The history of video games Essay Example for Free

The history of video games Essay The world of video games has played a part in several generations and they have always been entertaining for everyone. They have consistently evolved over the years keeping up with the times always offering gamers the best quality that is available. What started as mainly being played on televisions now is being played in hand held versions in addition to cell phones. Video games are evolving again with the games allowing the chance for everyone to get involved with the fun. From little toddlers to grandparents, there is a game out there all genres. I will explain each next-gen platform and its differences. The first system is the Nintendo Wii, Wii standing for we meaning that this console was built for everybody to play. This is the smallest console to date weighing in at only less than three pounds, over six inches tall, and it plays 12† inch discs in addition to eight inch discs from its predecessor the Nintendo GameCube. This console is motion censored based meaning that you have to move your body with the controller. This is the only that requires a memory card since there is not a lot of internal memory. This console is for everybody and it became instant hit and sold millions of units in a few short months. Next console is the X-Box 360, the second system released by Microsoft offering a more detailed online experience. With the ability to play others online the 360 has a social networking feel where you interact through your game. This console is fairly heavy weighing in at almost six pounds and with the older models the hard drives are detachable offered in 60 and 120 GB. The current model now has a 250GB hard drive and it slimmer lighter model and now it affordable as opposed to release in 2006 and starting price at $400. Then there is the PlayStation 3 perhaps the best console out of three offers their gamers the ability to play blue-ray discs in addition to having web browser option to connect to your internet service through Ethernet connection. With other features like the PlayStation Store where you can purchase your games and download it to your console, and the PlayStation Home where you can interact with others through an avatar. It began with consoles 20 and 60 GB and now it is offered in 160 and 320 GB since its launch in 2006. Each of these video games is unique in their own way but yet it offers the level entertainment that gamers always come to expect. However, they have evolved to target more guys there are games for everybody now. It is amazing how far these video games have come.

Portrayal of Women in Media

Portrayal of Women in Media Are We Seeing Increased Sexualization of Women in Media? Feminists argue that popular media contributes to coerciveness and sexual assault toward women as seen by the dominant presence of violence against women in all forms of media (Linz Malamuth, 1993). Adolescents have been resorting to popular entertainment for information about sex, drugs, alcohol and violence (Kaiser Family Foundation, 1999). Their preference for the more popular and accessible music videos has provides them with such information. Analysis of Music Television (MTV) has shown that men appeared nearly twice as often as women and engaged in significantly more aggressive, dominant behavior and women were shown as engaging in more implicitly sexual and subservient behavior. They were depicted to be frequent objects of explicit, implicit and aggressive advances by men (Sommers-Flanagan, Sommers-Flanagan, Davis, 1993). It is usual for women in these videos to be used as decorative objects, and only a few videos show men and women are treated equally (Vincent, Davis Borus zkowski, 1987). One study of media and sexuality revealed that exposure to MTV among college females was the most powerful predictor of sexual permissiveness (Strouse Buerkel-Rothfuss, 1987). Likewise, in video games, a more sexist orientation and graphic violence against women is getting prevalent. Overall, content in various media such as television, video games, music videos communicates that women are to be objectified, sexualized, dominated, assaulted and even killed (Bretthauer, Zimmerman Banning, 2006). Evolving Standards of Women’s Beauty Standards of women’s beauty keep on changing, with more recent standards emphasizing body proportions that are not normally seen on everyday women. Cusumano Thompson (1997) studied standards of women’s beauty in magazines over a 20-year period. In Playboy magazine, the models were considered to epitomize the ideal female body shape. Bust and hip measurements as well as weights of the centerfolds were taken in the span of 20 years (1959-1978) and mean weight of the centerfolds was observed to be signify antly lower than the average female for the same time period. Another observation is a decrease in the centerfolds’ bust and hip measurements as the heights of the models increased over the 20-year period. Consequently, an increase in the number of diet articles was seen in a number of women’s magazines also in the same time span (Cusumano Thompson, 1997). Along with this, there was also a significant increase in the areas of weight loss, beauty, fitness a nd health. Fashion magazines contained more health and fitness articles than traditional magazines. In terms of body