Microplastics and Their Environmental Effects

Microplastics are small fragments of plastic material, generally defined as smaller than what can be seen by the naked eye.  Our increased reliance on plastics for countless applications has negative consequences to the environment. For example, the plastic manufacturing process is associated with air pollution, and volatile organic compounds released over the life of the plastic have deleterious health effects for humans. Plastic waste takes up significant space in landfills. However, microplastics in the aquatic environment  has been a newly emerging concern in the public consciousness. As the name implies, microplastics are very small, generally too small to see although some scientists include pieces up to 5mm in diameter (about a fifth of an inch). They are of various types, including polyethylene (e.g., plastic bags, bottles), polystyrene (e.g., food containers), nylon, or PVC. These plastic items become degraded by heat, UV light, oxidation, mechanical action, and biodegradation by living organisms like bacteria. These processes yield increasingly small particles that eventually can be classified as microplastics. Microplastics On the Beach   It appears that the beach environment, with its abundant sunlight and very high temperatures at ground level, is where the degradation processes operate fastest. On the hot sand surface, plastic trash fades, becomes brittle, then cracks and breaks down. High tides and wind pick up the tiny plastic particles and eventually add them to the growing great garbage patches found in the oceans. Since beach pollution is a major contributor of microplastic pollution, beach cleanup efforts turn out to be much more than esthetic exercises.   Environmental Effects of Microplastics Many persistent organic pollutants (for example, pesticides, PCBs, DDT, and dioxins) float around the oceans at low concentrations, but their hydrophobic nature concentrates them on the surface of plastic particles. Marine animals mistakenly feed on the microplastics, and at the same time ingest the toxic pollutants. The chemicals accumulate in the animal tissues and then increase in concentration as the pollutants are transferred up the food chain.As the plastics degrade and become brittle, they leach out monomers like BPA which can then be absorbed by marine life, with relatively little known consequences.Besides the associated chemical loads, ingested plastic materials can be damaging for marine organisms, as they can lead to digestive blockage or internal damage from abrasion. There is still much research needed to properly evaluate this issue.Being so numerous, microplastics provide abundant surfaces for small organisms to attach. This dramatic increase in colonization opportuni ties can have population-level consequences. In addition, these plastics are essentially rafts for organisms to travel further than they usually would, making them vectors for spreading invasive marine species. Microbeads A more recent source of trash in the oceans is the tiny polyethylene spheres, or microbeads, increasingly found in many consumer products. These microplastics do not come from the breakdown of larger pieces of plastic but instead are engineered additives to cosmetics and personal care products. They are most often used in skin care products and toothpaste and wash down drains, pass through water treatment plants, and end up in freshwater and marine environments. There is increased pressure for countries and states to regulate microbead use, and many large personal care product companies have pledged to find other alternatives. Sources Andrady, A. 2011. Microplastics in the Marine Environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin.Wright et al. 2013. The Physical Impacts of Microplastics on Marine Organisms: A Review. Environmental Pollution.

