Soap Operas Essay Example for Free

Soap Operas Essay Soap operas use issues from everyday lives to attract an audience. In this study I will be researching the issues and topics from which soap operas create storylines, for example marriage, divorce, death and teen pregnancy. I will look at the way different soaps look at these issues from various perspectives because the hypothesis is that the soap Coronation street will tackle issues in a more older perspective but the soap Hollyoaks will tackle issues in a younger view. Audiences have many reasons why they watch soap operas. Escapism is a big reason; people choose to watch soaps to look lives other than their own. It helps viewers to see that their lives may not be as bad as the characters on television. In addition, sometimes people need to fantasise about the good things in life, and it gives them hope that it might happen to them. Soap operas also make audiences feel happy and enjoy the storylines, they get involved in whats happening, so they watch more and more. Every soap opera needs an audience: without an audience there would be no need for soap operas, so their job is to make sure they keep their audience interested. Soap Operas have to keep them interested by writing storylines on everyday issues, similar to those which audiences have to deal with in their own lives. These issues help people to consider what to do if they need to deal with them. Soaps look at these issues differently, in different ways, in different environments, and with different ages, in order to react to reach their target audience. Looking at Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, both have completely different settings and characters. Coronation Streets is the longest running television soap opera. The first episode was released in 1965, 40 years ago. It is set in Manchester, Weatherfield in fictional industrial town, it has a middle and lower class setting for that particular audience. It is aimed at middle and lower class people because that is the biggest population in that area, as upper class are just a minority group. The programme is broadcast at either 19. 30 or 20. 30, 5 times a week. This is when families get home from work and sit down and relax in front of the television together. But the target audience are more late teens to old pensioners. So with this type of audience issues need to cover different ages, to interest different generations; children, teenagers, parents, and grandparents, but also both genders and Coronation Street try to cover this. On the other hand Hollyoaks is set in Chester; it was first begun in 1995. It is broadcast at 18. 30 5 days a week and with an omnibus on Sunday at 9. 15. This is called the Hangover Zone, the morning after a Saturday night, most people that occur in this zone tend to be 18- 30 years old so again the issues need to cover for this range of audience. The Omnibus is significant because teenagers and older people may miss the episodes in the week as it is at 6. 30 when people are still at work. The soap is at 18. 30, this is a time when older people are still at work or travelling home so the soap needs to tackle issues very differently because it looks at young teens young adults rather than the older generation. However some people do not consider the show to be a serious drama when compared with the bigger soaps such as Eastenders and Coronation Street, partly due to its reputation for hiring numerous attractive, blonde, ratings-grabbing actresses. The settings of both soaps are very different too. Coronation Street is set in a traditional street with a corner shop, a pub, a very local neighbourly place where everyone knows everyone and their business this is where all the conflict comes in, and the audience become familiar with the characters. Whereas Hollyoaks, Chester is a bigger setting of a village not just a street. It includes a pub, a shop, a nightclub, a school and most important a university. The characters are mostly young and beautiful, so there is many two faced people, where most of the conflict happens. Looking at different characters from both soaps, you see how different some characters are and some similarities there are. Two characters a have been looking at are coronation streets Sally Webster and Hollyoaks new character Kathy Barnes. Both characters are mothers of two teenage girls, and push their girls into doing things that they want, not what their daughters want. Sally Webster is a very pushy person who always wants things to go her way. A big story line recently is between her and her14 year old daughter Rosie. After finding out her daughter was sleeping with boyfriend Craig Harris, Sally forces Rosie to take the morning after pill, she also insists that Rosie and Craig split up. Being teenagers, they disobey and continue to stay together without Sally or husband Kevin Webster knowing. This storyline is very dramatic and covers an issue which concerns a lot of parents today. As an audience