Pursuit of Happiness Essay Example for Free

Pursuit of Happiness Essay â€Å"Keeping up with the Jones’s†, (Baumgardner Crothers, 2009) is a popular saying in America today, and not far from the truth, concerning the mentality and opinions concerning happiness and well-being. The Declaration of Independence also states the pursuit of happiness is an alienable right (Baumgardner Crothers, 2009). Society today lends opportunities to fulfill anyone’s desires, or dreams, yet as individual’s we are concerned about what other’s think around us. This thought process is evident throughout the American culture today and in history (Baumgardner Crothers, 2009). The concepts of culture and happiness are being compared as individualistic and collectivist (I-C) which provides the basis for over all well-being and what it means to be happy. Research compared two cultures Americans to East Asians and found subjective wellbeing (SWB) to be low in Japan where income trends are high, when compared to Americans. This concept was considered void because the Asian cultures did not measure happiness to self or individuality. Therefore the studies had to be modified. Later reviews revealed that Americans are encouraged to identify and express their unique sense of self as a way to influence and distinguish themselves from others, whereas or in contrast Asians are encouraged to identify and express attributes that behoove the community as a whole to develop self-critical and self-discipline which enables fitting in with others. This concept allows for improvement or enhances decision making that improves the social norm (Baumgardner Crothers, 2009). Because happiness and feeling good about oneself is a part of the American culture, American Parents rear their children to think for themselves and pursue things that make a child happy or feel good about them; this perspective is consistent with subjective well being (SWB), and that happiness is both subjective and individualized; it relates to the development of planning to pursue the things that both express who we are (traits and characteristics), with what separates us from others; uniqueness, and staying true yourself (Baumgardner Crothers, 009). A good example of this would be, a middle income family allowing their children to explore different activities, such as sports, art, or music to find what brings the individual joy, or discover new skills that will eventually lead them to influence others and themselves. It is a hard contrast in the Asian cultural for happiness carries less importance in their culture. Children are encouraged to restrain their emotions, and to fit in with others and take pride in team work (sympathetic relationships, or understanding others perspective and accepting it) â€Å"Children are expected to learn how to adjust themselves to others so as to enhance and maintain harmonious social relationships† (Baumgardner Crothers, 2009). This thinking also can lead to a critical mind set of one self and possibly others. East Asians do not put an emphasis on happiness, life satisfaction or the understanding and pursuit of positive emotions, but believe happiness is fleeting, and one should live a composed life from moment to moment in appreciation. Americans or individualistic cultures place emphasis on positive feelings that are directly related to achievement or accomplishments. It is believed good feelings promote self-esteem, independence, and happiness. A good example would be receiving a scholarship for earning a high GPA. Interestingly enough goal achievement is also important to collective culture or the Asian culture, when asked; research perspective was placed on SWB due to western influences (Baumgardner Crothers, 2009). However both cultures admitted to personal satisfaction, than to please others concerning the pursuit of goals.

Drug Abuse in Canada :: Drug Abuse, Substance Abuse

Drug Abuse in Canada Introduction Drug use and abuse is as old as mankind itself. Human beings have always had a desire to eat or drink substances that make them feel relaxed, stimulated, or euphoric. Wine was used at least from the time of the early Egyptians; narcotics from 4000 B.C.; and medicinal use of marijuana has been dated to 2737 B.C. in China. But it was not until the nineteenth century that the active substances in drugs were extracted. There was a time in history when some of these newly discovered substances, such as morphine, laudanum, cocaine, were completely unregulated and prescribed freely by physicians for a wide variety of ailments. Canada’s Drug of Choice: Marijuana   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Contrary to popular belief the rate of illicit drug use is actually on the decline. The most commonly used drug in Canada is Marijuana. According to the 2004 Canadian Addiction Survey, 44.5% of Canadians surveyed said that that used pot at least once in their lifetime.14.1% reported that they have used marijuana in the past twelve months. Those individuals that have used in the past year varies greatly, with 20.8% not having used at all in the past 3 months, while 204.9% claiming that they have used only once in the past 3 months. 16% reported that they used monthly, 20.3% was weekly, with only 18.1% reporting to be using daily. The province with the highest usage is British Columbia with an average that is significantly higher than the national level, at 52.1%. British Columbia also has the highest past year usage compared to the national average at 16.8%.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As with alcohol, men (50.1%) are more likely than their female counterparts (39.2%) to have used marijuana during their life time. The same sample of men (18.2%) and women (10.2%) have used marijuana in the past year. This is up from 5.7% for men and 2.4% for women in 1993, over three times higher for the men and four times for the women. The younger generations, like men, are more likely to use marijuana, with approximately 70% of those between the ages of 18-24 years old having tired it at least once. The youngest age group sampled, 15-17 years old, almost 30% of them used cannabis in the past year, peaking at 47% with the age group18 & 19 year olds. After this point usage within the past year tends to decline with only 10% of the population surveyed claiming they still use marijuana.

