Factors shaping social values and cultural practices

Factors shaping social values and cultural practices Social values and cultural practices are both elements of culture. Social values provide a general outline for human behaviour i.e. they define what is morally correct e.g. right or wrong and what is desirable e.g. good or bad. Values are the abstract standards that define ideal principles in societies or groups (Anderson, Taylor, 2007). Culture is the way of life of a society or group of people defined by their behaviors and meaning. Culture includes values, beliefs, morals, customs, habits and language among others (Anderson, Taylor, 2007). Cultural practices are human behaviours and thoughts that are passed down by generation to generation based on these cultural beliefs (Carr, Neitzel, 1995). These practices are learned directly e.g. parent to child and indirectly through imitation and observation (Anderson, Taylor, 2007). Social values and cultural practices are instilled in people from a young age and this determines how they react to concepts of equality, justice and fairness. Social inequality refers to the ways in which socially defined categories of people are positioned differently in society in regards to accessing social goods like employment, other forms of income, having access to education, health care, political representation and societal participation (Ceelbas, 2010). These forms of social inequality are shaped by various factors including geographical location, distribution of wealth, income and social status. Structural inequalities operate in any society and the main inequalities are based on class, age, ethnicity and gender (Holmes, Hughes, Julian, 2007). Class Social stratification refers to the hierarchal arrangement of social classes, castes, and strata within a society (Inc. Icon Group, 2008 p.209). Class refers to socio economic status (SES) which is an individuals or groups position in a hierarchal social structure and where they are placed depends on their occupation, education, wealth, income and residence. There are four main classes of people. They are the upper class, middle class, working class and the underclass. The upper class refer to the property owners and entrepreneurs, the middle class refer to the workers whose social position is determined through professional qualifications, the working class refers to workers who exchange their labour for wages and the underclass are the poor people living in poverty (Graetz, MacAllister, 1994). Wealth and income are key determinants of class. Money can gain access to power, status, high education, better employment opportunities which result in high incomes. Wealth can provide a better lifestyle including access to health care which would create a high standard of living and a longer, more enjoyable life. People in lower classes are forced to struggle through life, suffer discriminations and have a poor quality of life. Inequalities affect men and women, different religious, ethnic or racial groups and people from different backgrounds. Depending on their location in the class structure will determine whether they will be better or worse off in society (Graetz, MacAllister, 1994). CULTURAL PRACTICES VALUES Age Ageism is the discrimination or the holding of irrational and prejudicial views about individuals or groups, based on their age. It involves stereotypical assumptions about a persons or groups physical or mental capacities and is often associated with derogatory language (Marshall G, 1998, p.1). There is discrimination against the aged in the workplace, health care system, nursing homes and it is reflected in senior abuse (Gutman, Spencer, 2010). There are estimates between 1-3 million people over 65 in the United States alone that have been mistreated, exploited or injured by someone they know or trust to protect and care for them (Gutman, Spencer, 2010). Even capitalism exploits the elderly through pharmaceuticals. When the aged are forced to withdraw from the workforce this can result in them separating themselves from society and even preparing for death. The elderly do not get treated fairly and they are often denied their basic human rights including health care. Social forces and the media create ageism by shaping negative attitudes towards older people and the aging process. Youth, beauty and health are highly valued in culture and the aged represent the opposite. They are linked to poor health and death. By putting distance between the aged it alleviates the fear of dying (Ventrell, 2002). Institutions also help create ageism by devaluing older workers and ignoring treatable aging problems by medical practitioners and in nursing homes. There is also a lack of attention to cruelty towards the elderly which results in low reporting and a lack of policy changes (Gutman, Spencer, 2010). Ethnicity Ethnicity is the cultural background of a group of people who share a common ancestry (Holmes, Hughes, Julian, 2007, p. 144). These members identify with each other through cultures including a shared religion and a common language. The concept of ethnicity perpetuates inequality for people who are considered different from the dominant group. Individual racism involves the negative attitudes a person has against all members of a racial or ethnic group. They often resort to name calling, derogatory remarks or acts of violence. Institutional racism refers to discriminatory acts and policies that prevent groups from equally accessing resources such as education, health, employment and housing (Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman, 2009). Some of these acts and policies are illegal and others are not. Macro systems policies are formed by institutional values and these policies occur in communities and organisations. Institutional discrimination is built into the structure that forms society. It is the prejudicial treatment in organisations based on policies or behaviours