Communications and Media

For many centuries, humans have been involved in wars for various reasons. Wars according to Ricks (2006) are caused by different conflicts of interests, or in a much deeper analysis, wars are caused by human greed and egoistic pursuits. Factors such as poverty, inequality, discrimination and cultural misunderstandings also cause wars.

Much have been said and done to mitigate causes of wars. Yet, people have not learned from the sufferings of the past caused by the horrors and uncertainty brought about by conflicts that sacrificed the lives of the innocent and the great. Oftentimes, wars are being waged to justify a cause, to justify a belief and worst, to justify selfish desires and personal benefit. Grassroots movements around the world are struggle to free the world from the sufferings of war and indignation, however, all of their efforts are wasted as powerful authorities make their way out in justifying their actions.

For Gordon and Shapiro (2004), the war between the United States of America and Iraq was deeply  rooted on both the desire to protect human rights, and the hidden desire to control resources. Rampton and Stauber (2003) clearly elaborated the problems that caused America to wage war against Iraq. According to Rampton and Stauber (2003), the Bush administration went to war against Iraq to bring about change in the regime of Saddam Hussein, a regime that according to Bushs administration, has violated human rights and international mandates and agreements. The Bush administration has stated several reasons for the war against Iraq, as explained by Rampton and Stauber (2003)

America waged war with Iraq because for one, Saddam Hussein is seen as an evil person who has violated many human rights, even killed his own people to protect his power and position. Second, American authority believed that Iraqi people should be liberated from this kind of leader who is not following the United Nations resolutions particularly on disarmament and non-proliferation of destructive weapons. Third, it was believed that Saddam Hussein pose a risk for the United Nations to be seen as an organization that is not credible and lacks integrity. And fourth, the United States is solid on its belief that Saddam Hussein has strong ties with the Al Qaeda terrorist group who caused so much havoc during the September 11 attacks (p. 8).

Millions of people expressed their outrage over this unprecedented destruction not just to properties but also to the worlds most precious resource  the human life. Many innocent lives were lost because of the war in Iraq. Photographs of dead bodies of children, women and innocent civilians continue to proliferate in our TV and computer screen even now. This only means that war is unjustifiable and should be stopped the soonest possible time. If people use revenge as a motive for war, it would surely result to unending cycle of conflicts and misunderstanding.

As much as there are many reasons for going into war against Iraq, there are also many reasons for opposing it. According to Mokhiber and Weissman (2003), it is a common sense to end or stop the war in Iraq given the casualties from both sides brought about by this unending quest for power and resources. For Mokhiber and Weissman (2003), Iraq is no threat to the United States given that Iraq is one of the weakest militaries in the Middles East region with no evidence to having nuclear nor biological or chemical attack against the United States. (p. 17).

A lot of studies and investigations have already been conducted and majority of them explained that one of the major motives of the United States for waging war against Iraq is its desire to control the oil reserves of the region. If this is the case, U.S Iraq war is ridiculous. There are better solutions to energy problems than through waging wars. War in Iraq is a dynamic interplay of economic and political factors that the U.S tried to secure for its own benefit. It would be hard to believe that the United States is caring about the welfare of the Iraqi people if Iraq is not one of the worlds largest oil reserves.

If oil and energy source is one of the main reasons for the war in Iraq, it would right to say that people should move from a fossil fuel-based source of energy into renewable and sustainable energy sources.

Ikeda (2003), in his book entitled The Human Revolution explicitly proclaimed that there is nothing more barbarous than war, nothing more cruel and inhumane (p. 1). This was also the battle cry of those people who have witnessed and experience the horrors of wars. Not only is war barbarous, it also cost a lot. If military spending can be reduced to even a tenth from its present expenditures, it could have been very useful for other people who do not even have a water supply in their communities or food on their table. Proponents of the U.S.-Iraq war are just motivated by their desire to demonstrate just how much military power the U.S. have and not on the motivation to further human rights and democracy.

War is like a grave case of bullying. When we were still young, it is usual for parents to reprimand us regarding bullying. When a child is bullied, there is this interplay of dominant and weak personality. There is always this big boss who is strong physically, and who is in command, forcing others to obey his or her rules. That big boss always feels that he or she is always right and whatever he or she says must be followed by the minions. They often lack the understanding and sympathy for other people, especially to those they bully. This is what the United States have done and is doing to Iraq and its people.

It would be understandable that Americans might feel outrage and indignation towards Iraq after the September 11 attacks. But intensifying this feeling of outrage among the American citizen towards Iraq is a clear indication of the power of propaganda to appeal to peoples emotion, thereby justifying the waging of war.

Apparently, the war in Iraq has caused so much challenge in the present administration. Many politicians might say that the war in Iraq is no longer their business as it was a problem of the previous administration. But the world is waiting for the United States to make its way out of this mess and pave the way to an era of peace and conflict resolution.

This is not an easy task to do. Ending the war in Iraq takes so much courage and commitment to upholding human rights with the sincere intention of respecting and upholding peoples desire to live in peace. One of the easiest and also the most difficult solution to ending war is through a heartfelt dialogue.

As Ikeda (2003) explained, a heart to heart dialogue has its goal, that is, to create mutual understanding between countries of different beliefs to form a consensus to further peaceful coexistence. Conducting a dialogue is a challenge to fully understand and grasp the sufferings of others the way they understand it themselves. At the same time, it enables others to understand you in return. In other words, dialogue is not a static activity, but a dynamic one.  Through dialogue, people from different backgrounds can get rid of their prejudices and eventually find out that every human beings have the same aspirations.

Fighting for human rights cannot be attained by resorting into violence and war. Peaceful coexistence can only be attained through peaceful methods. Ending wars is more of taking the pains to understand the side that is in danger of being misunderstood and misjudged.

The government, being in power holds the most strategic position to end the war. They have the responsibility to protect their own people and at the same time make them understand about other countries situation. Waging war in Iraq will do no good to Americans or to the rest of the world. It will just serve as a catalyst for more terrorist activities to increase. Dialogue, in conclusion, is the key to unlocking this path to peace and coexistence.

Technology can be construed to mean the application of scientific advances to impact the lives of the people. Over the years, changes and improvements in technology have brought a great revolution in the society. Most notably, communication technology has taken the greatest leap forward in changing the way of life in our society. Talking to a friend on the other side of the earth was at one time an effort that would take days if not weeks. With the rise of wireless communication and the mobile phones, the world has made a great stride in connecting people and making life better. More and more, improvements in communication technology are changing the way people relate and behave. The advantages that the mobile phone and other gadgets have brought into the society are phenomenal.

However, just like any other technological change, there come with it serious consequences to the society. In light of this view, this paper describes the revolutions and changes, good and bad that mobile gadgets have impacted in the society

According to the International Telecommunication union, by the year 1990, there were about 11 million mobile phone subscribers globally. By the year 2000, the number of subscribers had exceeded 550 million. Today, more than half of the worlds population, about 4.2 billion people have access to a mobile phone (ITU, n.d). Without doubt, the exponential rise in mobile subscribers has been due to the enormous advantages offered by a mobile phone. A mobile phone offers great convenience in communication. Over the last fifteen years when mobile phones hit the streets, communication has ever been easier. Gone are the days when the most appropriate mode of communication was sending letters which would take more than a week before getting a reply. Today, talking to friends and family across geographies and at anytime is just a touch of a button away. Communication has become easier such that I can call to wish my friend in London a goodnight before she goes to bed.

Mobile phones have evolved from only being a voice communication device to a converged services gadget. By integrating computing capabilities in the mobile phone, one can now watch videos, listen to music and play games. This is still a fraction of how a mobile phone has transformed life. All my calendar schedules are now in my mobile phone with reminders. I set appointments with my doctor, the date and time my class assignments are due and my plans for the day, all in my mobile phone. Today, if I am late to get home, my parents are not worried even if I do not show up for a few days because we are always in constant touch and therefore they are always informed about my whereabouts.

What I think is one of the driving forces behind popularity of mobile phones is their convenience. Unlike the days when you had to be near a telephone booth to make or receive a call, today you can call anyone at anytime from anywhere if they have a mobile phone. It has now become easier to communicate without disrupting a busy schedule. By using a Bluetooth earpiece device, I can make a call and discuss a serious matter when driving. When I want to trace someone, I do not need to walk around asking everyone whether they have seen so and so. Instead, I just pick my cell phone and call them up. When I am in a busy street and it happens that I get lost, I would just call for help and someone would come and pick me up. Mobile phones have gone a long way to assist people in times of disaster and emergencies.

Recent technological innovations have transformed mobile phones to be handheld computers. For instance, iphones and other smart phones with full internet connectivity have completely reshaped our social and personal lives. With instant messaging and social networking sites such as twitter, I can connect and chat with my friends at the comfort of my bed. The capacity to be connected to the internet has enabled subscribers to send and receive emails on their phone, making it very easy to work from home. It is now convenient to receive class assignment via email, complete the assignments and hand them in through email. With my blackberry, I can create a PowerPoint presentation, save it, and with a Bluetooth enabled projector, I can make a presentation without the need to carry a laptop. Moreover, I can talk to my friends while seeing them on my phone as if we are making a face to face conversation. Above all that, education has also been brought near. It is now possible to download an e-book and read it over the mobile phone from anywhere.