Do Family Friendly Policies Hurt Men?

But as companies add these benefits, some male employees ( and some childless women as well) have complained that the company Is spending money on benefits that flow to some workers at the expense ( at least theoretically) of others. Some men have even complained that fathers don't get assistance with child care or an opportunity to bring their babies to work. In fact, In the united States, companies do have to extend the same benefits to fathers as to mothers (except, of course, that if a mother is disabled after childbirth, she is the one who gets the usability benefit).But men note that it is women who are more likely to use these benefits, even though studies show that men are experiencing more work- life conflict than male workers did a few decades ago. And as more pregnant women stay on the job, the disparity is as obvious as the bulging bellies.The best way to distribute the cost and benefits of flexibility is to offer to every employee that may need it. Also the ones who It d on't need the benefit of flexibility, give them a longer break for lunch or give rewards to keep the employees up to speed. 2. Do employee benefits have to be used equally In order for them to be fair or ethical? Why or why not? If you were In the HER department of a company where some employees were unhappy about this Issue, how would you recommend that the many address It?Now if I understand this right, I believe that if the benefits were equally given to all employees and not just women with children, I believe this would be fair and ethical. Instead of being equally used, I believe all the employees should have access to all the benefits of the company. If I was in the HER department, I would say that all the TTS snow a De offer to can employee. ASK around Ana get ten employees involved and see what is most needed. Finally, find ways that would benefit both men and women.