Legalization For Hard Working Immigrants - 890 Words

Immigration has become a very relevant topic in the past few years and has sparked various arguments between Americans. No agreement has been reached regarding immigration reform, possibly because many people view it as an immediate amnesty rather than a possibility of legalization for hard-working immigrants. Despite of the negative meaning associated with it, an immigration reform would be beneficial to the U.S. in social aspects, such as having undivided families, and by stimulating economic growth. A common misconception is that legalizing illegal immigrants would just result in â€Å"criminals† running around the streets causing disturbances. Who is ignored is the benefit of a very specific population of Americans, the sons and daughters of illegal immigrants. American children are harmed every time one or both of their parents is deported as a result of the lack of an immigration reform. In the article, â€Å"Children of Illegal Immigrants Struggle When Parents Are Depo rted† Valbrun states that â€Å"the government deported more than 46,000 parents of children with U.S. citizenship in the first half of 2011, according to the ARC report.† In these conditions, jailed parents cannot fight for their children’s custody and at times lose it to the government who then puts the children out for adoption or in foster care when they already have loving parents. Properly legalizing immigrants would improve the lives of many American children and improve the American social aspects with moreShow MoreRelatedResearch Paper On Illegal Immigrant1314 Words   |  6 PagesJoaquim B. Amado Composition I December, 3 Research Paper on Illegal Immigrant The immigration is an important phenomenon that exists throughout human history and the United States of America is not an exception of this â€Å"rule†. 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Illegal immigrants come to the USA, land of freedom, where they think they can makeRead MoreThe United States and Illegal Immigration Essay1086 Words   |  5 Pagesconsciously employed illegal immigrants (Nadadur 1037-1052). The United States’ Government Immigration Reform and Control Act has been unsuccessful in controlling illegal immigration. It is estimated that illegal immigration into the U.S. has a yearly interval of three hundred fifty thousand people (Rousmaniere 24-25). It is apparent that the 1986 act was not able to keep a handle on illegal immigration. Illegal immigration continues due to t he fact that immigrants only take the jobs availableRead MoreThe Immigration Of The United States895 Words   |  4 Pagesas we citizens go to the store to purchase food, clothing, and other basic needs, illegals immigrants do the same exact thing. This means just as we pay sales tax, so do they. Illegal immigrants are paying into our taxes one way or another, so with the money they earn we can see some of it go towards the social programs that legal US citizens take advantage of, the same social programs that the immigrants cant get access to but desperately need. â€Å"Based on estimates compiled by the Institute for TaxationRead MoreThe Immigration Of The United States Government1692 Words   |  7 Pagesthreats of terrorism, but to keep out illegal immigrants as well. Racism and discrimination play a part in the objections, but this has not changed since before the southwest became part of the United States. Many Hispanics just want the opportunity of the American dream, and are willing to take lower wages and horrible living conditions to get that chance. This essay will talk about the laws that the United States government have enacted to â€Å"help† immigrants on their way and how racism is still alive

A Discussion on Georgia OKeeffes Paintings Essay Example For Students

A Discussion on Georgia OKeeffes Paintings Essay Georgia Coffees work was so great because she painted things in an abstract way, but they were still familiar to the viewer. She used vivid, bold colors and shapes of nature. She would change the scale of an object 50 much that it would fill up a whole canvas. Like tort example trot the tramway nearby, witch is a painting of a deers skull. The title of this painting refers to the faraway, a location that the artist once said was a beautiful, untouched lonely-feeling place. Georgia Coffees painted familiar things of nature that were around her, such as flowers. In 1929 when she visited a friend in Mexico, her life and art changed. She painted objects found in the desert such as: a sun bleached animal skull and dessert sky. She used the colors of the Southwest in her paintings- tans, grey, reddish browns and whites. She was also interested in painting negative space, such as the hole in a pelvis bone or the space between clouds. Pelvis, red and yellow, 1960. Is one of many examples Of this, In this painting, Coffees interprets the pelvis bone With a fiery palette of reds and yellows, differentiating it from the more naturalistic coloring Of the Other pelvis pictures. Like Georgia Coffees paintings because of the beautiful colors and oversized objects. When I look at one of her flower paintings, such as Red Poppy, I could stare at it for a long time and find so much detail. Georgia Coffees made a simple object that normally take for granted and turned it into something really important and beautiful. Personally think that Coffees was an artistic genius. She created a new way to look at objects that we take for granted, and paved the way for many women artists.