measurements, Thompson and Tantleff (1992) found that women’s ideal breast size to be larger than their own current size. On top of that, women’s and men’s concept of the societal ideal breast size was found to be even larger than the women’s ideal size. This implies that media may have promoted images fostering discrepancies between current and ideal perceptions of societal ideal sizes (Thompson Tantleff, 1992). Print Media Sex sells. That is something being propagated by media. Hence in all kinds of media formats, images of alluring ladies showing much of their skin are being presented together with products being sold in the belief that the product will be more saleable. Magazines, in particular, have significantly increased the amount of sexual content not only in exhibiting sexualized women’s images but also offering explicit sexual advice (Kim Ward, 2004). The message being conveyed by contemporary magazines with more a liberated nature is that sexually assertive women are prized creatures and if women want to be considered as such, they should follow the advice in the magazine articles. This is a time when the sexuality of young girls is being presented in an exploitative manner. Sexual agency and desire is highly promoted to them. In magazines like Cosmopolitan, though, women’s sexual agency and aggressiveness are promoted within the confines of a relationship (Durham, 1996). What is ironic is that there is a strong emphasis for women to be sexually active to please men, but not overtly sexual, as they still need to make men feel in control. They are expected to be sexually attractive to men in a way that promotes sexual desirability, but should keep their own desire concealed as they need to be pursued and not to be the predator (Durham, 1996, 1998; Garner et al., 1998). These magazines, then, can be seen as part of a ‘cultural apparatus that purports to assist women to be heterosexually attractive, to be coy, alluring, â€Å"sexy,† and flirtatious, in order to â€Å"find true love† and to â€Å"catch a man,† and then to maintain his interest’ (Overall, 1999, p. 298). Mass media’s dominant representation of women is that they exist for men’s satisfaction of their sexual fantasies (Wood, 1994). Cleo and Cosmopolitan magazines encourage women to be as ‘sexual’ as they can be, making them available to satisfy men’s sexual fantasies and desires. Although being able to provide sexual satisfaction for men may be a source of pleasure and power for women, it also reflects that women are reliant on men for their own self-image and power (Machin Thornborrow, 2003). Thus, repeatedly reading articles on how to give pleasure to men may promote women’s insecure sexuality (Farvid Braun, 2006). Sex is promoted as a way to keep a man interested in a woman enough to stay in a relationship. Farvid Braun (2006) observe in Cleo and Cosmopolitan magazines that the ability of some women to provide great sex to men is essential in fulfilling not only men’s sexual needs but women’s relational needs as well. Cleo magazine advocates women to leave an impression where it counts†¦ in bed. These magazines project an image of men as potential cheaters and great sex can keep them from straying. That is why women are advocated to learn the art of sexual pleasing to keep their men faithful. Krassas, Blaukamp Wesselink (2001) conclude that women’s magazines communicate a paradoxical perspective of female sexuality in that women are encouraged to shed their traditional roles and become more independent while they are pressured to find and sexually satisfy a man. Women’s bodies are considered commodities and their independence allows them to use such commodities to their advantage and to maximize their market value (Goldman, Heath Smith, 1991). Krassas, Blaukamp Wesselink (2001) also note that Cosmopolitan magazine may be the first to recognize women as sexual, at the same time, they are primarily sexual objects whose desire is fulfilled by allowing themselves to be treated as commodities that are sexually available to men and designed to attract men. How Women are Depicted in Advertising Erving Goffman (1979) has studied positioning of women in advertisements and concluded that it mirrored their role in society. Goffman identified the model’s gaze to be important and suggested that women are usually sights to be gazed upon. How the woman is positioned in pictures have accorded meanings. Stereotypical poses such as the model gazing away from the camera and seem o drift off may be categorized as â€Å"licensed withdrawal†. Goffman describes a pattern in which women more often than men are pictured as â€Å"removed psychologically from the social situation at large, leaving them unoriented in it, and presumably, therefore, dependent on the protectiveness and goodwill of others† (Goffman, 1979, p. 57). Gestures suggesting licensed withdrawal are covering the face, sucking or biting fingers, averting one’s head or eyes, shielding oneself behind an object or person, and leaning for support against another person. Contrarily, when the model gazes into the camera, it is an â€Å"engaging gaze† engaging the viewer with a seductive look (Frith, Cheng Shaw, 2004). Goffman’s category of â€Å"feminine touch† most often depicts women lightly caressing an object while men are depicted as grasping or using an object. Women are portrayed as more likely touching