Economic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Economic - Assignment Example In the perfect competition case the focus of the discussion is break-even profits in the long run. In the perfect competition scenario the emphasis of the analysis is on product differentiation strategy. In our first case we have small firm operating in a very competitive environment. The type of environment this company is dealing with can be categorized in economic terms as a perfect competition market structure. Perfect competition is an economic market structure that has many sellers and buyers participating where the firms sell identical products which allows for customers to substitute goods or services with ease (Investopedia, 2009). In this market structure the barriers of entry as low. The low barriers of entry create easy access for suitors to participate in the marketplace. Due to the intense competition companies often leave the marketplace. The fact that products are similar in nature allows for many substitute products to appear. A good example of businesses that participate in perfect competition is the agricultural industry players. In perfect competition the formula to determine profits is price equals marginal costs equals marginal revenues (P=MC=MR). A qualitative interpretation of this formula is that there are cero economic profits achieved in the long run. Since the sellers realize the existence of the zero profit phenomenon merchants are not worried as much about unitary profits in the short run, they instead concentrate on accumulating profits over the long survival. Survival for companies operation under perfect competition is the sign of success. Appendix A shows a graphical illustration of profit behavior under perfect competition. Case b in the graph illustrates the zero profit long run scenario. Appendix B provides more details about the equilibrium that creates a break even profit. Understanding the true reasons why there is not profit in this market structure in the long run is not really that complicated. The profits and

Cost Benefit Analysis Essay Example for Free

Cost Benefit Analysis Essay When operating a business or managing a project, there are many moving parts that need to be discussed, evaluated, and/or implemented. A very effective tool that can help that can help in a business decision or project is running a cost benefit analysis. Running this analysis will help a project manager determine how well, or how poorly, a planned action will turn out (John Reh, 2014). This type of analysis relies on the addition of positive factors and the subtraction of negative ones to determine a net result (John Reh, 2014). When putting a together a cost benefit analysis for a big production company like Bubble Films, it is a big project to own. Having 150 employees spread out into multiple states makes it difficult to get all the information needed. There are many factors when you are dealing with multiple areas of operation to provide an accurate cost benefit analysis. The cost of networking equipment and the power it takes to operate them. The amount of cloud space and the security used to protect it and the power to operate. Once you start operating outside of the office, conducting an accurate cost benefit analysis. With the employees working at home, are they working the full day or a few hours here and there? Do you have to pay for their use of electricity and internet, per diem? Is it more cost effective to put everyone in an office rather than work at home? Many questions have to be answered to create and effective analysis. Cost benefit analysis is a very important tool to use when pitching a new idea or project. This will show the investor, project manager, or CEO’s exactly where their money is going to go and how they are going to make a return. It also helps identify flaws in the budget and whether a company can expand or downsize. References John Reh, F. (2014). Cost Benefit Analysis. Retrieved from http://management.about.com/cs/money/a/CostBenefit.htm

Analysis of Reasons for Banning Nuclear Power

Analysis of Reasons for Banning Nuclear Power Nuclear Power Should Be Stopped In Japan Electricity is necessary for life. Most items need electricity. There are many kinds of natural resources, such as oil, coal, and fossil fuels in the world. However, there is a limit on consuming these resources. Electricity also can be produced by many methods, such as thermal power, wind power, solar power, geothermal electric power, and hydroelectric power. Each country uses different methods to get electricity. Some countries focus on cost. Other countries focus on carbon emission or damage to humans when accidents happen. In Japan, many methods are being used. There are seventeen nuclear power plants and these are helpful to generate electricity because nuclear power can produce huge amounts of electricity at once. However, nuclear power also has disadvantages. When the Tohoku earthquake occurred on March 11 2011, Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan was broken. Thus, people who live in Japan had a limit of spending electricity. Nuclear power plants should be stopped i n Japan because it creates the possibility of radioactive accidents, gives humans cancer, and pollutes air, soil, and water. The main reason for nuclear power plants to be banned in Japan is that nuclear power creates the possibility of radioactive accidents. On March 11 2011, the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami happened. