Pierre Bourdieu: Taste and Class

Pierre Bourdieu: Taste and Class ‘Taste, a class culture turned into nature, that is, embodied, helps to shape the class body. It follows that the body is the most indisputable materialization of class taste’ (Bourdieu, 1984: 190). Do you agree with Bourdieus statement about the importance of social class to embodiment? (2064/2000) Introduction Not only do I disagree with Bourdieu’s statement as presented above, it is my contention that this does not accurately represent the intention and focus of Bourdieu. For not only do I disagree that class is central to embodiment, rather believing that all forms of social differentiation – class, ethnicity, age and gender are embodied, but that Bourdieu himself believed that it is gender that provides the models for the other, therefore secondary, forms of social differentiation. To support my argument, I first provide a brief outline of Bourdieu’s theory of social practice, discussing the relationship between class and embodiment within it. Next I examine Chris Schillings’ interpretation of Bourdieu, demonstrating that, in common with other theorists, Schilling interpreted Bourdieu as being ultimately concerned with class as an axis of social differentiation, thereby ignoring the role of gender in his theory: that even as Schilling seeks to extend Bourdie u’s theory to include gender, ethnicity and age his interpretation is fundamentally flawed. In the final section I contest this class-focussed interpretation of Bourdieu by arguing that, following Beate Krais, by examining both his later work and his early ethnography it is evident that gender is a primary concern in his work: that Bourdieu believes that gender provides the model for all other forms of social differentiation. However, whereas Bourdieu seems pessimistic regarding the individual’s ability to resist their class or gender differentiation, the women interviewed by Beverley Skeggs (1997) actively resisted their class position, even as they were shaped by it. In the conclusion I summarise my argument that not only are other social differentiations of central importance to embodiment – namely gender, age, and ethnicity – gender was of central importance to Bourdieu, providing the model for other forms of differentiation, before concluding that work still needs to be done before age and ethnicity can be adequately incorporated into Bourdieu†™s schema. Embodiment and Social Class in the Work of Bourdieu In this section I first briefly outline Bourdieu’s theory of social practice, and then discuss the relationship between class and embodiment within it, before then examining Chris Schillings’ (1994) account of Bourdieu. I argue that Schilling focuses on Bourdieu’s class analysis, in common with many other theorists, and therefore misses the way in which Bourdieu is ultimately concerned with gender as a form of social differentiation. Pierre Bourdieu developed his theory of cultural capital and social practice with Jean-Claude Passeron[1] in France in the 1970s, as part of an effort to explain class-based differences in educational achievement. In his theory the forms of capital cultural, social and economic interact to mask the way in which social hierarchies are reproduced. Cultural capital is, for Bourdieu, divided into three subcategories; ‘embodied’, ‘objectified’ and ‘institutionalised’. Embodied capital is imbued dur ing the period of socialisation, is linked to the body, and represents ‘external wealth converted into an integral part of the person’ (Bourdieu, 1986: 244-5): whether an individuals’ accent, their taste for opera, or their preference for rugby over football this form of capital ‘cannot be accumulated beyond the appropriating capacity of an individual agent [and] remains marked by its earliest conditions of acquisition’ (Bourdieu, 1986: 245). Objectified capital refers to goods such as paintings, antiques and fine wines; objectified capital thus entails both the material wealth needed to own such items and the embodied capital needed to ‘consume’ them. Institutionalised capital is those academic qualifications which enable an individual to exchange between cultural and economic capital, while social capital are those friendships and networks which enable an individual to ‘produce and reproduce lasting, useful relationships that can secure material or symbolic profits’ (Bourdieu, 1986: 249. The three forms of capital combine to produce a persons habitus, or set of preferences and predispositions. Class is thus central to Bourdieu’s theory of embodiment; within his schema the financial, educational, social and cultural resources of an individual shape not only their ‘taste’ but also their life chances: Taste, a class culture turned into nature, that is, embodied, helps to shape the body. It is an incorporated principle of classification which governs all forms of incorporation, choosing and modifying everything that the body ingests and digests and assimilates, physiologically and psychologically’ (Bourdieu, 1999: 190, my emphasis added). Finally, embodiment is central to his theory; for it is via the process of socialization that the dynamics of power are written onto the very bodies of the individual (Bourdieu, 1999: 190). Schilling argues that Bourdieu does not engage with the body as simultaneously social and biological, but rather concentrates on its ‘unfinishedness’ at birth (Schilling, 1994: 128): that ‘acts of labour are required to turn bodies into social entities and that these acts