themselves such as resting their fingertips on their chin or neck (Goffman, 1979). Conveying a â€Å"conventionalized expression of sexual availability† (Goffman, 1979, p. 41), women are often pictured reclining on a floor or a bed, or canting a head or knee at an odd angle that can be read as an â€Å"acceptance of subordination, an expression of ingratiation, submissiveness, and appeasement† (1979, p. 46). Other observations of Goffman regarding pictures of women and men together include men positioned as bigger or higher in the frame than women. This communicates differences in social status and dependency of women on men. Also, men are often portrayed as performing a function whereas women are merely decorative (Goffman, 1979). Women’s bodies have been used to sell several advertised products. Walsh-Childers (1996) observed that photos of women in advertising usually focused the reader’s eye on women’s body parts such as the breasts. Soley and Kurzbad (1986) also observed that more and more sexual content became manifest since the mid-1980’s as female nudity and erotic content became commonplace in contemporary U.S. advertising. Ms. Magazine published advertisements that increasingly portrayed women as sex objects in its first 15 years of publication. After it no longer ran such ads, Ms. Magazine upheld a position that explicitly embraced feminist orientation and spurned advertisements which were insulting to women. Ms. magazine â€Å"established itself as an institutional prototype for the appropriate conduct of advertising to women† (Ferguson et al., 1990, p. 41). Still, with this supposed precedent of championing for women in advertising, there persist ads depicting wom en as sex objects (Krassas, Blaukamp Wesselink, 2001). Cultural Differences in the Portrayal of Women in Media Women ‘s depiction in media varies depending on their cultural background. Predominantly, women from western cultures are depicted to be more sexually open and less inhibited in showing their bodies and being associated with more sexually-suggestive themes. Frith, Cheng Shaw (2004) contend that in western cultures, women have acquired rights to display their bodies in public without fear of retribution or condemnation. These women have also claimed their right to take pleasure in their bodies. However, in the Middle East and in many parts of Asia, women are expected to dress modestly and demurely (Cheng, 1997). Portraying women as classic beauty types with â€Å"demure† dress across cultures is shared by Eastern and Western cultures. When it comes to portraying women as sensual or sexy beauty types, though, a noticeable difference emerges. More often, such beauty type is used with western models suggesting that advertisers across cultures present western models as more sexually liberated than Asians (Frith, Cheng Shaw, 2004). The message conveyed is that western models are seen more as sex objects than Asian models. On the other hand, Asian models more likely portray the cute/girl-next-door beauty type (Maynard Taylor, 1999). One outcome of depicting women in such childish manner is diminishing their standing in society as full-fledged adults, thereby pitting them less than their male counterparts. Representations of women as strong, professional and independent individuals may be threatening to men, and since patriarchal ideology is mostly upholded in certain countries, advertisers avoid such portrayal of women (Frith, Cheng Shaw, 2004). In terms of women’s roles, in Sweden, they are frequently portrayed as professionals while in the US, they are used more as â€Å"decorative† elements. Biswas et al. (1992) reported that sex appeal was used more often in French advertising than in the US. Asian women are usually represented as actively working while US women are seen as relaxing at home. For example, Sengupta (1995) observed that in print advertisement, Japanese women were more likely to be shown as â€Å"cooking, cleaning and doing other household chores† (p. 329). However, in Japanese advertising, when women were portrayed in their professional roles, it is more often as entertainers or actresses (Cooper-Chen, 1995). Maynard Taylor (1999) also observed young Japanese models posed as â€Å"cute† or â€Å"girlish† (smiling and giggling), whereas Western models were posed with more serious expressions depicting a more defiant and independent image. This reflects various portrayals o f women as they are seen in their culture. Swedish society may see women as capable professionals. American culture may view women as embellishments to lives made better by men. They may be the recipients of their men’s compensation for hard work as they are shown enjoying life and occupy themselves in remaining beautiful. In Japan, women are seen as lower class citizens compared to men, and this shows in their advertisements. They are portrayed as domesticated and dependent on their men as compared to American women who are portrayed to e more independent. A model’s â€Å"gaze† in ads communicates various messages to readers. Samovar, Porter Jain (2001) claim that intercultural communication researchers found that in Asian cultures, direct eye contact is considered aggressive and unfeminine. However, in cultures such as Singapore and Taiwan, women models tend to look directly at the camera. This may be credited to prevailing standards of appearing