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan was broken by this earthquake. Even workers who work at the Tokyo Electric Power Company could not control nuclear power plants at that time. This accident was managed by Nuclear Regulatory Commission. They wrote a document which listed the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant as one of the most trouble-prone nuclear facilities in Japan. (Wang and Chen 2611) This shows that nuclear power plants create the possibility of radioactive accidents, and gives people fear. Therefore, this is terrible to use for electricity. Even now, many people who live around Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant cannot go back to their town. There are more than 90,000 residents, who were evacuated from areas surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. (Cuttler 1) â€Å"The total amount of released radionuclides has been estimated to be 520 PBq (excluding noble gases); for releases of 137Cs, estimations are about 12 PBq, which is about 15% of that released at Chernobyl.† (Higaki et al. 1) Radionuclides which were released from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant were spread out from Fukushima to Kanto area. Air, soil, and water were polluted directly. Although 15% of that released at Chernobyl, radioactivity which was released by nuclear power plants was higher percentage than average. â€Å"Availability of cooling water has been one of the major issues in the selection of nuclear power plant sites.†(Zhao et al. 41) When a radioactive accident happened in Japan, sea water was used for coolin g down.[1] The water which was used for cooling down was contaminated and leaked. As a result, vegetables, fish, and livestock were polluted indirectly by contaminated soil and water. This shows that radioactivity can spread out quickly. â€Å"After the Fukushima nuclear accident from the 17th March 2011 to the 31st March 2012 the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare set a provisional regulatory value of 500 Bq/kg (fresh weight basis) for radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) in vegetables and crops.†(Higaki et al. 1) Prefectural government and the Ministry of Health, Labour and welfare serveied food safety and reported. â€Å"Products including spinach, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, tea, milk, plumes, and fish have been found to be contaminated with cesium and iodine as far as 360 km from Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant.† (Zheng, Tagami, and Uchida. 1-2) However, food which is made in near Fukushima and did not find radioactivity was criticized. For example, the north pa rt of Japan is a great place to grow rice, yet rice was not bought because rice might be contaminated. Thus, this accident gave farmers who live in the north part of Japan economic damage. Possibly, if people eat food which contains radioactivity, they are exposed to radiation. Likewise, humans were contaminated. Many people were killed by not only an earthquake but also radiation exposure. Humans absorbed radioactivity both directly and indirectly from air, soil, and food. Radioactivity causes cancer, such as leukemia. On August 6 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima. This bomb also gave humans radiation exposure. This tragedy happened 70 years ago. Nonetheless, many people who experienced this tragedy was dropped is suffering from radiation exposure. â€Å"When most or all of the human body is exposed to a single dose of more than 1 Gy of radiation, acute radiation sickness can occur† (Christodouleas et al. 2337) This means that even a small amount of radioactivity can give humans radiation sickness. Clinicians have been interested in x-ray exposure during pregnancy since the 1950s, and they reported an approximately 40% increase in the risk forms of radiation, for instance CT scan, fluoroscopy, or mammography. (Smits and Dolores 441) Radi oactivity is used for diagnosis at hospitals. The radioactivity which is used at hospitals should be safe. Nevertheless, even at hospitals, radioactivity can be dangerous. If pregnant mothers are examined by CT scans, fluoroscopy, or mammography, unborn babies may get trouble. For these reasons, radioactivity is dangerous and harmful for health. On the other hand, some people prefer to use nuclear power plants because they are ecofriendly. â€Å"World Nuclear Association and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), contend that nuclear power is a sustainable energy source that reduces carbon emissions.† (Bhasin and Aparna 1) Thermal power plants release carbon dioxide instead of radioactivity. This mean nuclear power plants can help to prevent global warming. â€Å"Energy installations, especially thermal power plants that use coal as a fuel, can influence the environment, sometimes leading even to ecological balance damage within areas where they are located, so that the energy field be considered as the main pollution source.† (Costel 1) If carbon emissions are focused, nuclear power plants are better than thermal power plants. â€Å"A large number of studies have illustrated the public concern about the adverse effects of mobile phone radiation and possible health hazards.† (Marica, Luinica and Lumi nita 561) Not only nuclear power plants, but also some electricity, such as cell phones release radioactivity. â€Å"Human populations have always been exposed to ionizing radiation from natural sources.† (Pehlivanglu and Kilincarslan 275) This means that there is radioactivity in the air already before why radiation accidents. In addition, radioactivity is used for medication, such as CT scans, and radiotherapy. Radioactivity causes cancer, whereas it is also effective to cure cancer. â€Å"The report, released by the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) warns that the damage caused by stress and worry over radiation will likely cause much more damage than the radiation itself.