Female Genital Mutilation Essay

Female Genital Mutilation Essay Female Genital Mutilation Essay The World Health Organization defines Female Genital Mutilation as a practice that involves the alteration of female genitalia in a manner that does not relay any medical benefits to the victim. According to Oleinick (1998), around 87% of Egyptian Islamic women support the practice. The extent of this support is attributable to various factors. These may be cultural, religious or social. The purpose of this study was to find out the current state of FGM as a cultural practice in Egypt. Secondly, the study wanted to probe useful strategies in eliminating FGM. Finally, the study was to highlight the impacts of FGM on the global healthcare system. The research uses a longitudinal approach. Various factors make the Egyptian people susceptible to the practise of FGM. Firstly are the socio-demographic characteristics. These include factors such as age, income, religion, marital status and level of income. Islam considers FGM as ‘makruma’. This implies that it is not a mandatory, but honourable act. According to National Geographic Statistics, the country’s literacy level stands at 58%. There is limited knowledge on the implications of the practice. In Egypt, communities enforce FGM through various actions. For instance, women who do not participate are often ostracised from the community. The fact that it is a societal norm also permits the practice. Eighty-two percent of Egyptian women recommend FGM for their daughters. Various factors in the Egyptian society reinforce this practice. Circumcised women consider themselves ‘clean’. Egyptians credit FGM as a tool for reducing a woman’s libido, alongside other psychosexual effects, in limiting adultery. These factors prompt a majority of women to seek or participate in FGM. Consequently, over 90% of Egyptian women have participated. This is indiscriminate to religious factors. For instance, 78% of Christian women have participated. This prevalence is attributable to various factors. The most important are religion and Egyptian culture. From the study, FGM is more of a cultural practice. The Quran has vague support for the practice. The existence of FGM preceded Islam. There is little correlation between the two phenomena. FGM is non-existent in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq, where religion is highly regarded (Oleinick, 1998). According to the Toubia, Izzett WHO (1998), the practice is a violation of human and gender rights. However, campaigners have made various mistakes in the effort against FGM. To correct this, various strategies need implementation during intervention. For instance, the approach taken should be multi-sectoral. Participants may be from the health or legal communities. Community groups should be able to work hand-in-hand with NGOs. The process of behaviour change is a slow one. To eradicate FGM, the efforts have to be sustainable. The enlisting of support by leaders from various fields is crucial. For instance, religious leaders such as Imams are influential in discrediting the practice. Many people immigrate to Western countries, such as the United Kingdom (UK) to avoid this ill practice. Consequently, the study discovered that immigrants who have undergone FGM experience complications. These may be haemorrhages and other effects. This becomes a problem for the healthcare systems of the resident countries. There are many barriers to the elimination of FGM. Firstly, Egypt is a vast country. The country has many sparsely populated regions, whose inhabitants participate in FGM. Accessing such areas is difficult. Secondly, the country has poor educational standards. Around 60% of participants were ignorant of FGM’s implications. The Egyptian social attitude has been against Western ideals since the 1940s. Therefore, ideas promoted by bodies such as the WHO are often rejected. Finally, Egyptians are afraid of cultural repercussions such as shunning and curses, by failing to participate in FGM (Olenick, 1998). According to Celenko (1996), there is evidence of a Greek papyrus that describes the practice in the Ancient Egyptian context. Egypt is a predominantly Muslim state. Therefore, religion intertwines with culture. It is important to note that Egypt has a paternal culture. Consequently, they carry out FGM as an act of submitting women to men. Secondly, FGM has a close relation to marriage. The study discovered that circumcised women have better prospects of getting married. Religious and political influences are the main barriers towards the complete elimination of FGM. Here, the international community comes to focus. Campaigners should not impose their ideologies on the Egyptians. Instead, they should take a subjective approach. Do you need professionally written custom essays for money? can provide you with professional essay writing help online.