influence how people develop and hold the physical shape of their bodies’ (Schilling, 1994: 128). Schilling stresses the way in which Bourdieu argues that social class imprints on the body of an individual by focussing on the way people’s taste for food both marks their class position and affects their bodies: Bodies develop through the interrelation between an individual’s social location [their class-based material circumstances], habitus and taste. These factors serve to naturalize and perpetuate the different relationships that social groups have towards their bodies (Schilling, 1994: 130). Similar readings have resulted in Bourdieu’s theory being criticized for being essentialist; John Frow argues that Bourdieu simply ‘reads off’ an individuals culture from their class position (Frow, 1995: 63). Or that his theory is therefore deterministic; in that it minimizes the ability of the individual to shape their own destiny. Finally, such a reading of Bourdieu leads one to conclude that he prioritized the role of class in society, thus minimizing the effects of other forms of differentiation, such as gender, ethnicity and age: the conflict between classes is of greatest importance to Bourdieu’s work, and attempts by the dominant classes to define lower class body implicating activities as ‘crude’, or attempts on the part of the working classes to define upper class practices as ‘pretentious’, occupy a prominent place in his book on French life, Distinction (1984) (Schilling, 1994: 141). Yet I would contend that Schilling has misinterpreted Bourdieu’s theory; that whilst it is true that in his middle years – of which Distinction forms a part he did focus on the dynamics of class in society and as it is written on the body of the individual, however in Bourdieu’s early ethnography his focus was instead on the primary differentiation of gender, and it was to this concern that he returned in his later years. Gender as the Primary Form of Social Differentiation for Bourdieu In this section I argue, in agreement with Beate Krais (2006), that gender is a primary concern in the work of Bourdieu: that he believes it is gender that provides the model for all other forms of social differentiation. However, whereas Bourdieu seems unduly pessimistic regarding the individual’s ability to resist their class social differentiation, the women interview by Skeggs (1997) actively resisted their class positioning even as they were shaped by it. However, she provides little evidence of these women’s attempts to resist their gender. Beate Krais argues that gender is ‘one of the most powerful classifications’ for Bourdieu (Krais, 2006: 120) and that he chooses his early ethnography in Algeria for inclusion in his 2001 Masculine Domination, as among the Kabylia at this time there existed ‘practically no other form of social differentiation’ (Krais, 2006: 120). She demonstrates that, for Bourdieu, it is the social construction of femininity and masculinity that first ‘shapes the body, defines how [it] is perceived [†¦] and thus determines an individuals identity’ (Krais, 2006: 121). This interpretation is borne out by my reading of Bourdieu when he discusses the Kabylia: ‘the opposition between male and female is realized in posture, in the gestures and movements of the body’ (Bourdieu, 1999a: 70). He continues: ‘classificatory schemes through which the body is practically apprehended are always grounded twofold, both in the social division of labour an d in the sexual division of labour’ (Bourdieu: 1999a: 72). Thus Bourdieu argues that social differentiation according to gender is both universal and historically constant: ‘the same system of classificatory schemes is found, in its essential features, through the centuries and across economic and social differences’ (Bourdieu, 2001: 82). However, Krais goes on to criticise him for presenting gender as ‘hermetic and indestructible’; that by using the example of such a traditional society, rather than that of a modern society such as that of France or Britain, he misses the role of gender as a site of ‘open and political struggle’ (Krais, 2006: 123). Yet Bourdieu’s pessimism seems borne out by the work of Beverley Skeggs (1997), in that the women she interviewed, whilst resisting their class position do not appear to resist their gender: ‘in the women’s claims for a caring/ respectable/ responsible personality class was rarely directly figured but was constantly present. It was the structuring absence’ (Skeggs, 1997: 74, my emphasis added); although she argues that ‘gender and class are inseparable. The women never see themselves as just women; it is always read through class’ (Skeggs, 1997: 91), she provides little evidence of the way in which these wom en resist their gender: each seems keen to position themselves as gendered individuals, as women, even as they deny their class. Conclusion In conclusion, not only do I disagree that class is central to embodiment, rather believing that all forms of social differentiation – class, ethnicity, age and gender are embodied, but that Bourdieu himself believed that gender provides the models for the other, therefore secondary, forms of social differentiation. Many have accused Bourdieu of economic determinism, taking his theory of the three forms of capital to prioritise the role of class in creating social inequality. However, for Bourdieu ‘capital’ is both metaphoric and materialistic and should be viewed as similar to power (Ashall, 2004: 24): although Bourdieu