you see different views of the parents and the children and it shows a way of dealing with this kind of issue, or not choosing this way of dealing with the issue in the way characters have. Both Sally and Kathy have similar roles being parents of two girls and wanting the best for them. Kathys recent storyline in Hollyoaks has shown similar way of wanting the best for her children. She has recently been pushing her daughter into training extremely hard at swimming. Daughter Sarah loves her swimming but her mum has been making her hobby into something she doesnt want to do. This storyline may show people that pushing your child hard into doing something can push them away from you. This shows that even though both soaps are very different they still have similar storylines and characters. This is because of the audience, even though the audiences are slightly different they both use these storylines towards the younger audiences and both soaps deal with everyday issues and both have shown this. Another two characters I have been looking at are soap star Leanne Battersby and Mandy Hutchinson. Both characters are a similar age but live two very different lives. Leanne is a troublesome girl. Ever since she was a teenager she was mouthy and still hasnt changed. She has been married but that ended and she has also been in the wrong crowds, fleeing coronation street but returning in 2004. She then got into a relationship with newcomer Jamie Baldwin but later started sleeping with his father Danny behind his back. After him finding out and leaving Leanne she is now in a relationship with Danny Baldwin and trying to still be devious and ruin peoples lives. Comparing Leanne to Hollyoaks character Mandy Hutchinson, we can see that she is quite the opposite. Mandy is wife to Tony and mother to Antonia. Mandy owns the nightclub The Loft and with her degree in business studies from HCC, she and Tony own a lot of businesses in Hollyoaks. In the past, Mandy has been with many different guys and with the loss of her father, brother, mother and step father, she became quite alone but with the help of her husband Tony she is now back on her feet with her own new family. Even though both characters are the same age they lead very different live. Audiences see both soaps very differently in the different actors for both soaps. Some people do not consider Hollyoaks to be a serious drama when compared with the bigger soaps such as Eastenders and Coronation Street, partly due to its reputation for hiring numerous attractive, blonde, ratings-grabbing actresses.

Virtual Child Pornography Should be Legal :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essays

Virtual Child Pornography Should be Legal This nation has several issues over which most people's minds freeze up, with the disastrous drug war probably leading the list. I don't share a feeling of squeamishness and horror when it comes to drugs: What I don't want, I don't take, it's that simple. And I don't spend time fretting that my neighbors might be toking, or snorting, in the privacy of their homes. Child pornography is something else; it pushes all kinds of emotional hot-buttons in me. Certainly I would agree with the majority that anyone who exploits children in a sexual manner is committing a serious offense, deserving of harsh punishment. And anyone who get his kicks looking at images of children in sexual situations, well, that's also pretty horrifying to my sensibilities. I am very glad that my own lust meter pegs when I look at fully grown women, not at some other subset of the population. Nevertheless, I feel moved to speak against the wave of hysteria that is exemplified by U.S. Rep. Henry Brown's call for a Constitutional amendment to ban virtual child pornography. (Virtual child pornography is images that appear to be of children having sex, but which are in fact made-up, simulated by the miracles of modern computer graphics). Some who oppose such an amendment do so on the basis that the Constitution is not meant to cover specific legislative issues. That is true, but it misses the larger point, which comes down to basic rights, even for people we think have horrifying tastes. To put it bluntly, children (and adults too, of course) have the right not to be sexually exploited, BUT, adults have the right to possess any material which does not directly exploit children. Yes, including virtual pornography. I think a strong case could be made that it should not be illegal for someone to possess images of ACTUAL child pornography: The crime has been committed by the person exploiting the children, not the person viewing the picture. Nevertheless, in this column I'm taking the less assertive position that only pretend pictures of children don't warrant legal sanction. Think about this: Take a napkin. Draw a big guy with an erect c***. Draw a much smaller figure giving him a b*** j**. You have just committed a felony. Take that napkin and stuff it in someone else's pocket.

