. His top three contributors were WW Gay Mechanical Contractor, AT&T, and BAE Systems, all of which contributed $10,000 each. Crenshaw did not personally contribute anything to his campaign (â€Å"Representative,† n.d.) In 2010, Crenshaw essentially ran unopposed, winning 77%

Statement of purpose Personal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 11

Of purpose - Personal Statement Example This career path will allow me to combine my inclination towards the two subjects into a powerful personal and professional skill (Brown 24). The statistics program at Columbia is especially appealing to me because it is both challenging and inspiring. The learning environment is also perfect for me, particularly the diversity and academic achievements of the institution. Last year, I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Miami. I majored in management but also undertook minors in finance, marketing, mathematics, accounting, and economics. However, being a very ambitious individual, I immediately set my minds on enhancing my academic and professional pedigree. As stated before, I am keen on working in the business statistics field, but it is so competitive that an undergraduate degree alone will not propel me to the greater heights I aspire to. The graduate program in statistics will provide me with the technical and soft skills I require to succeed in business statistics. I believe that the program will prepare me for the rigors of business statistics and give me the motivation to inspire, innovate, and impact. Over the years, my work experience has paved the way for me to complete my undergraduate degree and pushed me to hunger for further studies. I have worked as a sales assistant at Jiangsu GPRO Group Company in Nanjing, where I participated in the company’s sales and marketing activities. I have also worked as an intern at Bank of China, New York, which is one of the largest and busiest banks in the US. Most recently, I worked in the sales division of Runton International Corporation, where I performed duties related to sales, administration, support, and marketing. These experiences taught me the value of hard work, diligence, planning, and skill development. However, the biggest lesson I learned was the value of education in career growth (Brown 24). I realized that all the senior managers I interacted with had advanced

Rise and Growing Role of Multinational Enterprises Coursework

Rise and Growing Role of Multinational Enterprises - Coursework Example A veritable explosion in e-based connectivity since 1995 as well as the emergence of a completely new global Information Technology outsourcing industry has resulted to the networking of service and product providers globally (Heshmati, Sohn, and Kim, 2007:116). Consequently, hastily expanding trade in both goods and services is becoming an increasingly powerful engine in driving the dynamics of growth and development to a global state. This paper will account for the rise and growing role of multinational enterprises form the Asia Pacific in the global economy and particularly in Europe. Aims of Chinese multinationals in international business strategies When it comes to the global economy, no nation is self-sufficient. Each needs involvement at different levels in trade in order to sell what it produces and acquire what it lacks as well as produce more efficiently in some economic sectors than its trade partners. As conventional economic theory supports, trade promotes economic eff iciency through the provision of a wider variety of commodities, regularly at a lower cost, notably because of specialization, economies of scale, and the related logical advantages (Rudman, 2006:149-151). Documented evidence asserts that international trade is a subject of contention because it can sometimes be a disruptive economic and social force as it changes the conditions of wealth distribution within a national economy, predominantly due to changes in prices and wages. As of this moment, a small group of developing countries is transforming the global economic landscape. Led by China, Japan, India, and Brazil, these expanding economic powers pose a variety of challenges and opportunities for European economic interests and leadership of the global economy. Chinese hesitant stance suggested the precise nature of global flows and the impacts are still poorly understood. The rise of Chinese investment in European nations differs from earlier waves of investment from the United States and thereafter from Japan. A huge number of Chinese firms are heading abroad to become globally competitive instead of going to exploit advantages developed at home. With this aspect, according to European policymakers, Chinese investors resemble in behavior Korean multinationals (Feenstra and Wei, 2010:517). While in Africa and in Latin America, many Chinese investments are seeking to secure energy resources, those into Europe or North America are more likely to be in search of a market or strategic assets. Direct Chinese investment among European countries is still relatively insignificant. However, over the last past few years, it has and still is showing a clear upward movement. The EU, according to some sources, accounted for merely one per cent of Chinese outbound M&A in terms of value between 1999 and 2005. Numerically, he Greenfield investment projects outpace acquisitions despite the fact that many of these tend to be minimal. Greenfield investments wise, although th e amount of venture in European projects funded by China increased by 500 per cent since 2000, it commenced from a low base thus remains modest. A report released by the French Agency for International Investments (AFII) pointed out that, Chinese firms accounted for a mere 0.5 per cent of all manufacturing projects and 0.9 per cent in job creation in Europe between 2002 and 2005. The growing role of China in the European market accounted for 1.2 per cent of Greenfield investments over the period between 2004 and 2006 (Tang, 2010:5-7).

UPenn Wharton Business School Admission Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

UPenn Wharton Business School Admission - Essay Example The competitive Chinese real estate market and the economic bubble was not fit for the financially challenged lot, making them drop along the way or were just employed as masons, and contractors when there were many opportunities. In addition, just as Mao Zedong said that nations do not mistrust each other because they are armed, while they are armed because they do not mistrust each other. I wanted to arm the masons and empower them to get the best out of their effort. I helped them identify alternative sources of capital that they could use to help improve their financial situation. Most of my first clients are in the real estate and have been enjoying the fruits of their life. These people have known the best recipe for project management and capital valuation, they know the importance of the project, how to maximize the bottom line in all projects, how to dispose their capital equipment without losing much through trade in or recycle/reuse. Others started big construction compani es that are now tremendously successful in the maintenance of the bad roads in Vietnam. These people realized that the main secret to their life is to like what they do and not just do what they like only. In this spirit, I only want to do the things I like and decide that now is the defining moment at hand before the defining moment defines me.

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 25

Case study - Essay Example Based on sales, each identified product or service is defined by its purchasers. Since there diverse and ever changing nature of products available in the market, the corporation makes supplies to different consumers specifically identified by the purchases made. Across demarcated market regions, some products will sell more than others, although the entire customer base is constituted by all market segments. The second variable is that of broadcasting. The corporation understands that not every market segment requires broadcasting products or services, and as such different customers view broadcasting from various perspectives, thereby constituting variant tastes and preferences. In this regard, Meredith evaluates its broadcasting options prior to the needs of different customers. The third variable relates to regional and social diversity. Different physical regions and social differences create the need for identifiable markets to these factors. In all the three variables, data mining techniques are highly employed to aid the segmentation process (Havaldar, 2010). The target marketing strategy employed by the Meredith Corporation is direct marketing. This involves addressing specific customer needs as they arise. The corporation embraced customer diversity and dynamism in its business. This makes it prioritize its customers’ needs, tastes and preferences. Customers interact directly with the corporation through the corporation’s websites. Through the same websites, their expectations on product development and improvement are collected and used for customer satisfaction purposes. Meredith has developed variety of products for the diverse customer base and market share that it enjoys. Building strong relationships with the right customer guarantees any business enterprise that its operations and performance over rivals are competent enough (Havaldar, 2010). For Meredith

What is the effectiveness of using tablet pc for learning and teaching Assignment

What is the effectiveness of using tablet pc for learning and teaching - Assignment Example The age group of students which includes maximum number of students in terms of use of tablet PCs are above the age of 30 years and the least percentage of students using tablet PCs fall in the age group of 11-14 years. In case of teachers, those belonging to the age group of 36-40 years have been found to be maximum number in terms of use of tablet PCs. This follows the trend that the people belonging to the age group of 30-40 years who are mostly in need of time management prefer use of electronic data that offers flexibility in the process of teaching. In order to teach the students, the teachers have shown the maximum tendency to teach English through the use of tablet pc. English is a foreign language and tablet PCs have been useful in teaching the students in a convenient manner with the use of presentation and innovative approaches. Tablet PCs are mostly used by the students outside classroom for reading online course material and carrying out online research at home. It has provided the students to access classroom content through the electronic media and complete home tasks. The uses of tablet PCs have gained popularity in the process of teaching and learning in the classrooms as well as in activities outside the classrooms. This is due to the effectiveness of tablet PCs in achieving dynamism and flexibility in the process of teaching and learning. Tablet PCs are loaded with full versions of Microsoft operating systems and software that offers the advantages of pen based computing and mobility due to the portable nature of the device (Reed and Berque 48). The use of tablet PCs have removed the barriers of the education process and eroded its confinement to the classrooms. Tablet PCs have opened a wide arena for education and are freely used for the purpose of education even outside the classrooms. The concepts of virtual classrooms have also emerged with the advent of tablet PCs. The teachers and the students could connect with each other with the