The Impact Of War On Art Essay Example For Students

The Impact Of War On Art Essay The three painting I will discuss in this essay are Memories of a Civil War painted by Earnest Meissonier in 1849, Third of May 1808 painted by Francisco de Goya in 1814, and Liberty Leading the People painted by Eugene Delacroix in 1830. Even though all three painting are done in different styles the messages remain the same. All three paintings depict the brutalities of war. Francisco de Goya, began is artistic career in 1760 when he was just 14 years old. He was trained by Jose Luzan, a lesser known painter, in the Rococo style of painting. Early in his career Goya worked as a court painter for King Charles III. It was during this time that Goya painted tapestry cartoons, that revolutionalized the tapestry industry. (Goya, 2007). It was also during this time that he painted some of his most beautiful portraits of friends, family, court members, and nobility. We will write a custom essay on The Impact Of War On Art specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now In the winter of 1792, Goya contracted an illness that left him totally deaf. It was after this illness that an air of pessimism entered his work. (Goya, 2007). It was during this time that Goya witnessed, first hand, the battles between the Napoleons invading armies and the Spanish street fighters. It was these scenes that promoted him to paint the Second of May, 1808 and Third of May, 1808. In the painting Third of May, 1808, Goya depicts an unarmed Spanish citizens execution at the hands of Napoleons army. This painting shows the mans inevitable fate by the mass of bloody bodies off to his left, while other citizens await their turn in front of the firing squad. The painting is shrouded in darkness, except for the man, illuminated by the light of his inner peace. Although he knows that he is going to die, he doesnt try to flee. He stands in a pose reminiscent of Jesus on the crucifix. However, by shrouding the church in the corner in darkness, Goya symbolizes there will be no salvation for this man. Eugene Delacroixs painting career began in 1815 when he began apprenticing under Peirre Narcisse Guerinithe. Although he was trained in the Neo-classical style of art, he was soon influenced by the colorful and rich styles of Romanticism. Many of his early paintings expressed sympathy for the Greeks during their war with the Turks. In his painting Massacre at Chios, he depicted the suffering of the wounded and dying Greeks being slaughtered by the Greeks. Delacroixs most famous and influential painting is Liberty Leading the People. He was inspired by contemporary events to invoke the romantic image of the spirit of liberty. (Delacroix, 2001). He painted this painting to represents of July 1830. He depicted Liberty as a woman of almost goddess nature. She is standing on a pedestal made of mens corpses, leading the men into war waving the Flag. Most of the painting is done in dark colors with Liberty being highlighted in the center of the painting. Ernest Meissonier was also influenced by the wars going on around him. He began his artistic career at a young age at Leon Cognients art studio. His early art work was in Religious painting, which he did not do well in. He then turned to the French-classical style of painting, in which he excelled. In his later life Meissonier became part of Napoleons Imperial Staff. He accompanied him during the campaign in Italy, and was there at the beginning of the war. It was these first hand experiences of war that prompted him to paint Memories of a Civil War. .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 , .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .postImageUrl , .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 , .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:hover , .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:visited , .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:active { border:0!important; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:active , .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Art Of Research EssayIn Memories of a Civil War, Meissonier depicts the reality of men strewn across an empty barricade. You can not tell which side of the war the men we fighting on, which is the point of the painting. Meissoniers view was that neither side of the war could really win when fighting countryman against countryman. Even the French Flag is depicted as torn and bloody, only being seen as the raggedy clothing of the dead men.