†(ASIA 1) The Majority of people think that cancer risk was increased by radioactivity. However, some people think the reason cancer risks increased is not only radioactivity. People who live in Fukushima were under stress because people could not get exact information. When the earthquake happened, media, internet, phone services, and transportations were confusing. Cancer risk was increased by not only radioactivity, but also stress. Nuclear power plants can be hazardous weapons. â€Å"Fukushima is an eerie replay of the denial and controversy that began with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.† (Perrow 56) Japan is only one country that suffered an atomic bomb attack. Accordingly, Japanese people tend to already know how much radioactivity is dangerous. They also notice that they cannot control nuclear power plants if radioactive accidents were to happened. â€Å"The nuclear disaster in the Japan nuclear power plant Fukushima Daiichi has reminded the importance of proofed and reliable systems used in the active or passive mode for application in case of serious nuclear accident†. (Maar and 81) The radioactive accident that happened in Fukushima warned that nuclear power plants creates the possibility of radioactive accidents. Nuclear power plants can be ecofriendly because carbon emission is low. Nuclear power plants produced 13% of all electricity in the world in 2008. (Islam and Ahiduzzaman 26) In Japanese case, 30% of electricity was produced by nuclear power plants before happening the earthquake. (Wohns 5) Most electricity is being made by other ways in the world. However, Japan count on nuclear plants. Japan can get technology from other countries. Furthermore, Japan can use alternative energy. Alternative energy is energy generated in ways that do not deplete natural resources or harm the environment, especially by avoiding the use of fossil fuels and nuclear power. (Oxford d[2]ictionary) Examples of alternative energy are solar energy, biomass energy, wind energy, and geothermal energy. In Japan, solar energy has been becoming common. Solar panels are attached on each house roof. Solar power plants release 40 g/kWh and nuclear power plants release 30 g/kWh. (Murphy and David 522) These two amounts are lower than other power plants. One of benefits of solar power plants is that if electricity which is made by solar power plants so not use everything, the electricity can sale to power company in Japan. In my case, my house has solar panels on roof. The panels can produce electricity for whole my house. Moreover, a few of electricity can sale to power company, so my house does not buy electricity from power company. Solar power plants can replace with nuclear power plants. Some people said that cancer was caused by not only radioactivity but also stress. This opinion could be true. However, after leaking out radioactivity by accidents, such as Chernobyl, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Fukushima, cancer rate was increased. â€Å"In the Ukraine, children were born with deformities and developed cancer; today, most children there still[3] develop leukemia at an early age.† (Robertson 11) This result shows radioactivity gives humans huge impacts. It also shows children are exposed indirectly. â€Å"In pregnancy, the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) is problematic.† (Nijkeuter et al. 1857) This shows that radioactivity which is used at hospital is also can expose fetus indirectly. Aftereffects which are caused by radiotherapy are known. Although radiotherapy is effective for cancer, patients get damages, such as nausea or fallen hair. â€Å"People are always exposed to ionizing radiation, which could badly influence their health.† (Samadi , Bahman, and Nima 52) this means that radioactivity already exists in the air without radioactive accidents, but the radioactivity is not huge amounts. However, if radioactive accidents happen, radioactivity is leaked in the air. After leaking radioactivity, the amount of radioactivity should be more than the average amount which exits in the air. In conclusion, nuclear power plants can be dangerous when radioactive accidents happen because, air, soil, food, and water are contaminated by radioactivity directly and indirectly after accidents happen. Moreover, radioactivity can cause cancer. For these reason, nuclear power plants should be stopped in Japan. Works Cited ASIA. No Cancer Increase After Fukushima UN. TCE: The Chemical Engineer 876 (2014): 17. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 July 2014. Bhasin, Amit, and Aparna, Ahuja. Harnessing Nuclear Energy: Health Risks. Indian Journal Of Medical Specialities 2.1 (2011): 46-53. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 July 2014. Costel, Alic. Laurean, Marinel, Manea. Traian, Vasiu. Gheorghe, Dobrei. Environmental Impact Due To Use Of Coal In Mintia Thermal Power Plant. Revista Minelor / Mining Revue 19.1 (2013): 2-7. Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 July 2014. Cuttler, Jerry M. Commentary On The Appropriate Radiation Level For Evacuations. Dose-Response 10.4 (2012): 473-479. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 July 2014. Higaki T, Higaki S, Hirota M, Hasezawa S. Radiocesium Distribution In Bamboo Shoots After The Fukushima Nuclear Accident. Plos ONE 9.5 (2014): 1-9. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 July 2014. John P. Christodouleas, M.D., M.P.H., Robert D. Forrest, C.H.P., Christopher G. Ainsley, Ph.D., Zelig Tochner, M.D., Stephen M. Hahn, M.D., and Eli Glatstein, M.D. Short-term and long term health risks of nuclear-power-plant accidents. New England journal of medicine 364.24 (2011): 2334-2341. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 July 2014. Marica, Lucia, and Luminita Moraru. Study Regarding Electromagnetic Radiation Exposure Generated By Mobile Phone. AIP Conference Proceedings 1400.1 (2011): 560-564. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 July 2014. Maar, Tomas, and Jiri Martinec. Possibilities Of Vapour Condensation And Heat Accumulation Systems For Loca Accidents In Nuclear Power Plants. Annals Of The Faculty Of Engineering Hunedoara International Journal Of Engineering 12.2 (2014): 81-84. Academic Search Complete. Web. 24 July 2014. Murphy, Patrick, and David J. Browne. Solar Energy: Competitive On Carbon Emissions?. Engineers Journal 62.9 (2008): 550-555. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 July 2014. Nijkeuter, M.,Grlrijns, J, De Roos , A, Meinders, E, and Huisman, M. Diagnosing Pulmonary Embolism In Pregnancy: Rationalizing Fetal Radiation Exposure In Radiological Procedures. Journal Of Thrombosis Haemostasis 2.10 (2004): 1857-1858. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 July 2014. Pehlivanogl, F., and S Kilincarslan. Determination Of Natural Radioactivity In Aggregates From Western Mediterranean Region. Acta Physica Polonica, A 125.2 (2014): 275-277. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 July 2014 Perrow, Charles. Nuclear Denial: From Hiroshima To Fukushima. Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists 69.5 (2013): 56-67. Academic Search Complete. Web. 24 July 2014. Robertson, Naomi. Harnessing The Power Of Radioactivity. Young Scientists Journal 4.9 (2011): 10-12. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 July 2014. Sadrul Islam, A. K. M., and M. Ahiduzzaman. Biomass Energy: Sustainable Solution For Greenhouse Gas Emission. AIP Conference Proceedings 1440.1 (2012): 23-32. Academic Search Complete. Web. 24 July 2014. Samadi, Mohamad Taghi, Bahman GolzarKhojasteh, and Nima Rostampour. Indoor Natural Radiation Level In Hamadan Province, 2012. (English). Journal Of Mazandaran University Of Medical Sciences (JMUMS) 23.99 (2013): 52-59. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 July 2014. Smits, Ariel K., Heather L. Paladine, and Dolores Zegar Judkins. What Are The Risks To The Fetus Associated With Diagnostic Radiation Exposure During Pregnancy?. Journal Of Family Practice 55.5 (2006): 441-444. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 July 2014. Wang, Qiang, and Xi Chen. Regulatory Failures For Nuclear Safety – The Bad Example Of Japan – Implication For The Rest Of World. Renewable Sustainable Energy Reviews 16.5 (2012): 2610-2617. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 July 2014. Wohns, Anthony. Fukushimas Lessons For Boston: Debating The Future Of Nuclear Energy. Harvard International Review 35.3 (2014): 4-5. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 July 2014. Zhao, Haihua. Zhang, Hongbin, Sharpe, Phil, Hamanaka, Blaise, Yan, Wei., and Jeong, WoonSeong. Ice Thermal Storage Systems For Nuclear Power Plant Supplemental Cooling And Peak Power Shifting. Journal Of Energy Engineering 139.1 (2013): 41-47. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 July 2014. Zheng, Jian, Keiko Tagami, and Shigeo Uchida. Rapid Analysis Of U Isotopes In Vegetables Using ICP-MS: Application To The Emergency U Monitoring After The Nuclear Accident At TEPCOs Fukushima Dai-Ichi Power Station. Journal Of Radioanalytical Nuclear Chemistry 292.1 (2012): 171-175. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 July 2014. [1]incomplete sentence [2]capitalize [3]misspelling

An Attack On America :: essays research papers

Vonnegut uses satire, from innocent innuendo and wit to burlesque, sarcasm and cosmic irony to attack American society in the 1950’s and 1960’s. These forms of satire can be seen in ‘Miss Temptation’, ‘Welcome to the Monkey House’ and ‘All the Kings Men’. In ‘Miss Temptation’, Susanna’s â€Å"diabolical beauty† (75) or evil beauty mad Puritanism to fall â€Å"into such disrepair† (75). The innuendo of Vonnegut’s opening sentence attacks the so-called modern thinkers of the day and the ignorance and attitudes of the 1950’s conformist people. Vonnegut compares American civilization to that of the Puritans, who were extremely intolerant of anything different and posses the epitome of conformity. Puritans did not even go to plays or shows, and Susanna was â€Å"an actress† (77). The theme of Puritanism and innocent sexual innuendo is carried on throughout the story. Hinkley laments that â€Å"all of [his] pleasures are looking at what used to be pleasures† (81). Hinkley along with the rest of the town, find their only enjoyment throughout the day is by watching Susanna’s â€Å"tinkling walk† around the town. Suppressed by Puritan attitudes, the townspeople can only enjoy Susanna from afar. Wit is also used in ‘Miss Temptation’, as Susanna uses it against Fuller. Susanna criticizes Fuller and the other â€Å"dumb toots† (86) who judge her y her appearance. She could not help it if Fuller wanted to â€Å"kiss her† (86) and asks, â€Å"whose fault is that?† (86). It was not Susanna’s fault that she was born with â€Å"feathery hair† (75) and black eyes. Fuller hated Susanna merely because she was a girl and supposedly made â€Å"more people unhappy† (78) than happy. It was not the town that was unhappy with Susanna, but Fuller who felt that â€Å"beautiful girls gave [him] a pain† (82). The wit and irony of it all is that Fuller caused Susanna more pain than he ever felt from a girl by excluding her from the human race. Sarcasm is also used in the story. Fuller criticizes American women as being â€Å"the greatest actresses in the world† (77), only to â€Å"put an ice cube† (77) in a man’s hand. In ‘Welcome to the Monkey House’, Puritan ethics and morals are taken a step farther to outlaw any pleasure including sex, even for reproduction, â€Å"thus science and morals go hand in hand† (31). Just like Fuller took the humanness out of Susanna because of her sexuality and sensualness, the ethical suicide parlors and ethical suicide pill took the humanness out of the society as a whole.

