Management, Innovation and New techonology Essay

Management, Innovation and New techonology - Essay Example The development and improvement incorporate technical specifications, materials and components, software, user-friendliness and other functional characteristics. Many scholars have examined product innovation which is based on various resource-based views. The process of product innovation can be analyzed as a dynamic capability of the core competence of an organization that helps them in renewing and configuring various resources. From the studies of Daniels in 2002 in which product innovation of five high-tech firms was examined and it directs towards the competencies of the firm associated with technology and customers. Daniels also stress on the fact that for development of new products there is a requirement of the combination of the potential customers and technology. For optimal product innovation, the resources of the firm associated with the current technology and customers are highly essential. From the studies of Shane in 2000 reveals that development of technology gives r ise to the creation of new markets as well exploration and exploitation. From the studies of Shane in 2000 eight enterprises were thoroughly studied and it signifies that the entrepreneurial opportunity recognition signifies to the fact that the entrepreneurs generate the ability for recognizing new knowledge for exploiting new products and technology which includes knowledge of market, knowledge of the ways in serving the markets, knowing the problems of the customers and that of the knowledge of technology. The recognition of entrepreneurial opportunities may lead to better understanding of the new technology or that of the technology for innovation (Huang & Wang, 2011, p.71). Bessant in 1994 creates a model which incorporates several processes and influences within the innovation process as depicted in the following diagram. Fig. 1. Brady, (1995), p.14 The strategy system incorporates information regarding the environment with respect to various forces in the economy like economic, political and so on. Identification of the opportunities as well as needs related to innovation in the light of overall business strategy. This leads to dynamism and change. The system of enabling acts as a support mechanism in the development of the innovation process to take place. Involvement in this respect may include tangible and intangible resources like time, money, people, equipment and management’s support and so on. The system of acquisition can be regarded as the technology powerhouse as it is the area where potential strength of the technology of the organization resides.

Measurement of the Turbidity of Raw Water and Study the Effects of Lab Report

Measurement of the Turbidity of Raw Water and Study the Effects of Coagulation and Flocculation - Lab Report Example During coagulation, matter in suspension becomes unstable due to the effect of cationic particles. Aluminum salts, ferric and ferrous salts are useful for the process of coagulation. The salts include alum, FeCl3 and Fe2 (SO4) 3. The iron sulfate used is that with and without lime. Introduction of the salts in waste water results, in the formation of Ions (Hijnen & Gertjan 33). The positive ions present in water exist in hydrated states. Positive ions combine with hydroxyl ions leading to insoluble hydroxides. Insoluble complexes result when ions combine with carbonates and bicarbonates. Coagulation results when the insoluble hydroxides precipitate in water and are separable through filtration. Precipitation of colloids takes place in the presence or absence of lime. The level of solubility of aluminum plus ferric hydroxides depends on PH, which determines the charge of the complex (Bratby 40). When PH is low, absorption of the complexes on the colloidal surface occurs leading to coagulation. When Aluminum chloride and sulfate are in wastewater, they exist as ion, which form non-dissolving complexes. The negative colloid repels anions and attracts cautions. The attraction power between positive and negative colloids results to agglomeration of particles (Wang 6). The repelled anions cling to positive colloids forming agglomerates. AlCl3 has a relative power of one against positive colloids and a power of 1000 against negative colloids. Al2 (SO4)3 exhibits a power of 30 against positive colloids and above 1000 against negative colloids (Bratby 39). ThuyKhanh, Trinh. & Lim Seok Kang. "Response Surface Methodological Approach To Optimize The Coagulation–Flocculation Process In Drinking Water Treatment." Chemical Engineering Research And Design 89. (2011): 1126-1135. ScienceDirect. Web. 2 Feb.