believes that all of the forms of capital can be converted into economic capital, for him none are reducible to it (Bourdieu, 1986: 243). Embodiment is central within his theory, for it is in this way that social differentiation becomes incorporated into – shapes and delineates the body, as made evident through his focus on food and sport in Distinction. Although much of his writing is concerned with the operation of class throughout society, by examining his early ethnography in Algeria, and his later use of this material in Masculine Domination, we can see that he believed gender to be the model for all other forms of social differentiation, and therefore central to his work. One next must ask how other forms of social differentiation, namely age and ethnicity, can be incorporated into his theory, for though Schilling argues that this can be done by taking his definition of class in its broadest sense (Schilling, 1994: 147) this would appear to damage the sociological understanding and definition of both class and gender. What is needed is a way to conceptualise how the differing forms of social differentiati on interact. Bibliography Ashall, Wendy (2004) ‘Masculine Domination: Investing in Gender?’ Studies in Social and Political Thought, Vol. 9, pp. 21-39, available URL at http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/SPT/journal/archive/pdf/issue9-2.pdf, date accessed 25/11/06. Bourdieu, Pierre (2001) Masculine Domination, Cambridge: Polity Press. Bourdieu, Pierre (1999) ‘The Habitus and the Space of Life-Styles’, Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste, London: Routledge, pp. 169-225. Bourdieu, Pierre (1999a) ‘Belief and the Body’, The Logic of Practice, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 66-79. Bourdieu, Pierre and Passeron, Jean-Claude (1998[1977]) Reproduction in Education, Society and Culture (2nd Edition), London: Sage. Bourdieu, Pierre (1986) ‘The forms of Capital’ in Handbook of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education, London: Greenwood Press, pp. 241-258. Frow, John (1995) ‘Accounting for Tastes: Some Problems in Bourdieu’s Sociology of Culture’, Cultural Studies, Vol. 1(No. 1), pp. 59-73. Krais, Beate (2006) ‘Gender, Sociological Theory and Bourdieus Sociology of Practice’, Theory, Culture and Society, Vol. 23, (No. 6), pp. 119-134. Schilling, Chris (1994) ‘The Body and Physical Capital’, The Body and Social Theory, London: Sage, pp. 127-149. Skeggs, Beverley (1997) ‘(Dis)identifications of Class: On Not Being Working Class’, Formations of Gender: Becoming Respectable, London: Sage, pp. 74-97. 1 Footnotes [1] Bourdieu, Pierre and Passeron, Jean-Claude (1998[1977]) Reproduction in Education, Society and Culture (2nd Edition), London: Sage.

Essay on Human Nature and The Canterbury Tales -- Canterbury Tales Ess

Human Nature and The Canterbury Tales  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   When Geoffrey Chaucer undertook the writing of The Canterbury Tales, he had a long road ahead of him. He intended to tell two stories from each of thirty pilgrims on the way to Canterbury, and then two more from each pilgrim on the way back from Canterbury. Of these, he completed only twenty-four. However, in these tales, Chaucer depicts both the pilgrims and their stories with striking realism. In "The Nun's Priest's Tale," "The Canon's Yeoman's Tale," "The Friar's Tale," "The Reeve's Tale," and "The Cleric's Tale," Chaucer demonstrates his remarkable insight into human nature. By comparing and contrasting these tales, one can see the universality of human nature as shown by Chaucer. One human trait apparent in these selections is greed. Avarice drives the hearts of many men, whether they may be a common miller or a summoner or a supposedly religious canon, and Chaucer was aware of this. In the tales which contain these three characters, Chaucer depicts the greed of these characters. The Reeve tells his fellow pilgrims in his tale of a miller who "was a thief ... of corn and meal, and sly at that; his habit was to steal" (Chaucer 125). The summoner in "The Friar's Tale" "drew large profits to himself thereby," and as the devil observes of him in this tale, "You're out for wealth, acquired no matter how" (Chaucer 312, 315). The canon in Part 1 of "The Canon's Yeoman's Tale," as well as the Yeoman himself, had been driven by the goal of converting base metals into gold, and "though we never realized the wished conclusion we still went on raving in our illusion" (Chaucer 478). The second canon of which the Yeoman speaks is many times worse than his own canon and mas ter, using h... .... Works Cited Balliet, Gay L. "The Wife in Chaucer's Reeves's Tale: Siren of Sweet Vengeance." English Language Notes 28.1 (1990): 1-5. Baylor, Jeffrey. "The Failure of the Intellect in Chaucer's Reeve's Tale." English Language Notes 28.1 (1990): 17-19. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. Trans. Nevill Coghill. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1960. Dictionary of Literary Biography: Old and Middle English. Ed. Jeffrey Helteman and Jerome Mitchell. Detroit: Sale Research, Inc., 1994. Edden, Valerie. "Sacred and Secular in the Clerk's Tale." The Chaucer Review 26.4 (1992): 369-376. Fehrenbacher, Richard W. "'A Yeerd Enclosed Al About': Literature and History in the Nun's Priest's Tale." The Chaucer Review 29.2 (1994): 134-148. Whittock, Trevor. A Reading of The Canterbury Tales. Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press, 1970.      