Discuss the techniques Gaskell uses to present Margaret, Thornton and workers in the riot scene Essay

North and South is set in the mid nineteenth century at the time of the industrial revolution. It is an industrial novel, which means that it portrays the difficult lives of the working class during the industrial revolution. This was a genre with few female writers; due to the â€Å"seriousness† of the work, it was not considered appropriate for women. The riot scene is a watershed, a turning point, much like the industrial revolution in the 19th century. The themes are †¦ It is a book of contrasts. Mr Thornton represents the business-minded north and is juxtaposed with Margaret Hale who represents the rich, delicate south. The violence of the riot scene causes understanding and what the characters have done wrong. It shows us that our impressions of the characters are wrong and their impressions of each other. Everyone has misjudged each other. Gaskell is challenging her Victorian readers’ black and white stereotypes and asking them to revaluate their views. The North-South divide exists in Great Britain. It refers to both the economic and the cultural differences between South England and North. The North is usually seen as poorer and more left wing, and the South as richer and more right wing. The South can be seen as much more comfortable, and a place where a better class of people live, shown in the contrasting descriptions of Helstone and Milton. Helston is deascribed to be, â€Å"it really sounded like a village in a tale rather than in real life.† And the sky in Milton is described to be darker than Helston’s wintry blue, foreshadowing the later storm. This was particularly so in the Victorian period, that North and South is set right in the middle of, when the North became increasingly industrialised and polluted. In the novel the place that Margaret has grown up in, the fictional village of Helstone is in the South. It is a gentle place and is described as â€Å"like a village in a poem† which tells the reader how beautiful it is. However, Margaret’s first view of the industrial Milton (The Northern town that she moves to) is the â€Å"deep lead-coloured cloud hanging over the horizon† She dislikes Milton at first, but slowly falls in love with the spirit and enterprise of the people. She realises that behind the machines that seem to run Milton there are real people and families. Her friend Bessie helps her understand this. That’s why her views change. North and South argues that the Industrial North represents the future, with Margaret gradual conversion from Helstone to Milton. Milton is based on Gaskell’s knowledge of Manchester. At the time Manchester was the â€Å"jewel in the crown† of the industrial north. Mr Thornton is a factory owner in Milton who Margaret eventually falls in love with. He is described as having a sharp and angular face, making him appear chiselled, as if he is made from stone. This accentuates his tough inflexible nature. â€Å"as if they were carved in marble.† He is described as an â€Å"iron man† which could suggest his machine like qualities and industrialist nature which was common in the north during the Industrial Revolution. He represents the hard working Northern factory owners, business and shows that there were real men behind harsh masters. He is the opposite of Margaret. The riot scene is where Mr Thornton and Margaret are thrown together. This represents the union of north and south, and how they should work together and protect each other. In the riot scene Thornton changes from cold (before the scene) to caring â€Å"Miss Hale is hurt!† to romantic â€Å"You are the only woman I have ever loved! The women in the extract depend on him and his instructions, making them all typical of the time â€Å"Shut down the windows instantly mother† When Margaret is hit by the pebble it is like a wall between them (Margaret’s pride) has been broken, and it allows Thornton to step forward and take control. Another thing that allows us to see another aspect of him is that he takes lessons from Mr Hale, which shows us he is a sensitive man, and he is an unusual factory owner. The workers hate him, and view him as cruel and harsh. This is because most of his actions are fuelled by wanting more money, not humanitarianism. For example, when he installs a new fan in the factory. It makes the workers more comfortable because it reduces the amount of cotton in their lungs, but Mr Thornton did it because he wanted them to live longer, to maintain an experienced workforce. . He altered his chimneys which reduced smoke emission but this was to save fuel, not the environment. In the workers’ view they have an unfair deal. This is why they strike. After the riot scene the workers and Thornton better understand each other, because the workers see that he is human because of his love for Margaret. He is proud of Milton’s industry and he realises the extent of their desperation. Margaret is a very proud and strong woman. Other people view her as overly proud and judgemental. â€Å"always gave strangers the impression of haughtiness† â€Å"Her quiet coldness of demeanour he interpreted into contemptuousness.