European History Essay Example for Free

European History Essay How did Bismarck’s system of alliances help maintain peace? Bismarck’s system of alliances was the goal of keeping France isolated and not to have any military allies. Also, he wanted to keep Russia and Austria-Hungary from going to war. France was still bitter over the losing Alsace-Lorraine from the Franco-Prussian War. Both Russia and Austria-Hungary desired territory from the weakening Ottoman Empire, which was the Balkans. The Three Emperors League was an alliance with Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Russia. This was against radical movements. With the Congress of Berlin, Austria got Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Balkan states ended up becoming independent. The Triple Alliance was Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy was a defensive alliance protection against Russia. The Reinsurance Treaty was between Germany and Russia. If one of them were to be attacked, they promised neutrality. Germany was concerned about war between Austria and Russia. Plus France and Russia being allies. William II ended this treaty and dismissed Bismarck. 2) What were the reasons for Britain and Germany’s love-hate relationship? Between the 1700 and 1800’s, Germany and Britain had a common enemy, which was France. Their racials ties of Anglo-Saxon and Germanic people as well. The rivalry was of course power. Germany was on the rise to power. Economic wise was the colonie and the world market. For the military component, Germany expanded their navy with battleships. Great Britain is known for its naval supremacy and it was threatened by Germany. It ended up being a naval race between the two nations. For the political factors, Great Britain wanted alliances with France, Russia, and the United States. At the Algeciras Conference, Germany attempted to break the friendship between Great Britain and France. They failed and brought them closer. 3) Why was the Moroccan crisis of 1905 a turning point in European diplomacy? France and Great Britain agreed over North Africa. Britain got full control over Egypt and France got full control over Morocco. The Anglo-French Entente was closer relations between France and England. Germany as always wanted to try and break the treaty between France and England. Germany didnt act diplomatically though. They were now viewed as an international bully. Great Britain, France, Russia, and the United States saw Germany as a common threat. These four nations became closer. Austria became Germany’s main ally as well. 4) What impact did the Congress of Berlin (1878) have on the Balkan area? What were the origins and causes of the â€Å"Third Balkan War†? With the Congress of Berlin, Austria-Hungary had power over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Romania and Serbia won independence. Bulgaria won a somewhat say in their government. Austria-Hungary and Russia wanted to control the Balkans. With nationalism, Serbia wanted to expand by gaining Bosnia and Herzegovina. Austria-Hungary ended up annexing both of their wanted territories. Serbians were furious. The First and Second Balkan Wars consisted of fight within Serbia, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire about territorial gains. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was on a visit to Sarajevo and ended up getting assassinated by Serbians. It was the Black Hand which was a Serbian terrorist group. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia which was the start of the Third Balkan War. Austria-Hungary wanted to stop nationalism that threatened their empire. 5) Which of the major powers do you believe were most responsible and least responsible for the war? Explain. Austria-Hungary had imperialism in the Balkans and declared war on Serbia. They were also Germany’s main ally. Russia had total support of Serbia. They allied with Serbia and France. All three of them mobilized against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Germany wrote a â€Å"blank check† to Austria-Hungary. William II’s poor control of international diplomacy lead to the Moroccan crisis and naval build up. In addition, Germany invaded France through Belgium. France became permanently mad at Germany and seeked for revenge. They ended up allying with Russia. This meant the support from Russia meant also from Serbia. Great Britain had a naval build up and entered an alliance with France. This disrupted the balance of power and made it point toward France now. 6) What impact did the war have on the economy and the people at home? How cooperative was the population? The economy changed from a free market system to a state run economy. The government organized price and wage controls, quotas, production and what to be produced. The food and resources vital for war had to be rationed. Due to nationalism, the population was supportive of the â€Å"total war† efforts of their governments, in the beginning of the war. 7) Did the war have any effect on the power of organized labor? On women in society? The labor unions cooperated with governments on production and wages. The government gave back by allowing labor leaders in policy making councils. The unions were accepted in the European countries as legitimate organizations. Women were now in demand for labor because men were off at war. Women became a more visible part in society and this gave a boost for the modern women’s rights movement. 