Process and Content Theories of Motivation Essay Example for Free

Process and Content Theories of Motivation Essay There are several process theories of motivation: The Vroom Expectancy Theory, the Adams’ Equity Theory, the Needs-Goal-Setting Theory, and the Reinforcement Theory of Motivation. Here our centre of attention is on helping you make a clear-cut distinction between process and content. Basically, process theories of motivation focus on how workers needs influence their own behaviour. Here our attention goes beyond motivation, our focal point is on giving you a key conceptual tool to help you manage both the performance of your direct reports (management) and the performance of your entire organization (leadership). â€Å"Process† is how employees work together, as opposed to the what – the â€Å"content,† the task, the issue – they are working on. An example of â€Å"process† is the way in which people interact with each other during a meeting; on the contrary, an example of â€Å"content† is the decision they make in that meeting. Process is hiring (the hiring processes that a company practices); content is the selected candidate that becomes the new employee. Process is the nature in which day-to-day performance conversations take place between the manager and her direct reports; content is what gets talked about, agreed upon, and actually understood. Process is the way in which people interact with each other in order to solve a problem; content is the actual solution to the problem. Most executives have the unconscious tendency to focus on content – which is great, that’s what they get paid for – but unfortunately most executives also have the unconscious tendency to forget about the process they are using. However, the quality of the â€Å"process† that is used (the type of meeting that is used to make a decision for example), has an impact on the quality of the resulting â€Å"content† (if the meeting is poorly designed, the quality of the resulting decision is likely to be poorer, but if the meeting is well designed, the quality of the resulting decision is likely to be better). Again, the better the process used, the better the resulting content, and vice versa: The poorer the process used, the poorer the resulting content. Do the people in your company hate meetings because they spend too much time in them? The problem is not in the meetings themselves, but in the way your company runs those meetings. Does your company have several low performers? The problem is not in those poor people who perform below standards, but in your company’s management practices. Is your company lagging behind its competition? The problem is not in those high performing organizations, but in the leadership skills of your company’s leaders. The process by which a company is led and managed determines its long-term success.heori of Motivation A great company is successful in the long run not because of its great products or services, but because of the nature of its leadership and management processes. You can have the greatest product or service, but if you don’t have the appropriate management and leadership processes, your company won’t get too far. It’s that simple. The next time something doesn’t go as you wanted it to go, stop for a second, step back, get your focus off the content, and take a closer look at the process you are using. How can you improve the process that you are using?

Values Of Turkey According To Hofstedes Values Politics Essay

Values Of Turkey According To Hofstedes Values Politics Essay Modern day Turkey has its roots in the former Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire had begun in the 13th century and stretched across the Middle East, including parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Ottoman Empire largely collapsed after defeat in the First World War. After the World War, the Turkish War of Independence resulted in Turkey, in its modern day form, being founded in 1923. (CIA World Factbook) Istanbul, Turkeys largest city, also goes back to ancient times as it was formerly known as Constantinople. Further back in history, it was called Byzantium. It has been part of the Ottoman Empire as well as the Roman and Byzantine Empires. After the founding of Turkey, the country operated with a one party system. The first occurrence of an opposition party winning power was in 1950, with a peaceful transfer of power. (CIA World Factbook). However, this has not always been the case. Turkey has been unstable in the past. Military coups have taken place in 1960, 1971, and 1980, with civilians regaining power each time. (CIA World Factbook) Turkeys current government is a republican parliamentary democracy. There are three branches of government. The executive branch has a president who is elected to a five year term, but has a largely ceremonial role. The prime minister is the head of the government and is appointed by the president. The legislative branch is made up of the unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The judicial system contains the Constitutional Court, functioning much like the United States Supreme Court. (CIA World Factbook). Geographically, Turkey lies in the Middle East. Most of the country is part of southwestern Asia, with a small portion spilling into southeastern Europe. The country borders the Black Sea and Mediterranean Seas. Bordering countries include Iraq, Iran, Syria, as well as Greece and Bulgaria. (CIA World Factbook) While Turkey identifies more with the Middle East geographically, the country is more European than its neighbors. Turkey is a NATO member and has been since 1952. It is also a UN member since 1945. Currently, Turkey is a candidate to join the EU. (CIA World Factbook) Turkey has a population of almost seventy-seven million, ranking it seventeenth in the world. Its population is currently growing at a rate of 1.312%. (Dept. of State) The predominant religion is Muslim, with 99.8% of the population identifying themselves as such. (CIA World Factbook). Most of the Muslim population is Sunni. The other 0.2% of the population is made up mostly Christians and Jews, however this number pales in comparison to the Islamic population. (CIA World Factbook) Economically, Turkey is fairly developed. The economy consists of a mix of modern industry, commerce, with a fair amount of agriculture. 45.8% of the labor force works in the service sector. 29.5% spend their lives working in the agriculture sector, while the remaining 24.7% are in the industrial sector. (CIA World Factbook) Turkey has a gross domestic product of $863.3 billion, ranking it 18th in the world. (CIA World Factbook). The largest industrial sector is the textile industry, making up 33% of industry in the country. Automotive and electronic industries are growing. (CIA World Factbook) Another industry in Turkey is the oil industry. Oil pipelines connecting oil from the Middle East to Europe. (CIA World Factbook) The government has been a major participant in industry, banking, transport, and communication in the past, however this role is in decline as the country has experienced a move towards privatization. (CIA World Factbook) Turkey has not been immune to the current economic downturn that is facing the world. The gross domestic product shrunk 5.6% in the past year. Turkey also faces a high external debt. $274 billion dollars are owed to various countries. (CIA World Factbook) The Corruption Perception Index gives a score based on a perceived level of public corruption, ranking 180 different world countries. Turkey scores a 4.4 on the Corruption Perception Index, on a scale from zero to ten, with lower scores indicating more perceived corruption. Turkeys moderate score of 4.4 ranks them the 61st least perceived corrupted country in the world. (Transparency International) Geert Hofstede scores countries on different cultural dimensions in order to give a better understanding of the culture of a particular country. Hofstede measures the dimensions of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism and masculinity. (itim International) Turkey scores high at 66 in power distance, indicating that the level of inequality in society is accepted and embraced. Turkey scores low in individualism at 37. This shows that Turkey has a more collectivist culture. In masculinity, Turkey receives a low score of 45. The last dimension, uncertainty avoidance measures with the tolerance of uncertainty in society. Turkey scores a 85 on this dimension. (itim International) This high score indicates that Turkey has a stricter, more intolerant society. S.J. Gray expanded on the ideas of Hosfstede, using Hofstedes dimensions to form additional hypothesis about a country and its accounting systems. Grays first hypothesis states that the higher a country ranks in individualism and lower it ranks in uncertainty avoidance and power distance, the higher the country will rank in professionalism. (Gray) According the Turkeys Hofstede values, it does not fall into the professional category. At the other end of the spectrum from professionalism is statutory control; an idea stating that the people of Turkey prefer a more rule-based approach with less judgment exercised. Grays second hypothesis states that the higher a country scores uncertainty avoidance and power distance and lower it scores in individualism, the more likely the country will value uniformity. Turkeys Hofstede values indicate that Turkey does in fact have high uniformity. According to Gray, Turks value a uniform and consistent approach, rather than adjusting to individual circumstances. The third hypothesis from S.J. Gray says that a country high in uncertainty avoidance and low in individualism and masculinity will rank high in conservatism. Hofstede values for Turkey indicate that Turkey does rank high in conservatism. This idea means that Turks prefer to be conservative in their measurements, allowing for an uncertain future, rather than taking an optimistic approach that may be less accurate. Grays last hypothesis states that a country that is high in power distance and uncertainty avoidance, and low in individualism and masculinity is a country that is high in secrecy. Turkey is likely to be high in secrecy according to its Hofstede values. According to Gray, Turks value confidentiality in business information. Together, Grays hypothesis theorize that Turkey is a country valuing statutory control, uniformity, conservatism, and secrecy. This puts Turkey on par with other Muslim countries in the Middle East such as Iran and Pakistan.

