Diverse Workplace and Its Problems - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1863 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2019/08/16 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Diversity In The Workplace Essay Did you like this example? Diversity and Cultural Issues in the Workplace The effectiveness of a diverse workplace depends on the openness of the staff and leadership to accept change, as well as how they engage others from different backgrounds. Whilst todays workforce is no longer made up of one single race or gender.   It is made up of many different races with different cultural beliefs. In an essay I read called Diversity of Race and Ethnicity Sociology it states that better decisions are made with ethnically diverse groups, than those of the homogeneous teams (Diversity of Race and Ethnicity Sociology, 2017). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Diverse Workplace and Its Problems" essay for you Create order Diversity can be complex, and is not defined as one specific thing. It is loosely defined as the understanding and acceptance of others that are different than you. Diversity is categorized into two separate categories. The first category covers the basics such as race, age, gender, and sexual orientation. The other category is a little more complex and it covers everything from cultural values, religious beliefs, income, location,   and of course ethnicity (Min, 2017). The effects a diverse workforce can have on a company and the challenges they face, can vary from place to place, and can be dramatically different in the United States compared to other countries? Diversity, or the lack thereof can also affect a companys revenue stream. By not having a the best and the best, companies take the risk of losing out to competitors. Therefore, having a larger pool of candidates to choose from becomes critical if they want to retain the talent. This is also important to companies because they fill positions quicker. If a company is not structured to handle diversity, that pool becomes smaller and smaller. One component is to have diverse leadership that can recognize the importance of diversity, and hire candidates based on talent and experience, and not on race and gender. Origin of Diversity In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802, which allowed blacks to be accepted into job-training programs in defense programs, which established Fair Employment Practices Commission. FEPC was subsequently abolished after the war.   In 1943 Congress first introduced equal employment legislation, and it was not until 1948 that President Harry S. Truman signed in to law Executive Order 9981. Executive Order 9981 was to abolish segregation in the Armed Services. This order allowed minorities to be housed, as well as fight alongside their white counterparts (Feng, 2015). Because of this order, 95% of African American Army soldiers were serving in units integrated with whites by 1953. In the 1960s, when the civil rights legislation was passed, due primarily to social and political changes. This legislation prohibited discrimination based on color, religion, race, national origin, and sex. This legislation is known as Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964. Age would later be added to the list. According to McCormick (2007), a study was conducted in 1987 by the Secretary of Labor, William Brock. The study highlighted five demographic factors that would have significant effect on the labor force in the US. This study later became the book, Workforce 2000 -Work and Workers in the Twenty First Century. The five factors include; the slow growing workforce and population, young workers coming into the workforce will shrink, while the average age of the population will rise, women will enter the workforce more rapidly, the labor force will see that minorities are the larger share of workers, and the largest increase of population in the workforce since WW1 will be by legal and illegal immigrants. With diversification becoming imminent, companies would have to diversify their workforce in order to stay competitive. Many companies started to focus on a diversity effort and they created a business case (McCormick, 2007, p. 5).  Ã‚   Current Trends in Diversity Research has found that multicultural environments are linked to positive outcomes, whether it be intellectual, or social. Although major focal points in diversity are still based on gender and ethnicity, many organizations are starting to put greater enfaces on other areas of diversity. Based on a recent HR survey by Harney Nash, organizations are currently pursuing the following areas of diverse; 80% gender, 41% ethnicity/cultural, 38% age, and 14% LGBT. Another way companies can avoid bias, is by using artificial intelligence when sourcing its candidates. AI can be beneficial because it can be programmed to avoid and ignore information such as demographics on candidates resumes (Min, 2017). According to Forbes, Five Trends Driving Workplace Diversity in 2015 one-fifth of participants indicated that their companies dedicate a very small percentage to diversity efforts. Their reasoning is because they are just too busy. Some of the trends according to Forbes are: the involvement of more CEOs. Some of the top Fortune 500 companies are being ran by females. Companies such as GMC, IBM and Lockheed Martin. Many companies are making diversity even simpler by looking for talent that have a strong problem-solving background, as well as have different ways of viewing complex issues (Rezvani, 2015). Maintaining a competitive advantage is of high importance to companies. To stay one step ahead of their competitors, companies are hiring the most qualified talent possible. But this goes much further than just recruiting candidates with a diverse background, it is having a diverse leadership that understands the importance of inclusion within an organization. While a great deal of large corporations have adopted diversity programs and implemented changes in the way we view differences, the training and development of diverse groups does not always lead to retention of such employees. Often there are organizational barriers that affect implementing successful diversity programs. Many things change in companies when you introduce diversity. Such as cultural difference, which if not managed appropriately, can and will cause discomfort to any that are perceived as different. That in which we are not familiar with, can cause unwanted discrimination and prejudice. Some organizations are t aking it a step further and creating atmospheres that cultivate innovation and productiveness through communication and collaboration (Williams, n.d). This type of environment leads to abundance of tolerance for those that are perceived as different. Cultural issues can also become somewhat of an issue for some companies. Therefore, proper training of employees on the differences in backgrounds is beneficial to avoid cultural issues. For example, in places like Argentina it is customary to hug people when you meet them. While places like Italy, Spain, and Portugal kissing on the cheek is customary. However, in other places like Japan and China no contact is made at all. They simply bow as a show of respect. When a new employee is hired and people are unaware of their culture, you may find that what is normal in one culture may make people very uncomfortable for other cultures. That could pose a serious issue for HR to deal with. The challenge is to implement the proper training to avoid any misunderstanding. Policies should be put in place that protect employees rights, as well as follows guidelines and is compliant with regulations. Companies would also benefit from having sensitivity training. Which will help employees become m ore aware, as well as help them to understand any cultural biases they may possess and how to best handle these biases. Some benefits to this training include: appreciating the views of others, what actions can be perceived as offensive, and conflict resolution (Dyson, 2017). Some companies are assembling focus groups made up of staff and leadership of all different backgrounds, to research and address the major issues. To develop strategies and provide resources to those who may have a difficult time adjusting to the differences. Around the world, countries are embracing diversity. Although, it may not necessarily mean exactly what it means in the United States, and the laws may differ some. Place like Norway require their companies to meet a 40% quota for women to serve on the boards of public limited companies. According to an article in the Diversity Journal, most countries have some sort of law that helps disadvantaged groups in their regions (Heffertvet-Aoudia, 2011).  Ã‚   Importance of Diversity in my Career The company I currently work for has over 80,000 employees and is in over 100 different countries. Which means diversity and inclusion is an integral part of the success of our company. One of the ways our company fosters diversity and inclusion is by having very large network groups. Groups such as African-American Network Group, Hispanic Latin Business Resource Group, LGBTQ Allies, and Womens Network just to name a few. We have yearly diversity training that lasts anywhere from an hour to two hours, and is mandatory. This training is also important because the clients we meet with are from all around the globe.   Therefore, we are held to the highest standards and we take our RISE values very seriously (People and Culture, n.d).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For instance, we have a young lady that works in the accounting department in D.C. She is from Africa and has a very strong accent. She speaks four different languages and English is one she is still learning. Because of the slight language barrier, her communication to some may come off as rude. She speaks very quickly and sometimes has to be asked to slow down just a tad. She does not get offended, she apologizes and continues the conversation at a slower pace. I also work very closely with a lady from Greece who also has a very strong accent and is extremely feisty. But this is her culture and the way she communicates in her country. It is not a case of being rude and/or obnoxious, it is strictly cultural.   Every day I am in contact with someone who is different than I am, and for me this is what makes my job pleasant. Of course, the language barrier can be extremely challenging, but I have to think that it is just as challenging to them as it is to me. Therefore, we learn together how to navigate projects. The branch of the company I work for deals with public entities such as, state and local agencies all around the United States. Therefore, we are also required to deal with a whole other set of diversity laws that are put into place by each state. I respond to Request for Proposals (RFPs) that almost always require us to have some sort of diversity group within our company. Another requirement is, if we use subcontractors, they too must have a certain percentage of minorities and women. Companies that do not show diversity are automatically disqualified from submitting a bid response. Diversity is entrenched in every part of my company, and as of now I do not plan on pursuing another career. In the future if I do leave this company, I will choose a company that has the same values as my current company. To conclude, a diverse workforce is not just something that is tolerated, or dealt with. It is a reflection of the world we now live in. Teams that are diverse, offer an elevated advantage to organizations, both collaboratively and competitively. Individual differences should be respected, as they will likely benefit and elevate a company. If a company looks to having a competitive advantage, one way to do this is to change the makeup of their employees to include others with a more robust view on the world.