8) What evidence is there that the strain of the war was beginning to take its toll on the home front in Russia, Austria, France, and Germany by 1916? Russia had a lot of war casualties. The population was vital of the czar’s leadership. Nicholas II went to the front to lead the troops. While he was away, Alexandra and Rasputin were in charge. Austria’s chief minister was assassinated. Frances Joseph died as well. The Czechs and Yugoslavs called for autonomous democracies. France and their troops refused to fight. There were labor strikes during the war. Clemenceau ruled practically as a dictator. Germany had Karl Liebknecht, who was a radical social leader, spoke out against war. This had the radicals to protest. There was an expanding anti-war legislation in the Reichstag and massive break strikes in Berlin. 9) What were the reasons for the Russian Revolution in March 1917? Who were the Soviets? The war demoralized troops which led to mass desertions. Many peasant soldiers returned home and angry with weapons. Also the war produced massive food shortages and there were bread riots in St. Petersburg. These riots spread like wildfire. Nicholas II ended up stepping down and leaving Russia. The Soviet and the provisional government ended up trying to rule Russia. The social classes were going for political liberty. The upper middle class were expecting better results from the war. Workers demanded better wages and good. Peasants asked for land reform. The Soviets was a political organization in St. They were against the czar’s government and operated separately from the Kerenskys provisional government. For example, Army Order #1. 10) What were the reasons for the Bolshevik victory in the civil war? The democracy ended up turning into an anarchy. Not one individual group or person had clear dominance to take power. Lenin and Trotsky were talented leaders who competed for power. Trotsky created an organized and centralized army that was able to outperform the whites. While Lenin was able to appeal to the urban workers and soldiers who were for socialism, successfully. The Bolsheviks ruled the center of Russia while the white were scattered out over thousands of miles. There was a secret police and the use of terror. The â€Å"White Armies† were decentralized and didn’t organize movements. They didn’t have a clear political objective that rallied the enemies of the Bolsheviks into an united front. Foreign military aid was too late and little and rallied nationalistic Russian against the whites. 11) What happened to the Austro-Hungarian and Turkish empires after 1918? Austria-Hungary became Austria. They lost land to Italy which was Tyrol. They became independent states which were Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Hungary. Austria ended up becoming a small, militarily insignificant European nation. The Ottoman Empire ended up becoming Turkey. France got Lebanon and Syria. While Britain received Iraq and Palestine. The empire was diminished and Turkey’s borders were the Anatolian peninsula and the Bosporus. Both of these nations were once dominant in power and now were put down to secondary status, which is ironic. 12) What were the goals of Wilson, Lloyd George, and Clemenceau at the Versailles Peace Conference? President Wilson of the United States created the Fourteen Points. He wanted national self determinations, rights of small countries, and League of Nations. David Lloyd George was focused on restoring Germany to a reasonable economic strength. He perceived that Germany could be a balance to the communist Russia. Georges Clemenceau seeked revenge against Germany for the two invasions in the last forty years. He wanted to create a buffer state between France and Germany. He wanted protection against future attacks and permanent demilitarization of Germany. Germany had to pay large war reparations and it weakened them, yet gave France a chance to rebuild.

Effect of Temperature on Shelf Stability of Soybean-corn Oil

Effect of Temperature on Shelf Stability of Soybean-corn Oil STUDY OF EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON SHELF STABILITY OF SOYBEAN-CORN OIL BLENDS. Atul Thakkar*, Jayshree Parikh** Abstract Soybean oil because of certain advantages is cultivated on large scale in recent years in India particularly in M.P, U.P, and part of Maharashtra. Soybean oil meal is rich in protein and the oil has ready outlet in vanaspati manufacture with the possibility, that it may be utilized as edible oil. The direct use of soybean oil for deep frying purpose has certain limitation as it contains significant amount of linolenic acid i.e. about 6.8 %. These polyunsaturated acids made the soybean oil unstable even under ambient conditions. Secondly the consumers do not have liking of the fishy flavor of the oil during deep-frying. Significant improvement in shelf life and thermal stability and flavor reduction can be achieved by lowering the linolenate content of soybean oil by blending in different proportions with corn oil. Corn oil widely used as an all purpose cooking oil and margarine because of the unique flavor it attributes and because it is more stable to oxidation than linolenate containing oil such soybean oil. Corn oil has milder taste and less expensive than most other types of vegetable oils. In present study to improve the stability and yet retain fluidity the soybean oil is blended with more stable corn oil thereby reducing linolenic acid content. The thermal stability for all the blends is studied by determining their Physico-chemical properties and fatty acid composition using standard methods. KEYWODS Soybean oil, corn oil, Thermal stability. INTRODUCTION Oils rich in Monosaturated fatty acid are gaining more importance these days due to their specific advantages over other oils. They are more stable towards oxidative changes over polyunsaturated fatty acid rich oils and hence prove to be better choice for frying or cooking application. Polyunsaturated fatty acid rich oils are more prone to oxidative changes, and hence promote oxidation in both food and non-food products, although important from health point of