Cameron Auto Parts Essay Example

Cameron Auto Parts Essay 1. Do you agree with Cameron’s decision to grant McTaggart a license? Do you agree with the way Alex went about it? What other options were available to Cameron? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? The business potential of flexible coupling was evident to Alex. The salespeople were looking for 35$-40$ million during 2004. He realized that the plant cant hold both lines (OEM and flexible coupling). The costs of expansion were too high and required many of the companys resources. The companys cash flow couldnt support a plant expansion. The flexible coupling industry is different than the auto industry. Every dollar of flexible coupling sales requires an investment in inventory and receivables of about 30 cents. Furthermore, in the flexible coupling industry you have to manufacture to inventory, as a result you dont see revenue right away. Alex saw the potential in the European market; however he didnt know the foreign market that well. Exporting to the European market meant that the European costumer pays about 20 percent more (because of taxes, insurance etc). An opportunity to penetrate the European market was offered to him in his visit to Scotland. By granting McTaggart a license, Alex ensured a quick, almost risk-free penetration to the U. K market. Along with the advantages of licensing, granting license to McTaggart, means sharing not only profits, but the unique knowledge, which is Cameron’s intellectual property. Considering the companys financial situation, the costs and risks of penetrating to new market, I think Alex did the right thing in granting McTaggart a license. Although it was a good opportunity, I believe he didnt handle that appropriately. He signed the contract with McTaggart without consulting with his financial, operational and legal advisers. We will write a custom essay sample on Cameron Auto Parts specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Cameron Auto Parts specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Cameron Auto Parts specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer He didnt fully take under consideration all other options before closing the deal. A comparison between his options: | Advantages| Disadvantages| Exporting| * Economies of scale in the long run * Independence * quality control through own responsibility| * Lack of capacity * Currency risks * High Investments * No specific market knowledge * Transport risks * Trade barriers| Licensing| * Quick market entry * Low investment costs * Reduced financial risk * Economies of scope| * No control over local business * Risk of image loss * Communication gaps * Loss of flexibility (because of the commitment to he licensee) * Shared profits| New plant| * Keeping the IP – low risk of knowledge leeks * High margins| * High initial investment (building the new plat)| Joint Venture| * Benefit from local partner’s knowledge. * Shared costs/risks with partner. * More profitable than royalty| * Less profitable than producing in house * Risk giving control of technology to partner. * Shared ownership can lead to conflict. | 2. Was McTaggart a good choice for a licensee? What should Alex have done upon hearing Sandys offer for a licensing agreement? According to exhibit 3, I think McTaggart was a good choice for a licensee. It was an old and stable company with excellent credit record. It had vast market coverage in 3 continents. This widespread and stability is important when picking a licensee, in order to penetrate new markets. Furthermore, the license to McTaggart was given to 5 years only, not a long term commitment. In that period Cameron can learn about the European market and improve its cash flow, and by the end of that period can decide whether to continue with the licensing or go on its own. . Was the royalty rate reasonable? What does reasonable mean? (Hint: Based on what you know about Cameron’s outlays for developing the product how much does Cameron need to recoup over what period? Cameron expects that $12 million in assets will generate $30 million in flexible coupling sales and a profit of $5 million. ) According to exhibit 1: Assets: $12M Profit: $5M Assuming that the debit interest is 7% and the licensi ng will last 5 years. According to NPV – there is profit of ~7. 9M$, which is IRR = 30%. As shown in the table below, 3% royalty out of sales makes 9. 1% out of profits: The 25% Rule suggests that a licensor should receive 25% of the extra profit derived from the licensees use of the licensed technology. According to that, 9. 1% licensors share of the profit is too low. In order to get the 25% of the extra profit the royalty should be around 10%, according to the table below: Conclusion: Current royalty of 3% 2% is too low. 4. What conflicts do you foresee in the relationship between Cameron and McTaggart assuming that sales in Europe will increase? How can the two partners address these potential conflicts at this point? Should they? Assuming the sales in Europe will increase, each company may come the conclusion that it is better off on its own than to be restricted to the contract. After a short while, Camerons managers may think that they know everything there is to know about the European market, and may seek other partners or even try operate on its own. Furthermore, as mentioned in question 3, the royalty rate of Cameron from the agreement is lower than it should be. As a result I think the company will surely try to find a way to increase its royalty rate or cancel the agreement. I think both companies should establish a JV or some sort of an alliance, using Camerons product and McTaggarts capabilities in the European market. This will be a win-win situation for both companies: Cameron will get more significant part of the profits and won’t be frighten by McTaggart’s exclusivity. McTaggart, on the other hand, although it will split the profits, will grow and penetrate outside the U. K. boarders to other European countries.