Despite bringing comfort and convenience, the advancement of mobile phone technology has various negative outlooks. Today, almost all mobile phones are equipped with camera and video recording capability. Abuse of this technology would greatly compromise the privacy of individuals especially when they get recorded without knowledge or consent. It is now common to see mobile videos on television that may be damaging to a persons integrity and personality. With the increase in the number of mobile phones in our society, sometimes it is turning out to become a nuisance. For example, at times in a classroom, cell phones would ring almost simultaneously causing a great distraction to the owner of the phone as well as his colleagues. Without strict lecturers, there is usually constant walk in and walk out of lectures to pick phone calls which create a mess in a lecture hall. 

Cheating in exams has become rampant as a result of this technology. It is as easy to google anything in an exam room as when seated in a park if there is no one watching you. This is such a negative use and abuse of technology as it breeds laziness and earning of dishonest grades. Although it seems a very easy way of earning good grades, eventually, facts catch up with you that despite a good transcript, the content gained is surprisingly less. Apart from the classroom woes, cell phones and smart phones have become the largest time consumer especially among teenagers and young adults. Playing games, watching videos, surfing the internet and spending time on twitter has become addictive. It is easier now to see young people clutched to their phone than it is to see them on the field playing or discussing class work. In addition, mobile phones have also created conflict in the family. A parent may try in vain to demand attention of the child who is glued to their mobile gadget probably chatting with a friend.
The cell phones that we now cannot do without are gradually becoming a health as well as a security risk. Cases have been reported of muggers and crooked fellows extorting money from unsuspecting people. They pull this off by stealing phones and using the phone contacts to call and demand money from the family and friends of the victim. Serious health risks are also associated to the mobile phones.  Researchers have associated exposure to radiations from mobile phones to brain damage, including the Alzheimers disease. Cell phone towers emit radiations that compromise the health of people living nearby. Their ever increasing numbers not only increase chances of harmful effects but also they affect the aesthetic value of our cities.

It is with no doubt that there is nothing to stop advancement in technology. We have covered great strides in improving communication with the whole world becoming a digital village. Communication being one of the most important factors of development has facilitated lives to change dramatically. However, with all the good stuff that mobile communication has brought, we have to live with the consequences. Cell phones have brought great social and cultural transformations and the implications can be witnessed everywhere (Goggin, Routledge, 2006). It is fun and convenient to own and use a mobile phone, but to minimize the harmful effects of this technology would be prudent to advance in moderation. As always, the effects of any tool lies with the user. Mobile phones are tools whose effect is determined by those using it.

Report from a Pashtun Teen Arranged Marriage by Sher Bano
Nicholas D. Kristof-A New York Times Blog

Introduction
Those in the West, such as in the US and Europe are used to courtship before marriage. A typical marriage, in the US for example, would involve first a boy (or as is becoming common a girl) having a crush on a girl a boy or a girl on seeing a suitable partner approaches her and lets her or him know of his feelings. If she also feels the same way then they are ready to begin on a long courtship journey. Sometimes the journey might be short, it really depends. Only then shall the boy resolve to ask for her hand in marriage.  At the same time those in the West expect that one wont go about marrying their cousins, or any other relatives of theirs. Even when some of these filial marriages are not illegal they are frowned upon as uncouth.

On the issue of arranged marriages, the decision to date and marry is absolutely that of the parties that had a crush on each other in the US and most other European cultures. No parents or any other persons opinion or decision is sought in this process. But that is not the case in most of Asia, some parts of Africa and the Middle-East. And in these parts of the world one can comfortably marry his or her cousin. And they have justifications for such a custom. In most Asian cultures marriages are struck between families rather than the individuals involved. The so-called arranged marriages, while in other cousins or other relations marry each the so-called consanguinity. However, arranged marriage and consanguinity are Asian cultural customs that are not only bizarre but also highly misunderstood in the West. They are to most Westerners as cruel and primitive. But what are the facts and fictions on arranged marriage and consanguinity

Sher Banos story
Sher Bano is a seventeen-year old girl from the Pakistani village of Peshawar. She wrote on Kristofs blog in New York Times on her experience in the US. She came to the US, in the state of Illinois, and spent a year there as an exchange student. She learned quite a lot on the US culture and perceptions in general and on the issue of arranged marriage in particular. She also tried to put into perspective the issue of consanguinity. She claims that Americans are quite misinformed as far as these issues are concerned.  Americans, she realized found these customs to be cruel and primitive A stance that she found judgmental and to her it is unreasonable of one to judge cultures. 

Sher Bano on Arranged Marriage
Sher Bano notes that the dictionary definition of arranged marriage is a marriage that is arranged by someone other than the persons getting married. That the definition goes on to connotate this kind of marriage curtails the process of courtship. This definition is, on the surface acceptable (and especially on the part of curtailing courtship), but the author says that the kind of arranged marriage she knows of and that she about to take part in is quite different.

She informs us that the marriage process is formalized just as that in the West. She says that the bride and the groom have to sign a contract during the marriage ceremony known as the Nikkah.  But she gives us a marriage process in the typical case of an arranged marriage in the village where she comes from Pushawar.

Because it is against Peshawar religion to have a crush on someone, that is fall in love, as is the case in most Western societies, it is the role of the parents of a boy to ask for the girls hand in marriage-lets just say it is the parents who have a crush. It is important that a girls consent is first sought. If she disagrees then that is it. The boys parents continue with their search for another suitable and compatible girl for their son.

The fact that a girls consent and a boys for as well are sought differentiates arranged marriage from forced marriage. Indeed she says that there are considerable differences between forced marriage and arranged marriage. The primary difference is that in arranged marriage there is consultation which conspicuously lacks in forced marriages. But she does not rule out there being forced marriages in Asia. Forced marriage seems to co-exist with arranged marriage in most Asian cultures. In fact as we shall find out the bride or the groom are not expected to go against the wishes of the family. So in some way there is a thin line between the two.

The seventeen year old also takes issue with the so-called falling in love aspect that intrinsically defines courtship and marriage in Western societies. She finds all the drama, expectations and explanations as something to dread. According to the authors aunt, she (the aunt) learned to love long ago (the socialization process must have also included a lesson in loving). And may be this is why so many of them do not mind marrying people they have never been around with.

Sher Bano on Consanguinity
She also talks of Pakistanis custom of marrying their cousins. She admits that this is still rampant in some parts of Asia. This custom, she notes, is not without its merits. Marriages among relatives are done so as to keep inheritances within the family and continued closeness within the extended family. She also accepts that this custom results into some complications, and especially reproductive complications. Ultimately, the author says that marrying from the family is not entirely wrong but risky given the possibility of contracting these reproductive complications. But to her there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Many people, in fear of these inheritable diseases, are changing their attitudes.
Widely accepted marriageable age for Peshawar women is in their early twenties while in the US people marry as late as in their thirties. She cites a study that notes that about ninety nine percent of husbands in Peshawar are older than their wives. I will detail below the problems associated with early marriages. Child marriages tend to go hand in hand with arranged marriages. 

It is true as Bano puts it that marriages in Asia are often arranged alliances negotiated between parents (Shapiro, 2008). Such issues as whether the boy or girl are from the right caste or from a good family are highly considered (Shapiro, 2008). Does the potential groom have a good job, good character, and reputation (Shapiro, 2008). And  what assets (e.g., jewelry, cash, furniture) does the bride bring in her dowry (Shapiro).

Therefore, what the author states is quite true to some extent. It is true that arranged marriage is pervasive in India, Pakistan and some other Asian cultures that there are instances of consanguinity in some Asian cultures. However, Mehindiratta, Paul and Mehindiratta (2007) note that arranged marriage which is most common in West and South Asia, Japan and rural areas in other parts of Asia is defined as one where parents choose marital partners for their children. This definition is at variance with the authors understanding of arranged marriage.

It is also true that by 1998, arranged marriages in India were so common than the romantic marriage that the Indians had a term for the latter. This special kind of marriage that is not arranged is known as love match(Nanda, 1998). Arranged marriage is deeply ingrained even among the educated middle-class modern urbanites in India (Nanda, 1998).

Nanda (1998) also refutes the notion that arranged marriage is similar to forced marriage, or that one is given to a total stranger. Well, she may be a stranger to one of the partners but she wont definitely be a stranger to the parents. Besides, one of the parties is always at liberty to veto such an arrangement if she feels it is not up to his or her taste. Moreover, she found out that sometimes the bride and groom may meet briefly but that is after their parents had struck the deal (Nanda, 1998).

A Cultural Analysis of the Text
Parents play an important role in arranged marriages in fact arranged marriages are kind business arrangements between families and not individual choices or love matches for that matter (Murphey, 1996, p.196). Marriage is a family affair. And being a choice of parent, arranged marriage is seen to reflect the values of parents (Mehndiratta, Paul, Mehndiratta, 2007). Murphey (1996) also notes that marriage was seen by all as a contract between families for furthering their interest. And so is the case with consanguinity.

What is clear here is the primacy of the family over the individual in a typical Indian culture that practiced arranged marriage. In most Asian societies people are trained to put individual want second to family (Murphey, 1996, p.198). And as such even though the bride and groom may be given some free will to express preferences they were keen not to overstep the familys preferences (Murphey, 1996). And not only was arranged marriage an issue of the family, it also portrays the deep respect young people accord those of older age than them.

