The Concept Of Identity In Society

The Concept Of Identity In Society The concept of identity is described in numerous different ways such as the I, Me, personality, self and essence. These offer a starting point for us to attempt to understand and explain who and what we are internally and within the external world .There are various theories that have been developed to help us make sense of what contributes to our identity. These theories examine the factors that can build, shape and change our identity, covering aspects such as the structure of society, our interactions with others and past experiences. Identity could be defined as being directly relevant to associated characteristics of an individuals character or of a group. Identity can be viewed as a both passive and active form, it can be used to help others define us which is usually not controllable by that individual it can also be relevant to how we as individuals view ourselves.(Macionis and plummer,2008). There are various forms of the self and identity the three main groups most individuals are able to place themselves within .These are the collective self, the individual self and the relational self. The concept of identity in modern western society has shifted as a result of changes in ideology and society. These changes have included industrialisation where subjects act as workers who move around for work and have a identity that is flexible and not rigid within social structure and enlightenment where subjects are able to change their identities and create new choices and choosing new value systems (Michael.A, 2008) The relationship of identity in the structural sense and the actual power an individual has over their identity has been critically analysed by theorists such as Goffman (1999) and Garfinkel (1984) have placed emphasis on the way individuals can develop and mould identity using language.Mead describes a similar form of interaction where personality, interaction and social structure provide a framework that can then be used for an understanding of identity (Choudry,2010,p11). To examine the various theories that contributes to the study of identity in regards to investigating societies understanding of older people. This will be looked at using the following structure, firstly looking at ways in which age forms an identity will be considered. Secondly, the influence of theorists on attempting to understand the process by which this identity is created will be examined. Third, the concept of stigma and its repercussions will be discussed. Finally, the role and identity both personal an d professional of the Social Worker as an agent between structural aspects and the impact of this role on the service user. How old an individual is and how this influences identity varies and can be interpreted differently from different personal perspectives and cultures. From an objective sense age is simply the culmination of a process that is begun at birth and one that is given certain social indicators (Taylor and field, 2007, p.113). Older people or old age in many societies worldwide is not clearly defined but usually a term used when referring to someone a few years older than the individual being referred to (Miller,2008). Various cultural views can produce pressure on who is considered young or as an older person within society. This can vary according to cultural context (Stephens and Leach, 1998,p.475). The implications of being identified as an older person can cause tension between the potential conflict of the individuals view of their identity and the structural view . In traditional society, the identity of the elderly is often a prescribed element, that presupposes norms of clothing and behaviour (Taylor and field, 2007).Other members that belong to that particular traditional society are projected with ideals of how to behave in a manner suited to people of an older age a manner that would change for another person of similar age (Stepehns and Leach, 1998, p. 476) . These assumptions have the ability to reduce the amount of power a older person has as they are defined and categorised based on visible characteristics rather than as a whole person (Miller,2008). Therefore social workers interpretation of an older person should fully consider the relationship between identity ,older people and structural factors.An older person may not view themselves as simply fitting in to a p articular category such as older person even if society is able to do so. There are many different sociological theories that can assist in understanding contemporary societies attitude to identity when referring to older people (Giddens,2000 ,p.521).Within social work acknowledging and utilising the right of self determinism is an important part of the framework created when providing support and assistance to older people(Miller, 008 , P4). When identifying a person in need the role of the social worker could include providing a range of suitable options to choose from. However the social worker would provide the older person with the tools to make an independent decision. This can be explained by the adherence to identification in terms of the agency exerted by the older person (Franzese,2009,p.71).It is important that the social worker refrains from categorising the elderly originating from the perspective of an older person but viewing as an independent individual in need (Franeze,2009).To assume without proof about the lack of ability of an older per son must be avoided. This can create a tendency to make judgements and disempowered the service user, leading to lack of understanding in regards to the care and support required. Especially in regards the older persons ability to make independent informed choices based on a understanding of their life and being the expert within their own situations. Although there are types of illnesses such as mental health issues that tend to occur more in the elderly than in the younger generation the social worker needs to assume the service user is capable -so regardless of how the service user is generally presenting him o herself unless presented with proof that suggests otherwise. Using this method in social work and emphasising the person centred approach can be explained through understanding the right to self determinism and empowerment (Kim, 1991). To practice effectively the social work must actively avoid becoming complacent with the attitudes towards older people projected through d ominate discourse in contemporary society. This discourse projects identity on to individuals using age as way of categorising the social work need to provide the individual with the right to self-determination. This is a difficult perspective to maintain when the structure of society promotes and accepts the idea of defining individuals in regards to age (Giddens,2000).This is also difficult to maintain when surrounded with many resources that are provided to those in need by social services that are allocated based on age and therefore creating restrictions if an individual does not fall into that age bracket. Therefore suggesting it is difficult to completely avoid catergosring older people as this is the system used in the society they exist in. This can be examined by looking at psychosocial identity, although Giddens suggests that we are reflexive agents we may have a smaller agency than what is suggested (Newman and Newman,2008).This suggests the rationale model of decision making for an individual is limited in its uses ; the choices we make are usually created for us to some extent as they are usually made when need or desire ansd the actually outcome only clear after the choice has been made.