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay - 1653 Words

Nick Caraway, from F. Scott’s Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, once found himself â€Å". . . standing beside [Mr. McKee’s] bed and [Mr. McKee] was sitting up between the sheets, clad in his underwear, with a great portfolio in his hands† (Fitzgerald 38). Nick’s thoughts and actions in this odd circumstance spark numerous questions on his sexuality. While Fitzgerald uses covert implications to support the idea Nick is a homosexual, he also preserves plausible deniability that perhaps the scene was just a drunken hallucination. Yet it has been speculated that, due to the time period, Nick was forced to hide his desires through interactions with the â€Å"feminine man† (Fitzgerald 30), Mr. McKee or the masculine woman, Ms. Jordan Baker. Similarly, other literary figures have been caught between societal expectations of proper behavior and their own definitions of true happiness. Other characters that have faced this choice are French diplomat Re ne Gallimard and opera singer Song Liling from David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly. Based loosely on true events, the play chronicles Gallimard’s doomed love story with Song, who is actually a male spy for Communist China. For twenty years, Gallimard claims he did not know of Song’s gender, yet Hwang’s covert implications support the idea both Gallimard and Song were homosexuals who had to hide their preferences in order to survive in their respective societies. Gallimard’s latent homosexuality manifests itself in the symbol of his prison cell whileShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1393 Words   |  6 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald was the model of the American image in the nineteen twenties. He had wealth, fame, a beautiful wife, and an adorable daughter; all seemed perfect. Beneath the gilded faà §ade, however, was an author who struggled with domestic and physical difficulties that plagued his personal life and career throughout i ts short span. This author helped to launch the theme that is so prevalent in his work; the human instinct to yearn for more, into the forefront of American literature, where itRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1343 Words   |  6 PagesHonors English 10 Shugart 18 Decemeber 2014 The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald s 1925 novel The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life. The Great Gatsby is about the lives of four wealthy characters observed by the narrator, Nick Carroway. Throughout the novel a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby throws immaculate parties every Saturday night in hope to impress his lost lover, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby lives in a mansion on West Egg across from DaisyRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby The Jazz Age was an era where everything and anything seemed possible. It started with the beginning of a new age with America coming out of World War I as the most powerful nation in the world (Novel reflections on, 2007). As a result, the nation soon faced a culture-shock of material prosperity during the 1920’s. Also known as the â€Å"roaring twenties†, it was a time where life consisted of prodigality and extravagant parties. Writing based on his personal experiences, author F. ScottRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1166 Words   |  5 Pagesin the Haze F. Scott Fitzgerald lived in a time that was characterized by an unbelievable lack of substance. After the tragedy and horrors of WWI, people were focused on anything that they could that would distract from the emptiness that had swallowed them. Tangible greed tied with extreme materialism left many, by the end of this time period, disenchanted. The usage of the literary theories of both Biographical and Historical lenses provide a unique interpretation of the Great Gatsby centered aroundRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald845 Words   |  3 PagesIn F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, colors represent a variety of symbols that relate back to the American Dream. The dream of being pure, innocent and perfect is frequently associated with the reality of corruption, violence, and affairs. Gatsby’s desire for achieving the American Dream is sought for through corruption (Schneider). The American Dream in the 1920s was perceived as a desire of w ealth and social standings. Social class is represented through the East Egg, the WestRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay970 Words   |  4 Pagesrespecting and valuing Fitzgerald work in the twenty-first century? Fitzgerald had a hard time to profiting from his writing, but he was not successful after his first novel. There are three major point of this essay are: the background history of Fitzgerald life, the comparisons between Fitzgerald and the Gatsby from his number one book in America The Great Gatsby, and the Fitzgerald got influences of behind the writing and being a writer. From childhood to adulthood, Fitzgerald faced many good andRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald2099 Words   |  9 Pagesauthor to mirror his life in his book. In his previous novels F. Scott Fitzgerald drew from his life experiences. He said that his next novel, The Great Gatsby, would be different. He said, â€Å"In my new novel I’m thrown directly on purely creative work† (F. Scott Fitzgerald). He did not realize or did not want it to appear that he was taking his own story and intertwining it within his new novel. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he imitates his lifestyle through the Buchanan family to demonstrateRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1607 Words   |  7 Pages The Great Gatsby is an American novel written in 1925 by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One of the themes of the book is the American Dream. The American Dream is an idea in which Americans believe through hard work they can achieve success and prosperity in the free world. In F. Scott Fitzgerald s novel, The Great Gatsby, the American Dream leads to popularity, extreme jealousy and false happiness. Jay Gatsby’s recent fortune and wealthiness helped him earn a high social position and become one of the mostRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1592 Words   |  7 PagesMcGowan English 11A, Period 4 9 January 2014 The Great Gatsby Individuals who approach life with an optimistic mindset generally have their goals established as their main priority. Driven by ambition, they are determined to fulfill their desires; without reluctance. These strong-minded individuals refuse to be influenced by negative reinforcements, and rely on hope in order to achieve their dreams. As a man of persistence, the wealthy Jay Gatsby continuously strives to reclaim the love of hisRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1646 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1920s witnessed the death of the American Dream, a message immortalized in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Initially, the American Dream represented the outcome of American ideals, that everyone has the freedom and opportunity to achieve their dreams provided they perform honest hard work. During the 1920s, the United States experienced massive economic prosperity making the American Dream seem alive and strong. However, in Fitzgerald’s eyes, the new Am erican culture build around that

The Use Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder ( Gad ) - 774 Words

The beginning of the article by Borkovec and Roemer bring up an important part of anxiety disorder. They discussed the two different functions of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). There is the function were people can isolate due to their worries and anxiety. This is part of GAD that to me appears to be more common. GAD appears to be one of those disorders that can be minimized greatly by the public. In that sense it is close to the view on Depressive disorders; the person is just sad and they need to get over it. Anxiety Disorders can be a similar view, which they are just over thinking things. To me this could drive a person to isolate and sit with their thoughts. A person may know that they should not be anxious but still are and feel as though others would not understand why they are anxious or the public thinks that they are just being silly so I am just going to keep them to myself. Really a person should be talking about those feelings and letting them out to be able to bett er deal with the feelings, worries and thoughts of anxieties. This brings up the section function of GAD which was the positive aspect. The authors discussed how it can promote problem solving and coping skills to be prepared and change one’s life and thoughts. A person should be talking about their thoughts and anxieties and when they talk about it have a problem solving discussion. A how can I change this? It is one hundred percent easier said than done but I believe that is part of theShow MoreRelatedSymptoms and Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder687 Words   |  3 PagesSymptoms and Treatment Strategies for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Abstract One of the common disorders includes anxiety disorders. These disorders are exaggerations of our adaptive and normal reaction to stressful or fearful events. It is normal to feel scared or tense when facing any stressful situation. Anxiety is the natural response of human body. When a normal human being feels threatened, his natural body response behaves like an automatic alarm. Anxiety disorder is not a bad thing; it helps toRead MoreGeneralized Anxiety Disorder771 Words   |  3 Pagescountry are affected, it is estimated that â€Å"5% - 6% of teens ages 13-18 are affected by this troubling disorder, not including the teens that receive no treatment,† (â€Å"Generalized†). Youth that receive no treatment could be considered are under privileged. Meaning that they do not have the resources or are very limited to resources that could help them get the proper treatment for their