In most Asian societies and individual learns to humble himself before his elders while also putting the interests of the society before self (Murphey, 1996). This feeling, that one is always subordinate to the society or to those who are older than you are, are so reinforced that even the girls themselves do not find it as oppressive as Westerners may want it to be. One educated Indian girl put it my marriage is too important to be arranged by such an inexperienced as myself (Nanda, 1998). This statement reinforces the fact that family decision is paramount among the Indians. That as children one is not supposed to make such a huge decision as of marriage by himself.

The process of getting the most suitable and compatible bride is not an easy task. And in most cases it also involved go-betweens (Murphey, 1996, p.198). Go-betweens were normally older widows who surveyed the assortment of suitable partners in the area (Murphy, 1996, p.198). These go-betweens charged a small fee that was normally their income (Murphey, 1996, p.198). The employment of the services of go-between just shows how demanding it was prospecting for the right bride.

 There are a lot of factors that have to be taken into account when searching for a bride. Of course the most imperative factor is the reputation of the family (Nanda, 1998). The parents made sure that among other things the girl is not the kind to gossip and never quarrels it was also vital that the potential bride was not the independent type or was too educated(Nanda, 1998). Given that normally the girl changed her allegiance and moved permanently to husbands home, and where he would live in a joint family, those vices would not be compatible with such a life (Nanda, 1998). Any trace of these vices would disqualify the bride as this would be detrimental to the familys reputation.

In some unfortunate circumstances the bride may find it tough with her in-laws in a joint family set up. She might be the target of his mother-in law and other in-laws resentment for whom she is now a source of competition for affection, loyalty, and economic resources from their son or brother (Nanda, 1998). But this may be the case in any marriage, not only an arranged one.

Women in most Asian cultures become important after marriage and even more important when they bore a son. Therefore in Asia marriage and motherhood are high achievements for women (Nanda, 1998). The biggest achievement for a woman is to sire a son for her husbands a family. A woman achieved some status among the Indians, for example, by getting a son. In fact a wife, who failed to produce a son after a long period of time in most traditional Asian societies, was commonly returned to her parents as useless (Murphey, 1996, p.198). This was so because the prime purpose of marriage was perpetuation of male line (Murphey, 1996, p.198).

Normally these marriages were also accompanied with dowries. And though prohibited today offering the right gifts not necessarily called dowry is often an important factor in influencing the relationship between the bride and the grooms families and sometimes also the treatment of the bride in her new home (Nanda, 1998).

Bano says that a person in an arranged marriage has many people to count on in case of anything. This is very true. In Asian culture the family tree is extremely vital. And a bride who finds himself in a joint family has even larger family The extended family of her husband and that of her own. These two families remember, have developed a working relationship between themselves. So the bride has two areas from which to draw support just incase of anything. There are other benefits of arranged marriages.

Divorce rates in Asia have been really low compared to Europe and America. Thanks in big part to arranged marriage (Murphey, 1998 Jones, 2010). Just in case of a husbands death, widowhood is highly recommended. Women are not advised to remarry in most Asian cultures. But this form of marriage is not really libertarian. One is not really permitted to make decision on his or her own. It is the parents decision. 

An analysis of Consanguinity   
Bano, also speaks of marriage between close relatives, especially cousins in Peshawar. Marriage between close relatives is known as consanguinity and is very common in some parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Marriage between close biological relatives accounted for up to 60 in many parts of Asia, Middle East, and Africa (Denic, Nagelkerke, and Margarwal, 2008). She also notes that that sort of marriage is important to those who practice it.

Indeed, Bano says that consanguineous marriages have its benefits. True, these marriages between close biological relatives have benefits.  Such benefits include the aggregation of wealth, increased family stability and security, and better treatment of spouses (Denic,Nagelkerke, and Margarwal, 2008). But this marriage also has its flipsides as Bano noted. Reproductive complications are some of them.
Research on the issue of consanguinity has mostly focused on its reproductive effects. As Bano concedes, the custom is associated with a lot reproductive complications such as perinatal mortality and congenital malformations, as is the case with those who practice the custom in Pakistan (Ahmad, 1994). But there are other complications as well.

Denic, Nagelkerke, and Margarwal (2008) assert that a common finding among consanguineous populations is their long history of exposure to malaria. In fact, the frequency and degree of consanguineous marriages correlates with the geographic distribution and intensity of Plasmodium falciparum in the population (Denic, Nagelkerke, and Margarwal, 2008). And it is not only these diseases that afflict consanguineous partners.

Moreover, recent studies have showed that there is significantly higher rate of consanguinity of parents of epilepsy patients (Mehndiratta, B Paul, Mehndiratta, 200 7). There is also significantly higher rate of epilepsy among family members with consanguineous marriage for both cryptogenic and idiopathic epilepsies ((Mehndiratta, B Paul, Mehndiratta, 200 7).

Conclusion
The revelations that were given by Bano are really enligfhtening as far as demystifying the socio-cultural custom of arranged marriage and consanguinity is concerned. It is important to realize that these customs are not entirely primitive and cruel that they have some benefits, at least as far as the parties concerned see it. However, it is also vital to learn that these customs have deplorable effects on those who practice them. These effects are well understood in Banos blog and the foregone analysis.
Jones (2010) says that these are currently changing in Asia. This is in accordance with the forces of modernization and adoption of western values in most Asian cultures. As such people do not really get into marriages that are arranged for them. Also not many people are ready and willing to marry their cousins.

As our session comes to a close, it is a great honor to be a part of our virtual team. Along with all the things I have come to learn regarding Australia and the Australian content, it has also been a fulfilling experience to interact with other people from other places and from other cultures. It has been interesting for me to learn about Australia and to visit it. The outback as we all know it, Australia has a rich culture that can reach greater heights in due time. It has even started to penetrate Hollywood by way of its locals such as Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Heath Ledger. While these stars have reached international stardom, Australian movies or its media as a whole has yet to follow their status of international popularity.

Update on My Australia Experience
As a virtual team, we have effectively discussed several topics and consequently, formed various ideas  many came out to be great ideas and arguments (Dekker, 2008) regarding Australian content. For my part in introducing and experiencing Australia, I have posted a topic regarding my experience. The outback was truly an exhilarating experience. Without a gadget as simple as a cell phone, it made me aware of the beauty of the outback of Australia and of the animals around it. Moreover, considering that no gadget was around to occupy my attention, it also became an experience that would allow me to bond with fellow tourists as well as with the locals around. The outback eventually made me think of the place as a good ground for filming. While sometimes the outback is considered as too much of an Australian content and are commonly seen in shows regarding animals, it could be a good ground for filming movies regarding survival, or any other genre that can incorporate the outback location. Since Australian content is hardly removed from the media in Australia, then maybe it would be good to use strengths such as a healthy landscape and animal reservoir in order to showcase a good Australia.

Market Protection
Speaking of the great landscape and outback, Australia has been a favorite shooting place for movies hailing from other countries, most commonly from the United States. An example that was stated on a discussion was The Chronicles of Narnia. So then, the topic on market protection arises. Since Australia cannot produce a large amount of high-quality movies in terms of script, story, etc., should it then allow market protection on foreign films that are shot with in Australia since they provide employment for its people In my opinion, Australia is working hard on preserving Australian content on its media thus protecting foreign movies, most especially of Hollywood will not do good for the development of Australian media. Perhaps the best thing for Australia for now is to put its locations for lease to foreign movie production companies in order to generate income while at the same time, gaining tourist spot status and not necessarily protect these films. If this should be the case, then there is a chance that funds for local movies or local media can be increased.

Funding
With regards to funding, I believe that the Adult Film Commission which is now called Screen Australia has been funding the creation of Australian content for new media during the years and that it allows for a different perspective. The problem then arises that the maintenance of Australian content in movies and in the media seems to prevent Australia from simply making good movies. Besides, Hollywood has far long made a name for itself and conquered almost all topics and genres that an attempt to make something to pit against its movies would be futile. It would only make these movies weak, and thus, funding again becomes an issue. Since the funds for making Australian movies is taken from the government or from peoples taxes, people have become more and more disappointed in seeing Australian movies which have no appeal for the masses thus, most prefer to eliminate or at least minimize Australian content in the media. In my opinion, the use of Australian content has been done for a couple of years already if its strong presence and use in the media is not helping, then maybe its time to diminish its use. Although I would like to be clear that Im not talking about complete eradication since it is a form of showcasing the Australian culture, which is definitely unique to locals as well as to the world. There have also been movies that have caught international attention just like the Mad Max movie however, it may not be the best Australian movie there is. I believe it to be wiser to experiment on other ideas, new and different since only through experimentation and practice that we can come up with a perfect concoction. 

Cultural Diversity
The interesting topic on cultural diversity has led me to think of it as an international phenomenon. Since the discovery of airplanes and ships, the world became a smaller place and thus, it was easier for people to move from one place to another causing a combination of cultures in most places. There could not have been one single place that is not culturally diverse in our time today. My definition of cultural diversity is the differences between cultures, people, and societies around the world. Although these differences are apparent, people learn to co-exist. Through this co-existence, people learn to live with each others cultures. However, in this generation of television, movies, music as well as internet connection, cultural diversity has never become more emphasized.