A Personal Style of Helping Leads to Good Patient Care Essay Example

A Personal Style of Helping Leads to Good Patient Care Essay Example A Personal Style of Helping Leads to Good Patient Care Paper A Personal Style of Helping Leads to Good Patient Care Paper It is vital in all nursing situations to have a personal style of helping that is effective and leads to good patient care. When a patient receives first-rate care, they are likely to better adjust to their illness than if poor care was given. It is imperative that a variety of helping styles be available in a nursing environment because not all patients respond the same to all helping techniques. Fortunately, every nurse has a different personal style of helping, and as such, many different types of nursing theories have developed to compliment their individual style. If nurses can understand and identify with a theory, they can then better understand their personal style of nursing, and in turn, better apply this individual style when helping a patient. Therefore, this understanding translates to better patient care, better patient compliance, and higher spirits throughout the entire nursing environment. Before nurses can apply theory to practice, they must first explore their own set of values and beliefs which strongly influence their particular style of helping. Without this personal understanding of themselves, the nurse would have a hard time deciding which theory best describes her and secondly, a difficult time implementing this theory. A persons individual set of beliefs and values have a great effect on all of their actions and their decision making process in general. I have found that in exploring my own values and beliefs, that I am able to recognize many that are central to my life and nursing style. First of all, and perhaps most importantly, I believe respect is an essential aspect of any relationship. When respect is not a cornerstone of a relationship, one will not tolerate or appreciate the others differences in values. Without a mutual respect between individuals, a relationship between them would be impossible. Along with respect comes honesty and trust. Honesty and trust help to build respect for another human being. If either of these two values were absent from a relationship, then it follows that respect would no longer be present either. This is solely because if you cannot trust someone, they are not being honest and therefore the respect that could grow between the individuals is blocked by the honesty and distrust between the two. However, even with distrust and no respect in a relationship compassion should still be felt toward that individual. Compassion, unlike respect is unconditional in the fact that despite how you feel about the individual, you still feel an overall concern and kindness towards them as another living human being. Equality is a value that is essential to nursing because it ensures all patients receive care that is essentially fair and evenly distributed. This provides an environment where no individual feels slighted or preferred compared to others. As a nurse, even if a patient has treated you with disrespect, and possibly given you justification for unequal treatment, it is still vital that you, as the nurse, provide fair unwavering care to everyone. Commitment is yet another vital value essential to building and maintaining working relationships. Without commitment, no one would feel compelled to follow pursuits which although may be difficult are the just and right things to do. For example, many times in life it is much easier to ignore and disregard a situation in which the proper thing to do is act, but commitment to my values and beliefs compels me to make the needed effort and act on the situation. In this very way, nurses are committed to the care of their patients as many times it is easier to remain emotionally uninvolved, for example, but the nurse’s dedication to their patient’s well-being requires this emotional bond. When exploring an individual’s values and beliefs, it is useful to reflect on past experiences that challenged them. One such instance is from a clinical experience I had at Marian Villa. I was caring for an elderly man with end stage Alzheimer’s disease, as well as prostate cancer. This man had many other health issues, as well as a language barrier. I worked with him for the duration of the eight week placement, and found myself constantly coming into conflict with my values and beliefs with the staff when it came to this gentleman. Mr. S. was a very kind and gentle man, with a warm laugh and a warm heart. He was an introverted individual who, besides going to the dining room for meals, spent most of the day in his room. I was responsible for doing all of his morning care as well as feeding him and ensuring he didn’t go through his day lonely. When I first arrived on the floor, I was told that I would need to feed him, as he wouldn’t eat if I was to leave him. After the first day on the unit, I decided to see what he could do for himself without me intervening. It amazed me what a little space can do for a person. This man had no feeding deficit, as well, he could dress and toilet himself independently. When I spoke to the health care worker who was assigned to him that day, I was astonished to learn that Mr. S. was not able to feed himself independently normally because the staff found him to be a slow eater and the kitchen staff wanted meals to be done by a certain time so they could prepare for the next meal. A few weeks later, I ran into another problem with staff related to Mr. S. After arriving on the floor, I went to his room to see if he was awake and ready for breakfast. When I entered the room, I found him still lying in bed. I inquired as to why this was, as breakfast was to be served in ten minutes. He confided in me that he was having a lot of pain in the heel of his foot. As a care giver, I offered to look at his foot which appeared to be slightly swollen. I attempted to help him out of bed to get dressed, but he could not weight bear on his foot. This man usually used a walker to move around, so I offered a wheelchair to him to go to breakfast. He responded that he thought a day of rest would clear things up, and I agreed to let him rest and brought breakfast to his room. After this incident I spoke with the head nurse on the floor and discussed Mr. S’s condition. The nurse and I agreed to Mr. S. resting for the day. The health care worker though, insisted that Mr. S. get out of bed and dressed for the day. As an advocate for this man, I insisted that she let him rest as his foot was quite sore. The worker conveyed to me that all residents had to be up and dressed every day. At this point my values were being challenged. I recalled a speaker that had come to speak to the clinical group when we first arrived at Marian Villa. He was very clear to say that ‘this place is their home’. If this is so, why do they have to wake up at 0730 when they would rather sleep until 0830? Why is it that they only have half and hour to start and finish meals? Why can they only shower once a week? I stood my ground with the worker, and explained bluntly that he was not getting up. I was proud of myself for standing up for my beliefs, and I respected the health care worker for standing up for her beliefs as well. Nursing theories have a lot to do with the way a nurse develops his/her own style of helping. Once a nurse has explored their own values and beliefs, they may then look into theories that correspond to their value and belief system. Theories are a good way of supporting what one finds to be true. For instance, Imogene M. King believes that â€Å"Goals, needs, and values of nurse and client influence the interaction process† (George, 1995). I, as a nurse, also believe this to be true, but to have a theory to back up my perception is superior to having this belief alone. As different nurses have different beliefs, there are many theorists to support those beliefs. For me, my values and beliefs are complimentary to the theories of Jean Watson, a needs/problem-oriented theorist, as well as Imogene M. King, an interaction-oriented theorist. King has the same view of patent nurse interaction as I have. Ie. King believes that individuals have a right to participate in the decision making process that would influence their own life and health (George). As well, King believes that individuals have the right to accept or refuse any type of health care. These views of King fit well with my views of the nurse-client relationship. Jean Watson has the same view of nursing as I do as well. For instance, Watson believes that caring promotes health and growth (be it individual or family) (Talento, 1995). Also, Watson believes that â€Å"caring can be effectively demonstrated and practiced only interpersonally (Talento). It is vital in all nursing situations to have a personal style of helping that is effective and leads to good patient care. When a patient receives first-rate care, they are likely to better adjust to their illness than if poor care was given. It is imperative that a variety of helping styles be available in a nursing environment, such as compassion, respect and trust. Every nurse has a different personal style of helping, and as such, many different types of nursing theories have developed to compliment their individual style, such as Jean Watson and Imogene M. King for instance. Once nurses understand and identify with a theory, they can then better understand their personal style of nursing, and in turn, are able to apply this individual style when helping a patient. Bibliography : References George, J. B. (1995) Imogene M. King. George, J. B (ed. ) Nursing theories: The base for professional nursing practice 4th ed. , 209-228, Norwalk, Connecticut: Appleton Lange. Talento, B. (1995) Jean Watson. George, J. B (ed. ) Nursing theories: The base for pro