(Newman and Newman, 2008). Consequently an older person may experience the limitation of making a rational choice in regards to their identity as these choices may be made from a particular need. The older persons rational choices maybe affected by anxieties and fears surrounding their identity. As a result the role of the agent is quite limited in regards to the way interaction occurs between agent and structure. Therefore the individual has less choice than what may be assumed. Another important element for understanding identity in relation to contemporary social work is the subject of stigmatism. Stigma can be explained as a loss of individual social identity and status that occurs when an individual is simply looked upon as a member of a group with shared characteristics (Giles et al., 1990).The concept of being an older person could be looked upon as a creation of society rather than something that has naturally developed through positive association. This is relevant to older people as stigma can produce problems as it relates a number of conditioned to older people, stereotyping them (Giddens, 2000).Bringing in ethical practice a better way to avoid projecting identity on to an older person it would be more effective to avoid placing stigma upon the older person.With messages provided by the media in various forms such as television advertisements that depict older people as suffering from illness and being in need. When only provided with these image s of older people not stigmatising within social work would appear to be problematic. Structural aspects such as bureaucratism and globalisation make community self determinism and professional independence very difficult if not impossible (Bowles et al,2006).There is an conception that older people after being classified as older change from being active to passive members of society with limited involvement and are limited in their self-determinism. Goffman proposed a definition of stigma that emphasisies the differences between the virtual self in social identity and the actual social identity.(Goffman, 1969) Tension that has been identified by Sociological theory therefore is concerned largely with the interaction between the agency of an individual against the stigma that may be imposed upon the concept of the elderly, and their own right to self-identity (Newman and Newman, 2008, p.388). To an extent, as is represented by the psycho-social theoretical standpoint, it is difficult to argue from the perspective of interactionism the ways in which the individual has a significant agency in order to combat this perspective (Macionis and Plummer, 2008, p.76). Garfunkel (1967) argues that language is used as an active means by which individuals shape the identity around them. Rather than accepting a social identity that is imposed by the social structure in which they find themselves, individuals are active participants in the creation of such categories (Stephens and Leach, 1998, p.24). Of course, given that much of the social stigma associated with ageing stems from the ways in which the el derly are portrayed as mentally unstable, passive victims with mobility issues, all of which can be supported with a certain degree of statistical evidence, the ways in which individuals can rail against the stigma is problematic (Newman and Newman, 2008, p.289). However, the stigma is better understood as a blanket type definition applied to all individuals within a certain category ignoring the extent to which they fall into such categories. Identity theories, particularly from an interactionist perspective, are quite limited in their approach to describing how each individual holds their ability to actively define themselves in opposition to such stigma. The use of identity theories are not only significant for the ways in which Social Workers treat the elderly but can be seen as useful understanding the means by which the individual appreciates their own impact upon the context (Giddens, 2000, p.522). In particular, an understanding of the interaction between agency and structure can help the individual reflect on the extent to which certain roles are almost predefined by the context in which they find themselves (Haslam, 2003, p.99). First, the Social Workers role can be interpreted in the way in which they can be seen as part of the social structure. The fact that the provision of services can be interpreted in a negative fashion as the imposition of structure allows the individual to assess their own role and position within this context. Furthermore, the individual must appreciate their own potential for agency within the structure in the attempts provided for the avoidance of oppressive practice (Newman and Newman, 2008, p.388) . An important element of this process is in the use of reflective practice which allows the Social Worker to assess their own individual approaches and their emotions to the servo e provision. The extent to which they view the elderly with a stigma, or make assumptions regarding their ability to provide their own active approach to their own identity can be self-assessed. In many cases, it is possible for the Social Worker to adopt the Goffman idea of a distanced role, where they play a role in the service provision that fits various notions of the ideal way that such services can be provided without stigma (Goffman, 1963, p.54). This will involve occluding their true feelings or impressions of an individual, and the reflective practice allows them to assess and understand their approach to the subject (Goffman, 1999, p.16). The notion of the importance of agency within this context is therefore a key way in which Sociological Theories have affected Social Work practice. A range of effects have a significant effect on the way in which individuals are influenced in their identity (Giddens, 2000, p.522). In many such cases it is almost impossible for the elderly to exert their own level of agency in order to resist the categorisation and the accompanying stigma that often applies. In many cases, this can occur as the result of active influences on the part of the individual themselves, even if it is a distanced social role as suggested by Goffman (1999). The important influence of such theories upon the understanding of identity, however, fall into the area where the Social Worker can be seen as part of an active element of the structuration process (Zastrow, 2009, p.59). This is a difficult role to avoid on account of the fact that despite the ways in which agency is emphasised for the individual for whom care is provided, the provision of services is often defined by age rather than simply by need. From the perspective that to avoid stigma as a whole , it could be expected that the various requirements of the elderly may come under different remits, such as mobility issues coming under the disabled remit; and in many cases this does continue (Zastrow, 2009, p.61). However, the fact that certain benefits are available to the elderly on the basis of age alone means that the Social Worker remains an agent, albeit an active one, of the notion that age defines a social identity. This social identity therefore means that there is a subgroup of services that would be provided, and this perhaps undermines the active attempts to avoid imposing stigma on the concept of the the elderly and allow the individuals to impose their own agency. The most useful forms of identity theory would appear to ultimately stem from Lemert and Mead, that emphasise the position of an interaction between structure and agency (Franzese, 2009, p.71). As has been described in the previous discussion, elements that emphasise the process of either agency or the role of structure tend to miss the point of the way in which elderly people interact with the definitions that are applied to an identity. For the Social Worker there are numerous advantages that can be gained from an understanding of such theoretical contributions and the influence of different theories can help understand the requirement to avoid stigma and the emphasis that is made in Social Work to the process of individualisation, despite the inherent contradictions that can exist in the way in which services are provided. Social Work is essentially a part of society and represents and reflects the processes within it; as such, Sociological theories will always be of use in explai ning and describing the ways in which different processes form a part of practice (Franzese, 2009, p.71).