National Cultural Policy
I am really astonished as to how Australia takes its culture seriously. While they smother Australianness over their movies and their media, it is somehow no longer interesting to some of its people. However, I for one am in awe for the Australian government for maintaining its stance on Australian content amidst the influence of the United States liberal and commercial focus on its movies, talk about cultural diversity. I dont think Australian movies are that bad but maybe the locals deem it too much already. Too much Australian content placed on the media whereas the media is the greatest projectors of culture, it results to culture overload perhaps

The Internet
The internet is perhaps the most influential and most effective projector of culture there is. In a span of minutes, you will be able to chat with people from different countries and therefore, get an idea regarding their culture or way of life. It has also become widely available. From dial-up connections to broadband to wireless connections, the internet has evolved and spread in such a short span of time and why not when the things you can do with an internet connection are boundless. You can read, watch and hear materials that you can access easily, contact people in other places, work at home, study at home, and more An interesting feature of having an internet connection is a persons ability to download material for his or her convenience. To that I would like to note the popularity of porn in the internet.

Porn
A very sensitive subject, that is, porn. Gone are the days when Playboy magazines ruled a mans room. For now, internet is the most relied source of pornography. However, in line with Screen Australias dilemma of a low viewer number of its movies and therefore, low profit, it has been suggested that they go for porn since the demand is high. I agree that a lot of money can be made if they go for porn however I believe that it would be unlikely for them to enter into pornography. Being a government agency, the implications of promoting pornography can become a social dilemma. Even though kids or a certain age group think pornography is cool and that it is a good market, it doesnt mean that the government will get away with funding it. Of course, oppositions especially by religious groups are inevitable.

In the end, the entire course has been a wonderful way to discuss the implications of Australian content on Australian media. In the first module, introductions between the group members were properly done. Strengths and weaknesses were enumerated so as to know who can be relied on for problems in the future. Since I had to be away, I tried to finish all my blog posts in order to help out the group. Our instructor, Kate Bowles made a clear impression on me since she seemed to be an epitome of knowledge which at the end, she proved to be. She was also a great leader and initiator of discussions. With regards to my group members, I found Greg Martin to be impressive due to his location, Peru and to his busy schedule. Though I also multitask, he seems to have a lot of thing going, making me wonder how he could handle all that he is doing and is still able to make the requirements so for that, hats off to him.

In the second module, discussions were very apparent. I believe everyone interacted with each other in order to form ideas helpful for our task. Researches were done, shared and discussed. I believe the group was already able to form teamwork and rapport with each other as evidenced by the discussions and sharing that occurred. At this point, Kim Harlows research seemed to be effective and credible since she was right on the topic. She was also able to present links or references regarding the primary resource needed for the task. Finally, with the last module, it felt like everyone was already trying to do what they can in order to help in the discussions and so, ideas were generated every now and then. I believe that in closing the semester, everyone was already aware of the Australian content and how it is beneficial and also disadvantageous to the Australian community. Overall, I gave my best in being an effective team member. Even though I had trouble joining the discussions during the first weeks, I was able to engage in the conversations over time. I guess one of my contributions was the state of Hollywood in the United States. In the end, as a virtual team member, I think I need to learn how to be more open with my opinions and to manage my time appropriately.

Again, Kate Bowles was a big part of the success of our virtual team. She provided a lot of areas for discussions and opened more. She was very engaging as a team leader and urged her students to join in the discussion or to simply talk about their opinions. Georgia was also a good influence in the team since she was creative with her thinking and upfront with her opinions. I could say this most especially with the subject on porn as an area for Screen Australia to enter. Although I do not believe that it would be possible, I agree with her that the porn industry means a lot of money. I also nominate Kim Harlow and David Ray for having been involved in the discussions quite often and for having a good eye for research.

In this Assignment we are about to discuss the topic of feminism and address some of the issues in feminism of alienation, otherness, sexuality, agency and gender difference. Also, the ideas of some feminist are echoed.

Feminism is the belief and aim that women should have the same rights and opportunities in society as men. The awareness among womens and in order to overcome the slavery and the way the women treated in the social sectors lead to development of feminist organization. The term feminism started in 1800s which it was meant as quality of women and later it meant as equality of men and women.

The feminist wanted to change the world. The feminist organization aimed at the legal protection of women and the protection from harassment that the woman encounters in her day to day life. They feel that it will be a protection to have an organization to project their issues.   An example of the feminist works is as follows.

This article appeared on p18 of the HYPERLINK httpwww.guardian.co.uktheguardian2010may21g2 G2section of HYPERLINK httpwww.guardian.co.uktheguardian the Guardian by Sheila Rowbothamon HYPERLINK httpwww.guardian.co.uktheguardian2010may21 Friday 21 May 2010. It was published on HYPERLINK httpwww.guardian.co.uktheguardian guardian.co.ukat 08.00 BST on Friday 21 May 2010.

Feminists fighting to change the world
Early feminists werent just fighting for the vote  they wanted to change the world. What can we learn from these audacious utopians

In 1902, Winifred Harper Cooley imagined a 21st century without sweatshops or slums. Cooley was a US feminist, once described as a radiant woman in flowing, graceful robes, and in this new world, she explained, no one would be tramping the streets without a home, or be unemployed. The worlds labor would be shared so that each person only worked five hours a day. Society would be fair, just and equal.

Cooley wasnt alone in her utopian visions. Radicalized by the movement for the vote, as well as by dramatic economic changes, many progressive women of her era  the late 19th century to the early 1930s  were asking serious, far-reaching questions about how their sex should behave and live. They began with womens experiences of sexual relations, mothering, domestic labor and paid work, and went on to demand social as well as political rights. It is thanks to their efforts that we have birth control, abortion, centers for mothers and babies, health visitors, child benefit and the minimum wage.

But they wanted so much more. A novel by US writer Kate Chopin, The Awakening (1899), expressed their diffuse desire for personal and social change  when the novels heroine sets about casting off her socially imposed role as a woman, her adultery scandalizes St Louis society. The books title was echoed in 1913 in The Awakening of Women, a supplement produced by the New Statesman, in which Beatrice Webb argued that any awakening had to be seen in broader terms than simply the struggle for the vote. Webb observed that a wider womens movement existed that was related to the international movement of labor and unrest among subject peoples. Women in this wider movement were challenging not just gender relations, but other forms of subordination too.

MERGEFORMATINET
 US feminist Charlotte Perkins Gilman addresses members of the General Federation of Womens Clubs, June 1916. Photograph  BettmannCORBIS

Feminist issues
The following are some of the issues the feminist deals with
Property rights
Voting rights
Abortion rights
Reproductive rights
Domestic violence
Sexual harassments and rape
Work place rights including maternity leaves and equal pay.

Alienation to feminism
In early days some of the social practices of women were highly dependable on men. Men started to alienate women restricted only to the domestic needs of the family. The women were completely unaware of the society and several injustices were done by men. Hence several feminist movements continue to break certain long standing traditions. Several books were written by feminist in order to make women realize their social aspirations. All the authors of the feminist books were found alienated from the society. Dacia Maraini, Armanda Guiducci and Giuliana Ferri are some of the renowned writers of Italy. They are all united with the common relationship of womens restricted function in the society cited in Pallotta, Augustus, (p.359-362, 1984). The conventional tradition was undermined by these writers and progressive ideas began to prevail in the minds of all women in their domestic and societal roles.

Sexuality
The pornographic works about women are the first stage to proclaim sex as a market in Europe. Later Prostitution emerged as a right to men and injustice to women. The mens emotions are kindled by the pornography works and as a result it is ended in rape. Cameron and Frazer conclude that feminists can be critical of the discourses which inform sexual practice and imagine alternative discourses, without promoting problematic models of human behavior (Cameron  Frazer 2000, 253). Prostitution is considered as one the oldest profession. Sexuality is a problem which emerged from the biological differences between men and women. To curb this problem the government should frame laws such that the dignity of women in the society is not spoiled.

Gender Bias
Gender bias starts when a couple decides to have a baby and it continues wherever we go in the course of our life. The Poem Written by Faith Wilding which is attached at the last page of the assignment describes the biological and the emotional change a women encounters right from her childhood until death. For example, when a girl plays cricket she is labeled as tom boy or when a boy cries he is labeled as sissy. At the work place, Gender bias is always a basic problem. Women are never paid equal to men for the same type of job. Even the promotions are gender biased. Though the government has imposed may laws still the problem of gender bias exist in aform that  is hard to realize.

Conclusions
Societies encourage sex outside the marriage life and it is only the women who suffer. If marriages are respected then the dignity of women is secured.