Guests of the Sheik

Ethnocentrism: The Cultural Differences between Western and Middle Eastern Cultures Through its ethnocentric tales and family based beliefs, Elizabeth Warnock Fernea’s Guests of the Sheik suggests that to find the true representation of Islamic culture, one must leave ethnocentrism behind. Not only will we discuss ethnocentrism and the cultural differences between Western and Middle Eastern societies, we will also take a look at the women of El Nahra and family within the differing societies. Fernea entered El Nahra naive to the culture.However, was an innocent bystander, she became indignant because of the reference of wearing the abayah, â€Å" because she viewed the â€Å"abayah† as not being a part of her culture and did not have to wear it, â€Å"Why should I have to wear that ugly thing–it’s not my custom† (1965: 5). However, through her stay in the small Iraqi village, she gained cultural insight to be passed on about not only El Nahra, but to all foreign culture. As Elizabeth entered the Sheik’s village, she was viewed with a critical eye, â€Å"It seemed to me that many times the women were talking about me, and not in a particularly friendly manner† (1965: 70).The women of El Nahra could not understand why Elizabeth was not with her entire family, and why it was just her and her husband Bob: â€Å"Where is your mother? Kulthma asked. I told her she was in America far away, and when Selma repeated this in a better accent, the women clucked in sympathy. Poor girl, they said. Poor child. To be alone without any of one’s womenfolk was clearly the greatest disaster which could befall any girl† (1965:36). The women did not recognize her American lifestyle as accurate.This is not only ethnocentrism on the part of the El Nahran women because of their belief system that you are suppose to have your parents living with you or near you but American’s do not see this as a bad thing to live far from ones parents. Conversely, Elizabeth–BJ or Beeja, as named by the village and Bob did not view the El Nahra lifestyle as particularly proper either. They were viewing each other through their own cultural lenses. However, through their constant interaction, both sides began to recognize some benefits each culture possessed.It takes time when you are immersed in a particular community to understand the cultural ethos and eventually the community as a whole. Through Elizabeth Fernea’s ethnography on Iraq’s El Nahra village, we learn that all cultures have unique and equally important aspects. In El Nahra, for example, the cultural ethos is family honor. The actions of the community are based on the solid family bonds that exist throughout. However, individualism drives the majority of America. Our actions seem to be a direct result of the cultural ethos.In this, lied much of the uncertainty between Bob, BJ and the El Nahran people. In America, we spend a grea t deal of the time away from home and our families and completing tasks that will further the success of the individual. Generally, Americans are willing to sacrifice a lot of their family solidity for individual success. A sacrifice of this magnitude would be unheard of in a community such as El Nahra. Their relationships, both marriage and friendship are based on their family, and no one seems to know any other lifestyle. Marriages in El Nahra were, for the large majority, predetermined.This tradition in America would be strongly questioned and completely disregarded, based on the cultural ethos of individualism. Americans put a large emphasis on courting their own spouse. However, based on El Nahra’s cultural ethos of family honor, the people trusted their family unit to make quality choices for them. Obviously, from an American perspective, a women’s freedom of choice in this facet of El Nahran culture is lacking. However, viewing marriage cross-culturally, their p riorities as a tribe and culture are different and we cannot view them through American eyes.We should understand that family is the most important feature of each of their lives, and the preservation of the family line is of the utmost priority to them. In El Nahra, it may have seemed to Beeja that women have no power in their society. However, power may have multiple meanings as one travels from culture to culture. In America, a woman may view power in terms being able to obtain and maintain a stable, high-paying job on her own. We may also view a woman of no power as one without a job, simply satisfied being a common housewife. However, in El Nahra, as Beeja finds out, the women have more power as housewives.Their power comes from their ability to please their husband, and it is known, who were the preferred wives. As a favored wife, bearing children gives the woman power in her community amongst both women and men. â€Å"A typical well-respected wife would have served and respe cted her husband, worked hard, kept herself beautiful for him, made him laugh, and of course borne him sons (1965:169). They also obtain their power and respect from their capability to do what American women may consider to be menial chores. Preparation of meals and the cleanliness of ones home are essential to how a woman is viewed in El Nahra.When the sheik visited BJ and Bob’s home, BJ experienced this concept of power first hand. To make a good impression and understand the customs better, she had her servant Mohammed helped with Sheik Hamid’s feast. â€Å"Then Mohammed and I dished up the food, the chicken, the kebab, the meat dishes, the vegetables and salad and yogurt†, (1965:96). â€Å"We piled the platters, twelve of them, onto the tray. Mohammed mopped his brow, readjusted his headdress, then lifted the heavy, steaming tray to his shoulder and set out for the other room†, (1965:97).These feasts are very imperative to the reputation of a woman i n El Nahra. There are benefits to being a woman in El Nahra. Many women in American communities do not have the