Developing Countries Essay -- International Political Economy, Debt

Developing countries are closely linked to debt. This is because developing countries needs to allocate more funds to resolve debt crises. Debt can create a negative effect to the host country’s economy and the social condition of a country. This issue of indebtedness is usually solved using domestic capital. Since developing countries have low income, therefore they have low level of savings. The savings are insufficient to repay debt. Thus the government resolves the issue by imposing higher tax. But this will lead to inflationary tax, which is a burden to the further generation. Therefore, the government resorts to foreign borrowings. Domestic borrowings and foreign borrowings have further increased the total debt accumulated by the nation leading them to poverty. To resolve the debt issue, foreign direct investment plays an important role as a source of fund and also in acquiring skills and knowledge. But the inflows of foreign direct investment depend on location advantage. There are various channels that determine the location advantage such as human capital development channel, financial development channel and environmental condition channel. According to Wilhelms and Stanley (1998), foreign direct investment movements are derived from the both financial transaction and non-financial transaction such as changes in price, foreign exchange and others. Figure 12 shows the foreign direct investment theory and its determinants in emerging economics. According to the foreign direct investment theory, socio culture is the oldest institution, complex and most diffused factor that influence the inflow of foreign direct investment. It is most difficult and time consuming to change. The degree to which a society is recepti... ...ivariate regression models were used to further probe the nature of the relationships between income, talent, and other factors. The adjusted R-squared values for these models are (0.57) and (0.65) respectively, suggesting a reasonably positive and robust relationship. These findings support the human capital growth by Lucas (1988), Simon (1998) and Geetha (2002). This was also supported by Eaton and Eckstein (1997) and Black and Henderson (1999) that workers are more productive when they locate around others with high levels of human capital. In addition, Romer (1990) also claims the importance of knowledge and human capital in generating economic growth through economic geography. Romer (1990) stressed that what is important for growth is integration not into an economy with a large number of people but rather into one with a large amount of human capital.

