Essay on Predatory Crimes

A predatory crime is defined as “an act that causes a victim to suffer loss of property or physical harm.” (1).  This is in contrast to the other three broad categories of crime: illegal service crimes, public disorder crimes and crimes of negligence. Predatory crimes are, perhaps, the most famous crimes of the category – they make all of the loudest headlines. Murder, manslaughter, rape, kidnapping, first-degree burglary and white-collar crime all fall into this category. These are the crimes people try to ward against most. However, all too often, their attempts are unsuccessful because people have a somewhat warped idea of what is truly dangerous, so they defend themselves against things and prevent circumstances that aren’t nearly as dangerous as what they face every day. One of the most famous scares, for instance, is the serial killer scare. 

People are afraid of someone who will slaughter them for no reason whatsoever, just because the killer’s warped psychology requires it of him – I believe that the illogicality takes a major part in this idea being as frightening as it is to the masses – however, they forget that 80% minimum of predatory crimes are committed by someone the person knows. So parents might forbid their daughter to walk alone at night in a public place, however, allow her to stay out with a date she’s met only a few weeks back – the second  being, in theory, more dangerous. In this paper, I’ll start with general recommendations about the prevention of predatory crime on a personal level, and then list four particular contexts, giving specific tips on how to handle them.

A number of things must be remembered when facing predatory crime in general. The first thing is to know the facts. Many of the stereotypes associated with predatory crimes are simply false, such as the one listed above. A list of factors to be taken account when dealing with predatory crimes would have made a paper on its own, so I shall only say that they must be known. Second is to minimize the risk. This can be done in a number of ways – avoiding places which are likely to be dangerous, being aware of how well you know your acquaintances, being prepared for assault at all times. Third is to keep a cool head in any circumstances – and that includes knowing when to act. It is often recommended that submitting in any circumstances is best. 

This is simply not true – in some cases, such as when resistance of the victim is unexpected by the offender – this raises one’s chance of being seriously harmed greatly. Risk, naturally, must be taken into account when calculating this – statistics show that those resisting actively take more damage in general, but are less likely to be grievously harmed. This rate differs for different kinds of crime, however, and the specific nature of the crime must be taken into account here – which I shall now move on to, discussing rape, kidnapping, assault and first-degree burglary.

Rape is one of the greatest criminal scares of all time. Indeed, what can be more frightening than the violation not just of a person’s body, but also of his or her mind? Rape is a crime of violence, an outlet for anger – not for sexual release. And it is usually committed by someone the victim knows – in 84% of the cases, in fact. Rape is one of those cases where resistance is not futile – the more a person actively resists, the less likely she is to get raped. However, rape can involve not only violence, but psychological pressure, as well (a threat, for instance). This also constitutes as rape, and makes men possible victims. Acting in unexpected ways can also aid the victim. A well-known urban legend says that one woman scared away a would-be rapist by screaming “Hooray!” at him. Every joke has a bit of a joke in it, but this is a good example. Rapists look for victims – they do not usually look for a challenge.

Kidnapping is a predatory crime that is a completely different story. This is a crime which is often joked about in the form of a hoax – or warned about in this manner. As the name shows, it’s most famous for the abduction of children - however, even adults can be kidnapped. To avoid kidnapping, one should at least not make common knowledge one’s usual routes and places where one goes (4). Varying one’s routine helps, and makes it much more difficult for a kidnapper. Active resistance can help in the very beginning, while you are being taken, as per assault – however, if already kidnapped, the best way to go is to play it submissive – unless in danger of being killed – until a chance to escape presents itself.

Dealing with assault is, again, different. Once again, key is avoidance of possible situations. A white person strolling around in Harlem at three in the morning is all too likely to be assaulted, for instance. Risk minimized, resistance severely depends on the victim’s and the attacker’s physical condition. Still, the best way to go about it is to, if possible, get away from the fight. Simply run. Throw the assaulters off your track, and then go for aid. The blunt truth is, it is not the assaulters who will have to heal the wounds and broken bones you might gain from fighting head on. Getting away and calling for aid is essential to a safe survival.