and is demonstrated on how these macro systems treat certain people (Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman, 2009). Inequalities of ethnic groups can be seen in everyday community life. In non-white groups, unemployment is higher, the infant mortality rate is higher, they have a poorer life expectancy and their achievements in education are less than whites (Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman, 2009). There are many inequalities found in the education system towards ethnic groups. Schools in white neighbourhoods have highly trained teachers and better facilities than those of minority groups. Due to either a high unemployment rate or discrimination of ethnic groups in the workplace, these families struggle to provide financially for their families. As a result of this they are unable to provide for extra expenses like class trips, clothing, supplies and transportation which prevent their children from being fully involved in the education process (Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman, 2009). A major factor affecting health inequalities in minority groups is their socioeconomic status. Education and employment barriers lead to financial instability and if they cannot afford proper health care they will have a low quality of life and a shorter life expectancy. Their ability to access health care services and a willingness to obtain treatments can have an impact on their health. Other inequalities can occur from religious beliefs, language barriers, their environment, their lifestyle and genetic issues (Bhopal, 2007). The stereotyping, which is fed by prejudice, continues to shape the housing outcomes for ethnic minorities. The inaction of administration workers, the effect of policies in housing agencies and the national processes condoned by the state all reinforce inequalities (Somerville, Steele, 2002). Ethnic groups continue to be regularly excluded from accessing resources to improve poverty and living conditions. The criminal justice system is supposed to be non-discriminatory and fair. The name justice in itself implies fairness but institutional racism is still evident in this macro system. In the United States for example (Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman, 2009), African Americans make up 12 per cent of the population but they make up half of the prison population. They also receive harsher sentences than whites and half of the people sentenced to death are African American (Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman, 2009). Police are more likely to respond harshly to offenses committed by minority groups or lower income people than middle or upper class white groups. Minority groups and poorer class people are less likely to afford bail so are forced to remain in jail which can lead their families and people who rely on them into poverty. They cannot financially afford a good defense and they are more likely to be found guilty (Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman, 2009). There have been conflicting views on immigration and the effects that migrants have on the economy so much so it has swayed immigration policies. The reasons for them are that they take the low paying jobs where there are labour shortages thus stimulating the economy through the taxes they pay (Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman, 2009).The other view people have is that they believe the immigrants are a burden on the economy, reap public benefits and take jobs way from the citizens (Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman, 2009). There are also fears of terrorism since the September 11 attacks. Gender Gender is the division of people into two categories, men and women. Through interaction with caretakers, socialisation in childhood, peer pressure in adolescence, and gendered work and family roles, women and men are socially constructed to be different in behaviour, attitudes, and emotions (Borgatta, Montgomery, 2000, p. 1057). From a young age, boys will be treated in ways to form masculinity and girls will be handled in ways to form femininity. Gender stereotypes are reinforced and influenced through agencies like the family, peers, schools and the media (Holmes, Hughes, Julian, 2007). Stereotypic behaviour is learned by individuals through the culture of these influences. Gender roles are the expected behaviour from males and females and this helps sustain gender stereotypes which in turn create perceptions which lead to inequalities (Crespi I, 2010). Gender roles, patriarchy, sexism and discrimination contribute to gender inequality and these inequalities take place in all social institutions including the workplace and at home. The relationship between patriarchy and gender has been crucial to the subordinate position of women. Patriarchy is a social system where men have power over younger men, women and children. This power rests in the public and private spheres (Holmes, Hughes, Julian, 2007). The role of women traditionally has been to nurture and stay at home to look after the children and the men were seen as the breadwinners going off to work to earn an income. Segregation from society, no opportunities to make their own money, fewer opportunities for education and at times domestic violence all contributed to the oppression of women. Even though there are more women in the workforce, due to gender roles, they still shoulder the responsibility of a second shift when it comes to maintaining the domestic sphere (W. W. Norton Company, 2005). It is a basic human right to be free from gender inequality in the workplace but the fight for equal opportunities, equal pay and fair treatment is a constant justice battle for women. Women in the workforce face inequalities of pay compared to men, less prestigious positions, sexist attitudes and discrimination. Even women that are successful in the corporate world face discrimination on the