† She is an atypical Victorian woman because she is strong and complex, but in the riot scene she becomes a typical Victorian woman, who needs someone to protect her. She lets Mr Thornton tell her what to do. As a southern gentlewoman she views Milton as â€Å"regularly built† meaning everything is the same, and dull and boring. She sees the â€Å"hopeless streets† and regrets moving to Milton. She usually contrasts to Mr Thornton’s sister, Fanny, but in the riot scene she becomes more like her, being defenceless and acting on instinct, without careful measured thought. She is described as â€Å"far from regularly beautiful† which could also mean that she is far from regular in her actions and demeanour. When she does move to Milton she tries to make the most of it, instead of complaining about it. She tries to help people, and offers charity even though they don’t want it. This is different to Thornton, but it doesn’t necessarily make her better than him because it can seem condescending to whoever she decides to help. She doesn’t understand the Milton way of life and feels she doesn’t fit in, but when she visits Helstone again she realises she has changed, and she no longer belongs there. The reader sees, along with Margaret, that Helstone has always been to her a mythical place linked to her more closely with idyllic romantic dreams than with the realities of nineteenth-century life. When Thornton gives her the dead rose from Helstone it symbolises that Helstone doesn’t mean anything to her now, because she used to talk about the roses, but the rose is dead now, symbolising that her life in Helstone is no more. The workers are considered by the factory owners to be animalistic and unthinking, represented by Gaskell’s use of language, â€Å"fierce growl† â€Å"troop of animals†. Higgins is the atypical character in that group because he is clever. He is a union leader and naturally takes control. He is the voice of the workers. He is not in the riot, and is very angry that the strike has broken. He represents change, passion and aggression. He is bullying. In the riot scene Gaskell uses descriptions of the weather to represent the idea of the workers as a gathering storm â€Å"roll of the tempest† The riot scene is a turning point in the novel. It is the point where Gaskell makes her main point about society at the time. The characters weaknesses and strengths are showcased and Margaret and Thornton become symbols of society at the time. The characters that before had all been so complex and unusual become more archetypal and in keeping with the more common character type. They all change and become more human, allowing them to connect. Only when they let their guard down can they understand. It is hot at the beginning of the extract because a storm is brewing, both metaphorically and physically. The feeling of the extract changes a lot, one of the more important and obvious place is where Thornton runs downstairs to the workers. The section is in short segmented sentences so it’s a list and reads really quickly. It creates the effect of a rush and the reader feels the anxiety of the characters. Another point where the tension and atmosphere change is where Mr Thornton makes his declaration of love to Margaret when she has been hit with the pebble. The symbolic value of this is that the wall between them (their cold exteriors) has been damaged and so their emotions can leak out. It becomes much more romantic. Metaphors are a key part of the riot extract. One of the ongoing ones is of the workers being animalistic, with them being referred to as â€Å"brutes† and â€Å"fierce†. They also â€Å"growl†. This makes us fear for the safety of the characters, as animals are unpredictable. The workers contrast to Higgins because he acts rationally, in a carefully thought out way but the rest of the workers act on instinct, like animals. We feel sorry for them because of their unthinking nature and we feel scared of them because of the threatening vocabulary used to describe them. There are constant references to a storm, for example â€Å"the first slow-surging wave† This is referring to the workers and makes the reader think of them as powerful and unstoppable. â€Å"towards one point† means the workers are focused on Thornton, and that there is no going back. This makes the reader feel worried for Thornton. The feeling of going past the point of no return is perhaps Gaskell referring to Victorian society, and what may occur if the misunderstanding carries on. Symbolism is used a lot in the riot scene. There are symbols of division â€Å"mighty fall of the ponderous gates†, desperation â€Å"unearthly groan†, and passion â€Å"you are the only woman I have ever loved!†. It is evident that the idea of division becomes more pronounced in the riot scene. For example the gate being broken is symbolic of the divided breaking down the walls of society. Many conflicts happen in North and South. Some of them are ongoing, like with Margaret and Mr Thornton. Some of them burst suddenly, like in the riot scene between Mr Thornton and the workers. These two conflicts are linked by the cold feelings, which change after the riot scene. Conflict is one of the main themes of the book. The riot scene causes conflict because it forces people together and forces debate between people. There is no fight between the workers and Margaret but still she is hurt. They have stepped outside of the set conflicts and so Mr Thornton is angry. This prepares us for reconciliation because their anger has peaked and will now decline to a flat and will become steadier. Margaret’s brother Frederick is involved in a mutiny, and is held responsible for it and exiled from England. It is a similar situation to the workers, which is one reason why Margaret understands their point of view. Gaskell uses many techniques to present Margaret Thornton and the workers. She is commenting on Victorian society that this misunderstanding of North and South is wrong and that they should try harder to understand each other.