opportunity to experience the support and close bond between other women in their community. In America, it is hard for women to find enough time to spend with other women in the same manner as the women of El Nahra. The lifestyle is slower paced, and the importance is more on relationships instead of money and individualism, as in America. These close groups of women are a result of purdah, the veiling and seclusion of women. They say an uncovered woman is an immoral woman,† Bob explained, â€Å"and the tribesmen ask why a woman should want to show herself to anyone but her husband†, (1965:6). Predictably, Americans would perceive this behavior as degrading, while El Nahran women identify with it as a part of life. El Nahran women do not view it as degrading; rather, from BJ’s many interactions with the women of the community, they recognize it makes t hem stronger. The time they spend together is precious. They all gather together in a seemingly jovial atmosphere.Most American women never get to experience that kind of bonding with such a large group of women. Granted, American women some times gather for tea parties to catch up with each others lives, but the women of El Nahra are in constant daily contact, and already know each others lives inside and out. The bonds that the women make are unique outlooks of El Nahran culture that make it equally as important as any other culture in the world. El Nahran women have many unique and important aspects of culture, which contribute to a healthy lifestyle.These aspects are unique to their village and create a positive environment for them to live. However, members of foreign cultures may disagree. At that point, people must understand that cultures can be equally as productive and beneficial no matter the means they use to achieve their particular goals. Elizabeth Fernea conducted her self as a respectful and somewhat open individual within the Iraqi community, she accepted the change of culture in which she was not accustomed and experienced the concept of Iraqi culture.I believe Elizabeth started out with strong ethnocentric views: â€Å"Thus, although I balked at wearing an all-enveloping black abayah, I had elected to live like the women of El Nahra-in relative seclusion behind walls, not meeting or mixing with me† (1965:5), but left with a more opened mind and respect for different cultures, especially the Middle East culture: â€Å"when I came to Selma, heavy and clumsy with the child she was carrying, she smiled politely in a set way and then as I smiled back, her face changed and she threw her arms around me and cried aloud.At this my own reserve broke and I found myself weeping, passing from one abayah-clad figure to another in a welter of embraces and tears†, â€Å"they were bidding me goodbye† (1965:331). This shows how Elizabeth s tarted ethnocentric coming to El Nahra, but her interactions with the women of El Nahra mad her more culturally relative to the Iraqi culture of El Nahra. Guests of the Sheik Ethnocentrism: The Cultural Differences between Western and Middle Eastern Cultures Through its ethnocentric tales and family based beliefs, Elizabeth Warnock Fernea’s Guests of the Sheik suggests that to find the true representation of Islamic culture, one must leave ethnocentrism behind. Not only will we discuss ethnocentrism and the cultural differences between Western and Middle Eastern societies, we will also take a look at the women of El Nahra and family within the differing societies. Fernea entered El Nahra naive to the culture.However, was an innocent bystander, she became indignant because of the reference of wearing the abayah, â€Å" because she viewed the â€Å"abayah† as not being a part of her culture and did not have to wear it, â€Å"Why should I have to wear that ugly thing–it’s not my custom† (1965: 5). However, through her stay in the small Iraqi village, she gained cultural insight to be passed on about not only El Nahra, but to all foreign culture. As Elizabeth entered the Sheik’s village, she was viewed with a critical eye, â€Å"It seemed to me that many times the women were talking about me, and not in a particularly friendly manner† (1965: 70).The women of El Nahra could not understand why Elizabeth was not with her entire family, and why it was just her and her husband Bob: â€Å"Where is your mother? Kulthma asked. I told her she was in America far away, and when Selma repeated this in a better accent, the women clucked in sympathy. Poor girl, they said. Poor child. To be alone without any of one’s womenfolk was clearly the greatest disaster which could befall any girl† (1965:36). The women did not recognize her American lifestyle as accurate.This is not only ethnocentrism on the part of the El Nahran women because of their belief system that you are suppose to have your parents living with you or near you but American’s do not see this as a bad thing to live far from ones parents. Conversely, Elizabeth–BJ or Beeja, as named by the village and Bob did not view the El Nahra lifestyle as particularly proper either. They were viewing each other through their own cultural lenses. However, through their constant interaction, both sides began to recognize some benefits each culture possessed.It takes time when you are immersed in a particular community to understand the cultural ethos and eventually the community as a whole. Through Elizabeth Fernea’s ethnography on Iraq’s El Nahra village, we learn that all cultures have unique and equally important aspects. In El Nahra, for example, the cultural ethos is family honor. The actions of the community are based on the solid family bonds that exist throughout. However, individualism drives the majority of America. Our actions seem to be a direct result of the cultural ethos.In this, lied much of the uncertainty between Bob, BJ and the El Nahran people. In America, we spend a grea t deal of the time away from home and our families and completing tasks