When faced with first-degree burglary – which, too, falls under the predatory crime category – is, once more, different. If one places oneself in the place of the burglar, one must understand that he is likely very much frightened. The law is on your side, and he has been caught in the act red-handed. He is likely panicked – and, if it’s first-degree, the “fight” part of the instinct has overwhelmed the “fright” part. However, this instinct can be turned around. A man in this condition can be easily frightened away or threatened, such as saying that someone else in the house has called the police or something of the sort. As usual, it is best to try not to get into a physical confrontation. Nevertheless, if a fight does ensue, you have one distinct advantage: you know the territory and he does not. If the victim utilizes in the correct manner, it is more than likely that the burglar will turn tail and run.

Thus we can see that the cases of predatory crime are very different. General prevention of such crimes on a personal level is very similar, boiling down to minimizing the risk by avoiding risky places and situations, utilizing common sense and keeping calm. However, when already in a situation that might be threatening to one’s health, the ways of proper conduct are very different, each meriting its own paper. It is difficult to work out one strategy for all predatory crimes. The one thing to be said for most of them is to try not to get oneself harmed – in many cases, it is better a living dog than a dead lion. It is braver in all respect of one to prevent a crime or come out of it alive than perpetuate a conflict.

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Secondary Health Office Essay

Secondary health office is the facility responsible for the proper and timely assessment and treatment of minor injuries that occur during normal (day) hours.

Speaking about the ideal secondary health office, I would like to note that I would have to meet the following requirements as show in the essay below:

1. Location. The best choice for ideal secondary health office would be close to the main roads/highways so that injured patients could be immediately brought to the health office. Another thing that needs to be noted here is that health office needs to be located in close proximity to the places where most injuries occur. Such location will guarantee that patients will be delivered to the health office in no time and get the proper treatment there. Thus, the ideal secondary health office should be located in the place where it could be easily accessed as well as in close proximity to the places where injuries happen.
2. Equipment/supplies/Storage Space. The ideal secondary health office should possess the right amount of equipment to cater the right needs of the injured patients. The office should remain aware of the most common injuries that happen in the area the office covers and thus should possess the tools and equipment needed to cover these needs. Should there appear some other needs that the office is not ready to meet, the office should be ready to provide a car/vehicle to transport the patients to the nearest hospital or clinic that handles such injuries.

In reality whenever the ideal secondary health office covers a school district it should be located on the school territory. Should a student report injury the office will contact his/her legal guardians or parents. It is for this reason the office needs to possess extensive database of information about students and contact information about them and their parents.

The needed medication is supposed to be kept inside the ideal health office. After the office obtains parental permission it should proceed with treatment. The medication apparently needs to be stored in original pharmacy containers for safety reasons and is to be used whenever needed. All health abnormalities will be reported promptly to students’ parents.

Fiscal Balance Essay

Essay on Fiscal Balance

Fiscal balance is the total balance, which includes the government tax revenues, proceedings from the sale of assets, and all the government spending deducted. When these calculations are complete, and there is a positive figure, it then indicates a fiscal surplus. In economics, it is the balance of the total income and expenditure the government incurs while carrying out its operations (Hansen, 231).

Gross domestic product is gross market value of all the consumer goods and services created in a country. The values that constitute in the calculation of GDP include the total customers, government expenditure, exports and investment. The most influential factor of the economy is the growth of the gross domestic product (Auerbach, 212). The table below shows the United Arab Emirates balance and the percentage gross domestic product in the years 2005 to 2010. Reports indicate that there was a fluctuation of the expansion and reduction in the fiscal balance and the gross domestic growth as indicated in the table.

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Year - UAE Fiscal balance and % GDP
2005 - 101.5
2006 - 163.9
2007 - 194.4
2008 - 304.7
2009 - 0
2010 - 27.1

The table above indicates a rise and fall in the fiscal balance in Billion Dirhams. The trend shows that there was a steady rise of the fiscal balance from the year 2005 to the year 2008, which had the highest growth of 304.4. A rapid drop of the fiscal balance experienced in the year 2009, which has a fiscal balance of zero billion. This drop in the balance was because of the world crisis that hit almost all the nations, and this did not exclude Dubai, which was among the hardest hit.

Dubai had a significant amount of debt; Abu Dhabi had to buy the largest part of the shares of Dubai. The economy has gradually grown since the year 2006, because of aid from Abu Dhabi. This recovery is supported with the aid of the slow expansion of the fiscal policy. The growth of the economy results from the economic activities that Abu Dhabi carries out, the country has increased spending on the investment sector.

The investment on the development of the real estate business is rapid and in aid of the expansion of the economy. The rise of the oil prices has increased the income of the United Arab Emirates. These economic investments resulted to increase of the total balance over the years.