Mrs Arbuthnot and Hester Essay

How does Oscar Wilde make Hester and Mrs Arbuthnot contrasting characters? Oscar Wilde has many characters through ‘A Woman of No Importance’ that have contrasting personalities and backgrounds, but the characters with a clear, most definite contrast are Hester and Mrs Arbuthnot. Mrs Arbuthnot is known to the readers of the play and the characters in the play as a ‘fallen woman’. She has run off with at least two men whilst married and has now developed a reputation with the rest of the community. She is a very flirtatious character and likes to ‘play with fire’. This means she also will try to get the attention of any man possible. Hester, on the other hand, is very religious and has extremely different morals and views to Mrs Arbuthnot. She doesn’t agree with running off with other men, sex before marriage or flirting with other men, so Hester and Mrs Arbuthnot, in this sense, have different morals. Mrs Arbuthnot’s relationship with Lord Illingworth is very flirtatious and public. Everyone in the community has heard about them so nothing about them is private. Hester and Gerald’s relationship on the other hand, is very different. Hester plays almost ‘hard to get’ and doesn’t draw attention to her or the fact that she may like Gerald. She likes to keep her business private so no one knows anything about her to judge her. Mrs Arbuthnot is from England and is very friendly with the higher class people. These people have been born into wealth and don’t like people who have earned their money through working. However, Hester is from America and has had to work her way up to gain money and to be where she is today. She doesn’t agree with people being born into wealth and those people looking down on the people who have worked their way up. Both Mrs Arbuthnot and Hester disagree with each other in this sense which shows a contrasting of personalities. On the other hand, Hester says ‘nothing should be out of the reach of hope’, which could seem that Hester doesn’t worry about social class and it doesn’t matter when you are in hierarchy, Finally, Mrs Arbuthnot believes that men are stronger than woman and they have a higher authority and more power than women do. She has the typical view of a Victorian woman where the men boss the women around and then women do as they are told. Hester believes in equality and has very strong views about it. She believes that all men and women should be valued the same and that no one is any different. Hester is almost like she is saying exactly what Oscar Wilde is thinking. Therefore, throughout this play, Oscar Wilde shows contrasting characters through wealth, class and morals.

Play opens aboard a ship in the midst of a tempestuous storm Essay Example

Play opens aboard a ship in the midst of a tempestuous storm Essay Example Play opens aboard a ship in the midst of a tempestuous storm Essay Play opens aboard a ship in the midst of a tempestuous storm Essay Essay Topic: The Tempest Act One Play opens aboard a ship in the midst of a tempestuous storm. The king of Naples and his entourage enter. They dont seem to realise the full importance of the storm much to the annoyance of the Boatswain; you mar our labour, keep your cabins, you do assist the storm. The king and his entourage return to their cabins to pray as they realise their doom. The next scene introduces us to Miranda and her father Prospero Miranda confronts her father because she believes he conjured up the storm; if by your art (my dearest father) you have the wild waters in this roar, allay them. Prospero tells her no harm was done to anybody aboard the brave vessel Miranda learns how they came to be on the island. Prospero was the Duke of Milan but his brother usurped him and left Prospero and baby Miranda drift out to sea in a leaky boat. Miranda is clearly shocked by his story; your tale, sir, would cure deafness. Prospero sends Miranda into an enchanted sleep and calls Ariel. Ariel tells Prospero nobody was hurt in the ship wreck; Not a hair perishd: on their sustaining garments not a blemish. Ariel asks Prospero, after twelve years of service if he will free her. Prospero angered, tells the story of how he freed Ariel from Sycoraxs magic and then agrees to release Ariel; After two days, I will release thee. Ariel leaves and Caliban is called upon by Prospero; Come forth I say. come thou tortoise. Prospero hates Caliban for trying to rape Miranda; thou didst seek to violate the honour of my child. Caliban hates Prospero too, and recalls how he was once the ruler of the island, before Prospero and Miranda arrived; this islands mine, by my mother Sycorax. Caliban leaves and Ariel returns with Ferdinand, Prince of Naples believing his father is dead. Both Miranda and Ferdinand upon sight of each other are smitten. Miranda is curious for shes never seen another man; what is t spirit? Prospero tells Ferdinand he must work for him before marrying Miranda. Act Two Scene opens with Alonso, the King upset because he thinks his only son Ferdinand is dead. Gonzalo is doing his best to comfort the King to no avail and Sebastian and Anthonio make a joke out of it all and mock Gonzalos good nature. Fie, what a spendthrift is he of his tongue! Ariel enters and sends Alonso, Gonzalo, Adrian and Francisco into an enchanted sleep. Anthonio and Sebastian plot to kill Alonso and Gonzalo. Here lies your brother. if he were that which now hes like (thats dead) whom I with this obedient steel three inches of it can lay to bed forever Ariel awakens Gonzalo and the others