The poem

Waiting by Faith Wilding
Waiting . . .
Waiting . . .
Waiting . . .
Waiting for someone to come in
Waiting for someone to hold me
Waiting for someone to feed me
Waiting for someone to change my diaper
Waiting . . .
Waiting to scrawl, to walk,
Waiting to talk
Waiting to be cuddled
Waiting for someone to take me outside
Waiting for someone to play with me
Waiting for someone to take me outside
Waiting for someone to read to me, dress me, tie my shoes
Waiting for Mommy to brush my hair
Waiting for her to curl my hair
Waiting to wear my frilly dress
Waiting to be a pretty girl
Waiting to grow up
Waiting . . .
Waiting for my breasts to develop
Waiting to wear a bra
Waiting to menstruate
Waiting to read forbidden books
Waiting to stop being clumsy
Waiting to have a good figure
Waiting for my first date
Waiting to have a boyfriend
Waiting to go to a party, to be asked to dance, to dance close
Waiting to be beautiful
Waiting for the secret
Waiting for life to begin
Waiting
Waiting to be somebody
Waiting to wear makeup
Waiting to wear lipstick, to wear high heels and stockings
Waiting to get dressed up, to shave my legs
Waiting to be pretty
Waiting . . .
Waiting for him to notice me, to call me
Waiting for him to ask me out
Waiting for him to pay attention to me
Waiting for him to fall in love with me
Waiting for him to kiss me, touch me, touch my breasts
Waiting for him to pass my house
Waiting for him to tell me Im beautiful
Waiting for him to ask me to go steady
Waiting to neck, to make out,
Waiting to go all the way
Waiting to smoke, to drink, to stay out late
Waiting to be a woman
Waiting . . .
Waiting for my great love
Waiting for the perfect man
Waiting for Mr. Right
Waiting . . .
Waiting to get married
Waiting for my wedding day
Waiting for my wedding night
Waiting for sex
Waiting for him to make the first move
Waiting for him to excite me
Waiting for him to give me pleasure
Waiting for him to give me an orgasm
Waiting . . .
Waiting for him to come home, to fill my time
Waiting . . .
Waiting for my baby to come
Waiting for my belly to swell
Waiting for my breasts to fill with milk
Waiting to feel my baby move
Waiting for my legs to stop swelling
Waiting for the first contractions
Waiting for the contractions to end
Waiting for the head to emerge
Waiting for the first scream, the afterbirth
Waiting to hold my baby
Waiting for my baby to suck my milk
Waiting for my baby to stop crying
Waiting for my baby to sleep through the night
Waiting for my breasts to dry up
Waiting to get my figure back, for the stretch marks to go away
Waiting for some time to myself
Waiting to be beautiful again
Waiting for my child to go to school
Waiting for life to begin again
Waiting . . .
Waiting for my children to come home from school
Waiting for them to grow up, to leave home
Waiting to be myself
Waiting for excitement
Waiting for him to tell me something interesting, to ask me how I feel
Waiting for him to stop being crabby, reach for my hand, kiss me good morning
Waiting for fulfillment
Waiting for the children to marry
Waiting for something to happen
Waiting . . .
Waiting to lose weight
Waiting for the first gray hair
Waiting for menopause
Waiting to grow wise
Waiting . . .
Waiting for my body to break down, to get ugly
Waiting for my flesh to sag
Waiting for my breasts to shrivel up
Waiting for a visit from my children, for letters
Waiting for my friends to die
Waiting for my husband to die
Waiting . . .
Waiting to get sick
Waiting for things to get better
Waiting for winter to end
Waiting for the mirror to tell me that Im old
Waiting for a good bowel movement
Waiting for the pain to go away
Waiting for the struggle to end
Waiting for release
Waiting for morning
Waiting for the end of the day
Waiting for sleep
Waiting

A 15-minute monologue, scripted and performed by Faith Wilding in the Performance program at Womanhouse, Waiting condenses a womans entire life into a monotonous, repetitive cycle of waiting for life to begin while she is serving and maintaining the lives of others. The full text was published by Ms. Magazine in 1972, and in the Appendix of Through the Flower by Judy Chicago.

Throughout the history of the United States, racial discrimination has been an important issue. The whites have dominated the American society with the people of color having limited opportunities. In the slavery era where the African Americans were enslaved in the southern states through the racial segregation era, the people of color in America have never been treated equally. However, in the second half of the 20th century, all formal racial discrimination were outlawed as a result of civil disobedient and protest by activists. Many people believe that the removal of formal discrimination did not solve the racial problems in the United States (Kareem, 2010). This has lead to the emergency of the affirmative action debate. There has been argument on whether the affirmative action guarantees the marginalized members of the society equal educational and employment opportunities. Questions have been raised on whether the minority groups are benefiting from the affirmative actions especially in college admission. Some analysis of it effects on the number of African and Asian American admitted in American universities indicates this is not true. The claim that the affirmative action is the solution to the racial disparity in American colleges is not a feasible solution and in forges its intended purpose.

The affirmative action was introduced to guarantee all American equal educational and economical opportunities. Initially, it was intended to ensure that the minority races had equal employment opportunity but it was later extended to higher education. Throughout its history, affirmative action has ensured that there are no extreme racial disparities in employment and college admission. This has led to significant reduction in racial tensions in the society compared to the situation in the civil rights era. Today, Americans have discarded the attitudes and beliefs which identified the people of color as an inferior race. This is partly due to the effects of the affirmative action which give people of color an opportunity to prove their abilities (Kravitz, 2008).   

In the modern society, many people belief that affirmative action is no longer needed in the American colleges. Today, the American education system has matured and can be considered to be free from racial discrimination. However, there is some disparity in the number of student from minority races. In some instances, the African American societies are over represented in some colleges which have resulted into denial of affirmative benefit to some African American students. This indicates that affirmative action is not a solution to the racial discrimination or under representation in some American colleges. This suggests that affirmative action has no place in the modern educational systems because it results into racial imbalance in the college population (Kareem, 2010).

It has been noted that racial disparities in the college population is not an issue of racial discrimination. Affirmative action though intended to make higher education facilities accessible to the marginalized minority societies, it does not. Considering the African Americans or the Asian American population indicates that there is a large social divide in the minority population. Minorities from some regions earn better income and are more educated compared to minority societies from other regions. Affirmative actions will not benefit the marginalized individuals in the poor society. For example, Japanese Americans are better off compared to Vietnamese Americans economically and consequently have better access to higher education. However, by the facts that both are Asian Americans, should they be subjected to the affirmative action in college admission equally (Goodman, 2001).

The social divide is also evident among other minority groups such as the African Americans. For example, native blacks and foreign born African American do not belong to the same social class. The native African American are of a low social class, earn lower incomes and have limited access educational facilities when compared to foreign born African Americans. Statistics also indicates that the foreign born African Americans are the most educated racial group in the United States. The black population in the American colleges and universities is by far dominated by foreign born African Americans with the native African American being marginalized.  The affirmative action was introduced in the higher education to ensure that the descendants of the slaves who suffered from historical injustices have access to college education. However, this is not the case. Members of the minority races who are in the lower class are at a greater disadvantage making higher education less assessable as a result of affirmative action (Kareem, 2010).

Looking at the history of affirmative action, the main aim the executive order was to ensure that the under represented minority groups in the society in the workplaces and the education sector were given priority. This was as a result of challenge of segregation policies by the civil activists in the civil rights era. To end the disparity in the workplaces, President J F Kennedy issued the executive order. As a result of affirmative action expansion to cover college admissions significantly increased the number of people of color in American universities and colleges. However, the benefits of the affirmative action are not reaching the intended group. The lower class among the people of color is under represented in the higher education institutions suggesting that affirmative action no longer serve the purpose. In Harvard for example, about two thirds of the student are either immigrants or children of immigrants from Africa or Central and Southern America. Does this suggest that African Americans and Hispanics who have lived in America for many years and faced all forms of discrimination and segregation are not benefiting from affirmative action Does this suggest that affirmative action has created racial disparities in the education systems rather than eradicating it (Kareem, 2010).

Some people have defended affirmative action as a method of ensuring that the applicants for college and university admissions are fairly evaluated while considering their social and economic background. However, this is wrong because not all members of the minority societies are socially and economically disadvantaged. It is also important to note that admitting individuals from minority races that have lower grades in colleges perpetrates racial stereotypes in the society where the favored race is considered to be of lesser abilities. This creates the inequality in the education systems which affirmative action was supposed to eliminate. Admission to colleges and universities should be based on the proven academic ability of an individual and not the race. It is also wrong to use introduction of diversity in the learning institution to defend affirmative action. It may introduce diversity but may not introduce diverse opinion. Many of the beneficiaries of the affirmative action are members of the minority races who are considered to have attained the white status. These individuals have the more or less the same opinion as the whites. Moreover, race is an external characteristic and does not in determine the opinions of the individual in the society. Although diverse opinion is necessary in any organization or institution, racial diversity is no importance (Kahlenberg, 2003).

The idea that affirmative action give the marginalized races an advantage in securing college admission is a myth. It may have benefited some of the minority race population but it has done to them more harm that good. Affirmative action in college admissions has increased the social divide among the minority race population. Rather than the marginalized individuals in the minority races benefiting from affirmative action, the privileged members of the same population have taken advantage of it. Preference in college division will in no way cure the wound of historical racial discrimination and segregation in the American society. This preference is not a practical way of empowering the marginalized members of society as a result of historical injustices.  It is important to note that even if there is disparity in the student population where certain races are under represented, this has nothing to do with competitive admission policies (Plous, 2003).