disorder. Many of those adolescents are children that come from low income families, single family homes, or fosterRead MoreGeneralized Anxiety Disorder1632 Words   |  6 PagesGeneralized Anxiety Disorder Research Paper I choose to research Generalized Anxiety Disorder for my research topic. This disorder is one of the most arguably common faced encounters clinicians deal with today. Because of this I choose to focus much of my emphasis on the difficulties one face, that’s diagnosed with GAD and the hard ship of building and maintain a good client relationship. Generalized anxiety disorder begins at the onset of a worry and or tension that carries on into more severeRead MoreGeneralized Anxiety Disorder and Its Screening Instruments1291 Words   |  5 PagesGAD and GAD Screening Instruments Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent, excessive, and unrealistic worry about everyday things. People with the disorder often experience exaggerated fear and expect the worst, even when there is no apparent reason for concern. They anticipate disaster and are overly concerned about money, health, family, work, or other issues. This disorder affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population, in any given year (Van der Heiden,Read More generalized anxiety disorder Essay1107 Words   |  5 Pages Generalized Anxiety Disorder Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic and often disabling condition that is associated with uncontrollable worry and tension. The vicious cycle of anxiety and worry interferes with relationships, careers, and education, and often leads to depression. This disorder is much more than the normal anxiety that everyone experiences from time to time, and can be crippling in its severity. GAD is unlikely to disappear without proper treatment, and often worsens overRead MoreEssay about Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder1446 Words   |  6 PagesGeneralized Anxiety Disorder About three percent of men and women in the U.S. suffer from Generalized anxiety disorder (APAA). It is one of the most common forms of anxiety and seems to be the most left untreated because people don’t know that it can be treated (McGradles). GAD, although it affects many, is a disorder that can be detrimental to the quality of life of an individual. With the regard to the quality of life, the level of severity that a person experiences is a great factor in determiningRead MoreGeneralized Anxiety Disorder1615 Words   |  6 PagesGeneralized Anxiety Disorder About three percent of men and women in the U.S. suffer from Generalized anxiety disorder (APAA). It is one of the most common forms of anxiety and seems to be the most left untreated because people don’t know that it can be treated. GAD, although it affects many, is a disorder that can be detrimental to the quality of life of an individual. With the regard to the quality of life, the level of severity that a person experiences is a great factor in determining more informationRead MoreCase Study Anxiety Answer Sheet 1 Essay1193 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Case Study: Anxiety Answer Sheet Diagnosing Tina Student Name: Diagnosing Generalized Anxiety Disorder: 1a. Refer to the DSM-IV checklist for generalized anxiety disorder. Which of Tinas symptoms meet any of the criteria? (Be sure to match specific symptoms with specific criteria.) Tina’s symptoms match all four of the criteria in the DSM-IV checklist for generalized anxiety disorder. Tina worries constantly something is going to happen to her twins which is in correlation with the first criteriaRead MoreGeneralized Anxiety Disorder ( Cbt )1530 Words   |  7 Pages Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Different Styles of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Tornike Rakviashvili University of Maryland Baltimore Co. The purpose of this paper is to examine different ways of using CBT in treating anxiety disorder. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most used approach in treating anxiety and depression. There are different styles of CBT that are used to treat different subtypes of anxieties. However, the main focus of this paper will beRead MoreUsing Generalized Anxiety Disorder?1180 Words   |  5 Pagesexample of what someone with Generalized Anxiety Disorder may go through on a daily business every moment during their day. The topics that are going to be covered in this paper are what is GAD and what are the signs and symptoms, how does GAD affect the ability to perform normal activities of daily living, and an overall summary with my assigned individual at SDC for his Intensive Learning Project. What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder â€Å"Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive

American Political System Free Essays

string(145) " elected mayor as chief of the executive branch and an elected council that represents the various neighborhoods forming the legislative branch\." The American political system is presidential type of system where the president is the head of state and head of government. There is the state government and the federal government; these two shares the sovereignty with the Supreme Court balancing their powers. The American system also has the two-party legislative and electoral system. We will write a custom essay sample on American Political System or any similar topic only for you Order Now The American political system is made up of three main branches which are the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The executive branch is headed by the president and is independent of the legislature. The president is the commander in chief of the armed forces and exercise overall authority in the management of national affairs of the United States. The ideology of the incumbent President and the President’s advisers largely determines the government’s attitude in foreign affairs. The legislative power is vested in the two chambers of congress which is the senate and the House of Representatives while the judiciary comprises of the Supreme Court and the lower federal courts. The function of the judiciary is to interpret the United States Constitution and the federal laws and regulations. These include resolving disputes between the executive branch and the legislative branch. The American political system has always been dominated by two political parties, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party since the time of the American civil war. Other parties have existed but they have not been as dominant as these two. It is a usual view that the American political system is weak and disjointed. It is also a usual opinion that this was by deliberate design for the American founding fathers believed in limited government, and designed a system to ensure it. In a number of ways, it is certainly true that the American system is fragmented, if not necessarily weak. Many governmental functions that are performed by the national government as a matter of course in most countries are in the United States relegated to the states. In turn the states pass many of these functions on to local government. The standard form of identification carried by most people is a state driver’s license, not a national identification card. Local police perform most law enforcement. They are not directly answerable, in a day-to-day administrative sense, to the national government or even the state government. Local government officials register marriages, property transactions, and much of the other fundamental administration of society. Basically the political system is made up of the federal government the state government and the local government; these include the state, the local, the county, and the town and village governments. (Bruce, 1997) Federal, state and local governments The federal entity created by the Constitution is the dominant feature of the American governmental system. Every person outside the capital is subject to at least three governing bodies: the federal government, a state and units of local government. The local government includes counties, municipalities, and special districts. The federal government was created by the states, which as colonies were established separately and governed themselves independently of the others. Units of local government were created by the colonies to efficiently carry out various state functions. As the country expanded, it admitted new states modeled on the existing ones. State government States governments have the power to make law on all subjects that are not granted to the national government or denied to the states in the U. S. Constitution. These include education, family law, contract law, and most crimes. Unlike the national government, which only has those powers granted to it in the Constitution, a state government has intrinsic powers allowing it to act unless limited by a provision of the state or national constitution. Like the national government, state governments have three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The chief executive of a state is its popularly elected governor, who holds office for a four-year term (although in a few states the term is two years). Apart from for Nebraska, which has one-chamber legislature (known as a unicameral legislature), all states have a bicameral legislature, with the upper house usually called the Senate and the lower house called the House of Representatives, the House of Delegates or Assembly. In most states, senators serve four-year terms, and members of the lower house serve two-year terms. The constitutions of the various states differ in some details but generally follow a pattern similar to that of the federal Constitution, including a statement of the rights of the people and a plan for organizing the government. State constitutions are generally more detailed. (Bruce, 1997) Local government There are 87,000 local governments, including 3,034 counties, 19,498 municipalities, 16,500 townships, 13,500 school districts, and 35,000 other special districts which deal with issues like fire protection. To a greater extent than on the federal or state level, the local governments directly