Reflective Overview Of The Business Modules Commerce Essay

Reflective Overview Of The Business Modules Commerce Essay After joining the course I gained lot of knowledge from taught modules and various individual assignments which I have written earlier in this module. Rite from the portfolio submissions i gained understanding about concepts behind marketing skills and knowledge which are needed by the managers. Marketing strategy for managers (MKT-4010) modules overall outcomes was unimaginable because it included presentations, Portfolios, Case study and Lectures. In the beginning of the course we were allocated in the groups and provided with a video for group presentation. Our group presentation was about ZSL London zoo, about which, we watched a video in the group and afterwards we discussed about the video and recoded some important points. Later on we did lot of research in internet to gain knowledge about ZSL London zoo. Subsequently we came with certain theories which we can apply in our group presentation. Such as Porters 5 forces, Swot Analysis, Ansoff matrix which we learned in our Lectur es. Then we progressed with our Lectures and we learned about Situation analysis. We had given Nike case study which was non-assessed but we tried to figure out facts from case study and we made a sincere attempt about Market orientation of Nike. Then we learned about Strategic Marketing Process which is situation analysis, Designing marketing strategy, marketing program development, Implementing and managing strategy. After learning situation analysis now i am able to implement in real world industry. I have done my situation analysis of Accenture in my Marketing plan phase 1. The important strategic issues of the company have been studied here. I have learnt Competitive costing competitive advantage in industry along with targeting various demographic factors from our Accenture project. I have also learnt how companies can get into a position where it steadily increases its market share and brand value to compete in the current market. I have learnt a lot about different strategies that different types of companies has to adopt, for instance, Ikea, Slendertone and many more while preparing portfolios. I have also understood the devastating outcomes if the company does not have an expanded presence around the world which could be detrimental for them. This needs to be increased for a better strategic management. This assignment has resulted in my understanding towards the key roles of each and every aspect of strategic plan and implementation from the case studies of various companies from different Industries. I implemented all types of research techniques in my projects that I learnt from my course, and used core text books to collect secondary data. Identifying reliable sources for data collection is vital for any research or project in order to get updated data. These sources can be found from sources on the web, journals, articles and books. Updated collected online or journals are considered as secondary data which is also vital apart from primary data collected from various books. Secondary data can also be collected from companys financial statements and online publications on their official websites. But it is always essential that data collected should be relevant, accurate and interpretable. These data should help one to gain a better knowledge and understanding towards the company and its strategies. I have based all my conclusions of my analysis in projects of strategies on a single case studies but it is un-ethical to use it as a base for all brands. These research on marketing strategies can be used even on a large scale taking different geographical areas of a country where there are many individual companies are operating. This is shown in the assignments on IKEA, Slendertone, Nanophase. These strategy researches might change with context to different countries as a result of change in their internal and external environments as stated in the case studies of IKEA, Slendertone and Nanophase. I learnt about strategic brand management in our guest lecture which will be of great help in my future because branding is an important component of Marketing Mix. Positioning is one of the aspects of the theory that has been applied in all my case studies. It is very important to know how positioning works in strategies. Positioning in Strategic Management these days are referred to as the process through which marketers attempt to create an Brand Image or Identity in the minds of their target market for its products, its organisation and brand. I have understood that it is only a relative competitive comparison their products would occupy in an indented market which is referred as target market. After learning Porters 5 forces, PESTAL, SWOT analysis, Ansoffs matrix and many other theories which are very helpful in designing the corporate strategy in an organisation. Success alone should not be the goal of any company but also being ethical and practicing healthy practices to achieve market success is also important as it is vital for good image about the organisation in the minds of customers and also with its peers. Now I believe completely capable of taking right decisions at right time. Learning outcomes from the module: 1). Developed a deep understanding about issues, roles and activities of strategic marketing within any organisation through exploring theoretical and practical skills and also knowledge to come up with an outstanding strategy for marketing success. 2). It helped me to understand the core concepts, principles and techniques inside the boundaries of strategic marketing. 3). It has helped me develop inter-personnel skills, organizational skills, soft skills, communication skills, confidence as a result of proper knowledge I have managed to acquire from this module. 4). This module has not only given me knowledge, but also has added weight to my qualification in the current competitive market. After learning theories and models now I am able to implement these in my Situation analysis of Accenture. I feel that I am very successful in learning Marketing strategy for Managers from my core module. The Knowledge I have gained from this module would definitely come in handy when I actually enter the market. In over all, I have learnt each and every aspect of marketing and marketing strategies from this module and used it in my reports. This module helped me to get a deep understanding about real situation in market and learnt that even a single right strategy can make tremendous change everything into useful opportunities. Hence, I strongly believe that outcomes of this module have given me an edge to be successful in strategic marketing management in an organisation.

Scarlet Letter, Chillingworth A Man Of Evil :: essays research papers

Chillingworth: a Man of Evil   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the novel the Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne’s character Roger Chillingworth is supposed to represent the evil in the story. Hawthorne shows Chillingworth to be evil by several means. The physical description of Chillingworth shows him as an evil character. Statements are also made by Hawthorne referring to the inner content of Chillingworth that would lead the reader to feelings of his evilness. Another good way Hawthorne expresses that Chillingworth is evil is his name. There are many methods Hawthorne uses to demonstrate the evil qualities of Chillingworth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Chillingworth first enters the novel he is seen in a crowd. Hester notices him because he stands out. Chillingworth is dressed all in black. Black is a color often used to represent evil, other famous characters that demonstrate this are Captain Ahab and Darth Vader. Chillingworth is also said to have a hump on the left side of his back. The left or â€Å"sinister† side is used to represent evil. Chillingworth is also gnarled and ugly. Hawthorne writes characters to appear on the outside the way he wants the reader to see them on the inside. Chillingworth appears to be an ugly person on the outside therefore he must be one on the inside. Chillingworth is shown as a dark, evil, ugly character.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first thin one usually notices about the man in question is his eyes. These eyes have the power to read deep into a human soul. He can see whatever hangs heavy on the heart of the person and bring it to light; for example Chillingworth could use this to bring out a person’s sins. Hawthorne sees this act to be the greatest sin of all, making Chillingworth evil.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chillingworth is a name that has a strong connotation of evil. The word chill has meanings similar to that of the word cold. Having the suffix worth makes his name mean of cold value. Cold is usually associated with evil. This can be seen in expressions like cold hearted. Chillingworth is a human being of cold value therefore he is a man of evil.

Free College Admissions Essays: Computer Programming :: College Admissions Essays