In conclusion, the minority races in the American society have been discriminated for a long time. This is the principle reason why the people of color are marginalized. The affirmative action was introduced to reduce the disparity in the workplaces as well as in colleges and universities admissions. However, affirmative action in higher education does not serve the purpose today. It perpetrates that same social problem it was intended to eradicate. Although the number of student from the minority races has increased significantly, the marginalized individuals are not benefiting from affirmative action. 

In the video The legacy of unresolved Loss, communication therapist, Monica McGoldrick mediates between David and his 15-year old daughter, Katelyn. David lost his wife, Katelyns mother, Diane and he has remarried. His new wife has given birth to a young baby. These changes in Davids life, coupled with stress at work have created communication challenges for David, especially with his teenage daughter.

From the video, the therapists advocates for clear and flexible communication between dad and daughter. This is consistent with the family systems perspective which is repetitive in nature.  Some repetitive patterns include adopting new rules, discovering new alignments, identifying clear boundaries and promoting more flexible family interactions. The father-daughter mediation in this case is likely useful because the mediator recognizes the family history in terms of how the members of the family is relating and communicating. It thus, made it easy for her to build rapport with both parties.

McGoldrick also offers a safe environment for communication with a structured process to promote a behavioral change from within the family members as well as an opportunity to think outside of the box in terms of looking at creative problem solving and resolutions. The behavioral change itself will promote a paradigm shift therefore, changing the pattern of behavior from within the system.
 
In admonishing the father to relate and connect with his daughter before she turns 18 and gets lost, McGoldrick used the opportunity to promote a change in how the family unit need to and should interact. The interaction should put into consideration how historically they had communicated.

This therapy will certainly be beneficial, because from the video, the young girl and her dad view negotiator party as a neutral third party who is trained in communication and problem solving skills to encourage people in conflict to work out mutually acceptable solutions.

Accepting parent teen conflict as a systemic issue reinforces neutrality by not associating the teen as being troubled but rather a symptom of greater issues. McGoldrick in this video works as advocate for all family members in conflict and assists the family members in validating their interests and needs and promoting understanding. She challenges the parties in conflict to find creative ways to resolving this disagreement in away that meets the expectations, desires and needs of all involved.

Some elements of Ecological Perspective are also present in this video because the family is creating, restructuring and adapting to a new environment. For instance, the addition of the new mom and eventually the young baby has completely changed the way the family interacts.

Though not clearly stated in the video, it could be inferred from the family dynamics that the teenage girl may not be accepting of the new mom. And in a larger context, could be the major source of misunderstanding in the family.

On Olsons Circumplex Model, this family would fit at the extreme of the Family Cohesion-Adaptability axes. In particular, it would fall at the disengaged section, where members maintain extreme separateness and less sense of family belonging. This is because in the video, the girl is happy to identify with Puerto Rico and she admits she has often visited the country alone. Because of the above mentioned reasons, family could said to undergo Separated section of Olsons Cohesion line.

It worth noting that this extreme alignment on the Cohesion-Adaptability axes is not  peculiar to Davids family only as chapter two of our book recognizes the fact that families that are well-function or balanced are often thrown off the balance by high stress, and an acting-out teenager.

While it is quite difficult to exactly determine from the video what the Relational Culture in this family is, there are many hints that lead to the belief that the David is majorly responsible for creating a world view that affects his familys attitudes, identities and actions. By his own admission, he is too stressed with work that he does not seem to have time to personally develop a set of understanding that guides interaction in his family. He also admits that he has been overwhelmed with the events in his family.

From the video, it not easy to point out some of the family rules regarding communication. Its however possible to say that David believed that is presence in the family is already enough even if he does not communicate. That is why McGoldrick is requesting him to just not be there for his daughter, but try to connect with her through effective communication.

The empirical article Ovulatory cycle effects on tip earnings by lap dancers economic evidence for human estrus, Myler, Tybur and Jordan, Evolution and Human Behavior 28 (2007) 375  381 examines whether human estrus was really lost during evolution. The estrus refers to estrous (or oestrous) cycle that comprises the recurring physiologic changes induced by reproductive hormones in most of mammalian females with a placental reproductive system. Humans undergo a menstrual cycle instead and it is believed by many theorists that human estrus has been lost during evolution.

The authors have used an economic model that analyzes the effects of estrus on tip earnings by lap dancers. Typically males of a mammalian species are more solicitous towards a female of the same species. The hypothesis of existence of human estrus is sought to be proved by higher earnings reported by lap dancers during the productive period corresponding to estrus in other placental mammalian species. Here the logical assumption is that an estrous lap dancer would receive more solicitations for private show increasing her tip earnings during estrus.

Design of the experiment involved multiple observations (i.e., tips per shift) for dancers who were nested within contraception use and crossed with cycle phase. The data gathered was used to analyze effects of cycle phase and contraception use on tip earnings using multilevel modeling. Result of the empirical work confirmed the authors prediction that pill using and normally cycling participants would demonstrate a similar difference in tip earnings between the menstrual and luteal phases. Second prediction that cycling participants would demonstrate a larger increase in the fertile phase relative to the other phases than pill-using participants was also confirmed by the findings. Experiment found strong ovulatory cycle effects on tip earnings moderated by whether the participants were normally cycling.

This path breaking paper provides the first direct economic evidence for the existence of estrus in contemporary human females. Real consumer spending patterns reveal human preferences more reliably than verbally stated judgments do. This is particularly true for socially stigmatized products such as pornography or sex work. The experiment involved only 18 participants which can be considered a relatively small size for an experiment with such vast conclusions. But the small size was adequately offset by an observation period of three months and a sufficiently large number of shifts for which observations were recorded. Moreover, the tip earnings of lap dancers are a result of changes in behavior pattern of a much larger number of their clients who were influenced by the estrous state of the lap dancer. When women and men interact intimately over the course of several minutes through conversation and body contact, women apparently either signal or leak cues of their fertility status, and these cues influence spending patterns by male consumers. These results argue against the view that human estrus evolved to be lost or hidden from males. Logical next step, despite its difficulties, would be further research to clarify whether women have evolved special adaptations to signal estrus through such cues  or whether the cues are leaking to sexually discriminating men as unselected side effects of cycle physiology.

This document affirms that the major objective of this study is to establish the distinctiveness of womens reflection in advertisements contents as portrayed in the most extensively distributed African women publications in the East Africa (EA) and to recognize the consequence of such substances in devising the collective reflection of women. The study also scrutinizes how women consider the depicted picture of women in publicity. The instigator asserts that, in EA, women not only are advancing in workforce involvement but also are filling arrangements formerly held chiefly by men nevertheless, this is not commonly depicted in ads. The paper avers that the bulk of female scholars believe that the liaison involving the females image in available advertisements and peoples opinion towards her is a significantly encouraging one.

Table of Contents Introduction Need for the Study Purpose of the Study
Research Questions Procedures Research Hypotheses Review of Literature EA Today The Impact of Advertisement The Importance of the Visual Image in Advertisements The Womens Image in the Visual Advertisements Methodology Reliability

Test
Data Collection Procedures Results Data Analysis Discussion and Conclusion Discussion of Results Recommendations

Content Analysis
Introduction               
Women play a very integral part in our society today. It would be instrumental to posit that, equally, they bear the blunt edge of the community in as far as their feminine status is concerned. Hence, it is that angle that most businessmen treat women often treated women as a disposable commodity. This can be attested by the fact that, due to low literacy levels in the East African region, most media establishment and blue chip companies, took advantage of this state to boost their businesses through the use of feministic symbolism in mass media.

Need for the Study             
Subsequently, the manner the women reacts to the diverse aspects of advertisements in both print and electronic media, raises a need to carry out considerable and concentrated studies in relation to the impact of the advertisements. More so, another equally important factor that, also contributes to the need of instigating this study is to determine why women from all social spheres are intricately influenced by the exploding waves of both medium of communication which happens to entail both radio, TV and newspaper adverts which are well balanced and creatively done to be catchy.

Purpose of the Study
In essence, the purpose of this research is to establish why women and not men are the subject of target by the advertisers, and whether this trend is in any way manifesting itself in a manner that women stand to benefit, in as far as economic, social and political aspects are concerned.
East African community information media is typically depicted as an establishment founded on a pathetic economic foundation all through the East and Central Africa. For instance, most commercial newspapers were established when countrywide earnings and populations were at their developing stage, as well as when the literacy and academic  rates were squat as a consequence, both advertising proceeds and mass-circulation transactions (the two principle sources of marketable newspaper revenues in another place), were controlled.

Even after pre-colonial and post colonial era, as the financial systems benefit from a novel level of affluence, advertising stayed adequately insignificant to most East African investors, and did not emerge to symbolize a feasible opportunity of income generation in the reticent circulation press, to facilitate newspaper printers to create scores of advertisements. However, due to the aspect of employing of women in their various commercial adverts, women are seen to be heavily affected by the broad scope of advertisement. Thus, exploring the various elements employed in both print and electronic media in relation to advertisement, one cannot fail to understand why women are the most available and easily molded components of advertisements.