Prospects for the Future of Indigenous Peoples Essay

Prospects for the Future of Indigenous Peoples - Essay Example The world encompasses umpteenth groups of indigenous people scattered at various corners by different names and customs, be it the Caribe or Taino in the Crribean region, the Arawaks in Florida, West Indies, South America and Brazil, the Karibs or Caribs in the Lesser Antilles and Venezuela (Tainos Caribs). The emergence of such aboriginal groups can be traced back to as far as 6000 BC to 10000 BC (Tainos Caribs).and since then these native people have remained as the most ignored and disadvantaged mass of the world as they have been deprived of â€Å"their ways of life and their right to traditional lands, territories and natural resources† (UNPFII). Endeavors were made by some of the indigenous groups’ leaders, first by Haudensaunee Chief Deskaheh in 1923, who travelled all the way to Geneva for having a word with the League of Nations with t he hope of claiming his people’s to adhere to their own laws, land and faith, followed by T.W. Ratana, a Maori religious leader, who made his way to New Zealand to speak on behalf of his people for closing the Treaty of Waitangi, which denied their access to their own lands (UNPFII). However, both were prohibited to speak up for their rights and hence, were sent back empty-handed (UNPFII). The realization of the international community special attention required by the indigenous groups of the world is expected to bring an improved future for these aboriginals by means of various favorable policies (UNPFII). The United Nations Economic and Social Council created the Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP) OF THE Sub Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in 1982 (UNPFII). In 2007, the General Assembly addressed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which highlights the collective rights of these unprivileged section of the world (UNPFII). The implementation of this declaration makes it clear that the

Underground Railroad and a Life of Freedom Research Paper

Underground Railroad and a Life of Freedom - Research Paper Example The Underground Railroad solely existed owing to the existence of the institution of slavery in the United States of America. It intended to help and aid many people who wanted to escape a life of slavery and was run by people who were willing to help the escaping slaves. The life of the slaves happened to be very unhappy that involved much harassment, torture, pain, suffering and danger. Thereby it was but natural that many slaves wanted to run away from a life of misery and pain. There were many people during the days of slavery who believed that slavery was wrong and cruel. Thereby they were willing to put their lives at risk to help and aid the escaping slaves. The Underground Railroad was run and aided by varied kind of people and individuals. These included both blacks and whites and people hailing from both the Slave States and the Free States. Many free black people, white people and even slaves served as engineers and conductors whose life purpose was to help people caught i n a life of slavery (Calarco 287). The large free black populace residing in Baltimore and free blacks located in other places willingly provided help and assistance to the slaves escaping from the Southern States (Calarco 307). Many Quakers, abolitionists and other white people helped the railroad because irrespective of being white, they regarded slavery to be an unethical, immoral and cruel practice (Calarco 54). Associating with the Underground Railroad was indeed fraught with much risk and danger.

Comparing Life Experience Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Comparing Life Experience - Research Paper Example Upon the meeting of the blind person, all this thoughts get dispelled. Carver ensures the blind man becomes humanized as a human being so the present stereotypes’ get broken. Everyday Use is the short story about a mother, Ms. Johnson and her daughters Dee and Maggie. Maggie got burnt badly by a fire. She still has the scars all over the arms and legs. Dee, her sister is healthy and has no problems. Whereas the world rejected Maggie, Dee was always the favorite. Every day use I about how one’s culture and heritage should become applied daily so as not to forget the traditions. Dee is ashamed of her families’ heritage, and the narrator in the Cathedral is uncomfortable with the blind person presence in their home. From the stories, we are able to see that, those with the problems are not the people with disabilities rather the people treated as superior to the disabled people. In Cathedral, Carver demonstrates that salvation lies in the contacts of humans and the connection. In the introduction of the story, it is evident that the narrator (also the husband) was indeed lonely. He had a poor relationship with his wife as he questioned if he loved her, since he did not want to invite Robert (the blind man) her friend whom she truly cared for. The wife told the narrator; that if he loved her, he would do that for him, and if not, okay (Carver 1). The narrator felt insecure by Robert, especially since she had told Robert about him and they had never met. He also had no close relationships with other people. The narrator is jealous of his wife’s first husband, smokes marijuana daily and is envious of her wife’s friendship with the blind man. Just like in the cathedral, in the short story Everyday Use, Maggie is nervous because of the presence of her sister in the home. According to the author, Maggie is nervous about her sister Dee, because of her burn scars. She feels inferior to her sister because she has had many opportunities th at she did not have. Mama says, â€Å"Maggie will still be nervous until her sister leaves† (Walker 14). In the narrative, Alice Walker, personifies the different ways of culture and heritage in Dee, the mother, and Maggie. Each one of them has different qualities and philosophies of life. Nevertheless, contrary to the cathedral, Mama and Maggie are both proud and happy of her life. Mama is happy of the life she is living. Dee, on the other hand, is like the narrator in the Cathedral; she is not happy and thinks that she is in control of her life. She believes in her own self and does not to get associated with her sister and mother. The mother explains how she always wanted the best things and how she always got what she wanted. The narrator writes, â€Å"At sixteen, she had her own style and knew what style was† (Walker 20). This gets seen in the story when she wants the churn top and the dasher and also the old quilts that the mother had promised to give Maggie. Mag gie, on the other hand, has accepted life as it is and lives in the uneducated world with happiness in her heart and not material possessions. In the short story, the only names mentioned were of Robert’s wife who died (Beulah) and Robert. The narrator refers to himself as I and is not associated with a name together with the wife. This is dehumanizing to both the husband and wife. The husband feels that he gets stuck in