In the United Arab Emirates, the central bank governor releases the reporting of the fiscal position of a company. In the past year, reports indicate that the country’s financial position was steady and desirable. There was a record of a surplus in the fiscal balance, which was approximately 3% of the gross domestic product because of the rapid profitability from the increase of the oil prices.

The governor of the central bank, Al Suwaidi, states that there was an expansion of GDP compared to the year 2010, and there was an increase of the fiscal balance because the previous year had a deficit of approximately 2%. The fiscal balance and gross domestic product in United Arab Emirates had been fluctuating over the years with 2009 being the worst although Abu Dhabi has been of help and there is expansion of the fiscal balance, currently due to the economic activities in the country.

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Russian Literature Essay

Essay on Russian Literature

Stylistic and Thematic evaluation and/or comparison of Nikolai Gogol’s „The Overcoat” and Fedor Dostoevsky’s „The Dream of the Ridiculous Man”

The following essay paper is going to concentrate on the two great masterpieces „The Overcoat” and „The Dream of the Ridiculous Man” written by Nikolai Gogol and Fedor Dostoevsky. The aim of the paper would be to analyze each of the works separately and then compare and contrast them. It is important to point out that the works of Gogol and Dostoevsky can be compared and contrasted because the writings of these authors usually have many themes in common. Both of these writers are well known mystics, who with the help of their stories describe and deride human characteristics in a way that makes the reader shiver at times. In fact, it is even said that Nikolai Gogol stands at the inventor of the Russian short story, and Fedor Dostoyevsky noted that all Russian short story writers had based their works on Gogol’s „Overcoat”.

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I would like to start with the analysis of the short story by Nikolai Gogol, called „Shinel“ („The Overcoat“) that is often named to be one of the greatest works of the Russian literature. In the „Overcoat” Gogol manages to combine realism and fantasy, comedy and tragedy, grotesque and sentimentality. The story dwells about Akaky Akakyevich a clerk living in a small city who discovers that his overcoat has become worn out and decides to take it to the tailor in order to fix it. However, the tailor proclaims that the overcoat is so worn-out that it is impossible to get it fixed. After wrangling with himself Akaky decides that there is not other way out of the situation except for buying a new coat. From the first pages of the novel it is seen that Gogol does not feel sympathy to his main character, on the contrary it seems that the author takes pleasure in describing how pathetic poor clerk is. In order to make the character unforgettable, Gogol apply metaphors, and hyperbolas, spicing the novel up with witty sarcasm.

The new overcoat Akaky purchases, becomes the central part of the story after the introductory part. This is so, because for poor Akaky a new overcoat is not simply a garment, for him it is a key to the future happiness. The author places the garment in the centre of the story for several purposes, partly to emphasize how important material things to people are, and partly to one more time humiliate Akaky and show that he is pathetic to the extent that he is in awe in front of the overcoat. In order to emphasize the latter, Gogol describes in detail the day new overcoat is purchased. That day Akaky feels on top of the world, he believes that the new overcoat will change the way he is perceived by other people, will make them respect and honor him, will make him a desirable bachelor and a  frequent guest. Wearing a new coat Akaky begins to walk the streets of the town like a new man, in fact, maybe like a man for the first time.

When the overcoat is stolen Akaky is head over heels in sorrow, he seeks help to recover the overcoat. The style, in which Nikolai Gogol describes the happening with the overcoat, is interesting. That is probably the only time in the novel when an attentive reader may feel that the author is to some extent pitiful towards the poor clerk. However, when Akaky starts looking for help and decides to go to the police where he is immediately turned down, the style and voice of the author gets more sarcastic. When after police Akaky turns to an „important personage”, that latter also refuses to help him, reminding him only about the laws of etiquette, and how inappropriate it was to come there without a prior documental complaint – Gogol’s tone is changed for good. The reader cannot feel any sympathy with the character anymore. That is why, when towards the end of the book, unable to bear the vicissitudes of fate Akaky comes down with flu and dies, we do not sympathize the Akaky at all.

After his death a ghost resembling Akaky wonders around the city stealing overcoats. This is the first time Gogol’s famous mysticism appears in the essay. It was very common for Gogol to apply the literary tools used for putting non-living things to life. Akaky ghost is wondering around the city stealing people’s overcoats. The ghost does things that his counterpart did not every do during his life. After Akaky’s death Gogol seems to be very enthusiastic and brightly describes the actions of the ghost and the horror it causes to people. This stylistic change, in my opinion, is used to again show how „little” Akaky was. 