Computer Programming Computer Programmer Matt Katz Writing for the Real World Pelkey November 30, 1999 Computer Systems Analyst I push the button, I hear a noise, and the screen comes alive. My computer loads up and starts to process. I see the start screen for Windows 95, and I type in my password. Even though this takes time, I know that I will be able to do whatever I want to do without any trouble, without any glitches, without any questions. My computer is now easier to use and more user friendly because computer systems analysts have worked out the problems that many computer systems still have. It appears to me that a career choice needs to contain a number of different features: One, Will this area of interest mentally stimulate me as well as challenge me; Two, Is there a way of making a living in these areas of interest; Three, Do I enjoy the different activities within this area of interest? From the first day that I started my first computer, I have grasped the concepts quickly and with ease, but the computer as well as I, will never stop growing. I have introduced myself to all topics of word processing to surfing the web. After reviewing a number of resources, I have noticed a relatively high demand for technologically integrated hardware and software positions available with companies that wish to compete with the demand for "networking". ("Computer Scientists" 95) This leads me to believe that future employment prospects will be high and of high quality pay within the next eight to ten years. The past, present, and future have and will see the computer. Since I have seen the computer, I have enjoyed the challenges and countless opportunities to gain in life from this machine. From school projects to games; from the Internet to programming languages; I have and always will feel like that little kid in the candy store. A Computer Systems Analyst decides how data are collected, prepared for computers, processed, stored, and made available for users. ("Computer Systems" COIN 1) The main achievement as a systems analyst is to improve the efficiency or create a whole new computer system that proves to be more efficient for a contracting company. When on an assignment, the analyst must meet a deadline. While striving for a deadline, he must create and comprehend many sources of information for the presentation. Free College Admissions Essays: Computer Programming :: College Admissions Essays Computer Programming Computer Programmer Matt Katz Writing for the Real World Pelkey November 30, 1999 Computer Systems Analyst I push the button, I hear a noise, and the screen comes alive. My computer loads up and starts to process. I see the start screen for Windows 95, and I type in my password. Even though this takes time, I know that I will be able to do whatever I want to do without any trouble, without any glitches, without any questions. My computer is now easier to use and more user friendly because computer systems analysts have worked out the problems that many computer systems still have. It appears to me that a career choice needs to contain a number of different features: One, Will this area of interest mentally stimulate me as well as challenge me; Two, Is there a way of making a living in these areas of interest; Three, Do I enjoy the different activities within this area of interest? From the first day that I started my first computer, I have grasped the concepts quickly and with ease, but the computer as well as I, will never stop growing. I have introduced myself to all topics of word processing to surfing the web. After reviewing a number of resources, I have noticed a relatively high demand for technologically integrated hardware and software positions available with companies that wish to compete with the demand for "networking". ("Computer Scientists" 95) This leads me to believe that future employment prospects will be high and of high quality pay within the next eight to ten years. The past, present, and future have and will see the computer. Since I have seen the computer, I have enjoyed the challenges and countless opportunities to gain in life from this machine. From school projects to games; from the Internet to programming languages; I have and always will feel like that little kid in the candy store. A Computer Systems Analyst decides how data are collected, prepared for computers, processed, stored, and made available for users. ("Computer Systems" COIN 1) The main achievement as a systems analyst is to improve the efficiency or create a whole new computer system that proves to be more efficient for a contracting company. When on an assignment, the analyst must meet a deadline. While striving for a deadline, he must create and comprehend many sources of information for the presentation.

Ethics and Legal Issues

Kent has to deal with some ethical and possibly legal issues in the marketing of his game â€Å"Lucky†. Ethically he has to figure out if it is acceptable to market a game that focuses on nudity, violence, and gambling. As far as legal issues, is it legal to market these things in foreign countries and even online. If they can market this game in other countries they will have to change portions of the game for each of the countries that Brad has looked into targeting. Kent has basically two options. Discontinue the development of the game due to moral and ethical issues. Or he could go along with what Brad has suggested and market foreign countries. The question here seems to be is it worth the trouble it could bring to market nudity, violence, and gambling? Or should they just go in a different direction that would be less of a moral and ethical issue. Sex, violence, and gambling are basically everywhere these days. There are ads on television all the time that use sex to sell anything from beer to cars. Movies these days play off all three of these. Video games for kids these days promote violence all the time. Just look at Las Vegas, they openly market sex on the street as you walk down the road. And clearly it is know for gambling. Casinos are starting to pop up everywhere these days, not to mention that almost every state has a lottery. It is all accepted, but some people find it unacceptable, especially if they have young children. Marketing sex, violence, and gambling in other countries is acceptable if it is a part of their culture. But then again it comes down to a moral issue for the people or company that is involved.

France vs. England 17th Century Essay

There are mainly two types of governments that emerged during the seventeenth century. Most of the political development took place in France and England. Absolute monarchy took over throughout France while constitutionalism, or parliamentary monarchy, was becoming popular in England between 1640 and 1780. France’s absolute monarchy developed because of the nobles and kings focused on the concept of divine right. England, on the other hand, developed through the businessmen and landowners trying to prevent the central concentration of political power. These governments grasped the attention of philosophers, leaders, and churches. Eventually, both would develop and influence the modern world today in Europe and the Americas. France was very popular at the time for creating the idea of kings reigning by divine right. This perception was that the ruler of a specific country was put there by God. It was their divine right to be there because they were performing the work of God. The king’s subjects were not to question the decisions of the king because it was God’s will; and who can question God? King Louis XIV was the most influential towards divine rights. He expected to be treated like a god because he was His representative on earth. Louis XIV was supported by Bishop Jacques-Bà ©nigne Bossuet, who was the leader of French Catholicism in the seventeenth century. He used examples from the New Testament of rulers who were only answerable to God. Popes had insisted since the medieval times that they could only be judged by God. Bossuet and Louis XIV then argued that only God had the right to judge kings. In England, there was a lot of turmoil between the reigning monarchs and large landowners. English monarchs tried to copy France with their financial system that did not  depend heavily on the estates, diets, or assemblies of nobles. By doing this, it helped to grant French monarchs absolute rule. While easily achieved in France, the English monarchy failed royally. James I of England also tried to achieve the divine right of kings. He wanted to lessen parliament’s power and called on them for help as little as possible. Without the help of parliament, James I had to find other means of revenue. He quickly angered his subjects because of England’s inadequate income; he threatened nobles, large landowners, and those of commercial wealth for money. James I and the Duke of Buckingham also sold royal patronage to the highest bidders. These  were some of the key factors that led to the distrust of the English monarchs. In contrast, King Louis XIV gained the trust of his people and nobles with ease. He would entertain nobles at Versailles, his personal twenty-six acre home. He would then grant them tax exemptions, wealth, and social standing if they supported him. The French nobility found the best way to protect and promote their interests was to support the reigning monarch. Instead of depending on the wealth of the nobles, he made the nobles dependent on him. He proclaimed that, â€Å"the state is me,† or in other words, that France existed for him. Louis XIV also promoted that there should be â€Å"one king, one law, one faith.† This helped him gain the loyalty of the Roman Catholics who wanted to restore Catholicism as the prominent religion in Europe. English monarchs also botched in establishing absolute mona rchy because of religion. Protestant became the leading religion among the English. Protestants believed that Sunday should be full of religious observances and very little leisure or recreation. James I believed that recreation and sports were innocent activities and permitted them to be played on Sunday, which infuriated the Protestant religions. Because of a few other miss happenings, a Protestant movement known as Puritanism was established. This was a nonpolitical force that opposed absolutism and sought to limit political authority and eventually overturn it. There were also Puritans in France that tried to rebel but their efforts were crushed by Louis XIV and the Roman Catholics who enforced religious uniformity. England also differed from France because of the creation of the Bill of Rights. After the Glorious Revolution, when James II fled to France, England put William and Mary of Orange on the throne. Though they were the new reigning monarchs, Parliament issued the Bill of Rights that limited powers of the monarchy and guaranteed the civil liberties of the English classes. William and Mary signed the Bill of Rights that would let them rule only by the consent of Parliament. From the beginning of their reign in 1689, they brought many economic and military resources into balance with the French and would eventually top France as the powerhouse of Europe. In Comparing French and English political development, the b eliefs of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke perfectly illustrate the differences between absolute and parliamentary governments. Hobbes was a strict supporter to absolutism and complete control. Locke was a supporter of constitutionalism  and protecting the natural rights of humans. Both of these philosophers, being completely opposite in view from the other, is the classic battle that has gone on forever and still exists today; the fight for power and the fight for freedom. Thomas Hobbes was a very talented and depressing political philosopher. He had discouragingly low view on values and the natural state of humans. Hobbes believed that the human race was so wicked and power stricken that they were cast out of paradise into the earth. To Hobbes, as expressed in the Leviathan, human nature was based on physical sensations and lust for power. One of his famous sayings was, â€Å"life is war of every man against every man.† This is why he thought that human beings must be controlled by absolute authority. The individuals should be told every choice to make and constrained by one supreme ruler that holds all power. Hobbes thought that rulers should have unlimited power because, â€Å"the dangers of anarchy are always greater than those of tyranny.† J ohn Locke, known as the defender of moderate liberty and toleration, had almost the exact opposite views as Hobbes. Locke viewed human beings in their natural state as being creatures of goodwill and reason. He believed that humans were divine creatures put on earth by God to learn from it and make it useful. Locke wrote the Essay Concerning Human Understanding that described the mind as being a blank slate at birth. As a person grows the development of who they become is based on their surroundings and those around them. Hobbes idea that humans are all evil is rebuked by Locke saying that people are not born evil. Their surroundings, experiences, and influences are what develop evil tendencies. Locke also wrote the Two Treatises of Government. The first described his distaste of absolutism. With too much power, he argued that there would be no freedom for anyone in the condition of absolute monarchy. The second treatise he described the natural and God given rights of humans. Among them were the natural rights of life, liberty, and property. Those ideas were used throughout history and in the Declaration of Independence. Another belief of his was that governments exist to protect liberty and the natural state of people not to overcome them. Locke was a very influential philosopher who greatly impressed many future generations with his political philosophical insight. Overall, the development of both absolute and parliamentary governments greatly affected Europe. The battles between France and England  to have a stable government caused chaos throughout both countries. If anything, the Europeans learned many ways how not to run a country. Both countries and the development of differing monarchies set an example for many other countries. France created a strong absolute government as an example for rulers all over the world on how to have complete control of people. England eventually came around and with the help of the people created parliamentary government. The concept of constitutionalism was even a model for constructing the American administration. Currently the battle between power and freedom still goes on and will continue as long as there are people like Thomas Hobbes and John Locke who argue for their beliefs.