serve the needs of the people, providing everything from police and fire protection to sanitary codes, health regulations, education, public transportation, and housing. Nearly 30% of the people live in cities of 100,000 or more population. City governments are chartered by states, and their charters feature the objectives and powers of the municipal government. For most big cities, cooperation with both state and federal organizations is essential to meeting the needs of their residents. Types of city governments vary widely across the nation. However, almost all have some kind of central council, elected by the voters, and an executive officer, assisted by various departmental heads, to manage the city’s affairs. There are three general types of city government: the mayor-council, the commission, and the council-manager. These are the pure forms; most cities have developed a combination of two or three of them. (Bruce, 1997) Mayor- Council. This is the oldest form of city government in the United States and, until the beginning of the 20th century, was used by nearly all American cities. Its structure is similar to that of the state and national governments, with an elected mayor as chief of the executive branch and an elected council that represents the various neighborhoods forming the legislative branch. You read "American Political System" in category "Papers" The mayor appoints heads of city departments and other officials with the approval of the council. He or she has the power of veto over the laws of the city and regularly is in charge of preparing the city’s budget. The council passes city by laws that sets the tax rate on property, and apportions money among the various city departments for various developments that have been ratified by the council. Cities have grown and council seats have more often than not come to represent more than a single neighborhood. The Commission: This combines both the legislative and executive functions in one group of officials, usually three and more in number, elected all around the city. Each official supervises the work of one or more city departments. One of the officials is named chairperson of the body and is often called the mayor, although his or her power is equivalent to that of the other commissioners. Council- Manager: The city manager is an answer to the increasing difficulty of metropolitan problems, which require management expertise not often possessed by elected public officials. The answer has been to entrust most of the executive powers, including law enforcement and provision of services, to a highly trained and experienced professional city manager. The person usually holding this office is a government employee sent to the council or city by the federal government. The city manager plan has been adopted by a large number of cities. Under this plan, a small, elected council makes the city laws and regulations and sets policy, but hires a paid administrator, also called a city manager, to carry out its decisions. The manager draws up the city budget and supervises most of the departments. Usually, there is no set term; the manager serves as long as the council is satisfied with his or her work(Bruce, 1997) County government The county is a subdivision of the state, sometimes containing two or more townships and several villages. New York City is so large that it is divided into five separate sections, each a county in its own right In most U. S. counties, one town or city is designated as the county seat, and this is where the government offices are situated and where the board of commissioners or supervisors meets. The board collects taxes for state and local governments; borrows and appropriates money; fixes the salaries of county employees; supervises elections; builds and maintains highways and bridges; and administers national, state, and county welfare programs Town and village government Thousands of municipal jurisdictions are too small to qualify as city governments. These are chartered as towns and villages and deal with such strictly local needs as paving and lighting the streets; ensuring a water supply; providing police and fire protection; waste management; and, in cooperation with the state and county, directly administering the local school system. The government is usually entrusted to an elected board or council, which may be known by a variety of names: town or village council, board of supervisors, board of commissioners. The board may have a chairperson or president who functions as chief executive officer, or there may be an elected mayor. Governmental employees may include a clerk, treasurer, police and fire officers, and health and welfare officers. One distinctive characteristic of local government is the town meeting. Once a year the registered voters of a town meet in open session to elect officers, debate local issues, and pass laws for operating the government. As a body, they decide on road construction and repair, construction of public buildings and facilities, tax rates, and the town budget. The town meeting, which has existed for more than three centuries in some places, is often cited as the purest form of direct democracy. (Bruce, 1997) Voting in America is by adult Suffrage which is nearly universal for citizens who are18 years of age and older. All 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, contribute to the electoral vote for President. However, the District, and other U. S. holdings like Guam do not have states’ representation in Congress. They do not have the right to choose any political representative outside their respective areas. Each commonwealth, territory, or district can only elect a non-voting delegate to serve in the House of Representatives. Voting rights are sometimes restricted as a result of felony conviction, but such laws vary widely by state. Election of the president is an indirect suffrage: Voters vote for electors to vote for President. The voters who elect a president are usually called the Electoral College. A candidate may have the majority of votes but looses in the Electoral College, this candidate is deemed to have lost the elections to the candidate who wins more votes in the Electoral College. Finance In order to participate in winning elections, especially in Federal elections it requires large amounts of money. The money is usually used for television advertising. This money is always very hard to raise. Candidates raise their money by appealing to a mass base. Both the two major parties normally depend on wealthy donors and organizations. Traditionally the Democrats depend on contributions from organized labor while the Republicans rely on business donations. Democrats’ business donations have surpassed those from labor organizations. This dependency on donors is contentious, and has led to laws limiting spending on political campaigns being enacted. Opponents of campaign finance laws challenge campaign finance laws on the grounds that they attempt to evade the people’s constitutionally-guaranteed rights. Even when laws are upheld, the complication of compliance with these laws requires careful and cautious drafting of legislation, leading to laws that are still fairly limited in scope. (Bruce, 1997) Voting There is the primary election. This is an election in which voters in a jurisdiction select candidates for an ensuing election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the following general election. â€Å"Primaries† are widespread in the United States where their beginning is traced to the progressive movement. The primary elections are conducted by the government on behalf of the parties. Elsewhere in the world, the nomination of candidates is usually the responsibility of the political party organizations themselves and does not involve the general public. Besides primaries, other ways that parties may choose candidates include caucuses; conventions and nomination meetings. There are several types of primaries. These include the open, semi open, closed semi closed. There is also the blanket type. In the closed type voters vote in a party’s primary only if they are registered members of that party. Independents cannot participate. In Semi-closed, as in closed primaries, registered party members can vote only in their own party’s primary. Semi-closed systems, however, allow unaffiliated voters to participate as well. Depending on the state, independents either make their choice of party primary privately, inside the voting booth, or publicly, by registering with any party on Election Day. In an open style a registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his own party affiliation. When voters do not register with a party before the primary, it is called a pick-a-party primary because the voter can select which party’s primary he or she wishes to vote in on Election Day. Because of the open nature of this system, a practice known as â€Å"raiding† may occur. â€Å"Raiding† consists of voters of one party crossing over and voting in the primary of another party, effectively allowing a party to help choose its opposition’s candidate. The theory is that opposing party members vote for the weakest candidate of the opposite party in order to give their own party the advantage in the general election. In a Semi-open style each voter may vote in any single primary, but must publicly declare which primary she will vote in before entering the voting booth. Typically this declaration is accomplished by requesting a ballot. In many states with semi-open primaries, election officials record each voter’s choice of party and provide the parties access to this information. In the blanket type the voters are allowed to vote for one candidate per office, regardless of party affiliation. The current Presidential primary election schedule is that it gives undue weight to the few states with early primaries, as those states often build momentum for leading candidates and rule out trailing candidates long before the rest of the country has even had a chance to weigh in, leaving the last states with virtually no actual input on the process. The counterargument to this criticism, however, is that, by subjecting candidates to the scrutiny of a few early states, the parties can â€Å"weed out† candidates who are unfit for office. (Bruce, 1997) Reference Bruce, E. J. (1997): Native American Political Systems and the Evolution of Democracy: Greenwood Press; Westport, How to cite American Political System, Papers