view. Thus while selecting oil or fat one has to consider both aspects that-oil should not be too much saturated and unsaturated as well. In fact as per latest guidelines of WHO/Japanese Heart Association the ideal ratio of SAFA: MUFA: PUFA should be 1:1.5:1.In order to derive maximum benefits from oil it is advised to consume a mixture of oils in order to maintain a balance between the fatty acids, and possible to keep cholesterol level in control. Now-a-days a number of blended oils are available in the market. For instance, blends of rice bran and sunflower oils. Soyabean oil is rich in protein but direct use of soybean oil has some limitation as it contains linolenic acid and it becomes unstable even under ambient conditions. To increase stability of soybean oil linolenic acid content must be reduce it can be done by changing fatty acid compositon this is possible by blending with more stable oils compare to soybean oil. In soybean oil linolenic acid is oxidized twice as quickly as linoleic acid and produces short chain aldehydes with flavor that are even stronger and less acceptable than those produced from linoleic acid, due to this odor of oil change. It can be used after one or two frying. It is the most saleable oil in india. Corn oil contains a significant amount of ubiquinone and high amounts of alpha and gamma tocopherols (vitamin E) that protect it from oxidative rancidity. It has good sensory qualities for use as salad and cooking oil. Corn oil is highly digestible and provides energy and Essential Fatty Acids (EFA). Linoleic acid is a dietary essential that is necessary for integrity of the skin, cell membranes, the immune system, and for synthesis of icosanoids. Icosanoids are necessary for reproductive, cardiovascular, renal and gastrointestinal functions and resistance to disease. Corn oil is highly effective food oil for lowering serum cholesterol. The use of corn oil to contribute to PUFA intake of 10% in the diet would be beneficial to heart health. It is rich in linoleic acid one of the three fatty acids . Corn oil beyond food and consumer product replacing petroleum in many industrial applications it is use as biofuel. Use of corn oil as a biodiesel is increases and for this purpose investment in cultivation of corn oil is increases not only in India but in Global states . It is used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic industries,paper, textiles, plastics, baked goods, candies, soups and mixes. It is also used as skin soother and softener. MATERIAL AND MEHOD Chemicals used A wide variety of chemicals were used in the experiments which are listed below. Acetic acid ,Acetone , Carbon tetrachloride,ethyl alcohol, HCl, Glacial acetic acid (All S.D.Fine Chemicals); Methanol, Chloroform, BF3-methanol solution (Qualigens); Hexane Heptane (HPLC grade, Qualigens); Wijs Solution (Merck Grade); isopropyl alcohol (China). Before using these solvents, their expiry was checked and these were stored properly. Reagens Used Sodium hydroxide Sodium thiosulphate Sodium sulphate Potassium iodide Sodium chloride,15% potassium iodide solution(15 gm of potassium iodide dissolve in 100 ml of water), potassium dichromate (All Qualigens). Before using these reagents their expiry was checked and was stored properly. Indicators Phenolphthalein (Qualigens) :-It was used by dissolving 1gm of phenolphthalein in alcohol. Starch (Qualigens):-Starch prepared by dissolving 1gm of soluble starch in 200ml distilled water and boil for few seconds. These indicators were prepared freshly as per the requirement of test. To observe proper colour changes during titration. Raw Material Soybean oil and Corn oil were purchased from market package of 1 liter. Before analysis, manufacturing and expiry date was checked properly. Before starting analysis, the colour and odor of these oils were checked. Methods Iodine value Iodine value is a measure of the degree of unsaturation in oil. It is constant for particular oil or fat. Iodine value is useful parameter in studying oxidative rancidity of oils since higher the unsaturation the greater the possibility of the oils to go rancid. This is the most important test to determine stability of oils. Peroxide value Rancidity is brought about by the action of air on the oil which is oxidative rancidity, where in, the fat takes up oxygen with the formation of peroxides. Peroxide value is the peroxide content in the oil.Procedure for determination for Peroxide value test was used from AOCS method. Free fatty acid value Free fatty acids are usually presents in oils along with the triglycerides. It increases during storage. It is keeping quality of oil; therefore the free fatty acid content generally increases on storage. This is most important test to find out quality of oils. This test performed according to the AOCS method. Fatty acid composition To find out fatty acid composition of oils gas chromatographic method is used because fatty acid evaluated in GC only it give prominent result. In this method oils first has to convert into methyl esters and then injected into the GC. Prepared sample seal in dry GC vial and kept in refrigerator before injection. Test performs as per the method of AOCS. The five major fatty acids in soybean oil are palmitate, stearate, oleate, linolenate, and linoleate. The fatty acids differ in the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms they contains, which causes differences in the nutritional value of each and their influence on the characteristics of food products. It show change in percentages when blend with other oils. All these tests were performed simultaneously. This study was followed by Thermal stability. In thermal stability study the sample was kept in oven which was set at 60oC. This stability analysis has been done continuously for seven days. For the thermal stability blends were prepared in the proportions given as in table 1. Pure oils were taken as reference. 