that will further the success of the individual. Generally, Americans are willing to sacrifice a lot of their family solidity for individual success. A sacrifice of this magnitude would be unheard of in a community such as El Nahra. Their relationships, both marriage and friendship are based on their family, and no one seems to know any other lifestyle. Marriages in El Nahra were, for the large majority, predetermined.This tradition in America would be strongly questioned and completely disregarded, based on the cultural ethos of individualism. Americans put a large emphasis on courting their own spouse. However, based on El Nahra’s cultural ethos of family honor, the people trusted their family unit to make quality choices for them. Obviously, from an American perspective, a women’s freedom of choice in this facet of El Nahran culture is lacking. However, viewing marriage cross-culturally, their p riorities as a tribe and culture are different and we cannot view them through American eyes.We should understand that family is the most important feature of each of their lives, and the preservation of the family line is of the utmost priority to them. In El Nahra, it may have seemed to Beeja that women have no power in their society. However, power may have multiple meanings as one travels from culture to culture. In America, a woman may view power in terms being able to obtain and maintain a stable, high-paying job on her own. We may also view a woman of no power as one without a job, simply satisfied being a common housewife. However, in El Nahra, as Beeja finds out, the women have more power as housewives.Their power comes from their ability to please their husband, and it is known, who were the preferred wives. As a favored wife, bearing children gives the woman power in her community amongst both women and men. â€Å"A typical well-respected wife would have served and respe cted her husband, worked hard, kept herself beautiful for him, made him laugh, and of course borne him sons (1965:169). They also obtain their power and respect from their capability to do what American women may consider to be menial chores. Preparation of meals and the cleanliness of ones home are essential to how a woman is viewed in El Nahra.When the sheik visited BJ and Bob’s home, BJ experienced this concept of power first hand. To make a good impression and understand the customs better, she had her servant Mohammed helped with Sheik Hamid’s feast. â€Å"Then Mohammed and I dished up the food, the chicken, the kebab, the meat dishes, the vegetables and salad and yogurt†, (1965:96). â€Å"We piled the platters, twelve of them, onto the tray. Mohammed mopped his brow, readjusted his headdress, then lifted the heavy, steaming tray to his shoulder and set out for the other room†, (1965:97).These feasts are very imperative to the reputation of a woman i n El Nahra. There are benefits to being a woman in El Nahra. Many women in American communities do not have the opportunity to experience the support and close bond between other women in their community. In America, it is hard for women to find enough time to spend with other women in the same manner as the women of El Nahra. The lifestyle is slower paced, and the importance is more on relationships instead of money and individualism, as in America. These close groups of women are a result of purdah, the veiling and seclusion of women. They say an uncovered woman is an immoral woman,† Bob explained, â€Å"and the tribesmen ask why a woman should want to show herself to anyone but her husband†, (1965:6). Predictably, Americans would perceive this behavior as degrading, while El Nahran women identify with it as a part of life. El Nahran women do not view it as degrading; rather, from BJ’s many interactions with the women of the community, they recognize it makes t hem stronger. The time they spend together is precious. They all gather together in a seemingly jovial atmosphere.Most American women never get to experience that kind of bonding with such a large group of women. Granted, American women some times gather for tea parties to catch up with each others lives, but the women of El Nahra are in constant daily contact, and already know each others lives inside and out. The bonds that the women make are unique outlooks of El Nahran culture that make it equally as important as any other culture in the world. El Nahran women have many unique and important aspects of culture, which contribute to a healthy lifestyle.These aspects are unique to their village and create a positive environment for them to live. However, members of foreign cultures may disagree. At that point, people must understand that cultures can be equally as productive and beneficial no matter the means they use to achieve their particular goals. Elizabeth Fernea conducted her self as a respectful and somewhat open individual within the Iraqi community, she accepted the change of culture in which she was not accustomed and experienced the concept of Iraqi culture.I believe Elizabeth started out with strong ethnocentric views: â€Å"Thus, although I balked at wearing an all-enveloping black abayah, I had elected to live like the women of El Nahra-in relative seclusion behind walls, not meeting or mixing with me† (1965:5), but left with a more opened mind and respect for different cultures, especially the Middle East culture: â€Å"when I came to Selma, heavy and clumsy with the child she was carrying, she smiled politely in a set way and then as I smiled back, her face changed and she threw her arms around me and cried aloud.At this my own reserve broke and I found myself weeping, passing from one abayah-clad figure to another in a welter of embraces and tears†, â€Å"they were bidding me goodbye† (1965:331). This shows how Elizabeth s tarted ethnocentric coming to El Nahra, but her interactions with the women of El Nahra mad her more culturally relative to the Iraqi culture of El Nahra.