Research Questions Why women not men are being influenced by the emerging advertising themes and concepts

Procedures
To understand this whole concept it will be paramount to reflect on importance of advertising as well as the impacts of it both positively and negatively.  It should be known that in any given society advertising g plays a very significant role in as far as marketing is concerned.  Therefore, the best process or procedure to explain this phenomenon can be only defined by employing either qualitative or quantitative mechanisms.  This can be attributed to the fact that, a number of leading corporations have been seen to be employing women in their campaigns for hunting new clients as well as seeking new markets.  Some of these corporations who include both local and international enterprises have significantly utilized the broad concept of advertising to create new market. 

Thus, by examining g both local and regional statistics pertaining to the involvement of women in advertisement who would help to reflect the ratio of women participation in this trend as well as establish the influence this phenomenon may enact on the society an in particular women. 

Thus, the basic procedures would be to entail the concept of employing both qualitative and quantitative procedures.  Despite that, it should be noted that the achievement of women are not reflected in the advertisement.  It is on that ground I desire to assert that, the use of empirical studies on both primary and secondary information which is both available and accessible, have to be considered in relation to women reflection(s) advertisements content.

Research Hypothesis
Advertisement plays a very crucial role in as far as market integrations are concerned.  However, their substance greatly or significantly affects the manner women react to particular circum stances.  Therefore, the manner these radio, TV and print advertisements are designed and presented, tend to profoundly affect women.  This is been attributed to the fact that, the involved firms employ role models or caption that are distinctively famine in nature.

Literature Review
A number of journals have by far been published in regard to the nature and mood of advertisement in Eastern Africa.  Some of these journals have candidly presented a crisp picture of the role and importance of both print and electronic commercials in relation to the famine world.  It should be known that previously the East African community was enveloped by a cloud of poor economic infrastructure, this vehemently contributed to the manner women expressed themselves.  According to the recent studies it was established that women have evolved from being house wives and joined the rank with male counterparts in the competitive market.  Some social scholars attributes this to the image presented by the female models on the diverse commercials.  Thus, from such a con text many young women in both rural and urban settings have opted to discard their traditional way of life in order to embrace the fast changing world.

Therefore, by examining g the broad scope of women in East Africa, as is evidenced by the recent media research, advertisement contents have also equally provided a venue by which women have began to accept and appreciate their feminism.  Due to such compelling in stances, major advertising houses are equally appreciating the role of women.  This infers that as is witnessed in such commercials as Tuskers adverts which is carried by media house in Kenya, where a woman is depicted celebrating her success in long distance learning.  Thus, it can be construed that, adverts in both print and electronic media are helping to polish and present the real picture of a woman positively.

Hence, it is on such an observation that, these women who have managed to acquire education are employing media factors such as the advertisements in order to reach to other women and inspire them to seek education.  Thus, according to the East African media council, advertising has proved to be one of the profound procedures of influencing g an d encouraging g women to seek greater an d broader opportunities in the society.

All in all, as is today most women do accept that a positive image generated from a renowned female is predominantly encouraging.  This is supported by the fact that women have a tendency to be inspired by their own.  Thus the East African women have experienced the inspirational impact of advertisement and this has subsequently changed their opinion on life.

East Africa Today
Unlike the past two or three decades ago, the growth of digital communicant has significantly revolutionalized the world of women in East Africa.  It should be noted that, previously, women rarely got any recognition in any given social ranks.  However, the emergency of radio, TV and newspapers has overseen women moving in the prestigious ranks in the society.  Thus, exploring the Eastern African states on cannot fail to see the dissimilar lifestyles being exhibited.  Nevertheless, the predominant factors tend to dictate that what is happening in Nairobi a major cosmopolitan city in East Africa tremendously determines the diverse social and economic development which equally affects all aspects of advertisements.

Therefore, pertaining to the scope and growth of media, women can be said to have significantly benefited.  Also, other forms of investment s have favoured women.  This can be evidenced by the number of adverts which are presented depicting the illustrious nature of women,  subsequently, these factors, can be said to be core factors behind the feminist explosion of women movement in Eastern African states.

For instance, exploring almost all major cities which include Nairobi, Kampala and Dar salaam, among others, women seem to be taking the queue from men, hence advancing their course.  It can be argued that the introduction of mass media in pre-colonial East Africa have significantly contributed to the manner advertisers approaches women as well as issues affecting their plight.  This same principal can be said to be the same factor and procedure employed in post-colonial East Africa to influence women through radio, TV, billboards and print advertisement.  Therefore, I am of the opinion that African women today are more en lightened and have a broader opinion of other aspects of life due to diverse challenges present ed or solved through exposure to media content encompassed by advertising.

The Impact of Advertisement
Exploring the diverse cultures and traditions present in East Africa, media has played an integral role in changing g the face of women.  This can be attributed to the fact that, without media, exposure could be decimal, however after the introduction of broadcasting as well as publishing, most firms embraced this concept, hence, advertising g became one of the most widely explored aspects of commercial journalism (McMillan 2001).  This infers that, women who lacked exposure experienced a new awakening due to the new levels which arose as a result of advertisements.  Thus, the impact of advertisement cannot be ignored.  However, it should be noted, what is happening today pertaining to women can be attributed to the diverse contents offered by dissimilar themes and contents.

Its fundamental, to assert, women in all walks here in one way or the other influenced by the diverse aspects of advertisement.  Thus, equally, have attributed in the manner diverse aspects of advertisement.  Thus equally have attributed in the manner diverse markets have been affected.

Visual Images in Advertisements
Visual images in advertisement plays a very profound role, this is due to the fact that, unlike in both radio and newspapers, virtual images presents a real image of a real person in real time, and this concept has been exploited by advertisers when creating diverse adverts in order bombard the subconscious mind of the East African women with images which are hard to forget or wish away.  The importance of this element in advertisements lies in that, it is the most effective and the positive results are almost instant.

Womens Image
Unlike in any other part of the world, East African women are depicted as strong, sexy and motherly in almost all adverts present in East Africa.  Consider the fact that, in Africa women are viewed as the source of life, thus any serious advertise ought to present a strong, positive and encouraging g image of the women (Popham 1998).  Thus, the East African women image in the scope of virtual context can be said to positively and convincing.  Hence, this infers why all products must be in one way or the other linked to women.  So, the image presented, is an image of a woman who is independent and confident.

Methodology
Various empirical studies on the effect and impact of advertisement on women have been carried out by diverse scholars, though some of the elements covered involved dissimilar derivatives, more than a thousand women have been approached and examined in all three East African states.
Thus, the examination method applied in this research involved the collation of data through the scrutiny of the annual total of diverse commercials and adverts carried in all media and creative houses in East Africa.  Therefore, the application of this research method minimizes the hazards of non response firms.  Equally, consistent with former researches, its evident, multi approach which entails employing, case studies, qualitative and quantitative research procedures provides, a coherent picture of the information needed.

Data Collection Procedures           
Data collection is paramount in that, it helps in providing the basic aspects of the subject being analyzed. Therefore, in this case it would paramount to assert that, the data collecting procedures would entail employing such parameters as interviews, questionnaires, observations, case studies as well as examining diverse portfolios in order to gain access to both primary and secondary information. The aim of employing multiple data collecting procedures can be allied to the fact that, in order to under the entire scope of advertising and the impact it has on women, statistical accuracy must be guaranteed

Reliability Test
In practice, there are four major classes of reliability estimates and all presents the given estimates in dissimilar proportions. However, in regard to this observation it would be instrumental to employ the aspects of  internal consistency reliability, the rationale behind this scope can be linked to the fact that, We are staring at how constant the domino effects are for dissimilar objects for the identical make within the gauge. For instance, the standard inter-item correlation utilizes all of the subjects on our apparatus that are premeditated to determine the equal construct as is evidenced by Anastasi (1988) in the following diagram.


In the illustration, we discover a standard inter-item correspondence of .90 with the character correlations variance of .84 to .95 (Anastasi 1988).

Results           
After examining the diverse and dissimilar responses from the respondents and other sources, the results are supposed to reflect on the entire scope of advertisement in east Africa. This would help to establish whether the said advertisements have positively or negatively impacted on women and more define the right cause of action.

Data Analysis         
Due to the nature of this study, qualitative data analysis would be employed to examine text, photographs, interviews as well as field notes including observations among other issues. The importance of this procedure would help to reflect on the scope of advertisement in relation to modern eastern African woman compared to those in pre colonial era (Lyman 1993).

Discussion and Conclusion         
East Africa is one of the pivotal economies of Africa, however due to its cultural diversity and low literacy levels women have overtime been denied a chance to advance in various economic, political and social aspects. However, it is fundamental to aver that, the emergence of commercial media which popularized the scope of advertisement played a significant role in enlightening the feminine. Hence, evolutionizing their scope of the world and giving them an equal opportunity as men.

Discussion of Results             
In essence, the results depicts a clear picture of how the emergence of competitive media changed the entire scope of women in east Africa. This, posits that, through the use of famous role models, the east African females can be said to have desired to imitate the women on diverse popular adverts presented in various publications as well as in radio and TV,hence,planting a seed to seek more glory (Nunnally 1967).

Recommendations         
The advertisers have to change their tactics due to the emerging trends and challenges in the market. Though some of these adverts depict women as commodities, it is high time women should be treated with dignity rather than be seen as objects of sex or commercial catalysts to boost market sales.