American Political System Free Essays

string(145) " elected mayor as chief of the executive branch and an elected council that represents the various neighborhoods forming the legislative branch\." The American political system is presidential type of system where the president is the head of state and head of government. There is the state government and the federal government; these two shares the sovereignty with the Supreme Court balancing their powers. The American system also has the two-party legislative and electoral system. We will write a custom essay sample on American Political System or any similar topic only for you Order Now The American political system is made up of three main branches which are the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The executive branch is headed by the president and is independent of the legislature. The president is the commander in chief of the armed forces and exercise overall authority in the management of national affairs of the United States. The ideology of the incumbent President and the President’s advisers largely determines the government’s attitude in foreign affairs. The legislative power is vested in the two chambers of congress which is the senate and the House of Representatives while the judiciary comprises of the Supreme Court and the lower federal courts. The function of the judiciary is to interpret the United States Constitution and the federal laws and regulations. These include resolving disputes between the executive branch and the legislative branch. The American political system has always been dominated by two political parties, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party since the time of the American civil war. Other parties have existed but they have not been as dominant as these two. It is a usual view that the American political system is weak and disjointed. It is also a usual opinion that this was by deliberate design for the American founding fathers believed in limited government, and designed a system to ensure it. In a number of ways, it is certainly true that the American system is fragmented, if not necessarily weak. Many governmental functions that are performed by the national government as a matter of course in most countries are in the United States relegated to the states. In turn the states pass many of these functions on to local government. The standard form of identification carried by most people is a state driver’s license, not a national identification card. Local police perform most law enforcement. They are not directly answerable, in a day-to-day administrative sense, to the national government or even the state government. Local government officials register marriages, property transactions, and much of the other fundamental administration of society. Basically the political system is made up of the federal government the state government and the local government; these include the state, the local, the county, and the town and village governments. (Bruce, 1997) Federal, state and local governments The federal entity created by the Constitution is the dominant feature of the American governmental system. Every person outside the capital is subject to at least three governing bodies: the federal government, a state and units of local government. The local government includes counties, municipalities, and special districts. The federal government was created by the states, which as colonies were established separately and governed themselves independently of the others. Units of local government were created by the colonies to efficiently carry out various state functions. As the country expanded, it admitted new states modeled on the existing ones. State government States governments have the power to make law on all subjects that are not granted to the national government or denied to the states in the U. S. Constitution. These include education, family law, contract law, and most crimes. Unlike the national government, which only has those powers granted to it in the Constitution, a state government has intrinsic powers allowing it to act unless limited by a provision of the state or national constitution. Like the national government, state governments have three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The chief executive of a state is its popularly elected governor, who holds office for a four-year term (although in a few states the term is two years). Apart from for Nebraska, which has one-chamber legislature (known as a unicameral legislature), all states have a bicameral legislature, with the upper house usually called the Senate and the lower house called the House of Representatives, the House of Delegates or Assembly. In most states, senators serve four-year terms, and members of the lower house serve two-year terms. The constitutions of the various states differ in some details but generally follow a pattern similar to that of the federal Constitution, including a statement of the rights of the people and a plan for organizing the government. State constitutions are generally more detailed. (Bruce, 1997) Local government There are 87,000 local governments, including 3,034 counties, 19,498 municipalities, 16,500 townships, 13,500 school districts, and 35,000 other special districts which deal with issues like fire protection. To a greater extent than on the federal or state level, the local governments directly serve the needs of the people, providing everything from police and fire protection to sanitary codes, health regulations, education, public transportation, and housing. Nearly 30% of the people live in cities of 100,000 or more population. City governments are chartered by states, and their charters feature the objectives and powers of the municipal government. For most big cities, cooperation with both state and federal organizations is essential to meeting the needs of their residents. Types of city governments vary widely across the nation. However, almost all have some kind of central council, elected by the voters, and an executive officer, assisted by various departmental heads, to manage the city’s affairs. There are three general types of city government: the mayor-council, the commission, and the council-manager. These are the pure forms; most cities have developed a combination of two or three of them. (Bruce, 1997) Mayor- Council. This is the oldest form of city government in the United States and, until the beginning of the 20th century, was used by nearly all American cities. Its structure is similar to that of the state and national governments, with an elected mayor as chief of the executive branch and an elected council that represents the various neighborhoods forming the legislative branch. You read "American Political System" in category "Papers" The mayor appoints heads of city departments and other officials with the approval of the council. He or she has the power of veto over the laws of the city and regularly is in charge of preparing the city’s budget. The council passes city by laws that sets the tax rate on property, and apportions money among the various city departments for various developments that have been ratified by the council. Cities have grown and council seats have more often than not come to represent more than a single neighborhood. The Commission: This combines both the legislative and executive functions in one group of officials, usually three and more in number, elected all around the city. Each official supervises the work of one or more city departments. One of the officials is named chairperson of the body and is often called the mayor, although his or her power is equivalent to that of the other commissioners. Council- Manager: The city manager is an answer to the increasing difficulty of metropolitan problems, which require management expertise not often possessed by elected public officials. The answer has been to entrust most of the executive powers, including law enforcement and provision of services, to a highly trained and experienced professional city manager. The person usually holding this office is a government employee sent to the council or city by the federal government. The city manager plan has been adopted by a large number of cities. Under this plan, a small, elected council makes the city laws and regulations and sets policy, but hires a paid administrator, also called a city manager, to carry out its decisions. The manager draws up the city budget and supervises most of the departments. Usually, there is no set term; the manager serves as long as the council is satisfied with his or her work(Bruce, 1997) County government The county is a subdivision of the state, sometimes containing two or more townships and several villages. New York City is so large that it is divided into five separate sections, each a county in its own right In most U. S. counties, one town or city is designated as the county seat, and this is where the government offices are situated and where the board of commissioners or supervisors meets. The board collects taxes for state and local governments; borrows and appropriates money; fixes the salaries of county employees; supervises elections; builds and maintains highways and bridges; and administers national, state, and county welfare programs Town and village government Thousands of municipal jurisdictions are too small to qualify as city governments. These are chartered as towns and villages and deal with such strictly local needs as paving and lighting the streets; ensuring a water supply; providing police and fire protection; waste management; and, in cooperation with the state and county, directly administering the local school system. The government is usually entrusted to an elected board or council, which may be known by a variety of names: town or village council, board of supervisors, board of commissioners. The board may have a