proper roles of women according to cultural beliefs (W. W. Norton Company, 2005). The glass ceiling refers to barriers that hinder promotion of women and minorities into higher ranks of management (Anderson, Taylor, 2005). The media contributes to gender inequalities by their portrayal of men and women in films, television and magazines. Men are shown to be active and aggressive. They are not shown to do housework or care for children. Women are portrayed as being dominated by the man and are seen as helpless. They are seen as the carers and are told how to please men and look attractive for them. Conclusion Social positions and disadvantages are determined by influences such as class, status and power as well as demographic attributes such as age, ethnicity and gender. Ageism is one of the most pervasive prejudices in society and is considered as being a denial of basic human rights. Social forces and the media help create beliefs and attitudes that discriminate against the elderly. Stereotyping and prejudices continue to create inequalities in ethnic groups. Discriminations can result in poor opportunities for education, poor financial stability, which has an effect on their health, and a low standard of living. Gender is created from birth by gender socialisation. Gender stereotypes are reinforced and influenced through agencies like the family, peers, schools and the media. The imbalances of wealth, power and prestige that exist is ironic as people continuously preach their cultural commitment to values of equality and justice. Unfortunately, systems worldwide are setup to enhance the interests of the people that reside at the top of the stratification system.

What is Socially Believed to be Beautiful

You can never be too thin or too rich, said the Duchess of Windsor. She might have added â€Å"or too pretty. † What psychologists call the â€Å"attractiveness stereotype† is so strong that beauty is literally equated with goodness. Good-looking people are not only preferred for dates, friendships and jobs, they're believed to have more intelligence and integrity. It goes without saying that the beauty bias is even more powerful and universal for women. Beautiful women are thought to be more feminine, and femininity is associated with being emotional, passive and nurturing (Heilman). There's not much bad news about being beautiful. Helena Maria Viramonte†s â€Å"Miss Clairol† focuses on this point. She uses the characters of mother and daughter, Arlene and Champ, to emphasis the vanity of our culture and the reliance on the products required for a transformation into what is socially believed to be beautiful. Recently in history, women, who were far from being pawns and victims, used makeup to declare their freedom, identity, and sexual allure as they flocked to enter public life. The first social history of American beauty culture: a richly textured account of how women created the cosmetics industry and how cosmetics created the modern woman. You don't need the latest census to tell you that America is, more than ever, a rainbow of faces with worldwide roots. More and more women of African, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American heritage are celebrating their own personal beauty, and the cosmetics industry is responding. Viramonte uses the character of Champ to show the changing mood in America towards the need to fall in line for men and the cultures expectations. Arlene is from an older generation that requires a man for survival. This was a time of women's rights and freedom of expression. The women are entering the workplace side by side of men and the rules would change towards the believe of beauty is required to succeed in life (Heilman). It is very unfortunate, but very beautiful women are patronized in professional situations, sexually harassed in private and hassled on the street in greater numbers than their less stunning sisters. A breathtaking beauty can be isolated by both the jealousy of other women and men's fear of rejection. Extremely beautiful women can also fall into their own snares. Some never challenge themselves beyond their looks, and end up in considerable fear of losing them. (In middle age, exceptional beauties have been found to be less happy than average-looking women. ) But, considering all the advantages, â€Å"Please don't hate me because I'm beautiful† can sound like a ridiculous whine. Most of us would take the gamble. Because what is beautiful is sex-typed, attractive men are thought more competent, and attractive women less competent (Heilman). â€Å"Attractive women have a significant edge landing management positions because they are more able to step out of sex roles in the job market,†says psychologist Barry Gillen. The implication is that it pays to appear as unattractive and masculine as possible to succeed in traditional organizations. If all other factors being equal, the â€Å"good-looking† earn 10% more than the â€Å"homely,† and that the situation was worse for men than women (Wall Street Journal). Overall the attractive earn higher salaries, but a breakdown revealed that the advantage applied to men, older subjects and people in â€Å"male† jobs, but was not true for women, younger subjects and â€Å"female† jobs (Heilman). â€Å"The only aspect of corporate success that other executives don't associate in some way with either gender or appearance,† says Madeline Heilman of New York University. A woman whose ascent is swift is considered to have risen due to her merit. Maria Viramonte†s â€Å"Miss Clairol† hits on the point of how sex an achievement into adulthood. The characters are shown to be mere objects to men, and sex is only a tool required to transport them to their belief of the American dream: little yellow house with a white picket fence, couple of kids, a dog, and a wonderful hard working husband as shown on television. Young women are warned, â€Å"Men only want one thing! † Older women have been heard to