In the fairy tale story the Frog Prince, psychoanalytic emphasis is usually upon childrens fantasies about the prime family situation. But to Sigmund Freud, his approaches to fairy stories such as this mostly concerned with its possible sexual symbol. For a Freudian, the symbolic meaning of the Frog Prince could lie in a young girls mixture of fascination and horror over the sexual act. (Weber 1982 112)

In Freuds theory, the attitude of the princess has something to do with the psyche and its relation to sexuality. In the story, a frog does a favor for a princess. In return, the frog insists that they live afterwards as man and wife. The princess casually agrees to this, and the frog later takes his promise. He insists on sharing her table and bedroom, but when he tries to hop into the bed, enough is enough and she dashes him against a wall. Gratifyingly, the frog then changes into a handsome prince, who has been under the spell of witch, and under these more auspicious circumstances, the princess has no further objection to matrimony.

According to Freud, the semantic and emotional effect of an impulse that has become conscious can never be so powerful as that of the unconscious one.  Perhaps this is the reason why the princess agrees promptly with the frog when he speaks of his request. Unconscious of the consequences, she only focuses on her ball. At this point, the princess did not use intellect to think of what to answer. She just realized the gravity of her words when the frog insisted his presence. According to Freud, symptoms are never constructed from conscious process so the princess may not be aware of what she said, but as soon as the unconscious processes concerned have become conscious, the symptoms must disappear and the princess comes to realization that she has actually committed herself to the frog. (Rabkin 1995 53)

It is the intelligence as the great unifier and intellect as the only safe recourse, according to Freud. He adds that it is through our intelligence that we are able to control our instincts because our intelligence - the psychological ideal  is the primacy of intelligence. This means our id (instincts) must always be guarded (by ego) and ultimately ruled by our intelligence (the superego) because the intellect does the sublimation of instincts to what is acceptable. Thus, according to Freud, it is only by application of our highest mental functions, which are bound up with consciousness, that we control all our impulses. (Rabkin 1995 54-55)

In general, Freuds principle which manifests in his examples is that in every case the forgetting turned out to be based on a motive of unpleasure. Therefore, theories of neurosis and dreaming can be associated with the theory of slips. Slips of the tongue are observed among normal people even to the ill. (Freud 1991 113) For instance, in the story The Frog Prince, the princess has had a slip of the tongue when she agreed to the condition of the frog. She forgets about it because she is not at ease without her ball back.

As in this lines,
The princess thought, What is this stupid frog trying to say After all, he does have to stay here in the water. But still, maybe he can get my ball. Ill go ahead and say yes, and she said aloud, Yes, for all I care. Just bring me back my golden ball, and Ill promise everything.

The frog stuck his head under the water and dove to the bottom. He returned a short time later with the golden ball in his mouth and threw it onto the land. When the princess saw her ball once again, she rushed toward it, picked it up, and was so happy to have it in her hand again, that she could think of nothing else than to run home with it.

In this example, the princess is still unaware that she is already caught by the frog. This is what Freud explains as he was very keen of the effect of a memory surpassing that of an actual event. This effect is in the form of traumas or stresses which is later experienced by the princess because of the persistence of the frog, which in her memory at that point is ugly and cold.

Clearly in the story, as Freud concludes, making a slip of the tongue is an offense. As he explains When someone charged with an offense confesses his deed to the judge, the judge believes his confession but if he denies it, the judge does not believe himAre you a judge then And is a person who has made a slip of the tongue brought up before you on a charge So making a sip of a tongue is an offence, is it(Freud 1991 94) It appears when the King confronts her daughter and insists her to fulfill her own words. As it is narrated,

The king saw that her heart was pounding and asked, Why are you afraid
There is a disgusting frog out there, she said, who got my golden ball out of the water. I promised him that he could be my companion, but I didnt think that he could leave his water, but now he is just outside the door and wants to come in. Just then there came a second knock at the door, and a voice called out

Youngest daughter of the king,
Open up the door for me,
Dont you know what yesterday,
You said to me down by the well
Youngest daughter of the king,
Open up the door for me,
The king said, What you have promised, you must keep. Go and let the frog in. She obeyed, and the frog hopped in, then followed her up to her chair.

The King believes that the princess made an agreement with the frog.  Whenever the princess refuses, the King disagrees and orders her daughter to keep her promise. This proves the earlier claim by Freud that by mere slip of the tongue, the princess committed a grave offense against herself.

At this point, the princess is in anxiety. This is one emotion Freud really understood. In the analysis of the story, this is the part where sexuality is highlighted. According to Freud, neurotic anxiety arose from sexual sources. (Weber 1982 34) The princess is anxious because it turns out that the King is favoring the frog for her, even to the point that the King agrees with him to lie with her in bed. On her part, the princess of course is dreaming of marrying, lying in bed with a handsome man, but not a frog. As in the next scene,

After she had sat down again, he called out, Lift me up onto your chair and let me sit next to you. The princess did not want to, but the king commanded her to do it. When the frog was seated next to her he said, Now push your golden plate closer. I want to eat from it. She had to do this as well. When he had eaten all he wanted, he said, Now I am tired and want to sleep. Take me to your room, make your bed, so that we can lie in it together.

The princess was horrified when she heard that. She was afraid of the cold frog and did not dare to even touch him, and yet he was supposed to lie next to her in her bed she began to cry and didnt want to at all. Then the king became angry and commanded her to do what she had promised. There was no helping it she had to do what her father wanted, but in her heart she was bitterly angry. She picked up the frog with two fingers, carried him to her room, and climbed into bed, but instead of laying him next to herself, she threw him bang against the wall. Now you will leave me in peace, you ugly frog

Here, sexuality is converted to anxiety. As Freud explains, neurosis has a physical basis in sexual inhibition. The princess sexual desire is to have a man, a handsome prince as a husband but this is suppressed by the presence of the frog and the Kings command. The princess anger manifests her sexual instinct, as a woman wanted a man. Now, this anxiety signals danger for the ego, because the princess consciousness, seeing the ugly frog, rebels. This in effect leads her to act violently. After dinner, in the bedroom and away from her fathers sight, the princess disgust takes over.

On the other hand, the human-like status of the prince is signaled by his ability to speak, even before he turns back from being a frog. The princess passion, although violent at first, her passion in the bedroom releases him from the curse. As it is narrated,

But when the frog came down onto the bed, he was a handsome young prince, and he was her dear companion, and she held him in esteem as she had promised, and they fell asleep together with pleasure.

The effect is clear. The transformation reveals that the consciously demanding frog was all along unconsciously beautiful, loving, and kind. This in the end releases the princess from her anxiety. 
In relation to Freuds theory of sexuality, symbolisms related to dreams and sex is associated with the story. Ernest Jones, a follower and biographer of Freud, says this is a story of a virgin overcoming her sexual fear. Joseph Campbell, a follower of the Jungian theory interprets the frog as symbolizing the unconscious which may be frightening at first sight but, when absorbed by the conscious ego, reveals the total psyche that it is actually beautiful and true. It may be concluded that the psyche transformation is brought about by sexual embrace proceeding to the intermingling of mutual penetration of the masculine and feminine sides of the psyche. (Tucker 1981 43)

It is true then that the state of unconsciousness is a mental or psychic process of which a person is not aware but which have a powerful effect on ones attitudes and behavior. Especially in Freuds psychoanalytic theory, it involves processes activated by desires, fears, or memories which are unacceptable to the conscious mind. It is therefore the concept of ID. Once unconscious is possible, there must be investigation on how repression creates it. In this stage comes the concept of EGO which regulates the instincts. In the story, the Frog Prince is repressed by an angry woman. In this historic phase, repression is a matter of the relative power of one individual over an individuals consciousness, following a certain moral which is attained in the end when the frog turns into a prince and conforms to the desires of the princess. This is when the supremacy of the SUPEREGO manifests.

Freud is considered the father of psychological critics as his theories are highly regarded to gain insight into the literary text and to reveal a neurosis of its author as manifested in the text. Freudian ideas as the personal unconscious, the symbolic nature of dreams, the conflict between id, ego, and superego, the sexual nature on childhood behavior of the infantile sexuality, or the impact of traumatic experiences are among his inventions beneficial to psychology. Mainly, they are concerned with character analysis, especially hidden motivation. Thus, Freudian psychoanalysis can provide fruitful commentary on literature and the writers who create it. (Rotmann 2002 166)

In the Frog Prince, the princess sexuality is confined in a dream with her encounter of the frog. Her desires to have an ideal partner are suppressed by the presence of the frog while the frog is suppressed by her anger. The theme of the struggle to achieve sexual fulfillment to both is geared towards adolescent. There is an existing conflict among the id, ego and superego of the princess because of the frog-state of the prince, and this causes her anxiety. Sexuality as the prime source of neurotic anxiety fit in with seduction, as what the frog may have been doing to win the princess and turn to his human form again. Freud established to retain the concept that fantasies of sexual gratification stems from early childhood. This observation had led Freud to the fact of infantile sexuality, the notion that human sexual life does not begin only with puberty. (Weber 1982 132) In the case of the princess, sex is somehow shameful if the unconscious is still unexplored. In the story, the frog represents the unconscious which transforms to a beautiful and lovely prince as it opens the consciousness. At this point, the princess freely accepts sex as it is, as Freud insists.