Greek Heroes Comparison with Modern Movies Essay

Greek mythology talks about different stories of heroes and villains in ancient times. I believe most of the stories are about war and tragedy. To name some are Ajax and the Trojan war. However, learning these different stories is very fascinating and intriguing. Each of the characters had his own goal to achieve whether or not with the help of someone (i. e. god or goddess). Below are five Greek heroes in ancient literature that showed their own ideals, talents and personality in the works of Homer, Hesiod and Sophocles. Homer’s â€Å"Iliad†: 1. Achilles. The greatest Greek warrior of the Trojan War. He was in love with Briseis whom Agamemnon commanded him to replace the enslaved Chryseis (Wikipedia, 2009). 2. Hector. He was a Trojan prince and a spearman whom Achilles has killed to avenge his friend Patroclus’s death. He was the greatest fighter of Troy (Wikipedia, 2009). Hesiod’s â€Å"Theogony†: 3. Prometheus. He was a Titan god [of fire] and his name literally means â€Å"forethought†. It is said that he was ambivalent and a lowly challenger of Zeus. (Answers, 2009). 4. Eros. He was the Greek god of love, lust, beauty and intercourse, and son of Aphrodite. He is represented by a naked child carrying bow and arrow. He sprang from the primordial Chaos together with Gaea (the Earth), and Tartarus (the underworld). He fell in love with Psyche and lived with her in his home but later on, their brittle peace was ruined by her jealous sisters. (Answers, 2009). Sophocles’s â€Å"Ajax†: 5. Odysseus. He was a great warrior, a rival of Ajax who was favored by the goddess Athena. He took pity on the delusional Ajax. He was the one who convinced the king to have Ajax buried despite of their past conflicts (Nathanbauman, 2009). Developing a character in a modern movie The five aforementioned Greek heroes built a composite picture of ancient heroic model in the modern movie character like Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity [and its sequels The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum] by Robert Ludlum, which is based on his novel of the same title. The movie portrays a spy who lost his memory and who is in constant run (Liman, 2002). The Jason Bourne character is strong, loving, life-preserving, a fighter and a challenger. He is being chased by the members of his previous team to eliminate him. This is to preserve the secret that the team has done in the past – the assassination attempt on the dictator Nyakwana Wombosi. Other spies and hitmen were also sent to go after him but they were all eliminated instead by him (Liman, 2002). Strong and fighter. Like Achilles, Hector and Odysseus, Jason Bourne is strong and a very good fighter. He has the instinct of self-preservation even though he lost his memory. He used advanced hand-to-hand combat (see Figure 1) and sometimes with the use of weapons, whichever is close at hand and available . It can be seen in the movie that he knocked the two police officers unconscious, who attempted to arrest him in the park for sleeping and without ID. Other scenes were when he Your Surname Here and page number was in the bank and the U. S. Consolate. He was then chased by the police and authorities, respectively. At the time that he was on the run, that was when he met Marie. He offered her money to drive for him and away from his pursuers (Liman, 2002). Loving. Like Eros and Psyche, they fell in love with each other (see Figure 1). And yet, to be able to protect Marie from all the danger he is facing, he separated himself from her; he sent her away even though they were already attached to each other. She originally did not want to leave him but he insisted (Liman, 2002). Challenger. Just like Prometheus, Jason Bourne is considered a lowly challenger to the CIA. He is alone but he accepted the challenge of risking his life just to find out his true identity and his past. Even though he did not know what the real deal was, he did not let himself lose to those men who wanted him dead. Figure 1. The Bourne Identity. A photo of Jason Bourne running, fighting with a hitman and kissing Marie (Liman, 2002). Works Cited Answers. com. Eros. July 2009. Answers. com. Prometheus. July 2009. Liman, Doug. The Bourne Identity. Perf. Matt Damon. Universal Studios, 2002. Nathanbauman. com. Odysseus. January 2009. Wikipedia. com. Achilles. July 2009.