say, â€Å"So where are those sex maniacs? † As comedians know, timing is everything. Psychologists who examine biology to explain the differences between men's and women's attitudes toward sex connect men's greater concern with a partner's appearance to the evolutionary imperative to carry on the species: Men are seeking sex with a woman young enough to bear children. Women, on the other hand, look to a man's status (often indistinguishable in our society from his bank account) to ensure protection while bearing and caring for the next generation. It's a numbers game, say evolutionary psychologists: many sperm, few eggs. Men were programmed to sow as many seed as possible (screw anything that moves). Women were engineered to save their health and energy during the long human gestation period (could easily prefer a nap or a bite to eat). Though it may preserve elements of our evolutionary past, sexual attraction is more influenced by current cultural standards. The problem comes up when the standard is Barbie. Women judge themselves more harshly than men do. The majority of women believe men want them to be thinner, bustier and blonder than they are. Men prefer a larger ideal female figure than women do. Eighty-four percent of women think men prefer blonde hair; the real figure is 35%. Men tend to favor women with the same hair color they have. Men tend to think they're fine just as they are. Women substantially overestimate society's fixation on large breasts (Peacock). Women, who want â€Å"better† bodies aren't just trying to please men, but are motivated by personal ideals. Today, 47% of normal-weight American women who think they are too fat are making themselves unhappy by buying into the improbable supermodel standard. Just as Champ is fixed on collected all the photos of ideal women from magazines. Champ and all women are lost in a void of what they believe are the aesthetics of beauty. What men want is not nearly as extraordinary as women might imagine. Psychologists and their term â€Å"attractiveness stereotype† are so strong that beauty is literally equated with goodness. Good-looking people are always going to have the advantage in our culture. That†s just the way it is, and most likely always will be. The shift is towards truth and not ignorance; smart people are winning more battles. The truth of it all is that in the end the battle of vanity, an undue pride in ourselves and our appearance will always end with us when we are all alone.

Marketing A New Product Essay

CheapTees, Inc. is a small manufacturing concern committed to the production of quality t-shirts at reasonable prices.   Part of the marketing strategy is to enter the Christmas giveaways segment of the market by offering products to firms needing quality items, which are to be given away to treasured customers and colleagues or partners. As the recipients of the gifts are considered very important from the firm’s viewpoint, it is essential that the product offered be of superior quality but at an affordable price.   According to website of BigStitches.com, the prospects for the garment industry seem very bright, as in 2002, when there was a registered increase of 16% in nationwide apparel sales over the previous year. Statement of Need The company is aware that many firms need to give Christmas gifts to its precious clients and colleagues during this most joyful season, and as such, it is the goal of this company to focus on its new product, a t-shirt called CheepTees. On the average, a medium-sized firm spends around USD10, 000 in Christmas gifts alone.   The company hopes to service this need to save firms from the usual headache and discomfort in terms of shopping for these gifts and going to the process of wrapping them before giving them away. Demographics Demographics are the characteristics of work group, organization, specific market or national populations, such as individuals between the ages of 18 and 25. For this particular product, demographics play an important role in marketing and advertising (McConnon, 2006). Statistics related to lifestyle habits, education and health are important in marketing this product and just as important in trying to market this product to a specific generation, like for instance, the youth. Thus, it is important that the specific target group be spelled out clearly as well as the geographic marketing area to which they belong. There is a need to get the best data, so the latest and most recent ones must be consulted in order to make a proper marketing strategy (Social/Economic/Demographic Statistics for Marketing). Marketing Marketing people can work their way through these websites and get a good glimpse of competitors. Since there is a proliferation of T-shirts in the market, this product must have a unique quality all its own. For instance, the designs will be handmade and made according to the client’s specifications. The company shall also look into some marketing upgrade. The company will focus strictly on messages that tell customers clearly about the products and services and how customers can benefit from using them. The company shall concentrate its advertising on specific feature/benefit premise. The company shall take the unique feature that it is handpainted with the customers’ personal taste in design. Selling Methods and Channels As the customers change, so have the ways companies get their attention. Customers are unique individuals and the company knows how to target and spend only on media that will reach potential prospects. The company will use smart advertising where it shall carefully craft marketing messages for individual customer types, speaking of the features and benefits in terms that each customer profile would appreciate. Direct mail works, but so do other focused methods like telemarketing. Customers demand convenience, price, access and selection. That is why, the company will also venture into Internet marketing in the future.