This poignant story shows us the social injustice in the 19th century Russia. It shows the urban alienation and human isolation. Though his story, Gogol is trying to attract the attention to the fact that in today’s world bureaucracy has become more important than human life. Gogol also points out that in the corrupt society a person is no one, and will not be assisted by anyone unless he has money or connections. However, what is unclear whether Gogol would like to reader to sympathize with the fate of the poor clerk or whether one should regard this story as something funny. In my opinion, such ambiguity lets every reader form his/her opinion on this question.

„The Dream of a Ridiculous Man” by Fedor Dostoevsky is a short story that is in fact the last story Dostoevsky has ever written. This story is about a dreamer whose life changes after a series of encounters in his dream. The story begins, with the protagonist who is never named, planning his suicide. From the first minute the reader sees that the novel is very philosophical and deep. The language used by Dostoevsky is very advanced and the metaphors he employs are at times hard to grasp. The reader immediately sees that the protagonist is man of thinking, he tends to constantly be analyzing his life and deeds as well as the life and actions of others. He is willing to see the motives behind what the people do. On the verge of committing suicide he meets a crying child that turns to him, however, the protagonist pushes her away. Though, thinking about what he has done he realizes that he himself is selfish and cruel, these thoughts destruct him from suicide and give him a chance to sleep peacefully the first time in months.

While he sleeps, he experiences a wild dream. He dreams as though he has been taken to a different planet where there are absolutely different people. All those people are kind and loving, gentle and pure, in their world there is not place for cruelty and disgrace. This is the time in the novel when Dostoevsky first time introduces his religious beliefs. Actually, religion, though indirectly, is one of the major topics in the novel. When the perfect people learn of shame and poverty they become totally different.  The story shows us that people who have been living in the perfect world of love and care go through different stages that bring them to the place where we are right now. Soon, it becomes obvious to the reader that these „new people” that appear in the dream race, are actually, we – the people of today.

Before long the dreamer (the protagonist) understands that he no longer loves the people on the new planet. He sees that those people are slowly becoming the people he wanted to run away from when living on planet Earth. Though, the dreamer understands that now that these people know what sorrow is he loves them even more than he used to when they lived in the Garden of Eden. The above part of the novel again introduces Dostoevsky’s outlook on God and Godliness. For his God is almightily, though generous, thus the way protagonist did not stop loving people when they change, same way God will always love humans.

One may say that the above stories „The Overcoat” and „The Dream of a Ridiculous Man” have nothing it common. I realize that such opinion may exist, though only on the surface. Though in a different way, but Gogol and Dostoevsky touch upon the same topics that are, in reality, still relevant today.  One topic that both works have in common is the idea that society is a deception that is composed of hypocritical people and unjust institutions. The authors show that people have become slaves of bureaucrats and money-seeking officials. Moreover, when being put on the scales, the human life weights nothing in comparison with monetary or statutory advances.

However, it is very important to mention that the two prominent works present the main character and his life completely differently. In the „Overcoat” it is shown that Akaky becomes able to see the world around him only when he pulls his funds together and purchases an overcoat – that for him is a ticket to the new life. Though, after the overcoat is stolen Akaky, who has put all of himself into this garment, is destroyed. On the contrary, in the „Dream of a Ridiculous Man”, the protagonist is not victim, neither he is humiliated. The knowledge he has acquired from him dream has changed him, has made him a completely different person. His dream gave him a chance to live a different life, though when the dream was over and the „other life” was gone he did not go down and out. Quite the opposite, the first thing he did upon awakening was he helped the child he neglected before, and later became a preacher. So, both of protagonists are fighting with society, though while Akaky is destroyed, the dreamer leaves the battle undefeated.

In conclusion I would like to say that both of the works analyzed above are indeed the masterpieces of world literature. These two works are filled with deep symbolism and feelings. Both the novels deal with the topics that can be related to each other, such as the loneliness of a human being in the world, the abuse of power by bureaucrats, the cruelty and ambiguity of the modern world. The style the novels are written in differs greatly, primarily because their authors had explicitly dissimilar writing styles. While Gogol is usually very light, satirical, and bright, Dostoevsky is very philosophical and gloomy. Additionally, while Dostoevsky’s novel is rather Godly, Gogol chooses to employ the devil forces, such as a haunted overcoat. Another great discrepancy between the two novels lays in the way authors see their main characters. While for Nikolai Gogol the sad story of Akakiy is amusing, for Fedor Dostoevsky his ridiculous man is not at all comical. Conclusively, while dealing with related subjects, two novels take a different perspective on the human life and the world around us.