attractive or it may suggest photographic conventions led by women’s liberation movement in Western industrialized countries to depict women as confident and expressing themselves with direct eye contact (Frith, Cheng Shaw, 2004). Hovland et al. (2005) conducted a study that found many Korean women experiencing dilemmas between the Westernized ideal images of women conveyed in women’s magazines and their own expected traditional roles in their culture. Western values promoted such as competition, freedom, professionalism and individualism challenge traditional Korean values of harmony, obedience and collectivism. This shows how American magazines can be powerful in unsettling readers’ when they read articles that have ideologies that may not agree with their own. It is interesting to note that American contemporary women’s magazines such as Cosmopolitan magazines have such a wide reach that traverses various cultures and locations, so the ideologies they present may be interpreted in various ways. Contemporary American women’s magazines use a limited range of races of its models. These magazines target a market that is predominantly Caucasian and may not expect to target other races . This may be viewed as ethnocentric (Hovland et al., 2005). Ironically, Asian women’s magazines adopt Western images in their advertising. In both American and Asian magazines, the use of Black models is not too frequent and this may be indicative of the adoption of the Western emphasis on the predominance of a White or European beauty standard (Hovland et al., 2005). Increased Sexualization in Popular Modern Music Genres Heavy metal music, described as the overtly violent and sexually explicit segments of rock and roll music (Lynxwiler, 1988) earned the wrath of Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) and targeted a media campaign against it (Gore, 1987). The organization portrayed heavy metal music as dangerous to young minds because it emphasized the use of drugs, encouraged adolescent sex, endorsed sexist/ pornographic values, instrumental in delivering occult messages and caused violent, lawless behavior (Markson, 1990). Such claims created much controversy that it received national attention when Congressional hearings were held to determine if indeed heavy metal albums and other forms of popular music must be evaluated for their influence in proliferation of â€Å"porn-rock† in the United States (Gray, 1989). The hearings did not produce great changes however, more and more organizations concerned with â€Å"child victims† such as conservative parental, religious and feminist groups pushed for the regulation of heavy metal music (Bayles, 1994). Still others began their own uprising against rap music (Binder, 1993). Jones (1997) claims, that as a matter of definition, rap and hip-hop music are often used interchangeably. However, Powell (1991) defined hip-hop as the beat of the music and rap as the narrative representation, the talking over the beat. Hence, the use of explicit violence and sexual lyrics may be blamed down to rap. Powell (1991) described â€Å"commercial rap† as hip hop or dance rap. Hardcore rap, or gangster rap is the one that raises much controversy. Researchers have suggested that hip hop and rap music, rooted in Black culture can be tools through which Black youth may negotiate their identities to develop an authentic Black identity (Clay, 2003). They see the music as reflective of their lives and to assert that music relates to empowerment, cultural connection and positive identity development (Sullivan, 2003; Berry, 1994). Critics of hip hop and rap, however, have argued that Black youth may be very susceptible to the influences of hip hop role models who promise money, power and status to men who show disrespect for women (Squires, Kohn-Wood, Chavous Carter, 2006). Mahiri and Conner’s (2003) ethnographic study of African American middle school students manifested resistance in the negative images emanating from rap and hiphop. This study suggested the use of rap and hiphop images related to social and gender roles as a point of reference from which participants could verbally evaluate, compare and contrast their own beliefs and attitudes. Adolescents in the study of Squires, Kohn-Wood, Chavous Carter (2006) believed that certain women can be â€Å"nasty† and may â€Å"choose† to be abused, and that abusive men may be products of their environment. Still, they showed dissatisfaction with the representations of Black men and women in hip hop. Their criticisms revolved around women’s individual behavior and style and how outsiders might stereotype Black men as thugs for emulating hiphop fashion. Such perceptions of gender roles based on hiphop seemed to extend to the participants’ evaluations of women’s and men’s responsibility and choices with regards to real world sexual aggression and violence (Squires, Kohn-Wood, Chavous Carter, 2006) The problematic aspects of rap music is usually focused on its most acrimonious strain which is gangsta rap. Narratives in such strain are extremely troubling in their glamorization of violence,, materialism, misogyny and sexual transgression (Mahiri Conner, 2003). However, Dyson (1996) argued that the vulgarity expressed in gangsta rap are strongly linked to dominate cultural constructions of â€Å"the other’ and market-driven strategies for rampant economic and human exploitation. Therefore, Dyson noted, the debate about gangsta rap should be situated in a much broader critique of how these narratives essentially mirror ancient stereotypes of Black identity and sexual proclivity through the society’s circulation of â€Å"brutal images of black men as sexual outlaws and black females as â€Å"ho’s† (1996, p. 178)