Catch-22 log essays

Catch-22 log essays Yossarian He is the protagonist of Catch-22. Dunbar Yossarian's friend and roommate when the novel opens The Chaplain a religious man who comes to visit Yossarian in the hospital Nurse Duckett Doesn't appear to have a significant role, except that of Yossarian's nurse The Texan A man so nice that everyone hates him Soldier in white A completely bandaged man who is in the same ward as Yossarian Lieutenant Nately Yossarian's commanding officer The novel opens in a hospital ward with Yossarian meeting the chaplain. Yossarian seems to enjoy confusing the chaplain and causing him trouble although he "fell madly in love with him" (15) We meet a few other characters, none too significant at this point. The first piece of irony is seen in this chapter in the Texan. He is so nice that everyone hates him. The soldier in white poses an element of mystery thus far in the novel. He is intriguing to the other characters because he is all bandaged. They ponder whether or not he is alive. We are also introduced to the first setting of the novel; Pianosa which is to be a small island in the Mediterranean Sea. C.I.D. Man His name is only mentioned once and is thus far insignificant Clevinger A fellow officer in Yossarian's squadron Milo Assumed to be in charge of the mess hall Yossarian is out of the hospital and is arguing with Clevinger about how everyone is out to kill him The new characters are mainly other pilots in the military with Yossarian. Ferrara and the Great Big Siege of Bologna are two events mentioned with no description This chapter holds the first introduction to the idea of insanity. Yossarian feels that everyone else is crazy, everyone hates him and is trying to kill him as well. Sergeant Towser Only mentioned very briefly, no apparent significance Major Major Squadron commander who resembles Hen...

Maquiladoras in Mexico

Maquiladoras in Mexico Definition and Background The recent controversy over U.S. immigration policies regarding Hispanic people has caused us to overlook some very real economic realities regarding the benefits of Mexican labor to the U.S economy. Among those benefits is the use of Mexican factoriescalled maquiladorasto manufacture goods that will either be sold directly in the United States or exported to other foreign nations by American corporations. Although owned by Mexican companies, these factories often use materials and parts imported with few or no taxes and tariffs, under the agreement that the United States, or foreign countries, will control the exports of the products produced.   Maquiladoras originated in Mexico in the 1960s along the U.S. border. In the early to mid-1990s, there were approximately 2,000 maquiladoras with 500,000 workers. The number of maquiladoras skyrocketed after the passing of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, and it is not yet clear how proposed changes to NAFTA, or its dissolution, might affect the use of Mexican manufacturing plants by U.S. corporations in the future. What is clear is that currently, the practice is still of great benefit to both nationshelping Mexico reduce its unemployment rate and allowing U.S. corporations to take advantage of inexpensive labor. A political movement to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. may, however, change the nature of this mutually beneficial relationship. At one time, the maquiladora program was Mexicos second largest source of export income, second only to oil, but since 2000 the availability of even cheaper labor in China and Central American nations has caused the number of Maquiladora plants to steadily dwindle. In the five years following the passing of NAFTA, more than 1400 new maquiladora plants opened in Mexico; between 2000 and 2002, more than 500 of those plants closed.   Maquiladoras, then and now, primarily produce electronic equipment, clothing, plastics, furniture, appliances, and auto parts, and even today ninety percent of the goods produced at maquiladoras are shipped north to the United States. Working Conditions in Maquiladoras Today As of this writing, more than one million Mexicans working in over 3,000 maquiladora manufacturing or export assembly plants in northern Mexico, producing parts and products for the United States and other nations. Mexican labor is inexpensive and because of NAFTA, taxes and customs fees are almost nonexistent. The benefit for the profitability of foreign-owned businesses is clear, and most of these plants are found within a short drive of the U.S.