250ml of sample taken in the 500 ml beakers, it was labeled properly. The beakers were not closed. Then the beakers placed in the preheated oven at 60oC for 6 hr. Then the samples were taken out, cooled at room temperature and analyzed for iodine value, free fatty acid content and peroxide value using AOCS methods. Then the samples were allowed to remain overnight at room temperature in a closed shelf. Next day the samples were again kept inside preheated oven for 6hr. followed by testing as above. Thermal stability testing was done continuously for seven days i.e.in all for 42 hours. Table 1: Ratio of blends and symbols used Table 2: Thermal stability: Iodine value. Table 3: Thermal stability: free fatty acid content. Table 4: Thermal stability: Peroxide value. Table 5: Results of Fatty acid composition (at 60Â °C for 42 hours) RESULT AND DISCUSSION The characteristics and fatty acid composition of oils used in the study are given in tables (from Table 2 to 5). All the oils were used fresh. During the storage studies at room temperature a small but steady rise in free fatty acid content and peroxide value and fall in iodine value was observed in all blends. In Shelf Stability (at room temperature) upto our 42 hours study Iodine value for pure soybean oil is ranging from (134.1 to 129.5), and Soybean oil,Corn oil composition ranging from (127.2 to 120.8), (120.7 to 115.8), (115.3 to 112.9), (108.1 to 104.9), (101.8 to 93.5) for pure corn oil (95.6 to 89.4). (Table 02, Figure 01). All these values indicate decrease in values of blends at high range compared to the pure oils. Decrease in iodine value may be due to the polymerization. Peroxide values in Shelf Stability (at room temperature) upto our 42 hours study for pure soybean oil is ranging from (3.1 to 7.2), and Soybean oil ,Corn oil composition Peroxide value ranging from (2.1 to 7.0), (1.9 to 6.9), (1.2 to 7.2), (0.9 to 7.5), (0.6 to 7.8) for pure corn oil (0.3 to 6.5) (Table 04, Figure 02). Free fatty acid content in Shelf Stability (at room temperature) upto our 42 hours study for pure soybean oil is ranging from (0.14 to 0.30), and Soybean oil ,Corn oil composition Free fatty acid value ranging from (0.15 to 0.34), (0.17 to 0.31), (0.18 to 0.30), (0.20 to 0.31), (0.21 to 0.32) for pure corn oil (0.25 to 0.33) (Table 03, Figure 03). The changes in these values may be due to oxidation which increases the free fatty acid content and peroxide value whereas decreases iodine value through marginally. The increase in peroxide value in the blend of soybean oil as the concentration of other oil increases indicates the increasing oxidative stability of blend as c ompare to other oil. The rate of decrease in peroxide value for soybean oil (Table 3) is very high as compared with corn oil.. This may be due to the presence of significant amount of linolenic acid in soybean oil, which is prone to oxidation. The rate of oxidation of all blends is slow as compared with pure soybean oil. When corn oil was blended with Soybean oil iodine value of soybean oil decreases and progressive changes observed in the peroxide value that is oxidative stability of Soybean oil increases. Corn oil has better shelf life than the soybean oil, Hence when soybean oil is blended with corn oil there is an increase in shelf life stability of soybean oil. Thus the present study of three blends certainly help to improve shelf life of soybean oil as compared to pure soybean oil. Fatty acid composition in Shelf Stability (at room temperature) linolenic acid content for pure soybean oil is (6.6), and Soybean oil ,Corn oil composition linolenic acid content (5.6), (5.3), (4.9), (3.5), (2.9) and for pure corn oil (0.7) (Table 5)..After 42 hours value of free Fatty acids are changed. It is indicated that, when soybean oil blended with corn oil there is decrease in value of linolenic acid content. After 42 hours also linolenic acid content show decrease comparing to initial stage of blending. The blend of Soybean oil with the corn oil shows good stability. Figure 1 : Graphical Represents of Iodine value of blends. Figure 2 : Graphical Represents of peroxide value of blends. Figure 3 : Graphical Represents of FFA value of blends. REFERENCES Saska, M., and Rossiter, G. J., J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 68:436-439 (1991). Handoo, S. K., Gupta, Sanjoy., and Agarwal, T. N., J Oil Tech. Assoc. of India. 24:83 (1992). Handoo, S. K., Bagga, K. K. and Sharma, K. P. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 26: 91 (1994). Young,C., in Balley’s industrial Oil and Fat products,5th edition, Interscience publication,2, .339. (1996). Bhattacharya, D. K.., J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 77:1683-1686 (1998). McCaskill, D. R., and Zhang, F. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 53:50-54 (1999). Chopra, Rainy., and Nagraj, G., J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 36:21 (2004). Oil Technology Association of India., (Source: SEA News Circular), 8,(2006). Choe, Eunok.,, David., B., Comprehensive review in Food Science and Food Safety.2, (2006) Choe, E., D., Min. B., Journal of Food Science.. 72, R77–R86, (2007). Basturk, Ayhan.., Javidipour, Issa., and Boyaci, Ismail, H., Journal of Food Lipids 14, 170–188, (2007). 12. Ryan, Liliana, C., et al., International Journal of Food Science Technology, 43, 193–199, (2008). Francisca, Manzanarez-LÃ ³pez., et.al., Journal of Food Engineering. 104, 508–517, (2011). Fawzy, Mohamed., Mohamed Khaled, Wahdan. M., Food Chemistry, Volume 132, 873-879, (2012). Teresa, Maria., Simon, A., Haughey, Christopher., Elliott, T., Anastasios Koidis, Food Research International.10,1016, (2013).