chairperson or president who functions as chief executive officer, or there may be an elected mayor. Governmental employees may include a clerk, treasurer, police and fire officers, and health and welfare officers. One distinctive characteristic of local government is the town meeting. Once a year the registered voters of a town meet in open session to elect officers, debate local issues, and pass laws for operating the government. As a body, they decide on road construction and repair, construction of public buildings and facilities, tax rates, and the town budget. The town meeting, which has existed for more than three centuries in some places, is often cited as the purest form of direct democracy. (Bruce, 1997) Voting in America is by adult Suffrage which is nearly universal for citizens who are18 years of age and older. All 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, contribute to the electoral vote for President. However, the District, and other U. S. holdings like Guam do not have states’ representation in Congress. They do not have the right to choose any political representative outside their respective areas. Each commonwealth, territory, or district can only elect a non-voting delegate to serve in the House of Representatives. Voting rights are sometimes restricted as a result of felony conviction, but such laws vary widely by state. Election of the president is an indirect suffrage: Voters vote for electors to vote for President. The voters who elect a president are usually called the Electoral College. A candidate may have the majority of votes but looses in the Electoral College, this candidate is deemed to have lost the elections to the candidate who wins more votes in the Electoral College. Finance In order to participate in winning elections, especially in Federal elections it requires large amounts of money. The money is usually used for television advertising. This money is always very hard to raise. Candidates raise their money by appealing to a mass base. Both the two major parties normally depend on wealthy donors and organizations. Traditionally the Democrats depend on contributions from organized labor while the Republicans rely on business donations. Democrats’ business donations have surpassed those from labor organizations. This dependency on donors is contentious, and has led to laws limiting spending on political campaigns being enacted. Opponents of campaign finance laws challenge campaign finance laws on the grounds that they attempt to evade the people’s constitutionally-guaranteed rights. Even when laws are upheld, the complication of compliance with these laws requires careful and cautious drafting of legislation, leading to laws that are still fairly limited in scope. (Bruce, 1997) Voting There is the primary election. This is an election in which voters in a jurisdiction select candidates for an ensuing election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the following general election. â€Å"Primaries† are widespread in the United States where their beginning is traced to the progressive movement. The primary elections are conducted by the government on behalf of the parties. Elsewhere in the world, the nomination of candidates is usually the responsibility of the political party organizations themselves and does not involve the general public. Besides primaries, other ways that parties may choose candidates include caucuses; conventions and nomination meetings. There are several types of primaries. These include the open, semi open, closed semi closed. There is also the blanket type. In the closed type voters vote in a party’s primary only if they are registered members of that party. Independents cannot participate. In Semi-closed, as in closed primaries, registered party members can vote only in their own party’s primary. Semi-closed systems, however, allow unaffiliated voters to participate as well. Depending on the state, independents either make their choice of party primary privately, inside the voting booth, or publicly, by registering with any party on Election Day. In an open style a registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his own party affiliation. When voters do not register with a party before the primary, it is called a pick-a-party primary because the voter can select which party’s primary he or she wishes to vote in on Election Day. Because of the open nature of this system, a practice known as â€Å"raiding† may occur. â€Å"Raiding† consists of voters of one party crossing over and voting in the primary of another party, effectively allowing a party to help choose its opposition’s candidate. The theory is that opposing party members vote for the weakest candidate of the opposite party in order to give their own party the advantage in the general election. In a Semi-open style each voter may vote in any single primary, but must publicly declare which primary she will vote in before entering the voting booth. Typically this declaration is accomplished by requesting a ballot. In many states with semi-open primaries, election officials record each voter’s choice of party and provide the parties access to this information. In the blanket type the voters are allowed to vote for one candidate per office, regardless of party affiliation. The current Presidential primary election schedule is that it gives undue weight to the few states with early primaries, as those states often build momentum for leading candidates and rule out trailing candidates long before the rest of the country has even had a chance to weigh in, leaving the last states with virtually no actual input on the process. The counterargument to this criticism, however, is that, by subjecting candidates to the scrutiny of a few early states, the parties can â€Å"weed out† candidates who are unfit for office. (Bruce, 1997) Reference Bruce, E. J. (1997): Native American Political Systems and the Evolution of Democracy: Greenwood Press; Westport, How to cite American Political System, Papers

Corporate Social Responsibility for Equality- MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theCorporate Social Responsibilityfor Concept of Equality. Answer: Negative and Positive Rights A negative right alludes to a requirement that other people provide an individual with a service or a good while on the other hand, a positive right indicates a requirement that others maintain abstinence from perceived interference of your enjoyment. Justification for their existence is based on the nature of the society whereby goods and services are constantly provided. In the same instance there is bound to be forces that compromise this provision and enjoyment as well. Concept of Equality Application of the concept of equality means that some rights do not receive maximum enjoyment in the society. Different groups or individuals who may be disadvantaged in the quest for maximization of the available resources may have to be accommodated hence negating the initial groups enjoyment of the same. Resolving Conflicting Rights Overcoming conflicts in the dispensation of rights will include finding a common area of agreement. This will include the agreement on the problem, the procedure to follow in its resolution path. It should also include the agreement on the worst fears. Finally it should conclude with a small change that recognizes a level of success. Workplace Right to Freedom, Life and Property All individuals within the workplace should not be exposed into tasks that may put a threat to their life in general. For case of freedom, any individual has the right to decide what tasks they can perform as long as it remains within the confines of the organization (Basu Pallazzo 2008). Lastly, property can be exemplified in that workers are free to own property in and out of the firm and their association with the firm should not be a stumbling block. Normal Ethical Relativism Normal ethical relativism is founded on a theoretical perspective that does not recognize a universal moral code or rather principles. It presupposes that the lack of a blanket playground for conceptualization of the judgment of wrong or right means that it is impossible to judge individuals based on it as well. In essence, the theory then says that the varying degrees of wrongness and rightness in the society means that there can never be universal principles that binds all people (Matten Moon 2008). The underlying argument about the whole concept of ethical relativism is the idea that a moral disagreement has no objective truth in it which is basically untrue. In light of this, managers recognize the presence of objective truth in the presence of cultural diversity in organizations. More so, the contentious issue of morality of disagreement and the objectivity in the truth meter only pays homage to a theoretical perspective but managers recognize the actual presence in their posit ions and are therefore confronted with decisions on the same on a daily basis. Utilitarianism Primarily, utilitarianism stipulates that an action is only right if it leads to happiness for a greater number of people in a group or the larger society. It is conceptualized in the work place to indicate that when one is able to conduct themselves properly in the workplace, the one is bound to achieve professional happiness. This factors in making decisions that are morally correct. On the flipside, there is danger that it will spring into illegality and a reduction in the happiness scale. Deontological Theory Deontological perspective focuses on the act and not necessarily its consequence. It is derived from an actors obligation to perform a particular duty which could either be voluntary or involuntary. In the work places, managers initiate the belief among the employees that the highest virtue comes from performing what one is supposed to do as requested by the organization. Justice Justice in the workplace alludes to the aspect of those in authority using their greater power and influence to ensure that service is given to those in the weaker position. Weaker position indicates those whose decision making is pegged on the higher authority. In other words, one should use this position to extend