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Self-Affirmation Theory Essay

Essay on Self-Affirmation Theory

Self-affirmation theory suggests that people can deal with threats to their self-identity by focusing on their self-worth and competence. This theory can be applied to many real life situations. I would like to describe the case of a friend of mine who used this theory to overcome threats to her identity and achieve success.

My friend comes from a very traditional Muslim family. Women in her family have always been limited to homemaking and child-rearing. However, my friend was inspired by feminist ideas and despised the notion that women have to be limited to private sphere, as her culture suggests. Therefore, she wanted to pursue a college education in law with a view of building a career and promoting the cause of gender equality in her work. Her family was opposed to her going to college, since they deemed it was inappropriate for a female.

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The family was well-to-do, so the girl would face no financial pressures in the future. At the same time, her desire for independence and self-actualization was very strong.

For several moths, she tried to avoid an open conflict with her parents and tried to persuade her that education and work are important for every person regardless of gender. However, her parents found a young man from the same cultural background for her to marry. At this point, the girl had to make a choice between family values and resisting the threat to her identity. The family told her they would not provide any financial or moral support if she decided to pursue education.

Knowing how competitive admission to law universities is, the girl was not sure if it was a good idea to start an independent life. However, she decided to focus on her strengths and competences in order to affirm her identity. She moved out, taken out a student loan and entered a prestigious law university. With the support of her friends and continuous self-motivation and affirmation, she was able to achieve her goal.

After seeing her succeed, her parents accepted her back. They have realized that pressure and blackmailing are not efficient in influencing their daughter’s decisions. The girl said that the most important lesson she had learned from that crisis was to follow her own dreams and fulfill her own ambitions rather than accepting authority unconditionally, even if it harms her interests. Positive thinking and confidence helped her a lot in those turbulent times when she had no one but herself to rely on. It is important to remember, however, that self-affirmation should take a realistic approach to one’s abilities. Self-affirmation should encourage continuous learning and personal development rather then discourage it. Expectations and goals should be realistic and achievable in order for this theory to work.

There are many situations in life when surrounding people try to enforce a certain identity and lifestyle on us.

Therefore, it is important to be aware of one’s own self and affirm one’s self through focusing on one’s self-worth that is derived from personal skills and strengths.

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Essay on Product Placement

Product Placement Essay

The influence of tobacco product placement in American TV shows on the audience

The popularity and impact of traditional television advertising have been in decline in the recent years as a result of increased costs and competition. Product placement is a substitute for the traditional TV advertising. It has been used since the invention of the small screen. Product placement is gaining more and more popularity and at the same time has turned into a huge, profitable business for both the broadcasting companies and the producers. The result of this situation is that companies exercise control with their product to such extend that shows are rejected projection or the storyline is completely altered. It is true that broadcasting companies receive large payments for placing a certain product in a movie, but the possible predicaments are much more. If there is too much product placement in a show, or the advertising is too obvious, the audience will lose interest in it.

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Product placement is not a new advertising strategy, but it has gained popularity through the new technological developments and in the last years it has become more noticeable as a common practice in TV shows. Nowadays, its effect is not so much on a subconscious level, but on the contrary - people do notice the brands displayed on the screen. The viewers associate with the characters from their favorite TV programs and that is the reason why they want to use the same brands as them. According to Bleicher and Heisinger (2008), in that way they are identifying themselves with the TV characters, feeling closer to them.

The restrictions on tobacco industry tighten more and more each day- no TV advertisement, smoking bans, bigger pictorial warnings and recently there are more restrictions on the use of tobacco products appearing on TV. Despite that fact, the tobacco industry is constantly growing and developing. The only tool that is not so strictly overlooked by the government, yet and that can be still used by the tobacco companies is the product placement on the small screen. It has a great impact on the audience even though without brand exposure. (Saffer& Chaloupka, 1999)

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the advantages of product placement of tobacco in the American TV shows, to compare it to the ordinary advertisement tools, and to investigate if it can be a good replacement. The growing restrictions and sanctions on smoking during TV time are to be presented and thoroughly examined. The current study is challenging and appealing due to the high public interest and the limited number of studies and papers conducted in this field and will be used to draw some final conclusions.