Observations at the Park Essay -- Observation Essay, Descriptive Essay

Observations at the Park A cigarette butt lies next to my foot, still emitting a trace of smoke. Nearby on the dusty asphalt a pigeon waddles self-consciously, bobbing its head as if pecking the air for some invisible food. A squirrel churrs a threat to his brother, challenging him to romp. The walkway before me never becomes silent. A buzz of voices blends with the city soundscape of cars driving and trucks backing, swingsets squealing and sparrows chirping. A toddler, holding tightly to his sister's stroller, yells "Achtung! Achtung! Achtung!" at a squirrel that crosses two inches from his foot. His mother comforts him, in German. A man sits down on the bench across from me, eyelids dropping on his creased red face as he stirs his cup of coffee. The bench I sit on is green, painted over years of dents and names scratched in wood. My backpack sits to my left with its main zipper opened just wide enough for me to extract my notebook and pen. At my right is my suitcase. Its pockets are crammed full like the subway this morning, barely room left to breathe, creaking and comp...

Culture and the Advancement of Technology :: Technological Cultures Essays

Culture and the Advancement of Technology Once humans became settled into their environment and managed to manipulate agriculture until they were able to sustain their population, they were able to spend more time focusing on enhancing the primitive technologies that had already been developed, as well as begin to search for answers about things that were not understood. Thus came the development of religion and engineering. The more developed culture became the more answers and technologies it demanded. Essentially, with human development, culture became the modus operandi for the advancement of technology. Easter Island is a very small island off the coast of South America. (Ponting) Although Easter Island has few permanent residents today, it is the graveyard of one of the worlds greatest early civilizations. The island is small enough that you could walk around the entire thing in just one day. There are no permanent freshwater sources and the soil is not accommodating to agriculture. When settlers from Mesoamerica arrived at the island in the fifth century there were no other mammals on the island. The population peaked at about 7,000 and was mainly supported on the chickens that the settlers had brought with them and an abundance of harvested sweet potatoes (Ponting). Because the harvesting of sweet potatoes requires so little care, the islanders were left with a considerable amount of idle time. In this time they developed one of the most advanced civilizations of the time period. Large stone sculptures and wide disc-like platforms (ahu) are relics of this ancient culture. (Pontin g) The large sculptures are artistically crafted and required a great deal of technological skill and understanding. Additionally, the sculptures were then placed on the ahu's, which was no small task considering that they were twenty feet in length, weighed several tons, and had to be transported all the way across the island. The people of Easter Island clearly had a developed understanding of astronomy and the cosmos as well; each of the ahu are astronomically aligned towards a solstice or equinox. All of this was down in the name of religion, to fulfill a complex system of beliefs. Unfortunately, the people of Easter Island died because they "hit a wall", running out of natural resources. Because of warring people, they were unable to create a "tech fix" to transport them selves off the island. Still, Easter Island is a good example of the way idleness of time leads to culture which demands technology (Ponting).

Gender and body image – Looking at women and men through the life course

Throughout our lives we are governed by how we look and act according to society. One of the main leaders throughout history has been which sex a person belongs to. This governs our every aspect in life from a baby, through to adulthood. Opinion changes constantly to whether children should live a certain way and especially act certain ways at different ages and stages throughout life. We are socially constructed from the start of our lives, if a baby wears blue or pink determines societys view of how to treat the child and most importantly whether it is male of female. We are judged in our abilities and skills just by from which sex we belong to. It is one of the most influential factors in life, being male or female. I will be looking at the perceived differences between males and female body image and actions throughout the life cycle, from birth through to old age. One of the first things we notice about a person is which sex they belong to. Today due to changes in societies impressions and opinions on sex and sex orientation, it is generally possible to immediately determine the sex of a person that gives out first impressions and places stereotypes. Every culture distinguishes between male and females and this accompanied by beliefs and psychological and physical behaviours belonging to each sex. It is not a recent act to distinguish differences between the sexes. In pre-industrial Britain children were sent off to work at an early age between 6-7. They were kept apart and designated a job. At this age physicality's of gender differences would not be differentiated because of no puberty growth in the children causing no differences in physical ability and strength yet girls would be sent to become servants while boys would be trained to be apprentices. In the sixteenth century boys were increasingly sent to boarding school, while girls were mainly kept at home, any small amount of girls who were sent to boarding school were trained for domesticity. Their father or their masters controlled any girls in a family, like an ownership. The males possessed them. Any money that was made was not their own to keep but passed on to their masters or their family for their parents personal use or placed back into the family for food and supplies. Both boys and girls were used for their bodies yet in completely different ways. In the early nineteenth century working class children would be used in working class factories for cheap labour. Boys would follow the men with physical work while girls were sold for prostitution. Girls where not seen to have many uses apart from their bodies or domesticity uses. This treatment of girls continued through