Unit 1 Dbq Essay Example

Unit 1 Dbq Essay Example Unit 1 Dbq Essay Unit 1 Dbq Essay They sailed over from England, all seeking glorified opportunities. These English colonists sought out an opportunity when boarding ships and leaving the Old World to travel to the exciting unknown; but each person had their own unique desire. These unique desires led to the many diverse societies that spread all throughout the eastern sea board of the New World by the 1700’s. Religious tolerance, organization in government, and economic stability were all contributing factors to the differences New England and Chesapeake Bay regions had. In Documents B and C, there are two lists of emigrants. Document B’s list is of emigrants traveling to New England and Document C’s list is of emigrants traveling to Virginia. These lists give names, ages, gender, some of their occupations, and the dates the emigrants arrived to their destination. These lists indicate that two distinct societies formed through the differences these people had when embarking to the New World. The list withheld in Document B shows that equally men and women traveled to the New England area than in Document C’s list; also more families, and one minister. In Document C there was a plethora of men compared to women. These people who traveled to Virginia all agreed to live by the Church of England and took oaths to keep its supremacy, this shows that based on the people traveling to Virginia were more religious than the colonists traveling to New England, they respected the Church of England and planned to turn Virginia into a small colony to practice religion, as if they were in England. The differences in the New England area versus the Chesapeake area was religious tolerance and the lists in these documents show how fundamental Virginia colonists were compared to New England colonists. Documents G and H both talk about reasons for diversity in the Chesapeake Bay area. Document G was by Governor Berkeley who fought to defend Virginia against Dutch attacks. This document shows how Governor Berkeley’s council tried to defend their freedom and keep practicing methods their way. Similarly, in Document H, Bacon writes a passage against Governor Berkeley in 1676 to justify his actions for pursuing his rebellion. Bacon says how arts and sciences and other ways of life are sucked up by the public. This shows that the Chesapeake region had conflict, involving religion and ways people should carry out daily activities. Bacon and Governor Berkeley were both prominent people in shaping the Chesapeake area into the religious, politically unorganized, middle colony it evolved to be. With this, it brought its society into a different importance than did New England. Documents D and E both exemplify factors of the New England society. Document D is an agreement in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1636 that talks about how they would like society to be run, and how the people are. That everyone should have a share of the meadow or planting ground. † This quote shows that this agreement helped make New England an equal and free society. The people wanted everyone to live amongst one another in harmony and have convenient living standards. Document E explains how New England wanted to regulate pay. It seems just and well thought out. This impacted the New England colony to achieving a n organized government and a stable political system unlike the Chesapeake Bay area. In Document A, John Winthrop writes a passage about Christianity and charity. He was a fundamental Puritan in the New England area who preached Christianity and how God wanted people to act. His passage contributes to how New England civilization was. The society was endowed in all sects of Christianity and Winthrop’s passage in Document A gives evidence that he wanted the colony to remain Christian and hold the same values as he did. In conclusion, New England and Chesapeake Bay were both settled by a large population of English colonists. However, they differed from each other in many different ways. New England was more lenient about religion, wanted equality, and seemed to have a plan to begin governmental organization right from the get go. On the other hand the Chesapeake was a more fundamental Christianity, had an unstable political plan and had various issues in settling the territory. They both were unique and heterogeneous when it came to the running of society and how people functioned but that’s why so many English settlers came to the New World; to found their beliefs in a place where they would be accepted and free.