Government is the monopoly of legitimate use of physical power” Essay

Functions of the Ruling Officer: * Promote interest and welfare of the people * For the benefit of the governed * Protection of the inhabitants * Administration of justice * Advancement of the physical, economical, social and cultural well- being of the people * Preservation of the state from danger (internal & external) Ideal Qualities of Governing Politician: * Shall have the brains and ability * Political maturity * Experience â€Å"In order to govern people he does not know or understand, he ought to possess the talent of a genius and extraordinary knowledge.† * Jose Rizal â€Å"The government who fulfils the satisfaction of human expectation is good. The Government that DOES NOT serve the needs of the people but governs to protect the interest and welfare of a few at the expense of many is not good.† * Zulueta â€Å" Government is the monopoly of legitimate use of physical power† * Max Weber * The government is committed to promote: * general welfare, * morals, * intelligence, * social justice * Ultimate happiness Rizal on the Family * Family- the basic and oldest social institution, a very important factor in shaping the character of a child. Family determines: * Child’s social class * Religious orientation * Language * Upbringing of the children Children are Expected to be: * Loyal * Obedient Parents’ Legacies to children: * Rectitude of judgement * Generosity of rights * Steadfastness in adversity â€Å" The greatest honour that a son can pay his parents is integrity and a good name.† Rizal on Livelihood * Rizal vehemently objected Carl Marx’s Communist ideology. * He regarded livelihood as the government’s focal points to alleviate poverty Communism * ideology referring to the equal distribution of wealth. * The government scoops up all the wealth and distributes them evenly or as needed. Means of having a viable livelihood program: * Equal land ownership * Regulation of capital * Government buys from landlords and place it on workers â€Å"Regulation of Capital† was essential to combat the ill effects of capitalism. Each person’s wealth is based on his own personal production. Rizal on Justice â€Å" Justice is a constant and perpetual will to allot to every man what he is due.† Twin ideals of Justice System * Swiftness- occurrence of a speedy trial * Fairness- justice itself â€Å"Justice delayed is justice denied.† No person shall be deprived of life, liberty and property without due process of law.

Black Daeth essays

Black Daeth essays The Black Death was a plague that carried a disease that ravaged its way through the world, eventually causing economic, political, and cultural disruptions. It came like a murderer in the night, when no one was expecting it. This mysterious disease first attacked the people living near the Black Sea in what is now called Southern Ukraine. It came without mercy, like a warrior coming for revenge. It struck, and within days hundreds of people fell ill. The first symptoms were severe headaches and redness of the eyes. These were followed by inflammations of the tongue, hoarseness and a hacking cough. Then came severe intestinal upsets, including vomiting and acute diarrhea. Temperatures rose, and at the fevers height the body broke out with reddish spots. By the third day, the lymph nodes in the sufferers'' groins, neck, and occasionally the armpits began to swell. Eventually the swelling would increase from the size of a hazelnut to the size of walnut, then to the size of a hen's egg. The swelling would bulge out making it easily visible; its blackish color giving the disease its name: The Black Death. The swellings would continue to get bigger and extremely painful causing the victim to vomit blood. Eventually the swelling would burst, and the victim would die soon after. The whole process, starting from the first symptoms to the final expiration would last as little as 3 days to as long as 9 days. It was a terrible and excruciating disease that was given the title of the Bubonic Plague, a medical term. The swelling that the victims received became known as buboes, the Greek word for groin, boubon. Therefore giving the disease its official name: the Bubonic Plague. There were three forms of the plague: Bubonic, Septicaemic, and pneumonic. The Bubonic plague was the main disease that tormented the people of the Black Sea region, but there was another dise...

Winston Churchill2 essays

Winston Churchill2 essays Winston Churchill was born in 1874 and died, aged ninety, in 1965. He was active in British politics for almost sixty years and was twice Prime Minister. He was a soldier, an artist, a historian, and a journalist, as well as a politician. He was a man of great mental energy, of vivid imagination, and powerful ambition. He was frequently the center of stormy political activity; criticism and abuse were often showered upon him. But he died respected and mourned not only by his own nation, but by the world, for which he had done so much when he led the fight against Nazi tyranny and refused to surrender or to despair of victory. (Gilbert 13) On November 30, 1874, Winston Spencer Churchill was born to Lord Randolph Churchill and Jennie Churchill at Blenheim Palace. In 1888, he was placed in Harrow School. At the end of his first year at Harrow, the boys grades were still the lowest in his class. Reluctantly his father gave up any notion of Winstons following in his own footsteps. Remembering his sons passion for playing at war, Lord Randolph asked him if he was still interested in the army. Winston was delighted over the thought that his father recognized his military genius. The sad truth that his father considered him hopeless in any other field never occurred to the self-assured lad. (Manchester 13) He was then sent to Sandhurst, a Royal Military Academy, in 1893. He joined the army and began selling articles to the Daily Graphic. In 1898, his first book, The Malakand Field Force, was published. The next year he resigned from the army to enter politics. July 6, 1899 Churchill lost his first election as a Conservative candidate. When the Boer War broke out, the London Morning Post sent Churchill as a reporter. A month after arriving in South Africa he was captured by the Boers but made a daring escape. When he returned to England in 1900 he ran for election again and won. Enterin...