War PropagandaPast, Present and Future Essay -- Essays Paspers

War PropagandaPast, Present and Future Part 1: An In-depth Look at War Propaganda Propaganda consists of the planned use of any form of public of mass-produced communication designed to affect the minds and emotions of a given group for a specific purpose, whether military, economic, or political. -Linebarger, Paul Myron Anthony In every aspect of life, there tends to be a desire to have others see things the way we see them. In theory, if we all share the same views and opinions, we can unite for common goals. Propaganda consists of a communicators objective to impose or manipulate a person, or group of people into adopting his ideals. Perhaps the most common place that Propaganda is used is during times of war. Given the choice, most people would most likely not express a love for war. Some are passionately against it, others, though not in love with the idea, support it when it’s necessary. Due to the raw nature of war and people’s reactions to it, there seems to be some force working to mask the negative feelings towards war and unite people in support of it. With regard to war, the purpose of propaganda is to make a particular group of people forget that another group is human. By focusing on a few, simple target ideas that reinforce the notion that another group of people are harmful and inhumane, propaganda is able to unite people in an unrealistic mindset. Understandably, however, governments have a priority to nurture the morale of its people and the armed forces that represent it by intimidating the enemy with the force of natural will. The question of whether or not we choose to accept this harsh reality remains ambiguous, as there will always be two sides to the argument. So as it stands, it is... ...11. Starick, Paul. Iraq War Propaganda; War of Words- the Battle for Hearts and Minds. The Advertiser. March 29, 2003. 12. http://www.disinfopedia.org Propaganda Versus Democracy 13. www.globalissues.org Shah, Anup. War, Propaganda and the Media. August 2004. 14. www.independent.org Horten, Gerd. Radio Goes to War: The Politics of Propaganda World War II. 15. www.medialens.org Miller, David. Eliminating Truth: The Development of War Propaganda 16. www.onlinejournal.com 17. www.propagandacritic.com 18. www.socialistworker.org Pro-war Propaganda Machine. March 2003. 19. www.stentorian.com/propagan.html Levinson, William A. An Introduction to Propaganda. 1999. 20. www.truthout.org Morgan, David. Critic Accuses Media of Aiding US War Propaganda. May 2, 2003. 21. www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk

The True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

In Search of Goal Do you think looking forward and trying to change a bad situation into a good one for having a better life is a wrong decision? The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian is a novel written by Sherman Alexie. The novel is about Arnold Spirit; everyone calls him Junior. He is a teenage boy with a tough life who lives with his family in poverty on a Spokane Indian reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. He hates living in poverty and wants something better for himself. â€Å"I feel like I might grow up to be somebody important.An artist†(6) he claims. His living conditions are horrible; he studies in a school with a lack of resources. He considered the different aspects of moving to Reardan, he struggled about leaving the Rez. In the end Junior decided to leave the Rez and make a better life for himself. He must go somewhere else, somewhere that people have hope. In order to get a decent education he made the difficult decision to transfer to the privileged white school in the town of Reardan. Leaving the Rez for a better life had a negative impact on Junior’s relationship with Rowdy.Junior and Rowdy were friends for a long time. â€Å"He is my best human friend and he cares about me† (16), â€Å"Rowdy has protected me since we were born† (17). Rowdy was the most important person in Junior’s life. By leaving the Rez, Junior lost his friend. When Junior told Rowdy about leaving the Rez he got mad, he hauls off and punched Junior in the face and told him, â€Å"Don’t touch me, you retarded fag† (52). Rowdy was angry with Junior; he thought Junior betrayed him by making this decision.Junior was upset about what happened he felt guilty that their relationship was ruined. â€Å"I knew that my best friend had become my worst enemy†(53). In sum, Junior lost his best friend Rowdy because of the decision that he made for a better life. In addition to losing his old friend making new friends at Re ardan was hard and slow. When Junior arrived in Reardan he was scared. He didn't know what was going to happen with the other students. He was wondering what he was doing in a racist white school. Did you know that Indians are living proof that niggers fuck buffalo? I felt that Roger had kicked me in the face. That was the most racist thing I ‘d ever heard in my