just as Sebastian and Anthonio raise their swords. ALONSO: Why are you drawn? Sebastian and Anthonio say they heard a hollow burst of bellowing and drew their swords. They are believed. Play cuts to Caliban cursing Prospero. All the infections that the sun sucks up from bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall and make him by inchmeal a disease! Trinculo, the court jester enters and Caliban mistakes him for one of Prosperos spirits and hides under his cloak. Trinculo gets under the cloak to hide from the rain and thinks Caliban is a strange fish Were I in England now (as once I was) and had but this fish painted, not a holiday fool there but would give a piece of silver. Stephano, the court Butler enters rather drunk and singing. He sees what he believes is a two headed beast and gives him some wine to remove his fit Caliban has never tasted alcohol before and likes it so much he believes Stephano is a God and looks upon him as a new master. Trinculo and Stephano are reunited when Stephano realises that Caliban doesnt have two heads really. Act Three Prospero has set Ferdinand the task of carrying heavy logs. Miranda offers to help him but he declines. This my mean task would be as heavy to me as odious, but the mistress which I serve quickens whats dead, and makes my labours pleasures. As Miranda and Ferdinand grow closer, Prospero enters and Miranda pleads with him to stop being so harsh to Ferdinand. Miranda agrees to marry Ferdinand. I am your wife, if you will marry me; We now see Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo again all drunk. Ariel wreaks havoc between them by imitating Trinculos voice calling Caliban a liar. Caliban becomes aggravated and Stephano punches Trinculo. Trinculo, if you trouble him any more ins tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth. Together they plot to kill Prospero and then Stephano will become King of the island. Ariel hears everything and returns to Prospero. This will I tell my master. Scene three opens with the royal party again. Anthonio and Sebastian are still plotting to kill the King and Gonzalo. Prospero conjures up a banquet for the King and his entourage. Alonso is amazed. What harmony is this? My good friends hark! The strange shapes have put down a banquet and vanished. The party go to eat the food and Ariel enters disguised as a harpy and the banquet vanishes. Ariel addresses the Royals who stand amazed and fearful at the sight of the harpy. You are three men of sin, whom destiny that hath to instrument this lower world and what is int, the never surfeited sea hath caused to belch up you Once Ariel leaves, Alonso remorses his involvement in the vanquishing of Prospero and his daughter and believes that destiny killed his son because of it. The name of Prosper. It did bass my trespass. Therefore my son Ith ooze is bedded. Sebastian and Anthonio still do not see sense and vow to fight their legions oer. Act Four Prospero explains to Ferdinand that if the tasks he set were too harsh it was because he wanted to see whether Ferdinand was a suitable match for Miranda. If I have too austerely punished you, your compensation makes amends, for I have given you here a third of mine life. Prospero warns Ferdinand that if he takes Mirandas virginity before they are properly married then he shall make them childless. Ferdinand assures him he will preserve Mirandas honour. Ariel is called upon to conjure a masque. Enter Iris, Junos and Ceres, the cosmic union of earth and air, fire and water and they sing songs of chaste love. Upon this man and maid, whose vows are that no bed-right shall be paid till hymens torch be lighted. Iris calls upon nymphs and sickle men to perform a dance. This represents to Miranda and Ferdinand a dance of fertility. Prospero remembers the plot to kill him by Caliban and his new master Stephano and becomes angry. I had forgot that foul conspiracy of the beast Caliban and his confederates against my life. Ariel informs Prospero that Caliban and company are all drunk; red-hot with drinking, so full of valour they smote the air Prospero decides to make his enemies suffer. Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo enter and discover a line of glistening apparel They take the clothes and try them on. Ariel has led them through bracken and brambles and swamps and they have lost the remainder of their alcohol. Caliban grows impatient and reminds Stephano of the plot to kill Prospero. Prospero unleashes his spirits in the shape of dogs and hounds, on Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo. Go charge my goblins that they grind their joints with dry convulsions. Act Five Ariel gently persuades Prospero to take pity on the King and forgive his enemies. In a bid to end everyones suffering, Prospero calls the Royal Entourage into a circle with his magic. Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes and grovesand deeper than ever did plummet sound Ill drown my book. At the end of his long speech where he vows to give up magic and live his last days as mortal, the Royals are stood in a circle around him charmed. Awakening from their trance, the Royals gasp at the sight of Prospero. Behold, sir King, the wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero! Prospero tells the King of the plot Sebastian and Anthonio devised to kill him and tells Anthonio his opinion of him. He then forgives Anthonio for his wrongdoing. Whom to call brother would even infect my mouth, I do forgive thy rankest fault. Prospero then brings in Ferdinand and Miranda and Alonso is overjoyed that his son is not dead and also that he has found a wife. Miranda is amazed by the circle of men and touches them all in turn. O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! The Boatswain and the Master enter and takes everyone to the newly recovered ship that but three glasses since we gave out split is tight and yare and bravely rigged as when we first put out to sea. Before they leave, Ariel drives in Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo. They are all punished for their plot and actions. Caliban seeks forgiveness from Prospero and regrets ever worshipping Stephano. What a thrice-doubled ass was I to take this drunkard for a god and worship this dull fool. Ariel is freed by Prospero, and vanishes immediately. Once everybody has returned to the ship, Prospero delivers a long speech in which he relinquishes his magic for his dukedom. He talks subtly about his death, which he believes will come very soon after he returns to Milan. But release me from my bands with the help of your good hands. And my ending is despair, unless I be received by prayer Let your indulgence set me free.

How to Become a Nanny

How to Become a Nanny Are you an A+ multitasker, who can manage a small army of tiny, belligerent soldiers, get from point A to point B on time, and deal with small-scale crises on a daily basis? If so, becoming a nanny might be the right career path (or the right-now career path) for you. However, being a nanny is more than just singing songs and teaching useful vocabulary like â€Å"supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.† It’s a path that requires a serious set of skills, nerves, and commitment. What Does a Nanny Do?Probably a better question here would be, â€Å"what doesn’t a nanny do?† On the most basic level, nannies are hired by families to care for children. They might be full-time or part-time, depending on the families needs. Some nannies live with their families, while others commute to work just like you would with any job. But don’t be fooled- a nanny isn’t just a babysitter. Often, they’re a stand-in parent for the kids in their care, acting as h elper, feeder, nurturer, and rule-enforcer during work hours. Part teacher, part parent, nannies are often responsible for a range of domestic and childcare duties in the course of an average day.For nannies in charge of younger children, the care might include feeding, pottytraining, and highly supervised play. For older kids, the nanny might be more of a schedule-maintainer, making sure everyone gets home from school and off to soccer/tuba lessons/birthday party #45 this week on time and in one piece. Children’s safety and comfort are usually the biggest priorities for the on-duty nanny. Depending on the family’s needs and their contract with the nanny, the nanny’s duties might also include some household chores (like cooking, laundry, or cleaning), usually related to the kids’ needs.A full-time nanny’s workday is typically 8-10 hours, but this could include early mornings (pre-school), nights, weekends, or holidays. Schedule may vary by family, especially depending on whether the nanny is a live-in caretaker, or lives elsewhere.What Skills Do Nannies Have?Becoming a nanny is not for the weak of heart (or stomach, if you’re familiar with how kids operate). They aren’t your casual teenage babysitter, holding the fort (and the TV) down while Mom and Dad go out for date night. Being a nanny is a job that requires the ability to stay engaged and productive to make sure that kids’ needs and parents’ requests are being met as much as possible.Some of the most important skills nannies should have include the following:They Like KidsThis seems like a no-brainer, but it’s definitely a skill set you should be sure of before you think about taking a job as a nanny. Liking kids in theory is much different than spending all day with them. If you can roll with watching the same 10 videos on an infinite loop, and like coming up with fun projects to stave off the inevitable â€Å"I’m bored† periods, then you’re probably in good shape. If your idea of a perfect workday involves everyone sitting quietly and listening to NPR for hours at a time, then maybe this isn’t the right fit.They’re OrganizedThe nanny is often tasked with maintaining household routines and rules while the parents are out of the house. Being able to stay on task and organized, even when things get chaotic, is essential.They’re Honest and TrustworthyParents are entrusting a beloved natural resource- their children- to a nanny. It’s important to make sure they know they can trust you. This means making sure the family knows that when you’re at work, you’re at work- no personal calls, no abandoning the kids to the TV set while you play around with Facebook, no dragging the kids to a midafternoon coffee date with your buddies. It also means global on-duty no-nos like smoking, drinking, or swearing or behaving inappropriately. Nanny-ing may not be the typic al 9-to-5 job, but all the same rules of professionalism apply. The nanny should also be very punctual and ready to work on time, because the family’s schedule might depend on it.They Know First AidLife with kids can be unpredictable (everyone has a young relative who swallowed some weird object at some point, right?), and a nanny needs to be prepared for anything that happens- including medical issues and emergencies. Basic first aid and CPR are a must, and if the family has any special medical needs, like allergies or chronic medical conditions, the nanny