the years in society. Towards the First World War girls were not sold for such explicit reasons but used in different ways (Humphries 1977). Families became dependent on the wages of their siblings. With men called to war the children would work to help the families upkeep. Girls would be expected to help their mothers with domestic tasks and to take the role of second mother for their younger siblings. While boys and young men where used for their physical abilities. By the twentieth century psychologists identified that childhood was a vital part of a persons identity. Freud dedicated his life to the study of people and the affect of childhood on their adult lives. Children could be scared for life because of their childhoods. This could explain judgements of people on sex opinions later in lives because of their upbringings, which had forced the stereo types into society. Post war brought the decline of infant mortality and the decline in birth rate. Children where not therefore depended upon for their help with the families income. Adults began to see children as pleasurable company. Children soon became the main focus of life. The division of home from the workplace resulted in an isolation of women and children. The home in middle-class households represented a haven from the competition of the market place and from the public world. Men would stay in the workplace and women and children were kept ‘confined' and ‘protected' in the home. This soon broadens from the middle-class household to the working class home. This image of the western family soon became the model norm of the western societies, which influenced many people throughout their lives. Female and male children are segregated and classed as different, which has continued up to the present day. From birth they are given different clothes and toys and are subjected to socialisation. Children were even segregated at school, boys may have been sent to a different school than girls and be taught different curricula. Children now share schooling and have moved closer together in the curricula but in many other ways they are treated differently. Although today boys and girls may study the same curriculum, some subjects are still labelled as being male or female subjects. Increasing anxieties about sexual threat in contemporary society, because of sexual abuse cases, has become increasingly popular; causing boys and girls to be treated differently. Girls are surveyed and controlled more than boys of the same age. Girls and boys are sheltered differently. Girls are protected from the real dangers of society but also the ones, which are possibly fictional, or of an adult's exaggeration. Girls in particular are sheltered from the real adult world. The sexualisation of adults' contact with children means girls are seldom allowed to walk alone, or spend much time on their own. This treatment causes girls today to be segregated from society from the start of their lives. This influences the way they live their life and attitudes they have towards their influencing adult guides. When children are allowed out ‘to play', boys seem to be allowed out later than girls or more trust and leniency. Although childhood is seen as psychologically influencing on a persons' life adolescence is both psychologically and physically changing. Adolescence is a time for psychological adjustments to the physical changes in the child's body. For young girls and women it is normally related with developments of secondary sexual qualities such as breasts, and body hair. When we become adolescence's we gain legal responsibilities. At the age of 16 a young woman can give consent to sexual intercourse with a man. Before this age a young woman will in the eyes of the law be seen as irresponsible and unable to give responsible consent. Also at the age of 16 a young man and woman may get married however although legally responsible to have a sexual relationship and possibly bare children, the young adults must have parental permission. Their responsibilities are too high to be married from their own choice at this age. The legal view on heterosexual relationships seems a reasonably understandable law, compared to the opinions on homosexual relationships. Homosexual relationships between men are not legal unless both parties are 18, however same sex relationships between two women are legal at any age. It is evident from these figures that young men and women have a different statues in law reflecting different assumptions about masculinity and femininity. Young people become legally responsible for their actions from their age of 10. This makes youth today so much longer than it was many years ago. This extended period in the youth phase causes extensive protection from the parents. One explanation for this could be the increasing choice by children to stay in education for a longer period of time. The number of young people choosing to go into higher education increases because of more opportunities, larger choices in courses and the range of training schemes increases. It is apparent that young people especially women seem to be spending longer being trained and educated, and then having greater uncertain futures because finding full-time work is increasing remote. This is especially apparent for young people because they are most affected by unemployment. Young women have come through time from not being educated to spending more time in education than young men. Government reports have stated that young women do considerably better in school than young men due to a stronger ambition to be successful and ability to concentrate their efforts into studying. It is generally stated that adolescence is a period of stressful experience. However an anthropologist Margaret Mead challenged this. She studied adolescent women in eastern Samoa (1943) and found no evidence of role confusion, conflict or revolt. Suggesting that adolescence was not world-wide and biologically determined but ethnically variable, and that the stresses of this time could be socially determined, and because of confusing status to which, young people find themselves consigned by particular communal forms. It is a wide-ranging protest from adults to complain of adolescent deviant behaviour however this suggests that it is the western societal norms which push adolescents to be seen as irresponsible and problematic to society. Adolescence is a particular distressing time for young women. Trying to conform to societies views of how to