The focus of the following study is on the influence of tobacco product placement on the audience of the American shows. The survey will observe if smoking in TV shows makes people smoke more and whether tobacco placement should be restricted or banned at all. There are different studies conducted in the area, but very few present results that are not ambiguous and that can lead to general and final conclusions on the topic.

Another purpose of the study is to present valid results that will support or refuse the public opinion about tobacco use on TV. The answers to these questions will be of great use for our society, moreover the outcomes of this thesis can be easily applied to other industries different than tobacco to alter and improve their marketing strategies. The research and its outcomes will not only be useful to the public, but also to the TV producers fighting over TV ratings and tobacco companies.

      

The topic of the current study was chosen, because of multiple reasons. The matter of the subject is pressing and often spoken of in society by people working in the TV business or by government officials. The debates on the topic are intriguing due to the extreme opposite opinions of the parties participating.

Another reason for choosing the topic is the high interest in following the development and evolution of American TV shows. The ban on tobacco on Television is considered by some as violating the freedom of speech. The producers of the TV programs have to be careful to alter their stories to avoid smoking scenes. Many shows may lose their ratings or even worse may have to be removed from the air. People enjoy watching everyday life stories, so they can associate with the character. That will be difficult to happen if everyday things such as smoking cannot be displayed on TV.

On the one hand, banning the exposure of tobacco products will change the movie industry for ever. On the other hand, the exposure of minors to violence, drug abuse and excessive smoking is a serious problem and is desired by no one.

The audience intended for this research mainly is supposed to consist of scholars interested in the ways to measure the effectiveness of the placement of tobacco products in TV shows. The viewers of these TV shows will be interviewed and will be subjects to different field experiments, their perception and awareness of the product placement will be measured and described. However, as mentioned previously, the results will be of great use to all the parties involved in the tobacco business, its marketing and the TV shows managers. (Galician, 2004)

The writer’s point of view on the subject is certain. There should be various restrictions on tobacco products displayed on TV. The use of tobacco in TV shows should be also controlled. Different aspects, such as nature of the TV show, air time, audience and many more should be taken into account. The placement of tobacco in TV programs should not be banned, because then storylines and storytellers will be affected, as well as the viewers. Turning the tobacco into a forbidden topic, may have a negative result and encourage people to get involved, to object and protest against these restrictions. As a result, there is not an easy solution to this complex problem.

In the world of Television and Media, there are so many available channels to the viewers that many run away from the traditional TV advertisement, turning into real channel surfers. In that line of thought, placing a product in the TV shows, instead of placing it in the traditional commercial, increases the number of people viewing it and paying attention to it. (Galician, 2004)

The choice of TV shows instead of movies to conduct this research is due to the fact, that programs on the small screen attract a bigger audience and it is easier to estimate how many people viewed the episode with product placement and it is also easier to make the product irreplaceable part of the storyline. The problem of character smoking in TV shows has been a hot topic for quite long. There are constant debates and studies carried out to prove or disprove the impact of tobacco product placement on the audience. The purpose of the research is to investigate and to measure the impact of the tobacco products on the different viewer groups and their positive or negative attitude to such exposure. It will be explored in details which age groups are addressed by these placements, which ones are more prone to these messages and what messages are they conveying. Product placement for that kind of products will be compared to traditional advertising to point out its advantages and disadvantages and its public acceptance. (Mekemson & C.A., 2002)

The tobacco companies have a long practice of sponsoring tobacco smoking in movie productions, because they have understood its high efficiency. Although, they claim to have stopped that practice, tobacco marketing has been increasing, but becoming very difficult and innovative, developing new more complex marketing methods to defeat the restrictions and to deal with the increasing public concern about the dangers of smoking.  (Glantz, Slade, & A., 1996)

Traditional TV advertising has been in decline for the last years, however, product placement even though not a new marketing tool is gaining popularity and its uses tremendously increase. The TV shows business and product placement in TV shows has become a huge and very profitable practice, beneficial for all parties included, but the viewers. The media including movies, TV shows, magazines and internet form the everyday environment of young individual and thus have a great impact on their way of thinking. These media tools more frequently refer to tobacco products and in that way send pro-smoking messages to the public.