interaction across the entire firm for it is only through better interaction that people are able to dedicate their commitment for the end cause of the work. Rights in the Work Place The concept of rights in the workplace establishes the need for employer-employee confidence and ultimate performance levels. Employers should always seek to better the position of the employees by ensuring that their rights are well accentuated in the organization because failure may lead into unrest and a drop in the performance as well. The Narrow Classical Economic View The narrow classical economic view regarding the Corporate Social Responsibility is developed on the premise that business enterprises who have a sole motive of making the profits must have one responsibility towards the greater society. That involves, provision of the necessary goods and services while getting in return maximum profits for the shareholders. Friedmans view is in tandem with the classical view regarding the CSR because he stated that managers responsibility as well as the company in the pursuit of having satisfaction of interests of the shareholders often coincides with the maximization of profits agenda. According to Friedman in view of the narrow classical view conclusively alludes that the key role of the business should always be maximization of profits and not necessarily the wellbeing. In this regard, the business organizations should always prioritize making money because that is the basic reason for the existence of the organization in the first. Friedman even insisted that a company will cease to exist when its core objective which is profit making is not met. Managers should therefore take in what executives demand of them. However, while the priorities must be stuck at profit making, Friedman backtracks on his statement by making a claim about executives having to meet s certain degree of corporate responsibility as well. Furthermore, according to Friedman, social responsibility that a business only has is indulging into scores of activities that are geared towards profit making, which is increasing the profits. However, such profits must be within the law. More so, they sh ould be taking place in a free and competitive market that is free of fraudulent activities and deceptions. The Broader Social Economic View While the narrow view of Corporate Social Responsibility is bent on prioritizing making the profits, the broader view of CSR indicates that despite the main objective being profit making, business organizations have a bigger responsibility towards the society in general. This will factor in addressing the negative consequences of their activities on the society at large. In this regard, organizations must always be independent in the entire process of promotion of their own interest as well as the principle of invisibility hand to do well. For instance, where organizations have worry about the CSR would mean that they will not be able to meet the material needs. Stakeholder theory presupposes the need to have the duties of an organization involve stakeholders in particular. This will include customers, the environment, employees and the customers. In essence, the consequences of the organization in the quest to have a proper accentuation of the stakeholder needs should therefore be felt in the entire industry. This concept also alludes to the essence of power and responsibility. Business organizations are generally large and as well extremely influential. Consequently, they have a bigger command in the ascertaining responsibility towards the society in general. Stakeholder interest is only realized when the society has been clearly taken care of. More so, stakeholder role and responsibility is also provided for by the business through the existence of a universal social contract between the business and the society. Based on the contract therefore, it is the society which makes the rules and the guidelines as well as the responsibilities und er which the business operates in. The Broader Maximal View The maximal view values the need to have profitability that is pegged on the legal compliance. It is important that the business organizations recognize the contribution as well as the effect of the law in the conduct of their affairs. It is only through following the due process that the law dispenses that consumer interests and stakeholder interests alike can be understood and respected at the same time (Kotler Lee 2008). Corporate Social Responsibility is founded on belief that organizations have to abide by certain guidelines so that the entire transformation can be realized for effective social effect as well. The society can be impacted better if there are frameworks that curb any unwarranted intrusion into the society. The law should also be primary in ensuring that wealth distribution is emphasized to ensure that all corners of the society are catered for. Protection of the environment remains a very important aspect that has to be covered in the bigger social platform that organizations partake. This will then imply that the secondary stakeholders moral obligation can easily be full filled (Caroll Shabana 2010). The broader view recognizes the ethical rights of the stakeholders in this regard. When stakeholder rights are observed, it as professed by the maximal view, it provides an avenue that an active role in the social issues is sought after. This eventually contributes to the betterment of the society through having programs that are directly pertains to their welfare receiving a major boost. Organizations primarily take an interest in upholding justice and rights for all stakeholders as well because the very foundation of having the betterment of the society means that financial gain has be en realized (Carroll Shabana 2010). References Matten, D. and Moon, J., 2008. Implicit and explicit CSR: A conceptual framework for a comparative understanding of corporate social responsibility. Academy of management Review, 33(2), pp.404-424. Carroll, A.B. and Shabana, K.M., 2010. The business case for corporate social responsibility: A review of concepts, research and practice. International journal of management reviews, 12(1), pp.85-105. Basu, K. and Palazzo, G., 2008. Corporate social responsibility: A process model of sensemaking. Academy of management review, 33(1), pp.122-136. Kotler, P. and Lee, N., 2008. Corporate social responsibility: Doing the most good for your company and your cause. John Wiley Sons.

The Gift of Sex free essay sample

Sex is regarded in a variety of ways by society today. It is an enormous source of pleasure and a colossal source of pain. It can create feelings of being a princess or the prostitute depending on the circumstances in which it is received and given. The Penners share how God created Sex to be treasured as a jewel. Designed to take place in the most sacred of covenants: between a groom and his bride in the presence of the Lord. Yet man has defiled it. We have broken and abused it till it no longer resembles the precious gift God intended it to be. So how is the sexual experience supposed to feel? Surely something so profound was not meant to be so superficial. In their book The Gift of Sex Clifford and Joyce Penner teach us what God truly designed sex for. If I had to say one thing about this book it is that I wish I had read it years ago. We will write a custom essay sample on The Gift of Sex or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I am reading it for a college course, but I needed it for instruction in my own life years ago. The Gift of Sex 1. Is This Book for Me? Is This Book For Me? Is the question asked at the beginning of The Gift of Sex, A Guide to Sexual Fulfillment. It is a guidebook for a satisfying sex life that every couple should own. Written by Clifford and Joyce Penner in 2003 The Gift of Sex is a text that although not very big has a vast amount of information that can enhance the sex lives of married people. The Penners left no stone unturned, every area of sexuality was explored and edified. Those who are married and intending to be married would do well to acquire a copy of The Gift of Sex. 2. Why All The Confusion? The Penners take the confusion about sex and simplify it so that even the virgin can understand the concepts. A Biblical Perspective 3. Sexuality Is a Gift from God The marvelous thing is the Penners tear down the walls between God and sex in marriage and united the two to show the representation of God and the church. They lay out a foundation to show that God sees the church as Christ bride through a number of scripture. Ephesians 5 it says â€Å"Wives submit yourselves to your own husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and he is the savior of the body. Therefore just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that he might present her to himself the glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself (AACC Bible, 2001). 4. What the Bible Says About Our Sexuality In the book The Gift of Sex the Penners simplify sexual relationships so that even the most inexperienced person can be educated through The Gift of Sex. The first chapter is on Sexuality as a Gift from God. The authors begin by explaining that people think of themselves as two parts a body and a soul, the soul being the good part and the body being the bad part. They go on to explain that they don’t agree. They believe God gave humans the gift of sex and it is not a bad part of us. The bible does not go into detail about sexual relations, but it does give us the picture of what God’s purpose was for it. In a remarkable collection of words the Penners explain how in Genesis the bible tells how Adam and Eve were a type and shadow of the New Adam, â€Å"Christ† and his â€Å"Eve† the church. In a marvelous way they make a connection between the intimacy of Adam and Eve and Christ and his church. This should cause the Christian to desire to preserve purity in their sexual relationship. The Physical Dimension 5. Our Bodies The second chapter is dedicated to teaching the reader how the body works exually. The environment in which we grow up, the way we perceive sex, the way we view our bodies all these mindsets affect the way we see ourselves and the way we are able to open up and enjoy our partners. Discovering and sharing our bodies. God created our bodies the internal as well as the external. He made our innermost parts as we are in our mother ’s wombs. 