life† (64) He tried to protect himself when he hit Roger, and he didn’t understand why Roger didn’t try to hit him back. He was scared about the decision that he made. Arnold was the center of attention and this feeling made him uncomfortable, â€Å"They stared at me like I was Bigfoot or a UFO† (56). Most of the students rejected him, they called him names like â€Å"Chief† â€Å"Squaw Boy† â€Å"Tonto†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ (64).It was the loneliest time of his life; â€Å" I just walked from class to class alone; I sat at launch alone; during PE I stood in the corner of the gym and played catch with myself† (83). He thought that he could make friends, but Reardan students didn’t want him in their school. He felt really lonely. As a result, Arnold was lost because everything in Reardan was different from the Rez; he knew that it would be hard for him to find his place in the racist school of Reardan. Although he had a lot of external problems with his new life style in Reardan, it was nothing compared to the internal conflict he suffered.Toward the end of the novel Junior was faced with an abundance of death among his family and friends. After the death of his grandmother, sister and his father’s best friend he was sad, and felt that all the bad things that happened to his friend and family were his fault. As a result he felt helpless and stupid: â€Å"I was mad at God† (171). â€Å"I was so depressed that I thought about dropping out of Reardan. I thought about going back to Wellpinit. I blamed myself for all of the death. I had cur sed my family.I had left the tribe, and had broken something inside all of us, and I was now being punished for that† (173). He carried the guilt of his sister’s death; â€Å"I had killed my sister. Well, I hadn’t killed her. But she only got married so quickly and left the Rez because I had left the Rez first. She had burned to death because I had decided that I wanted to spend my life with white people. It was all my fault† (211). He took on the burden of responsibility for the death of his sister; she was killed in an accident when she was drunk; what happened to her wasn’t Junior’s fault.As result, he was terrified of losing his father, â€Å"Please God, please don’t kill my daddy† (203). Then Junior got some guidance from his father and some words of encouragement from his mother, and Junior began to understand that he made the change in his life for the better. Junior wasn’t the reason her sister died, but he had in spired her to follow her dreams as well. The upshot of all this is that, Junior’s decision about leaving the Rez and moving to Reardan for a better education was tough.He faced lot of problems; he felt lonely because of losing his best friend, and afraid of death of his tribe and family. Although he suffered from the entire bad things that happened to him, it was the best decision that he had made for his life. â€Å"I realized that I might be a lonely Indian boy, but I was not alone in my loneliness. There were millions of other Americans who had left their birthplaces in search of a dream† (217). Work cited Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Little, 2009. Print.

Parenting Skills Essay

What financial needs are parents obligated to provide and which are optional? The financial needs that parents are obligated to provide include nutritious food, shelter, clothing, and health care. The ones that are optional are luxury items such as summer classes, piano lessons, or various electronic items. 3. What other needs might a child have that a parent is expected to provide? Parents are also required to provide safety and security for their child. 4. What are the qualities of a nurturing parent? Qualities of a nurturing parent include retaining a healthy self-esteem so that their child has a basis for self-esteem, a sense of empathy for their child, a way to successfully enforce disciplinary codes, and an understanding of acceptable maturity levels for their child. Critical Thinking Questions 1. What qualities make a person a good parent? A bad parent? The qualities that make a good parent are listening skills, understanding of maturity levels, reasonable mind, and a good education and career. Qualities that make a bad parent include a bad temper or short temper, low education, and ideas of achieving their own goals above their child’s. 2. Which parental responsibilities do you think would be the most challenging? Why? The parental responsibilities that I think would be the most challenging would be having a job that is good enough to afford a child. This is because it is hard to maintain a good job while having a child and still be there for the child emotionally and physically while bringing in a decent paycheck. 3. Which parental responsibilities do you think would be the most interesting to you? Why? The parental responsibilities that I think will be the most interesting to me the education of life skills. It is interesting to think that a child picks up on habits so easily and they can use those skills for the rest of their life. 4. What are some things that people can do to prepare for parenthood? Some things people can do to prepare for parenthood is further their education and get a career. Also, they need to make sure both parties in the relationship want a child. However, no one is ever truly prepared for a child.