should always have a solid medical plan in place, just in case.They’re Good CommunicatorsAs the caretaker, a nanny needs to be able to speak two languages: Grownup and Kid. Grownup communication includes giving updates and daily reports to the parents, dealing with teachers, or passing along information from school, the kids themselves, etc. Speaking Kid means being able to communicate and enforce rules, and make su re that kids’ immediate needs are being heard and addressed.They Go With the FlowAn engaged nanny is able to deal with whatever comes along. Whether that’s playing educational games to fill unexpected downtime, or dealing with curve balls like illness or delays, the nanny is a problem solver, and has to be quick on the feet to make sure his or her charges are safe and cared for.They Go Above and BeyondParents are paying for someone to get things done without being directly supervised or asked. Whether it’s tossing in that load of laundry after softball practice, or making sure to ask what homework needs to be done, being able to fill the day with tasks (without ignoring the kids) is a very important skill set.What Do You Need to Become a Nanny?There are no hard-and-fast rules or certifications for all nannies, but there are some things you can do to prepare for your job as a nanny. Experience with childcare is almost always a must, whether that was in a babysitt ing capacity, caring for your own family, or in a daycare setting. Good references are key, because again, parents need to know they can trust the person they’re letting into their home to care for their children. You might also opt to join a nanny placement agency, which vets candidates before sending them out to households. Certifications like first aid and CPR are fairly essential for anyone looking to become a nanny, and background classes in areas like nutrition or early childhood development are resume boosters as well.Otherwise, the necessary qualifications depend on the family seeking a nanny. Some families might require that the nanny is a certified childcare provider, or has a certain level of experience. A valid driver’s license might also be required, if the job includes ferrying kids to or from school, appointments, activities, etc. Each family has its own expectations about what the nanny’s role will be, so a bit of flexibility (and willingness to educate yourself in areas related to childcare) will be one of your best assets as you look for a nanny job.How Much Do Nannies Get Paid?According to PayScale, the median salary for nannies is $24,751 (compared to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’s estimate of $20,320 for childcare providers overall). The pay can also vary depending on whether the nanny is a live-in (in which case room and board might be included as well), and how much experience the nanny brings to the table. If you’re seeking a career with strong benefits, though, this might not be it- only about 10% of nannies receive medical or dental insurance through their employers. However, the field has some major pluses as well: nannies give high job satisfaction ratings on various employment surveys. Also, this is a field that continues to grow, as busy families of all kinds look for childcare solutions outside of the traditional daycare system.Nanny salaries also vary depending on geographic location. In large cities, for example, demand is often greater for qualified nannies, and nannies tend to earn more. [via Care.com]If you love kids- and more importantly, are committed to spending many hours with them and helping them grow and develop- then nannying might be the right choice for you, either as a long-term career or as a job while you figure out what your next big career move should be. Good luck, and when all else fails, ask yourself, â€Å"What would Mary Poppins do?†

Walmart Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Walmart - Research Paper Example The case study gives a very good example of how large business can be following certain practices that are considered as discriminationary by the employees and the general public. Walmart is a very big company with a very large number of stores all over the world and it employs thousands of employees. As such, the company is in a position to give employment and means of livelihood for community and the people. It is also one of the largest companies and so it can take advantages of the economies of scales in its supply chain and operations and so it can provide low costs and discounted products. As such, it is considered as beneficial to the customers also. However, there are many charges applied against Walmart for its policies and practices regarding its employees. I agree that there is a substantial amount of evidence that indicates that Walmart is following unethical practices. For example, it is well known that the company employees a large number of part time employees and puts them in in dead end jobs (Becker, 2013). There are also allegations of the company hiring illegal immigrants. This strategy means that the company does not have to worry about the incentives or benefits, insurance and other health related aspects of a large section of the workforce. Moreover, I believe that this strategy also makes it possible for Walmart to avoid planning a career path for these employees. A more serious charge levied against Walmart is that it sources its supplies in an unethical manner and uses sweatshops that employ children or other marginalized groups across the globe. By sourcing from countries that have weak