The tobacco industry and the motion picture industry have a long history of coexisting and working together. The product placement of tobacco is used to promote tolerance towards smoking and to increase its desirability among youngsters. The restriction on tobacco advertising mainly limits the print advertisements and promoting to children, but new means of marketing are constantly been researched and developed to balance its marketing strategies and their restrictions.

Unless more restrictions are introduced to tobacco placement in TV shows, that indirect advertising tool will remain the most powerful way to promote tobacco products, increasing the revenues of tobacco companies and endangering the public health. (Angus & Hastings, 2008)

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Standpoint Theory Essay

Essay on The Standpoint Theory

The standpoint theory itself lies in the necessity to get along with the dominant class for the reasons of survival. Therefore, the feminist theory arose on the basis of the social reality vision developed by women as a subordinate group (Swigonski, 1994, 390). In the process of formation, the feminist standpoint theory was designed by women searching for the methods to survive in the men-dominant world.

Feminism being a social movement referred to postmodern trends originally relies on the theory that there exist no differences between the two sexes, female and male, except biological ones (Harding, 2008, 14). However, it is argued that women are sometimes distinguished within the social conditions only and this causes controversies in the standpoints, while racial, economical, and historical views are often neglected and not taken into consideration (Harding, 2004, 318-321; 2005).

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According to Swigonski (2004, 391-392), the main tenets of the standpoint are developed through researches that identify the power of point and possession of knowledge as the determinative factors in choosing a role in the struggle for the feminist rights and freedoms. Education is a less powerful factor for that its impact cannot be objectively evaluated. Everyday life, however, provides deeper guidance in the relevant issues of oppression and can be the most influential source of maintaining a standpoint, especially in cases where previous factors are not easily accessible. 

  

Primarily mentioned in the 18th century, the standpoint feminist theory was accurately observed in the 1960-70s with the development of class and labor definitions and dawn of women movements (Harding, 2008, 14-15; Swigonski, 1994, 390) but not only the rich ones as originally observed. Later in the 1970s, the issue of discrimination arose involving women of virtually all races, cultures, and ethnicities.

  

In 1970s, women searched for the means of fighting inequality and dominance of the opposite sex in all aspects of human life. From diverse points of view, the movement pursued different goals.    

The following debates disclose where strengthening of the movement and improvement of confidence among the participants were originated from (Harding, 2004, 318). However, the participants were not always able to refer to the global audience because of the way how the various concepts within the feminist standpoint theory were socially situated (Swigonski, 1994, 390). 

  

As a matter of fact, the standpoints of women with different backgrounds do not coincide so unification of their experiences often fails. From the epistemological point of view, there is likely to be a group with a common interest in order to be able to struggle for this interest productively. In practice, feminists do not always share the same standpoint, and this negatively reflects on the performance of the whole movement. Harding (2004, 321) finds the right description for this calling supporters as “women who do not make up the majority of feminist theorists”. The fragmentation in terms of strategies and approaches makes the movement less attractive by blurring its main goal and idea.     

  

One of the feminism debates takes place around the position of a woman in the society. It is primarily argued that woman’s functions in terms of modern society are narrowed down to keeping household and bringing up children (Harding, 2004, 318). However, historical background identifies namely such division of roles between sexes pointing at these female responsibilities as the basic ones. Universalism theory complements this idea but emphasizes on treating any human as of universal quality, namely equally.

  

The debates also concern the context of the standpoint interpretation. Only feminist analysis observes women as an oppressed category. Social approach refers to feminists as a minority segment along with national, sexual, and other minorities that also fall under the so-called oppression. The way how the minorities are treated is virtually the same but with the only distinction in the objectivity and form of presentation, Swigonski (1994, 390) points out.  

  

Another misconception lies in the distinction between political standpoints where “female” and “feminist” refer to somewhat different meanings identifying that a feminist can be a person of any sex (Harding, 2004, 318). Therefore, it is obvious that the concept of feminist involves not only women but men as well, and there are certainly male supporters of the movement.

  

Final important issue mentioned by Brooke (2004, 99) and Swigonski (1994, 391) lies in the controversies of feminist members within the same group called “outsiders within”. The whole group of individuals can potentially have several standpoints, which should either apply to different realities or damage the integral concept.

  

Concluding the aforementioned, I would like to point out that the key to success apparently lies in the uniformity of the standpoint. If the opinions of participants and suporters differ, there is less probability that this group or community will get along. 

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