Barrack Obama Genogram

Barrack Obama Genogram Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Barrack Obama Genogram specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Genogram Report Introduction The above pictorial illustrates the genogram of the Barack Obama family. It clearly depicts three generations from grandparents to off springs. This report gives a detailed account of each of Obama’s relation. Third Generation At the top left of the genogram are President Obama’s maternal grandparents, Stanley Armour Dunham and Madelyn Lee Payne. They were both born in Kansas and got married on May 5, 1940. Stanley was born on March 23, 1918 and died on February 8, 1992 in Honolulu, Hawaii (Collins, Jordan and Coleman 180). His remains are buried in Punchbowl national Cemetry located in Honolulu, Hawaii. Payne, on the other hand, was born in the year 1922 in Wichita, Kansas and she died 86 years later on November 3, 2008 in Honolulu, Hawaii (Powell 24). The family was blessed with a dau ghter, Stanley Ann Dunham who became President Obama’s mother. Second Generation On the right side at the top of the genogram are Barack’s paternal grandparents, Onyango Obama and Akuma both of whom were of Kenyan origin (Collins et al. 181). Onyango was polygamous and had two other wives, Habba and Sarah who was his third. Onyango is estimated to have been born in 1895 and died in 1979. From his early life, he was a traveler and had been to most parts of the country. He later settled in Nairobi to work as cook for the missionaries who had made inroads into the country. Onyango was then recruited to fight on behalf of England, Kenya’s colonial master during the infamous World War I. He visited countries in Europe as well as India (Collins et al. 179).Advertising Looking for report on biography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Upon returning from the war, he lived in Zanzibar for sometime. Family members believe that it was during his stay there that he converted to Islam from his former Christian faith impacted by the missionaries. Onyango Obama and his second wife Akuma had children one of whom was Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. However, Akuma left the family while the children was still too young. It was at this time that Sarah took over the responsibility of taking care of the children. She is referred most often by Barack Obama as his â€Å"grandmother.† Sarah was born in 1922 and lives in Kogelo, Kenya. First Generation The next generational level includes President Obama’s parents. Barrack Hussein Obama, Sr. was born in 1938 in a village called Nyangoma-Kogelo which is found in Kenya’s Siaya District (Powell 27). In 1982, he was killed in a car crash in the city of Nairobi. Obama was survived by several wives, Kuzia, Ann Dunham, Ruh, and Jael. With the other three wives, Obama Sr. had seven children. One of the half siblings died in 1981 and is buried in Nyangoma-Kogelo village, Siaya District (Collins et al. 181). The rest of the children live in Kenya, the United Kingdom or the United States. Barrack Obama Jr.’s parents first met while at the University of Hawaii as students (Collins et al. 181). Ann Dunham’s parents had moved there from Kansas City. Ann was born on November 27, 1942 in Wichita, Kansas. On the other hand, Barack Sr. was in Hawaii as student under the international exchange program. Later, Ann became an anthropologist in Hawaii and also worked in Indonesia. Barrack Sr. became an Economist with the Kenyan Government. The two were joined together in marriage in 1960 in Hawaii and bore Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. The marriage did not last long and ended after two years. Ann was married for the second time to Lolo Soetoro who was of Indonesian origin in 1964 (Powell 31). In 1966, Lolo went back to Indonesia after his student visa was revoked due to political instability in his country. Ann and Barack lef t for Jakarta in Indonesia a year later after she had graduated. The marriage produced a half sister for Barrack Jr. She is known as Maya and married to Komal. However, the second marriage collapsed after 14 years. Barrack Jr.’s mother died on November 7, 1995 after suffering from ovarian cancer (Collins et al. 181).