Sex Tourism

Gender and the Economy of Sex Tourism In Kenya’s Coast Province Introduction â€Å"Sex tourism requires Third World women to be economically desperate enough to enter into prostitution; once they do so, it becomes difficult to leave. The other side of the equation requires men from affluent societies to imagine that African women are more available and submissive than women in their own countries. Finally, the industry depends on alliance between local governments in search of foreign currency and local foreign business willing to invest in sexualized travel† (Enloe, 2000:36). Otherwise known as sex prostitution, sex tourism is tourism for which the main motivation of the trip is to consummate or engage in commercial sexual relations (Graburn 1983; Hall 1991; Ryan and Hall 2001). The number of men and women travelling to Third World countries seeking sex tourism has increased tremendously (Herold et al. 2001). In the past, notorious sex destinations have been mainly the South East Asian countries, today it has spread to other regions of the world including Kenya, Tunisia, South Africa, Brazil and The Gambia (Ryan and Hall 2001, Enloe2002; Chissim 1996). This paper discusses gender and the political economy of sex tourism on the Kenyan Coast, its health and socio- economic impacts. International Tourism and Sex Tourism in Kenya Tourists visit Kenya because of several reasons including its beautiful landscape, wildlife safari, the humid climatic conditions along the Kenyan Coast and the beautiful Coastal beaches. International tourist arrivals in Kenya have been increasing tremendously from 69 million in 1960 to 160 million in 1970, 458 million in 1990, and 625 million in 1998 (WTO, 1999). This increase has led to massive increase in sex tourism, a condition evidenced by inclusion of Kenya among the world’s leading sex tourism destinations (Vatican 2003; Boston Globe 1995; East African Standard 1995 and Chessim 1996). Although not officially stated, a good percentage of foreign tourists who visit Kenya often indulge in sex tourism during their trip (Chissam 1996; Sindiga 1999). These tourists mainly come from Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Italy and France. Others are from North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and European countries such as Spain and Sweden. Many of these countries have been generating sex tourists to some of the world’s renowned sex tourism destinations such as Thailand (Ryan and Hall 2001). Hence we can conclude that they are likely to engage in the same activity while in Kenya. Kenya is a developing country with agriculture contributing 24. 0% of GDP. Overall, Kenya’s economic performance has been declining since early 1990’s. The country’s per capita is about US$ 260 and more than 70% of Kenyan population currently lives below the poverty line; the worst hit are women (CBS 2001). The Economics of Tourism and Sex Industry The main economic activity in Kenya at independence in 1963 was Agriculture whereby the country relied on cash crop exports. After independence, the government tried to diversify the economy by implementing an â€Å"open door† economic policy to attract foreign investment. However, the limitations of agricultural and manufacturing sectors coupled with the appreciation of employment potential forced Kenyan government to turn to tourism as a central industry. Since 1987, tourism industry has been the leading foreign exchange earner, (CBS 2001) surpassing the traditional export crops of coffee and tea (Gakuhu1992; Weaver 1998 and CBS 2001). The industry employs about 1. 5 million Kenyans, approximately 8% of wage earning labor force (Weaver, 1998 and CBS 1999). In addition, Tourism is linked to many domestic industries and it is a potentially useful tool for generating development in neglected areas. The industry also contributes substantially to government revenues through taxes and import duties. Tourism is therefore officially promoted in Kenya as the main foreign exchange earner, source of employment and general development. Its significance on the Kenyan economy has a lot of bearing on tourism policies including those related to sex tourism. Sex Tourism Market on the Kenyan Coast Sex tourism is believed to be increasing at a high rate in Kenya. This is mainly because of the reality that there is a sex tourism market for female and male tourists. Female tourists, mainly from European countries come to Kenya to meet with local beach boys because they imagine that black men (or men of color) are stronger and more active in bed than men in their home countries. On the other hand, male tourists come to Kenya to meet with black women; mainly young girls who are believed to be ‘hot’ in bed. Child prostitution is also emerging in Kenya involving young boys and girls. This is commonly along the Kenyan coast where many children choose not to go to school but instead go to beaches in search for white men and women from European countries who exploit them sexually. The Kenyan Coast located along the Indian Ocean caters for about 66% of Kenyan tourism activities. Sex tourism is a major activity in Kenyan Coast (Sindiga 1999, Migot-Adhola et al 1982; Bechmann 1985). The Kenya coast as a tourism destination has existed since 1920 attracting mainly the white settlers and colonial government officials who sought holiday excitements. Major tourist attractions at the Kenyan coast include the wildlife, white sandy beaches, sun, sea, sex, scene features, diverse cultures, hospitable people, historical sites, national museums, national parks and reserves near the coast and tourism facilities of international standard such as hotels and airport. The presence and availability of Britons, Germans, Italians, Americans and others in Mombasa and other coastal towns in search of rest, fun and recreation has been the main factor attracting Kenyan girls and children to get involved in sex tourism (Sindiga 1999 and Chissim 1996). Different Forms of Sex Tourism Sex tourism sometimes involves production of videos featuring nude dancing in which no direct physical contact occurs; the tourists engage in voyeurism. There are also casual prostitutes or freelancers who move in and out of prostitution depending on their financial needs. In this case, sex tourism may be regarded as incomplete commercialized and the relationship between sex worker and the client may be ridden with ambiguities (Cohen 1982; Ryan and Hall 2001), particularly if the relationship shifts from an economic to a social base. However, some women entering into sex tourism in Kenya are not financially needy but only seeking fun and ‘social class’, whereby the community views women seen socializing with white men with high esteem and associate them with wealth and success in life. Some of these women have jobs in noble professions while others are college students. There is also the more formalized form of prostitution where the workers operate through intermediaries. Since sex tourism is illegal in Kenya, prostitutes use entertainment establishments such as night clubs, bars, beaches and other retail outlets to get customers. The other type of sex tourism is that of bonded prostitutes. This is more of slavery because it is enforced by people such as family members through abductions and kidnapping. Motivation Factors: Why do Tourists Look for Sex Most tourists tend to behave differently while in the countries they are touring. This is because there is an assurance of anonymity, which releases them from the usual restraints, which determine their behavior in their home countries. Tourism allows people â€Å"to lose their identity† and gives them the freedom to escape realities and live their fantasies. They spend more money, relax more, drink more, eat more and get involved in pleasures they would not at home. Men who would never visit brothels in their home countries will end up doing so in a foreign country where there is negligible chance of detection and penalty. For the same reason, women who would never have sex with boys young enough to be their grand children at their home country would do so in a foreign country. Tourists tend to seek commercial sex services in Kenya because the services are readily available and quite cheap compared to what they would pay for such services in their home countries. Such tourists are able to enjoy lifestyles they could never enjoy in their home countries. Furthermore, some of these tourists may hold menial jobs in their industrialized home countries but because of the disparity in salaries and high exchange rates, they may appear comparatively rich when in a poorer country like Kenya. They would therefore tend to spend their money in sexual activities that they associate with the rich and the famous in their home countries. Chissim has illustrated this in his interview with a German tourist visiting Kenya (Chissim 1996:18). â€Å"†¦. Morco said he was in Kenya for a month but within four days, he boasted of already fucking five girls. He said he fucked one girl on the beach but pretended that he had no money, so he got that one for free. Another girl he fucked on the beach for 100/- (about $1) and told her that he had no more money. The others he said he had to pay 200/- (about $3) †¦Ã¢â‚¬  For some of these tourists, Kenya represents Africa where life is perceived as raw and wild and a place where people are uncontrolled, liberal and polygamous. These reasons partly explain why some European women visit Kenya to look for sex from beach boys young enough to be their grandsons. It is estimated