Chinese Cuisine in the United States

Chinese Cuisine in the United States Since last century, Chinese food has become very popular throughout the United States. The history of American Chinese food begins before the 20th century. During the Gold Rush in California, a lot of Chinese immigrants came to the United States to build railways. They started making Chinese food in the United States, and after the Second World War, numerous numbers of Chinese restaurants have been built in this country. Since that time, people can easily find a Chinese restaurant in any city of any state. The reason why Chinese food is so popular in America is because many Americans love it. Although, most Americans do not actually know that most of the Chinese food they are eating in the United States is not authentic. American Chinese food tend to focus more on American style cooking, and contrast significantly from tradition Chinese food. Most Chinese food in the United States is deep-fried or stir-fried, but authentic Chinese food is not. Americans should know that they have the option for a better Chinese diet, which is more delicious and healthier. American Chinese cuisine should be replaced by authentic Chinese cuisine because American Chinese cuisine is unhealthy for us due to the cookings poor quality. Chinese American cuisine started adapting to unhealthy cooking methods. The foundation of American Chinese food started when Chinese immigrants arrived in the United States. The first group of Chinese immigrants came from the Guangdong Province of China mainland. When they just arrived in the United States, they tried to make their hometown food. It was impossible for them to find raw food materials and traditional ingredients here. Cooking authentic Chinese food has a stringent requirement for raw food materials; the requirement requires all meat and vegetable products to be fresh. The Chinese immigrants only used all of what they could find for cooking. When railroad work was no longer available, the Chinese workers started to open restaurants. Their main customer groups were Caucasians Americans and Americans usually prefer a sweeter taste in their food. Thus, in order for the Chinese immigrants to make profits from their restaurants, the Chinese food chefs had to alter the taste of their hometown food to satisfy their local customers. Traditional Chinese food is usually saltier with rich flavors. Although, sugar is a very common ingredient for most dishes in the United States, so Chinese food chefs eventually started using sugar far more often for their dishes. Not only that, MSG (monosodium glutamate) is used very often in American Chinese cuisine for a flavor enhancer to stimulate the customers appetite, and to mask meats that are not fresh. Some problems MSG can lead to are diabetes, headaches, obesity, and addiction to MSG products. All these methods are definitely not a natural and healthy way to make food, leading American Chinese foods with higher fats and calories. The lack of professional chefs is another reason to explain why American Chinese food is dissatisfactory. As mentioned above, the earliest Chinese food chefs were railroad workers. They had never been trained to cook. In China, there are a lot of cooking schools. They provide different styles of cooking lessons and a beginner normally needs to spend two years to graduate. There are also eight distinct Chinese cuisines in China: Shandong, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Fujian, Hunan, and Anhui. However, American Chinese cuisine only develops from Guangdong cuisine, so many other authentic Chinese cuisines have not even been exposed in America widely. American Chinese chefs though, they usually learn of the skills from other previous chefs and lack a lot of experience and knowledge. As mentioned previously about adding sugar to their dishes, a lot of cooks use it as a method to cover their inexperienced cooking techniques and make their dishes taste more desirable to the Americ an taste. The American Chinese chefs eventually started to create their own dishes as well. Today, a very popular and good example would be Orange chicken. Orange chicken is deep-fried chicken covered with sweet soy sauce. It is the most popular Chinese dish in the United States and it is usually served at most Chinese restaurants. Unfortunately, in China, no one has ever heard of Orange chicken because the American Chinese chefs created it in the U.S. Therefore, many American Chinese dishes you may have experienced in the U.S., could be foreign to many people in China. American Chinese cuisine is also fast food. The bad dietary habit of Americans leads American Chinese food to be unhealthy. Americans like fast food, so Chinese American restaurants often cook quickly. They normally can prepare one dish in five minutes, but in an authentic Chinese restaurant, a dish would normally take more than fifteen minutes. How can they cook that much faster? It is because they only use one cooking method, which is frying. Fried foods are most definitely unhealthy for us. It can damage our body and brain in many ways. Fried foods can also cause us to be overweight and lead to obesity. A large percentage of people in the United States have problems with their weight. In recent years, people have turned their attention to their daily diets and claim that it is time to give up fast food. Most people only think restaurants