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Barrack Obama Genogram specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The first generation of the genogram depicts the immediate family of President Barack Hussein Obama. He was born on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii at the Kapiolani maternity Gynecological Hospital. His parents are Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. and Stanley Dunham. The parents divorced when Barack Jr. was just two years of age after which the Barack Obama Sr. relocated to Massachusetts for further studies. He later went back to Kenya to take up a job in the government (Collins et al. 181). Barrack Jr. stayed b riefly in Indonesia before he sent sent back to the US to stay with Madelyn Payne, his maternal grandmother in Hawaii. He went on with his studies and later graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School (Powell 36). It was while in law school that President Obama met Michelle Robinson, his wife. They have two daughters, Malia (13) and Sasha (10). In 2008, Barrack Hussein Obama ascended to the presidency of the United States to become the first ever African American President. He will be seeking a second term in office during the next presidential elections. Collins, Donald, Jordan, Catheleen and Coleman, Heather. An introduction to family  social work. Cengage Learning, Inc., 2009, 178-181 Powell, Kimberly. Tracing the ancestry of Barack Hussein Obama. John Wiley and Sons, 2010, 24-37

Free Essays on Aging & Mental Healh

Approaches to Aging & Mental Health The behavioral model will focus on the behavior that the person displays. Smyer and Qualls believe that behaviors are â€Å"†¦under direct control of environmental events and cues†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Behaviors do occur from environmental stimuli, but there are internal events that will influence behaviors as well. The behavior model puts an emphasis on scientific research that assesses the individual. The information regarding the behavioral model and elders is varied. There are topics on self-care, health care, social contact, and depression, ect. The behavioral model uses empirical research to assess the individual. â€Å"The empirical results are clear: many behaviors previously believed to be a normal product of aging have been demonstrated to be modifiable by changes in the environmental context.† The patient can benefit if things in the environment are changed. With aging there may be many adaptations that need to be met. The environment may need to be changed to enhance life. Mental health is greatly effected by the environment that an elder has to live in. â€Å"†¦Adults are likely to live in environments and contingency patterns similar to those of the middle adulthood.† Elders may not be able to adapt physically to things that the young can. Having a change in the environment may either help or harm the older person. They may not be able to compensate for the change, or may adapt quite well. Older adults may modify their behavior without realizing it in order to adapt to changes. Smyer and Qualls bring up the point that nursing homes challenge the adaptability and well being of elders. This happens because activities are so structured that they don’t leave room for change. Assessment is used to help evaluate what kinds of interventions need to be used. The therapist will first look at any medical problems the person may have. This is to make sure the problem is not from a disease.... Free Essays on Aging & Mental Healh Free Essays on Aging & Mental Healh Approaches to Aging & Mental Health The behavioral model will focus on the behavior that the person displays. Smyer and Qualls believe that behaviors are â€Å"†¦under direct control of environmental events and cues†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Behaviors do occur from environmental stimuli, but there are internal events that will influence behaviors as well. The behavior model puts an emphasis on scientific research that assesses the individual. The information regarding the behavioral model and elders is varied. There are topics on self-care, health care, social contact, and depression, ect. The behavioral model uses empirical research to assess the individual. â€Å"The empirical results are clear: many behaviors previously believed to be a normal product of aging have been demonstrated to be modifiable by changes in the environmental context.† The patient can benefit if things in the environment are changed. With aging there may be many adaptations that need to be met. The environment may need to be changed to enhance life. Mental health is greatly effected by the environment that an elder has to live in. â€Å"†¦Adults are likely to live in environments and contingency patterns similar to those of the middle adulthood.† Elders may not be able to adapt physically to things that the young can. Having a change in the environment may either help or harm the older person. They may not be able to compensate for the change, or may adapt quite well. Older adults may modify their behavior without realizing it in order to adapt to changes. Smyer and Qualls bring up the point that nursing homes challenge the adaptability and well being of elders. This happens because activities are so structured that they don’t leave room for change. Assessment is used to help evaluate what kinds of interventions need to be used. The therapist will first look at any medical problems the person may have. This is to make sure the problem is not from a disease....