that more than 5% of all European women who visit Kenya go in search of sex, especially those from German, Switzerland and Italy (New York Times Feb. 14, 2002). Many Kenyan communities highly value virginity. This motivates tourists to have sex with younger girls; in the anticipation of having sex with a virgin who may be free from HIV/ AIDS. Some tourists engage in sex tourism because they may be fleeing from unhappy relationships at home and, perhaps, from women who may tend to question male domination. Male supremacy is perceived as a natural kind of authority in many cultures and world religions. Cultural values defining traditional male sex roles are power, dominance, strength and supremacy, while those defining female roles are submissiveness, weakness, inferiority and passivity. Women are perceived as property of men and sex as exchange of goods, which further entrenches male supremacy. This notion also teaches men that females are worthless and less deserving and may be treated as objects of men. The mafia- style drugs and sex industry along the Kenyan coast is another motivating factor for sex tourism. People with a lot of money are capable of bribing their way out of trouble if caught Such people are also responsible for organizing sex services for clients outside the country (Sindiga 1999; Chessim 1996). Supply Factors: Why Do Sex Workers Get Involved â€Å"Many times I don’t feel anything during sexual encounters. It is because I need money for myself and my children that I keep doing it. I have learned to do motions mechanically in order to satisfy my clients. If I do it well, they will come back and that means more money. † (Lin Lean Lim 2000:74). This Filipino woman quoted by Lin Lean Lim expresses the reason why many women from Third World countries practice sex tourism and their feelings about sex work. The main reason for sex tourism for many is poverty. Many Kenyan women are economically desperate. With the increasing rate of unemployment and high cost of living, prostitution is left as the only option for them to earn a living and support their children. Such women migrate to coast with hope of finding white tourists who can pay more for the services or even may end up marrying them. Some girls involved in sex tourism come from broken homes or very poor family backgrounds and are never taken to school to attain formal education. They resolve to sex prostitution as a means of supporting themselves economically. In Kenya, women are generally poorer than men because women have limited access to resources such as land, capital, farm equipments and agricultural inputs. Inheritance practices in most Kenyan communities seem to favor men. This means that men can easily have access to other productive resources because they can use land as security to borrow money if needed to purchase other productive resources. This option is normally not available for women. In many Kenyan communities, illiteracy levels in women are higher than those of men. This is because parents give priority to boy’s education particularly if resources are limited. Along the coast, education is not valued because people from these areas are used to receiving tokens and money from the tourists. Children of school going age therefore prefer to go to beaches in search for tourists who give them tokens in exchange for sex. Other factors affecting education for girls include unwanted pregnancies and the fact that they are forced to early marriages by their parents for economic gains. Kenyan women are discriminated against in most areas of formal employment and more often left with poorly paid jobs or no jobs at all. This makes prostitution an alternative. The HIV/AIDS scourge in Kenya is estimated to claim 500 lives daily leaving many orphans. The young children left become heads of the families and may often turn to sex tourism and prostitution as a means of earning a living to support their siblings. Impact of Sex Tourism in Kenya Sex tourism can be seen as both a risk and an opportunity. Most women in sex tourism face the risk of material loss because their clients may not pay them for the services (ref. The Marco case). Women are generally helpless against such exploitation and take it as part of their business. Sex workers face the risk of losing their money to thieves and police because they have to bribe their way out if caught as they mostly work at night. Women can sometimes face attacks by dissatisfied customers. These attacks may be in form of rape, cruelty, violence or even murder. â€Å"Monica Njeri was a 32- year old mother of two and a prostitute in Mombasa. She was brutally murdered by Frank Sundstrom a 19 year old USA navy service man who wanted the kind of sex that Monica could not provide. When he was not satisfied with merely sleeping, he woke up and tried to steal back the money he had given to her plus her own money but she woke up and caught him in the act. In ensuing struggle, he broke a beer bottle to make a weapon and repeatedly stabbed her until she died. † (Migot- Adhola 1982:74). Although Sundstrom admitted the offence, his only sentence was to sign a bond of 500/- (equivalent to US$46 at that time) to be of good conduct. Women in sex tourism industry and prostitution are continually exposed to sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS. Many tourists may not accept to use protection such as condoms because they argue that it interrupts the flow of sex and carrying it may imply that one is promiscuous (Clift and Grabowski 1997). Sex workers are also faced with the danger of susceptibility to anal or cervical cancers, additionally, since many women are forced into sex work, many of them only work under influence of drugs and/or alcohol. This may lead to depression or alcohol addiction. Sex tourism has been blamed in Kenyan coast for increasing rate of school drop-out, poverty and illiteracy. This is mainly because children of school going age choose not to school but to follow tourists who lure them to sex tourism. However, some women that have risked sex tourism have been able to build better houses and invested in urban businesses. This is largely because earnings from prostitution are often more than those from other alternative employment opportunities open to women. Sex workers contribute to national economy by boosting profits of many transnational hotels and airlines, taxi drivers, brothel owners and many other intermediaries. The Kenyan police, the state, as well as the local and international enterprises are well aware that sex has a market value even though they proclaim that prostitution is immoral (Ryan and Hall 2001). Sex tourism has also contributed to cultural exchange because many sea workers are forced to learn foreign languages so that they can communicate with their clients. There are occasions when these temporary relationships ave led to marriages hence removing such girls from prostitution. The other positive impact is that health workers are encouraged to go for regular medical checkups because of the nature of their work, hence paying more attention to their health. Bibliography Awanohara 1975. Protesting the sexual imperialists. Far Eastern Economic Review, 87 (21st March) PP 5-6. Bishop, R. and Robinson, L. S. 1998. Night Ma rket: Sexual cultures and the Thai Economic Miracle, London and New York: Routledge. Boston Globe Thursday November 23, 1995 Cater, E. A 1989 â€Å"Tourism in less Developed Countries†. In Annals of Tourism Research Vol. 16 No. 4. Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), 2001 Economic Survey of Kenya. Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), 2002 Economic Survey of Kenya. Chissim F. 1996. An exploratory and Descriptive Research on Child Prostitution and Tourism in Kenya. EPAT Report, Nairobi. Clift S and Grabowski, 1997 Tourism and Health: Risks, Research and Responses. Biddles Ltd, Guilford and King’s Lynn Cohen, E 1988. Tourism and AIDS in Thailand. Annals of Tourism Research, 15 (4), PP 467-86 Cohen, E. 1982. Thai Girls and Farang men: The Edge of Ambiguity Annals of tourism Research, 9 (3) PP 403-28 Collins Patricia Hills 2000. The Sexual Politics of Black Womanhood. In Disch Estelle(ed). Reconstructing Gender. A multicultural Anthology. Mayfield publishing East Africa Standard September 12, 1995 Enloe, Cynthia (2000) â€Å"On the Beach; Sexism and Tourism† in Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of the International Politics: University of California press (2nd edition) Pp 19-41 Enloe, Cynthia 2002. The prostitute, the colonel and the Nationalist, in: Enloe, Cynthia: Maneuvers: The international politics of militarising women’s lives: London and Los Angeles: University of California Press (2nd Edition) pp 19-41 Ennew, J 1986. The sexual exploitation of children. Polity press, Cambridge Fish, M. 1984 Controlling Sex Sales to Tourists: Commenting on Graburn and Cohen. Annals of Tourism Research 11(4) 615-617. Gakahu C. G and Goode B. E 1992. Ecotourism and Sustainable Development in Kenya. Wildlife Conservation International. Graburn, N. H 1983. Tourism and prostitution, Annals of Tourism Research, 10:437-56 Hall C. M. 1994. Nature and Implications of Sex tourism in South-East Asia in: V. H. Kinnaird and D. R. Hall (ed) Tourism: A Gender Analysis Chichester, John Wiley PP-142-163 Harrison, David 1992, (ed) Tourism and the Less Developed Countries. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons. Jommo, R. B (1987: Indigenous enterprise in Kenya's tourism industry Geneva: itineraires etudes du development , Institute Universitaire d'Etudes du Development). Lim, Lean Lin 1998. Whither the sex sector? Some policy considerations University of California press, pp 49-108. Migot-Adhola, S. E et al ,1982. Study of Tourism in Kenya with emphasis on the attitudes of the Residents of the Coast. Institute for Development Studies Consultancy Report No. 7, Nairobi University Montgomery Heather 2001. Child Sex Tourism in Thailand: In D. Harrison ed. Tourism and the Less Developed World Issues and Case Studies. Pruitt. D. and Lafont S. 1995 For Love and Money: romance tourism in Jamaica, Annals of Tourism research 22(2); 419 – 440. Richter, L. K. 1995. Exploring the political role of gender in tourism research. In W. F. Theobald (ed. ) Global Tourism in the next decade. Oxford Boston: Butterworth Heinemann. Ryan Chris and Hall C Michael (2001): Sex Tourism: Marginal People and Liminalities Routledge London Ryan Chris (1991) Tourism and Marketing. A symbiotic Relationship? Tourism Management Journal pp 101-109. Butterworth –Heinenmann Ryan. C. and Rachel Kinder (1996). Sex, tourism and sex tourism: fulfilling similar needs? Tourism Management 17(7): 507-518. Elservier Science Ltd . Sindiga Isaac 1999: Tourism and African Development: Change and Challenge of Tourism in Kenya. African Study Centre. Leiden The Nertherlands Truong, Thanh-Dam 1983. The dynamics of sex tourism. The case of South-east Asia. Development and change 14, 533-53. Weaver, D. B. 1998 Ecotourism in less developed world. CAB International World Tourism Organisation,1999. Yearbook of Tourism Statistics. WTO, Madrid, Spain. Young, G. 1973. Tourism: Blessings or Blight? Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin. The Vatican representative to WTO (2003). http://www. cathnews. com/news/304/43. php Sex Tourism Gender and the Economy of Sex Tourism In Kenya’s Coast Province Introduction â€Å"Sex tourism requires Third World women to be economically desperate enough to enter into prostitution; once they do so, it becomes difficult to leave. The other side of the equation requires men from affluent societies to imagine that African women are more available and submissive than women in their own countries. Finally, the industry depends on alliance between local governments in search of foreign currency and local foreign business willing to invest in sexualized travel† (Enloe, 2000:36). Otherwise known as sex prostitution, sex tourism is tourism for which the main motivation of the trip is to consummate or engage in commercial sexual relations (Graburn 1983; Hall 1991; Ryan and Hall 2001). The number of men and women travelling to Third World countries seeking sex tourism has increased tremendously (Herold et al. 2001). In the past, notorious sex destinations have been mainly the South East Asian countries, today it has spread to other regions of the world including Kenya, Tunisia, South Africa, Brazil and The Gambia (Ryan and Hall 2001, Enloe2002; Chissim 1996). This paper discusses gender and the political economy of sex tourism on the Kenyan Coast, its health and socio- economic impacts. International Tourism and Sex Tourism in Kenya Tourists visit Kenya because of several reasons including its beautiful landscape, wildlife safari, the humid climatic conditions along the Kenyan Coast and the beautiful Coastal beaches. International tourist arrivals in Kenya have been increasing tremendously from 69 million in 1960 to 160 million in 1970, 458 million in 1990, and 625 million in 1998 (WTO, 1999). This increase has led to massive increase in sex tourism, a condition evidenced by inclusion of Kenya among the world’s leading sex tourism destinations (Vatican 2003; Boston Globe 1995; East African Standard 1995 and Chessim 1996). Although not officially stated, a good percentage of foreign tourists who visit Kenya often indulge in sex tourism during their trip (Chissam 1996; Sindiga 1999). These tourists mainly come from Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Italy and France. Others are from North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and European countries such as Spain and Sweden. Many of these countries have been generating sex tourists to some of the world’s renowned sex tourism destinations such as Thailand (Ryan and Hall 2001). Hence we can conclude that they are likely to engage in the same activity while in Kenya. Kenya is a developing country with agriculture contributing 24. 0% of GDP. Overall, Kenya’s economic performance has been declining since early 1990’s. The country’s per capita is about US$ 260 and more than 70% of Kenyan population currently lives below the poverty line; the worst hit are women (CBS 2001). The Economics of Tourism and Sex Industry The main economic activity in Kenya at independence in 1963 was Agriculture whereby the country relied on cash crop exports. After independence, the government tried to diversify the economy by implementing an â€Å"open door† economic policy to attract foreign investment. However, the limitations of agricultural and manufacturing sectors coupled with the appreciation of employment potential forced Kenyan government to turn to tourism as a central industry. Since 1987, tourism industry has been the leading foreign exchange earner, (CBS 2001) surpassing the traditional export crops of coffee and tea (Gakuhu1992; Weaver 1998 and CBS 2001). The industry employs about 1. 5 million Kenyans, approximately 8% of wage earning labor force (Weaver, 1998 and CBS 1999). In addition, Tourism is linked to many domestic industries and it is a potentially useful tool for generating development in neglected areas. The industry also contributes substantially to government revenues through taxes and import duties. Tourism is therefore officially promoted in Kenya as the main foreign exchange earner, source of employment and general development. Its significance on the Kenyan economy has a lot of bearing on tourism policies including those related to sex tourism. Sex Tourism Market on the Kenyan Coast Sex tourism is believed to be increasing at a high rate in Kenya. This is mainly because of the reality that there is a sex tourism market for female and male tourists. Female tourists, mainly from European countries come to Kenya to meet with local beach boys because they imagine that black men (or men of color) are stronger and more active in bed than men in their home countries. On the other hand, male tourists come to Kenya to meet with black women; mainly young girls who are believed to be ‘hot’ in bed. Child prostitution is also emerging in Kenya involving young boys and girls. This is commonly along the Kenyan coast where many children choose not to go to school but instead go to beaches in search for white men and women from European countries who exploit them sexually. The Kenyan Coast located along the Indian Ocean caters for about 66% of Kenyan tourism activities. Sex tourism is a major activity in Kenyan Coast (Sindiga 1999, Migot-Adhola et al 1982; Bechmann 1985). The Kenya coast as a tourism destination has existed since 1920 attracting mainly the white settlers and colonial government officials who sought holiday excitements. Major tourist attractions at the Kenyan coast include the wildlife, white sandy beaches, sun, sea, sex, scene features, diverse cultures, hospitable people, historical sites, national museums, national parks and reserves near the coast and tourism facilities of international standard such as hotels and airport. The presence and availability of Britons, Germans, Italians, Americans and others in Mombasa and other coastal towns in search of rest, fun and recreation has been the main factor attracting Kenyan girls and children to get involved in sex tourism (Sindiga 1999 and Chissim 1996). Different Forms of Sex Tourism Sex tourism sometimes involves production of videos featuring nude dancing in which no direct physical contact occurs; the tourists engage in voyeurism. There are also casual prostitutes or freelancers who move in and out of prostitution depending on their financial needs. In this case, sex tourism may be regarded as incomplete commercialized and the relationship between sex worker and the client may be ridden with ambiguities (Cohen 1982; Ryan and Hall 2001), particularly if the relationship shifts from an economic to a social base. However, some women entering into sex tourism in Kenya are not financially needy but only seeking fun and ‘social class’, whereby the community views women seen socializing with white men with high esteem and associate them with wealth and success in life. Some of these women have jobs in noble professions while others are college students. There is also the more formalized form of prostitution where the workers operate through intermediaries. Since sex tourism is illegal in Kenya, prostitutes use entertainment establishments such as night clubs, bars, beaches and other retail outlets to get customers. The other type of sex tourism is that of bonded prostitutes. This is more of slavery because it is enforced by people such as family members through abductions and kidnapping. Motivation Factors: Why do Tourists Look for Sex Most tourists tend to behave differently while in the countries they are touring. This is because there is an assurance of anonymity, which releases them from the usual restraints, which determine their behavior in their home countries. Tourism allows people â€Å"to lose their identity† and gives them the freedom to escape realities and live their fantasies. They spend more money, relax more, drink more, eat more and get involved in pleasures they would not at home. Men