such as McDonalds or KFC are fast foods, but American Chinese cuisine is also considered fast food. The quality of the food is poor and cooking a uthentic Chinese cuisine takes more than simply one method of cooking. American Chinese restaurants simply finish your orders in 5 minutes! You can either sit down to eat it or take it home. When you order Chinese take out and go back home to enjoy your delicious orange chicken, you call your friend and tell him you are having Chinese foodà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦No! That is not Chinese food. It is American Chinese food and that is fast food. However, many Americans would disagree with the idea of replacing American Chinese food with authentic Chinese cuisine. The Chinese cuisine in America is westernized to appeal to Americans and that is what they are most familiar with. It would be equivalent to taking their Chinese food away, because technically American Chinese food was invented and invested in America. The Chinese food here is deep-fried, grease-soaked, and as well as imitated (i.e. imitation crab). That sounds a lot like most American foods and replacing American Chinese cuisine would be the same as taking away Americas invention of Chinese food. Another factor is complication. The idea of replacing American Chinese cuisine with authentic Chinese cuisine would most definitely use a lot more money and time. That time and money would go into training new chefs, establishing new restaurants, investing in many new cooking styles, and the list would go on. Also, most Chinese restaurants in America are well established a nd are spread across the states. It is not easy to change something that became successful in its own ways. It is not saying authentic Chinese cuisine is bad, but Americans find American Chinese food good, and in America, if something is good, then there doesnt need to be change. It is true that changing American Chinese food to authentic Chinese food will be complicated, but that complication is worth the investment. Unlike the American Chinese cuisine, authentic Chinese food is a lot healthier. Food is very important to Chinese culture. Most Chinese people are highly likely to pay attention to their daily food. The most important nutritional concept is Yin and Yang. Yin means cold. Yang means Hot. Every food has a specific way of heating or cooling humans body. For example, most spicy foods and meats are generally thought to be Yang. Then, green vegetables and soup are thought to be Yin. An authentic Chinese chef would know of the concept and know how to incorporate the concept to make a balanced meal. In an American Chinese restaurant though, meat is always the main role on the table, which is totally against with the Yin and Yang concept. Authentic Chinese cuisine not only promotes a more balanced meal, it promotes a healthier diet, and this is important for changing the bad dietary habit in America as mentioned earlier. Of course an investment such as this would take up a lot of time and money. It doesnt hurt to start small or at least give it a try. Already well-established American Chinese restaurants should consider lowering the number of fat contents and calories as well as balancing their meals in order to promote a healthier diet. New Chinese restaurant chefs should consider going through extensive training, study Chinese culinary, or develop different choices of authentic Chinese cuisine other than the main Guangdong cuisine that most people are familiar with. Yes, if something is good and familiar to us why change it? Although in America, they also love change! If the change is for the better, why not give it a try? America should certainly attempt some effort to give authentic Chinese cuisine a try. Chinese cuisine restaurants are still spreading rapidly throughout America. Americans should know they have the choice for a more delicious and better diet, therefore Chinese cuisine should be replaced by authentic Chinese cuisine because American Chinese cuisine is unhealthy for us due to the cookings poor quality. Most American Chinese restaurants adapt to unhealthy cooking methods, inexperience techniques, and also Americans should know that most Chinese food they are eating is also considered unhealthy fast food. There should be a Chinese food revolution; people should limit themselves fried Chicken and sweet meat as a choice for Chinese food. The only way to escape from this vicious circle fast is to hire many professional educated Chinese chefs from China and start establishing from there on. However, realistically speaking that may be far complicated and may cost a lot of money. Then again, if the change is worth the investment people should certainly give it a try. Some small starting up ideas include, already established restaurants to alter their meals to promote the Yin and Yang balanced meal concept, new chefs to consider being well educated and trained first, and also encouraging restaurants to create more other authentic Chinese cuisines that differs from todays dominant Guangdong cuisine. Variety will bring more culture to the Chinese cuisine and also shows that Americans have better choices to choose from rather than that orange chicken they always order. A lot of people are guilty of that, but if authentic Chinese cuisine can be brought up in America, then we can start bragging about the real good Chinese food we are having.