Themes Of The Bluest Eye - 1871 Words

Analyzing The Bluest Eye In the novel, The Bluest Eye, author Toni Morrison integrates many social and structural forces and themes throughout the story that are central to understanding the character’s experiences. Varying forms of oppression, and issues surrounding gender, race and social class are prevalent in the book, affecting each character in their own way. As the story progresses we gain more insight into the lives of the characters which helps complete the picture of the intersection of the forces of gender, race and class. Each character in the story experiences an interaction between these forces, rather than only experiencing one or the other. Therefore, it is important to note that even though I will be breaking down each†¦show more content†¦The rape is told through Cholly’s perspective and we only get to hear the way he feels and acts. We are neglected Pecola’s point of view and reaction, which shows how male oppression has the ability to mute women. In addition to violence the women and girls experience, the women in this novel engage in horizontal hostility. Horizontal hostility occurs when â€Å"individuals direct the resentment and anger they have about their situation onto those who are of equal or lesser status† (WVFV 63). The women in the novel are oppressed by the men, and instead of responding to the real threat of their oppression, they respond and create oppression against those of the same or lower status—in this case, other women and children. The women gossip about one another and put each other down for characteristics they deem undesirable. Mrs. Breedlove experiences this shortly after moving to Lorain, Ohio with Cholly. Mrs. Breedlove did not seem to fit in with the other black women she met, and they treated her poorly with â€Å"their goading glances and private snickers at her way of talking (saying â€Å"chil’ren) and dressing† (Morrison 118). In this situation, the women are engaging in opp ressive acts against each other. When it comes to their children, the women dominate and oppress them through the use of physical force, such as when Mrs. Breedlove yells at Pecola and slaps her for spilling the pie, or when Mrs. MacTeer whips Claudia, Frieda and Pecola for â€Å"playing nasty.† From theseShow MoreRelatedThe Bluest Eye-Theme of Vision1553 Words   |  7 PagesToni Morrison’s highly acclaimed debut work, The Bluest Eye, is one of unquestionable beauty and intricately woven prose. As a fictional writer, Morrison avails herself of her literary faculties, using her mastery of description in order to convey an unusually lucid picture to the reader. The five senses seem to envelop a great deal of description in the novel, most notably that of sight. As has been discovered by virtue of studying the brain’s neural and cognitive machinery, vision occupies largeRead MoreTheme Of Racism In The Bluest Eye924 Words   |  4 Pages Racism, a word once used sparingly, has today become a part of colloquial speech. Although racism is an epidemic, so is same-race discrimination. In the novel â€Å"The Bluest Eye,† written by Toni Morrison, this idea of same-race discrimination is given the limelight throughout. The novel focuses on the African American community within Lorain, Ohio and the complexities of physical beauty and social status that lean over its residents. A character emphasized for her entitlement and being one who practicesRead More Essay on Themes of House on Mango Street, and The Bluest Eye1602 Words   |  7 PagesDisturbing Themes of House on Mango Street, and The Bluest Eye  Ã‚   Sandra Cisneros was born in Chicago and grew up in Illinois, the only girl in a family of seven. Cisneros is noted for her collection of poems and books that concentrate on the Chicana experience in the United States. In her writing, Cisneros explores and transcends borders of location, ethnicity, gender and language. Cisneros writes in lyrical yet deceptively simple language, she makes the invisible visible by centering on theRead More Memoirs of a Geisha and the Bluest Eye Essay example900 Words   |  4 PagesMemoirs of a Geisha and the Bluest Eye Memoirs of a Geisha by Aurthor Golden and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison are two thought provoking books with a unique style of writing. Memoirs of a Geisha has a beautiful poetic grammar which captures readers imagination and brings the story to life. Morrison on the other hand uses combined voices to give varied perspectives with out resorting to authorial intrusion or preaching. Memoirs Of A Geisha and the bluest eye both contain graphic realismRead MoreRacism And Discrimination On African Americans1210 Words   |  5 Pagesfrequent use of symbolism.2 In The Bluest Eye, an extremely important symbol is blue eyes (Crayton 73). Blue eyes are used to symbolize racially based beauty standards and the power associated with whiteness (â€Å"Bluest† LitCharts). In the novel, society believes that if a person does not have white skin, he or she is not beautiful. Pecola Breedlove falls victim to this widespread belief and longs to possess blue eyes. In her world, blue eyes ar e far more than a simple eye color. They are beauty. They areRead MoreThe Bluest Eye By Toni Morrison Essay1314 Words   |  6 PagesThe Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison, encompasses the themes of youth, gender, and race. The African American Civil Rights Movement had recently ended at the time the novel was written. In the book, Morrison utilizes a first-person story to convey her views on racial inequality. The protagonist and her friends find themselves in moments where they are filled with embarrassment and have a wish to flee such events. Since they are female African Americans, they are humiliated in society. One of Morrison’sRead MoreAnalysis Of The Bluest Eye By Toni Morrison791 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"If only the eyes saw souls instead of bodies, how very different our ideals of beauty would be†. Toni Morrison shows, to the black community and to the world, how white supremacists and false convictions on beauty and self-worth can cause serious mischief if bel ieved and taken to heart. Throughout the book, the character who exemplified the best repercussions of racism through her actions was Pecola Breedlove. A very passive little girl who was lacking self-esteem and parental guidance buys intoRead MoreRacial Prejudice in the Bluest Eye and to Kill a Mockingbird1416 Words   |  6 Pagesintroduced to the theme of racial prejudice through the experiences of the characters Scout and Jem Finch. The story is told from the perspective of Scout. In Toni Morrison’s novel, The Bluest Eye, the reader is also introduced to the theme of racial prejudice through the experiences of Pecola Breedlove and Claudia MacTeer. The story is told through the perspective of Pecola Breedlove, and Claudia MacTeer. Both of the novels show different ways of illustrating the same theme. In the novel ToRead More The Importance of the Eye in Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye Essay example1221 Words   |  5 PagesThe Importance of the Eye in Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye      Ã‚  Ã‚   In Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye, the characters eyes are everything. The word eye appears over and over with rich adjectives that describe color, movement, and nuance of expression to signify a characters mood and psychological state. Morrison emphasizes the paradox of eyes: Eyes are at times a window to enlightenment, however, what eyes see is not always objective truth, but instead a distortion of reality into whatRead MoreAnalysis Of Patricia Collinss Black Feminist Eye1125 Words   |  5 Pagesevolving this theory. In similarity to Collins’ novel, The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison, the African American female individuals depicted as the women of color labeled in the novel, Black Feminist Thought. In conjunction with the depicted black women in Collins’ Black Feminist Thought, numerous resources in the class notes can to help define such women of color. The novel, Black Feminist Thought, is better agreed and communicated through the Bluest Eye†™s black female individuals and in class resource notes