who would never visit brothels in their home countries will end up doing so in a foreign country where there is negligible chance of detection and penalty. For the same reason, women who would never have sex with boys young enough to be their grand children at their home country would do so in a foreign country. Tourists tend to seek commercial sex services in Kenya because the services are readily available and quite cheap compared to what they would pay for such services in their home countries. Such tourists are able to enjoy lifestyles they could never enjoy in their home countries. Furthermore, some of these tourists may hold menial jobs in their industrialized home countries but because of the disparity in salaries and high exchange rates, they may appear comparatively rich when in a poorer country like Kenya. They would therefore tend to spend their money in sexual activities that they associate with the rich and the famous in their home countries. Chissim has illustrated this in his interview with a German tourist visiting Kenya (Chissim 1996:18). â€Å"†¦. Morco said he was in Kenya for a month but within four days, he boasted of already fucking five girls. He said he fucked one girl on the beach but pretended that he had no money, so he got that one for free. Another girl he fucked on the beach for 100/- (about $1) and told her that he had no more money. The others he said he had to pay 200/- (about $3) †¦Ã¢â‚¬  For some of these tourists, Kenya represents Africa where life is perceived as raw and wild and a place where people are uncontrolled, liberal and polygamous. These reasons partly explain why some European women visit Kenya to look for sex from beach boys young enough to be their grandsons. It is estimated that more than 5% of all European women who visit Kenya go in search of sex, especially those from German, Switzerland and Italy (New York Times Feb. 14, 2002). Many Kenyan communities highly value virginity. This motivates tourists to have sex with younger girls; in the anticipation of having sex with a virgin who may be free from HIV/ AIDS. Some tourists engage in sex tourism because they may be fleeing from unhappy relationships at home and, perhaps, from women who may tend to question male domination. Male supremacy is perceived as a natural kind of authority in many cultures and world religions. Cultural values defining traditional male sex roles are power, dominance, strength and supremacy, while those defining female roles are submissiveness, weakness, inferiority and passivity. Women are perceived as property of men and sex as exchange of goods, which further entrenches male supremacy. This notion also teaches men that females are worthless and less deserving and may be treated as objects of men. The mafia- style drugs and sex industry along the Kenyan coast is another motivating factor for sex tourism. People with a lot of money are capable of bribing their way out of trouble if caught Such people are also responsible for organizing sex services for clients outside the country (Sindiga 1999; Chessim 1996). Supply Factors: Why Do Sex Workers Get Involved â€Å"Many times I don’t feel anything during sexual encounters. It is because I need money for myself and my children that I keep doing it. I have learned to do motions mechanically in order to satisfy my clients. If I do it well, they will come back and that means more money. † (Lin Lean Lim 2000:74). This Filipino woman quoted by Lin Lean Lim expresses the reason why many women from Third World countries practice sex tourism and their feelings about sex work. The main reason for sex tourism for many is poverty. Many Kenyan women are economically desperate. With the increasing rate of unemployment and high cost of living, prostitution is left as the only option for them to earn a living and support their children. Such women migrate to coast with hope of finding white tourists who can pay more for the services or even may end up marrying them. Some girls involved in sex tourism come from broken homes or very poor family backgrounds and are never taken to school to attain formal education. They resolve to sex prostitution as a means of supporting themselves economically. In Kenya, women are generally poorer than men because women have limited access to resources such as land, capital, farm equipments and agricultural inputs. Inheritance practices in most Kenyan communities seem to favor men. This means that men can easily have access to other productive resources because they can use land as security to borrow money if needed to purchase other productive resources. This option is normally not available for women. In many Kenyan communities, illiteracy levels in women are higher than those of men. This is because parents give priority to boy’s education particularly if resources are limited. Along the coast, education is not valued because people from these areas are used to receiving tokens and money from the tourists. Children of school going age therefore prefer to go to beaches in search for tourists who give them tokens in exchange for sex. Other factors affecting education for girls include unwanted pregnancies and the fact that they are forced to early marriages by their parents for economic gains. Kenyan women are discriminated against in most areas of formal employment and more often left with poorly paid jobs or no jobs at all. This makes prostitution an alternative. The HIV/AIDS scourge in Kenya is estimated to claim 500 lives daily leaving many orphans. The young children left become heads of the families and may often turn to sex tourism and prostitution as a means of earning a living to support their siblings. Impact of Sex Tourism in Kenya Sex tourism can be seen as both a risk and an opportunity. Most women in sex tourism face the risk of material loss because their clients may not pay them for the services (ref. The Marco case). Women are generally helpless against such exploitation and take it as part of their business. Sex workers face the risk of losing their money to thieves and police because they have to bribe their way out if caught as they mostly work at night. Women can sometimes face attacks by dissatisfied customers. These attacks may be in form of rape, cruelty, violence or even murder. â€Å"Monica Njeri was a 32- year old mother of two and a prostitute in Mombasa. She was brutally murdered by Frank Sundstrom a 19 year old USA navy service man who wanted the kind of sex that Monica could not provide. When he was not satisfied with merely sleeping, he woke up and tried to steal back the money he had given to her plus her own money but she woke up and caught him in the act. In ensuing struggle, he broke a beer bottle to make a weapon and repeatedly stabbed her until she died. † (Migot- Adhola 1982:74). Although Sundstrom admitted the offence, his only sentence was to sign a bond of 500/- (equivalent to US$46 at that time) to be of good conduct. Women in sex tourism industry and prostitution are continually exposed to sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS. Many tourists may not accept to use protection such as condoms because they argue that it interrupts the flow of sex and carrying it may imply that one is promiscuous (Clift and Grabowski 1997). Sex workers are also faced with the danger of susceptibility to anal or cervical cancers, additionally, since many women are forced into sex work, many of them only work under influence of drugs and/or alcohol. This may lead to depression or alcohol addiction. Sex tourism has been blamed in Kenyan coast for increasing rate of school drop-out, poverty and illiteracy. This is mainly because children of school going age choose not to school but to follow tourists who lure them to sex tourism. However, some women that have risked sex tourism have been able to build better houses and invested in urban businesses. This is largely because earnings from prostitution are often more than those from other alternative employment opportunities open to women. Sex workers contribute to national economy by boosting profits of many transnational hotels and airlines, taxi drivers, brothel owners and many other intermediaries. The Kenyan police, the state, as well as the local and international enterprises are well aware that sex has a market value even though they proclaim that prostitution is immoral (Ryan and Hall 2001). Sex tourism has also contributed to cultural exchange because many sea workers are forced to learn foreign languages so that they can communicate with their clients. There are occasions when these temporary relationships ave led to marriages hence removing such girls from prostitution. The other positive impact is that health workers are encouraged to go for regular medical checkups because of the nature of their work, hence paying more attention to their health. Bibliography Awanohara 1975. Protesting the sexual imperialists. Far Eastern Economic Review, 87 (21st March) PP 5-6. Bishop, R. and Robinson, L. S. 1998. Night Ma rket: Sexual cultures and the Thai Economic Miracle, London and New York: Routledge. Boston Globe Thursday November 23, 1995 Cater, E. A 1989 â€Å"Tourism in less Developed Countries†. In Annals of Tourism Research Vol. 16 No. 4. Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), 2001 Economic Survey of Kenya. Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), 2002 Economic Survey of Kenya. Chissim F. 1996. An exploratory and Descriptive Research on Child Prostitution and Tourism in Kenya. EPAT Report, Nairobi. 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