Paediatric Emergency 1st Aid - 3411 Words

015 Paediatric Emergency 1st Aid Identify the responsibilities of a paediatric first aider. First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care past the first aid intervention. It generally consists of a series of simple and in some cases, potentially life-saving techniques that an individual can be trained to perform with minimal equipment. The responsibilities of a paediatric first aider is: †¢ To preserve life- the overriding aim of all medical care including first aid is to save lives. †¢ To†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Put any sharp items such as needles or syringes in the correct disposal containers. †¢ Keep first aid kits clean. Describe suitable first aid equipment, including personal protection, and how it is used appropriately. First aid equipment. First aid equipment, including personal protection is only useful if u can identify it and use them appropriately. Wherever there are children or young people there should always be a well-equipped first aid kit, it should always be kept in a place where anyone needing it will quickly find it. A first aid kit should always be taken on outings away your setting in addition to the main kit in the setting. Items that should be in a first aid kit: †¢ Disposable vinyl or latex-free gloves- protection for the first aider from blood and other fluids. †¢ Plastic aprons- to protect from blood or any other body fluids. †¢ Rounded scissors- for cutting dressings and possible clothing. †¢ Sterile gauze pads- to cover small bleeding wounds. †¢ Adhesive tape- to secure gauze pads and bandages. †¢ Large combined dressings (large gauze and bandage) - to cover large wounds. †¢ Stretch bandage- to hold dressings in place on the body or limbs. †¢ Crepe bandage- to support sprains to leg or ankle. †¢ Triangular bandage or sling- to support arm or a shoulder injury. †¢ Safety pins- to use to fasten sling. †¢ Eye dressings- to cover eyeShow MoreRelatedArticle Review: Penetrating Assault in Children1030 Words   |  5 PagesCritical analysis: The authors has two aims first of which is to collect data on the medical outcome of deliberate gun and stab injuries in children and second was to look at methods of prevention of violent injury towards children in a few urban paediatric emergency department ( ED’s) in the UK. The author has used a mixed method to collect his data he has used case series analysis and also he has used a qualitative method of surveys. The method of retrospective case series is a complex method to useRead MoreFirst Aid Essay2939 Words   |  12 PagesPart One # - Assessment Task: PEFAP 001 Paediatric Emergency First Aid (1.1) Identified the responsibilities a of a paediatric first aider. The responsibilities of a paediatric first aider is to make sure that every person you attend to you have to make sure that you have comforted the individual, making sure that they are as calm as possible. This is to ensure that you can treat that individual as best as you can, it is important to act quickly and efficiently as possible. (1Read MoreGsk Annual Report 2010135604 Words   |  543 Pagesto be around 11%, to 14%. The returns generated are, however, primarily determined by the eventual commercial impact of new products as they achieve regulatory approval and are launched. This projected rate of return includes products launched from 1st January 2007 and compounds in phases IIb and III of the development process. The calculation is based on actual sales from 2007 to 2009 and forecast sales for the relevant products up to 2030, adjusted to reï ¬â€šect expected failure rates, which are broadlyRead MoreContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 Pagesfacilitative potential for the exercise of control. It does so without denying that performance management frequently takes place in a hierarchical context with persistent power asymmetries. As such, the concept of enabling control holds the potential to aid in an understanding of the practical operation of performance management that combines the ambition of empowerment with the reality of individually distributed responsibilities and hierarchy. Frequently, however, the control concepts that are written