-Mexico border. Maquiladoras are owned by U.S., Japanese, and European countries, and some could be considered sweatshops composed of young women working for as little as 50 cents an hour, for up to ten hours a day, six days a week. However, in recent years, NAFTA has started to drive changes in this structure. Some maquiladoras are improving the conditions for their workers, along with increasing their wages. Some skilled workers in garment maquiladoras are paid as much as $1 to $2 an hour and work in modern, air-conditioned facilities. Unfortunately, the cost of living in border towns is often 30% higher than in southern Mexico and many of the maquiladora women (many of whom are single) are forced to live in shantytowns surrounding the factory towns, in residences that lack electricity and water. Maquiladoras are quite prevalent in Mexican cities such as Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and Matamoros that lie directly across the border from the interstate highway-connected U.S. cities of San Diego (California), El Paso (Texas), and Brownsville (Texas), respectively. While some of the companies that have agreements with the maquiladoras have been increasing their workers standards, most employees work without even knowing that competitive unionization is possible (a single official government union is the only one allowed). Some laborers work up to 75 hours a week. And some maquiladoras are responsible for significant industrial pollution and environmental damage to the northern Mexico region and the southern U.S.   The use of maquiladora manufacturing plants, then, is a decided benefit to foreign-owned corporations, but a mixed blessing to the people of Mexico. They offer job opportunities to many people in an environment where unemployment is an ongoing problem, but under working conditions that would be considered substandard and inhumane by much of the rest of the world. NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, has caused slow improvement in conditions for laborers, but changes to NAFTA may well spell a reduction in opportunities for Mexican workers in the future.

Socially Just Conditions for Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Socially Just Conditions for Learning - Essay Example In the sphere of education it is especially important to focus on social aspects, because teachers are responsible for upbringing and educating of new globalized citizens. Therefore, sociological implications of pedagogical practices should be correlated with political and cultural regulations of the country. Socially just pedagogies are focused on education of students with disabilities, from socially unfavorable families and environment. As far as we know it: â€Å"Educators †¦ should reject forms of schooling that marginalize students who are poor, black and least advantaged. This, points to the necessity for developing school practices that recognize how issues related to gender, class, race and sexual orientation can be used as a resource for learning rather than being contained in schools through a systemic pattern of exclusion, punishment and failure (Rossi, 2004). Consequently, we can see that now it is time to change social aspects of pedagogies for tolerant and multi- faceted educational practices. Teachers should take into account a student’s will for knowledge, improve and advance it and not to oppress him because of social stereotypes or perverted social patterns (Ukpokodu, 2007). Children impairments Children with physical or cognitive impairments are often criticized by classmates and in this case a teacher should be a â€Å"trigger† of tolerant and correct behavior in relation to a child. There is a marginalized disposition of students with disabilities and modern researches and studies are focused on reconceptualization of the students’ â€Å"inclusion† in the educational process (Chubbuck, 2009). A fundamental nature of impairment and disability should be promoted as a form of social artifacts. Another important measure to be taken by the modern teachers is to interpret pedagogical doctrines within social and globalized contexts. To begin with, teachers should realize the fact that their students, which are gen erally positioned as skilled and productive individuals, may be not â€Å"able†. Moreover, concerning students with disabilities, it should be noted that they require more help, patience and tolerance from their teachers. In accordance with the study conducted by Christensen, Young, & Marchant (2007): â€Å"An inclusive society, therefore, is not a society of equals in a principled way, but a society in which everyone has the qualities to meet her needs in an entrepreneurial way† (p. 82). Modern approaches of teachers to education A people-centered approach is the most relevant step to be taken by teachers in the beginning of educational practices change. A teacher should be positioned as a mentor, helping to bridge an inner emotional gap within a student with special needs. There are two important questions for each teacher: â€Å"what do my students see?†, â€Å"what are their real ideas in the educational process?† Consequently, education in the modern globalized context is moving from telling students what is true to asking students what it true. Children have their own opinion. They have their own voice and it should not be suppressed in the educational process. A socially just teacher is a mentor, who has an ability to listen to his students and take into account their ideas (Keeffee and Carrington, 1996). I can further claim that a teacher’s socially just practices are being developed under the influence of childhood impressions. In my