or non-existent labour laws makes it possible for Walmart to get cheaper supplies and hence translate the cost saving to the customers. In addition to this being an unethical practice on the supply front, it is also touted as a market distorting strategy as Walmart is able to price its products lower than competition and hence affects free market dynami cs (Andersen and Skjoett-Larsen, 2009) Another issue that was highlighted in the case study was that Walmart makes its workers spend long hours and do overtime, while at the same time it does not pay good wages. These allegations have been made against Walmart by several employees and there have even been cases filed against it (Kenny, 2006). While the Walmart itself denies most of these charges, it does agree that these unethical practices may be happening at the store level without the knowledge of the top management. However, Walmart continues to prevent unionization of its workers which means that the employees are more vulnerable than employees of other organizations (Paul, 2012). Walmart is also found to discriminate against female workers as it follows an implicit policy of hiring mostly male workers (Kampf, 2007). However, I think the discrimination is more within the store where the female employees may be given lesser salaries and incentives and where they may not be given any opportunities to get promoted or move ahead in their careers. There have been several cases of sexual discrimination against the company which indicate that this discrimination is a fact. In fact, there is a class action suit pending related to sexual discrimination based on statistics and data collected from Walmart’s stores worldwide, and this could result in billions of dollars of money lost for the company. The only answer that Walmart seems to have is that again, the top management was not aware of any discriminationary practices that may be happening at the store level. However, by simply stating that the top management was not aware of the unethical practices at the store level, the top management should not be allowed to shun responsibility. In fact, by stating that the

Five Ways Leading to the Mystical Union Assignment

Five Ways Leading to the Mystical Union - Assignment Example St. Teresa said let me suffer or die. They look at their old selves with disgust. In raising oneself to purity one has to be ready, for example poverty is common, so one has to endure pain and suffering. This phase has two components; mortification and detachment. The later refers to voluntary poverty, which according to the Catholic Church is chastity where, there is cleansing of the soul from all personal desires. Finally one must obey the voice and teachings of God. A good example is the biblical beatitude that says, blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall receive the kingdom of God. The mystic must detach from all material stuff and aim for purity, because God is pure. Mystics here choose to associate with only clean creatures. Material possessions usually cloud our aim for reaching purity. According to St. John of The Cross, we are nothing; we have nothing and therefore lack nothing. Mortification on the other hand is purification, to ensure the death of old habits of the old self, which prevents oneself from becoming a new being. Any necessary physical and mental torture is required to free oneself from earthly pleasures and satisfaction. It can only stop when one has shed selfhood. Love of all people and creatures, plus service to humanity is important. Old days had the step of physical torture, which included several ways of crucifying oneself. 3) Illumination. This stage transfers self centeredness into a God-centered world. Once detached from earthly attathchments, the mystic is sure of the existence of God. The mystic and the superior being are not yet one, the relationship can be compared to betrothal but not marriage. There is consciousness of the presence of God; therefore there is joy and pleasure. It is a... The essay "Five Ways Leading to the Mystical Union" describes five ways to achieve the state of union with reality and considers the nature of mysticism. According to Evelyn Underhill, mysticism is the state of union with reality. But in order for mysticism to occur there has to be changed in an individual’s life, after the experience beyond human description. The first way 'The awakening of self' is a stage much higher than religious conversion. A person moves from a stage of physical limitations, placed on them by the world and moves to a state of greater revelation. People find meaning in life. The second one is 'Purgation of self'. The awakened parson goes higher, on the slow spiritual journey in order to arrive at a higher consciousness of reality. The path involves shedding off older, evil self of the world and embracing God. The next way 'Illumination' transfers self-centeredness into a God-centered world. Once detached from earthly attachments, the mystic is sure of the existence of God. The mystic and the superior being are not yet one, the relationship can be compared to betrothal but not marriage. 'The dark night of the soul' is the fourth way which is a purification of the spirit before it merges with the absolute. There is no joy but fatigue, deprivation, and darkness. The old temptation of mystics’ desire for earthly desires creeps in, due to exhaustion from friends and family. And the final way 'The unitive life' comes after years of destruction of selfhood. Here the old self is replaced by the divine self.