Sex in Contemporary China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sex in Contemporary China - Essay Example Exposure has led to the emergence of certain practices in the world that never existed in the ancient world. The Chinese people are revered for their rich store of culture. Rich cultural histories have made it possible to analyze and make comparisons between cultures in different ages, and their perceptions on sexuality. On the subject of sex and desire, the Chinese culture adopted a range of views that shaped their beliefs. The topic of sexuality was viewed differently in the ancient times than in the modern times. The various changes in Chinese sexual culture, in modern China, were influenced by reforms that begun in the early 1980s. These reforms introduced a different perception of sexuality. With the reforms, the Chinese government continuously lost its grip on the restrictions that it had imposed on the people, which limited sexual practices. However, the government also allowed for the continuation of certain sexual practices that have continued to the modern world, and had profound influences on the people’s sexual culture. The modern Chinese culture is rife with sexual practices that have their roots to the ancient cultures allowed during the Mao Zedong era. However, the practices changed during the reign of the Qing dynasty more than three thousand years ago. China has been characterized by changes in the patterns of sexual desire. The modern china is characterized by the prevalence of same-sex sexual desire. The same sex desire has taken the path of lesbianism and homosexuality. Lesbianism has had a long but hidden history. This practice existed in ancient times, when parents allowed their daughters to engage in latent lesbian activities to avoid public embarrassment of the family in case they got pregnant. Modernity has paved way for the increase in this practice because several arguments have been advanced to support the practice. Firstly, lesbianism in china is seen as more spiritual and less sexual. The prevalence of lesbianism can be traced back to the ancient times when the ancient leaders prom oted homosexuality. This led to neglect of women in pursuance of sexual pleasure that resulted to women looking for other sources of sexual pleasure. The only resort was to unite with other females who shared the circumstances in a bid to satisfy their sexual desires. This practice was carried on to the modern world and has become more prevalent in china (Vosburg, 130). Secondly, the increase in number of same-sex relations has been followed by constant activism and lobbied for recognition. Coupled with the free world as a result of technological advancements, the Chinese culture has been under a lot of pleasure allowing for formal recognition of such practices. Although the Chinese laws prohibit Lesbianism, this sexual preference has been allowed a lot of freedom in China. The major cities in China are flooded with lesbian bars, cafes that give evidence for the prevalence of this practice. Thirdly, lesbianism has also been rampant in modern China because of independence among women . Access to education has made women attract well paying jobs, which has led to financial independence, a crucial role that was played by men in society (Vosburg, 133). Non dependence on men for the provision of basic needs has given women the freedom and will to choose their own path in life, including their sexual preference. The pressures of work give women limited time for interaction with their men. This has killed the desire