Mapp vs. Ohio: Illegal Search and Seizure Essay -- Court Case Mapp Ohi

Mapp vs. Ohio: Illegal Search and Seizure The case of Mapp vs. Ohio is one of the most important Supreme Court decisions of the last century. Until this decision, the rights against illegal search and seizure had no method to be enforced. Up until this time, previous cases at set precedents provided little or no protection from illegal searches and seizures for the accused facing state prosecution. On May 23, 1957, Miss Dollree Mapp heard a knocking at her door (170 Ohio Street). When she asked who it was, three men identified themselves as Cleveland police officers. The officers stated that they believed a fugitive was hiding in her home. Miss Mapp told the officers that there was no one else in her home. They asked her for entrance. Miss Mapp phoned her attorney, and was instructed not to let the police into her home. The police grudgingly left, and set up surveillance around the home. Around three hours later, the police officers returned to Miss Mapp's residence, and was met by four additional officers as well. The officers gave Miss Mapp little time to respond to their presence, and almost immediately forced entry through several of the entrances to Miss Mapp’s home. Miss Mapp's attorney arrived on the scene to provide council, but was met by the police instead. The police held him outside, preventing him from meeting with his client. When Miss Mapp was confronted by the officers, she demanded to see the search warrant. An officer held up a piece of paper, which is believed to be a fake warrant. Miss Mapp grabbed the paper, and put it down her blouse. The police then forcibly tried to retrieve the "warrant" from Miss Mapp's blouse. They handcuffed her for being "belligerent". The police then proceeded to search every room in the entire house. In the basement, they found a trunk, which they opened. Inside they found materials that they considered to be â€Å"obscene†. They retrieved all the materials, and charged her with the possession of obscene material (Ohio Rev. Code, 2905.34: "No person shall knowingly . . . have in his possession or under his control an obscene, lewd, or lascivious book, magazine, pamphlet, paper, writing, advertisement, circular, print, picture . . . or drawing . . . of an indecent or immoral nature . . . . Whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than two hundred nor more than two tho... ...ow meant that citizens had different rights depending on what state they lived in. This allowed another way for prosecutors to abuse the system. They could attempt to get cases to be heard in states which did not have an exclusionary rule adopted. By applying the federal exclusionary rule to all the states, all citizens would be equally protected. While a controversial decision at the time, the creation of the exclusionary rule is now one of the backbones of the accused rights in American society. As a review, Mapp's rights were clearly violated by the Police department and by the State of Ohio. Had it not been for the Supreme Court to enforce her constitutional rights, her conviction would have gone unjust. Theres many arguments between the prosecutors, police, and defense about the Mapps case. Views such as "how is the police department supposed to stop crime if they cant search it out and find it with the disability the fourth amendment brings to them". How can defense attourneys defend subjects/victims if they have no privacy due to the lack of support on the fourth amendment. The Mapps case is a perfect example of how the Supreme Court impacts our society.

Can Computers replace Teachers?…No Essay

I don’t believe it can be true! I will now justify my reasons. Teacher is the best guide of a child.One machine can do the work of 50 ordinary men. But no machine can do the work of one extra-ordinary man.and teachers are extraordinary It would be easier for a computer to build informative children but to repair a broken one a teacher is needed.. These days there is an onslaught of technology on the modern classroom. Teachers, administrators, parents, and students alike are being told that technology is the whetstone with which we can all sharpen our education system. Technology can open doors, expand minds, and change the world. That may be true, but it’s not the panacea that it’s been made out to be. As much innovation as the iPad may bring to the classroom, it’s not going to replace a teacher anytime soon. In fact, the influx of technology like iPads means there is a greater need for teachers. We need teachers who are part early adopter, part integrator , and part mad scientist. The modern teacher is willing to take chances and able to figure out just not how technology works, but how it works for each student, and where its use is most appropriate.A computer can never do all these. I too believe that personalized tech-infused learning is the future of education. However, There is a problem.It’s not about the technology. Rather, the sleek and ever more powerful devices that are coming down the pipeline are simply one part of a teacher’s toolkit. The technology is not the lesson, it is there to enhance the lesson. Our classrooms are changing, and without a doubt they will look quite different in five or ten years than they do today. New technologies are being developed quickly, and with so many different trends taking hold, it is yet to be seen what will be shaken out and what will stick. BUT One thing we feel strongly about: teachers aren’t going anywhere. Whatever word you choose – teacher, tutor, preceptor, or something else – the role a teacher plays in the classroom is huge. Everyone knows this on a personal level, and can identify a teacher or mentor who has had influence on us or changed our trajectories in a positive way. They encourage students when they struggle, and inspire them to set and reach for their goals. They are role models, leading by example and giving direction when necessary. A computer can give information, but a teacher can lend a hand, or an ear, and discern what’s necessary for a student to succeed, and to want to succeed. A computer is also unable to meet the emotional needs of the students. While  teache can relate to their her students by their past experience as they too are humans. Teacher can solve a child’s problem but of course computer can’t solve a child’s problem. A computer cannot keep order in a classroom so what would keep the students behaving? They would only misbehave more when someone isn’t there to tell them that what they are doing is wrong! So yes, technology is going to play a critical role in the future of education. But not as big a role as that of a teacher.