6. Discovering and Sharing Our Bodies 7. How Our Bodies Work 8. Our Bodies’ Sexual Response The Total Experience 9. Getting Interested This chapter basically covers the relationship, taking time to focus on your relationship with your spouse. Getting to know your desires and what excites you sexually so that you can pass this information onto your spouse. Being responsible for your own wants and not expecting your spouse to know what you want without relaying this information ahead of time. Sexual desire or interest is an individual’s responsibility. No one can provide this for you, it is a personal choice. If you don’t have these desires, something is blocking them and you should find out what it is. 10. Having Fun Having fun is an exciting chapter that offers suggestions on bringing spontaneity into the intimate relationship. It also shares how cuddling, holding and caressing should be part of a relationship without expecting sex. Having different places, different lighting, different timing adds variety to the sexual relationship. The Penners explain that being in the nude can add to the anxiety of the situation sometimes clothing helps to ease the tension of having to perform intercourse. 11. Initiating The topic of initiation relates to a couples system of choosing the time to come together to have sex. Remarkable as it may sound this is a complicated subject for couples and the Penners take us through patterns of approach and avoidance. Problems like fatigue and making time can get in the way and disrupt a relationship. Eventually this can become a barrier and sex may be avoided by one or both partners. They also offer exercises on resolving initiation problems. 12. Meshing Your Worlds 13. Pleasuring 14. Special Treats That Add Pleasure 15. Stimulating 16. By Invitation Only The Chapter By Invitation Only was basic common sense that most of us don’t think about. Knowing the reasons for waiting till the time is right to enter the vagina with the penis helps a person to realize it’s a physical situation not just a psychological one. 17. Letting Go 18. Affirmation Time When the Penners speak of Affirmation Time they are speaking about the moment right after sex when the couple is coming down from the high they have just experienced during sex. It is a time when the woman most often needs to know she is valued and that she has not been used for sexual pleasure only. Soon after experiencing an orgasm most men and some women experience what the Penners refer to as the Resolution Phase when the body reverses itself into the prestimulated state. This quick release causes the man or woman to feel sleepy. Having a spouse fall asleep immediately after sex may cause the person to feel abandoned or uncared for. The suggestion in this situation is to communicate about this before the sexual encounter. 19. Cleaning Up Cleaning Up is another simplistic lesson that explains to the couple that after sex there may be a mess. The less fuss made over the mess the better the woman will feel and the more freely she will let go. When Sex Isn’t Working 20. Why Sexual Problems? Chapter 20 Why Sexual Problems addresses life events that interfere with our sexual function. Amazingly physically sexual function is so predictable that it can be measured down to the tenths of a second. Emotionally is a total contrast. According to the Penners emotionally and relationally, there is a process of desire, initiation, meshing, pleasuring, letting go and then entry, or entry then letting go, affirmation and cleanup. These are the things that keep all the many sex therapist in business. Unconscious avoidance, need to please, blocked erotic feelings, past traumatic experiences, relationship problems, and the need for risk and guilt, and are all hindrances to the expressive part of sex between husbands and wives. 21. Differing Sexual Needs Differing sexual needs deal with the differences between men and women. They are never more extreme that they are in the sexual experience. If a couple is going to survive differing levels of sexual need, they must find ways to adjust to those. The starting point is communication. 22. Never Enough Time Here the Penners teach how to prioritize time to accommodate our sexual encounters. Over scheduling is the foremost reason for not having enough time for each other. In some cases it isn’t lack of time but when the time is right for instance she may be ready for sex when he gets home tired from working all day. To the contrary his prime time may be in the morning when she wants to sleep. 3. You Want To Do What? Each Chapter the Penners astound us with the possibilities of change in the lives of couples pertaining to their sex lives, but this chapter is the most astonishing yet. It offers advice on adult sex play that is biblical as well as acceptable by the church, also different positions that add variety to intercourse to make things more exciting . They also touch on the sensitive subjects of oral sex and masturbation. Interestingly oral sex is appropriate as long as both parties are in agreement and are comfortable with the situation. Masturbation is proper as long as it is not abused or a substitute for intimacy. 24. I Don’t Love Him Anymore Love is the greatest gift of all according to Corinthians 13. Sometimes it’s the most confusing. The little chapter on love does not cover much information even though marriage should be built on it. The Penners attempt to cover a large assortment of concerns from drifting apart, outside interest, unfaithfulness, to never having been in love at all. Regrettably it’s not enough information; however at the very end of the chapter they do reference God can work in your life so that love can grow. 25. Birth Control Gets in the Way The Penner’s open up this chapter with the comment â€Å"there is one common complaint that seems to hinder full sexual pleasure. † Despite the fact there are not many choices for contraception a choice still must be made by the couple. I believe the this chapter would be helpful in helping someone new to this decision make an educated choice on which birth control method to use without bias from the Penners. 26. I’m Not Interested The sexual intimacy between a husband and wife is a complicated situation with many variables that can interfere with the natural reaction for closeness. Although God created us as sexual beings this doesn’t change the fact that life situations get in the way. The Penners recommend their book Restoring the Pleasure to work through lack of desire. 27. Not Enough When You Need It: Erectile Dysfunction This chapter focuses on erectile dysfunction or impotence, which affects most men at some point in their lives despite the idea that men are ready at a moment’s notice. The common causes are physical factors, age, not being able to enter the woman’s vagina due to illness, premature ejaculation, emotional factors, medications, and much more. Whatever the cause of the difficulty with erections, it is self-perpetuating. Which means it can continue due to a person’s own thoughts and anxiety which must be worked out. There are many treatments clients should be encouraged to try them, sometimes ED will not go away on it’s own. 28. Too Soon, Too Fast: Premature Ejaculation The most common premature ejaculation is after four or less thrust. It usually gets its start before marriage. Men that have premature ejaculation us thoughts of other things to keep from ejaculating which may work short term but does not last long. The encouraging part the Penners say is that it’s easy to fix. The sad part they say is most people don’t seek help. 29. Less Arousal or No Release: Some Women’s Frustration All of us are born with a capacity of sexual response; within the first 24 hours of life we all have a sexual response. Throughout life however women may incur issues that may deter her excitement. This could cause her to lose interest in sex. Women are created to enjoy sex as much as men. They need learn how to release this enjoyment. The Penners recommend a few solutions, one being a healthy diet, exercising together. Exercising has many benefits to help a woman enjoy a healthy sex life such as body image. 30. Pain Reduces Pleasure According to the Penners â€Å"Sex is for pleasure and pain during sex should not be allowed to continue†. The type of pain and the details about the pain need to be defined in order to find help for relief of the pain. The following questions need to be answered the type of pain, when the pain happens, what activity triggers the pain. Dyspareunia is the technical term for painful intercourse. 31. Pornography and the Internet In this chapter the Penners open a door to darkness that we would rather not go into. The secret that is a problem nobody wants to talk about. The Penners call it a powerfully addictive force that is invading Christian families today. This chapter helps the reader to define if they are addicted to pornography on the internet. Each section in the chapter describes what to do if you are addicted and how to break the addiction. The Penners take you through a step by step guide to help the reader break free from this devastating habit. Enhancing the Sexual Experience 32. Inviting God into the Bedroom Although this chapter is very short, only three pages it is extremely significant to the book. Without God there would be no sex and leaving God out of sex is a mistake. Inviting God in can enrich your sex life. One way the Penners suggest doing this is to study the scriptures on sex. They also offer a video series (The Magic and Mystery of Sex), seminars, tapes, and books to promote a healthy sexual message with a solid scriptural perspective. 33. Build Sexual Passion and Intimacy In this chapter the couple should try to focus on building passion and intimacy. Life is extremely busy for most people these days. Building a passionate and intimate relationship takes planning and scheduling it can’t just be spontaneous.