Trategic Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Trategic Management - Case Study Example In the pat three year, a Emeron ha intenified it focu on growth, annual diviion planning conference have been devoted entirely to thi initiative. (Hitt, Ireland and Hokion, 2006) One element of the management proce i the Bet Cot Producer trategy. With thi trategy, Emeron trive to manufacture product at the lowet relevant global cot that meet or exceed cutomer expectation. Firt articulated in the early 1980, thi trategy enure that Emeron utain high level of profitability, which in turn provide funding for top-line growth initiative. In the pat five year, Emeron' bet cot poition ha improved the gro profit margin by 1.6 percent, allowing u to increae ale and marketing expenditure in upport of growth program. (Hitt, Ireland and Hokion, 2006) Two area in which the Bet Cot Producer trategy ha been particularly effective recently are upplier conolidation and material cot reduction, and etablihing local market preence in developing region of the world. In fical 1993, Emeron formally began a program of upgrading the Company' procurement function to contain inflation in the cot of material. The primary focu of thi program, upplier conolidation, ha contributed ignificantly to material inflation containment and productivity and, therefore, to overall profitability. By reducing upplier by more than 10 percent per year, Emeron ha achieved lower cot of material through leverage. Working more cloely with fewer upplier further enable them to better undertand Emeron' product and manufacturing procee, and to ugget additional cot reduction. In elected intance, the Company ha formed joint venture with upplier to provide the neceary invetment for tate-of-the-art technology to enure that material are available at the bet cot. (Gomez, Lui , David , Balkin and Robert , 2008) Etablihing a local market preence i another mean of achieving bet cot tatu. In the pat five year, for example, while dometic employment level have increaed, the Company ha imultaneouly created approximately 4,000 new job in Aia and Eatern Europe to better erve thoe growing market. Thi expanion of infratructure in developing region provide manufacturing flexibility and the ability to repond to fluctuation in currencie and economie. Additionally, the Company benefit from lower regional cot that are neceary to compete effectively in thee area. The management proce alo include organization planning. Each operation i regularly reviewed to conider it organization tructure and the kill et of it people relative to it revenue and profit initiative. We evaluate the talent pool in each unit to identify high-potential manager, provide career enhancing opportunitie and, a a reult, enure that the human reource are in place to upport our continued ucce. Emeron' hitory of conitent financial performance i the bet meaure of the effectivene of the management proce. B: Identify the potential profit pool that are available to Emeron Electric. Emeron Electric Co. aid it fical econd-quarter earning roe 11 percent on international growth and ale in it egment that make product including communication infratructure and temperature gauge. The electrical product maker aid late Tueday it earned $547 million, or 69 cent per hare, compared with $494 million, or 61 cent per hare, in the year-ago quarter.

Numerical Problem Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Numerical Problem - Speech or Presentation Example Further, the firm has a higher debt-to-equity ratio which is also unfavorable indicating more risk because the firm depends more on external lenders. Average collection period indicates the number of days a firm requires converting its receivables into cash. The firm takes more days that the industry average implying that the premiums receivable of the firm are less liquid or are converted less quickly into cash. The firm is, therefore, less efficient in managing its premium receivables compared to the industry average. Days cash on hand shows the number of days of operating expenses that the firm could meet with its current cash available. The company is in a worse situation because it has a lower ratio than the industry average and should increase its fundraising or cut back its spending. Return on assets is a profitability ratio measuring how efficient a firm is in using its assets to generate revenue. The firm has a higher ratio than the industry average implying that it is more efficient in using its assets to generate revenue than the industry average. The firm has higher TIE ratio than the industry average. It, therefore, has higher ability to meet its interest payments on the debt. The firm has a lower fixed asset turnover ratio meaning it is not using the assets optimally. It is less efficient than the industry average in using assets to generate sales or