behave and to trying to keep their reputation with friends and partners at the same time makes life very traumatic. The behaviour of teenage women is partly the result of being treated differently from boys through their life. As was stated earlier women are seen as more in need of care and protection. Parents ‘police' their daughters more strictly than their sons. This then is linked to the ideological definition of ‘appropriate behaviour of women'. Sue Lees (1986) has shown how boys control young women in the public eye through threat of labelling them sexually promiscuous. It is expected of young men to copulate but for a young women to continue with the same behaviour would result in such labels as ‘slag' or ‘slut' and ‘scrubber' or an ‘easy lay'. This labelling is less to do with the actual sexual action rather than to the extent to which young women's behaviour deviates from the normal ideas of femininity. For example a female should not be seen using foul language or rough behaviour as they could be classed as a ‘tom boy'. Sexuality is classed in very different ways. Both sexes are concerned with reputation; the basis on which it rests is very distinct. For boys sexual reputation is enhanced by varied experience boasting to their friends for all the girls they have ‘made', for a girl reputation is to be guarded. It is to be under threat not merely if she is known to have sex with anyone other than with her steady boyfriend but also if she goes out with several different boys, or dresses in a certain way. To remain a ‘nice' girl a young woman must suppress any sexual desire, and instead conform to the dream image of romantic love and complete monogamy. This double standard serves to constrain the public and private lives of young women to ensure conformity based on a model of sexuality, which ultimately takes its form from the ideology of the nuclear family. Feminist sociologists' arguments showed that post ideas that suggestions of femininity and masculinity classed as natural were actually of a social origin. Young people apparently learn roles. Mc Robbie and Garber stated that young women didn't ‘rebel in the same way which young men did but instead used the ideal romantic fantasy as a form of escapism. Sue Lees (1986), Christine Griffin (1985) and Clair Wallace (1987) have looked into the theory of the role that romantic love fantasies have in young women's lives. They are apparently not deceived by characters lives portrayed in women's literature, but actually have realistic ideas of married life. It was also believed that young women have tactics of resistance for example ‘tom boys' or pregnancy, which are not in the ‘nice' girl stereotype. They state that an important aspect in young girls lives is their status and independence inside and out of the family that could be achieved by them acquiring a job by themselves. Sharpe (1995) study contrast to an earlier study found that young women interviewed no longer saw marriage and parenthood as their only goal in life. These studies show a change in young women's views and opinions; however, it causes views of people to think young girls are rebelling against the norms of society because family life is not their first objective in life. The media is one of the most influential aspects to people's lives. It is used to inform, sell, advise, and help the readers and many other uses. Young women are important customers of media resources. There are magazines, which particularly target young women and influence their lives. The magazines give advise on romance, hygiene and behaviour according to societies rules at the time. 80% of magazines are articles about fashion and appearance pushing young women into a proposed look. They steer young women to see romance as standard and as an ultimate goal in life to have a ‘normal' steady monogamous relationship leading to marriage and all as typecasts with a male companion. According to these magazines the main interest of their teenage years is in getting a man'. The young women become immersed into the ideology of romance and of ‘falling in love'. Adulthood is associated with taking up full status in society, having sexual relationships, getting married, having children, having a full time stable job, and living in an independent household. When we become an adult we associate it with citizenship status -the right to vote, to take loans, or to enter legal contract we are given responsibility and trusted. This legal responsibility is associated with the turning of age to 18. There are many physical body aspects, which are also associated with adulthood. Such as first menstruation, and first sex. This today is more associated with the teenage years because of younger people having sex earlier and young girls developing into women earlier so the legal opinion of an adult may not be the same as a physical adult. The transition of adolescence to adulthood can be more meaningful for women than young men generally because young women marry earlier, have sex earlier and many other things earlier than men. It is often said than young girls mature earlier than young boys. It is a stressful time for women when the beginning of sexual activity occurs. It is a time of pride and manhood for males while traumatic and cautious for women. Not to be seen on the one side as ‘frigid' or a promiscuous ‘slag' on the other (Cowie and Lees 1985; Halson 1991). Marriage, childbirth and parenthood are also parts of adulthood that are given different meanings from men than women. This seems to be because although attitudes are changing in society today women in the main have the foremost responsibilities and usually end up interrupting their careers to care for children. Today it is increasingly popular for single parent families which again is mostly women taking the responsibilities, the majority of about 90% of single parent families are headed by women. Baring children is also seen as hindering a women's working career and leisure life. The process of pregnancy changes a women's body, and although both men and women's bodies change in the life course this can be seen as the biggest change a women can experience. Increased hormones and the gradual growth of the baby stretches and changes the women's normal body shape. This change, during pregnancy and after can affect a woman greatly because of opinions of what a woman should look like. It is looked upon badly if the bulge during pregnancy is on show when in the public eye. It is a nature event that is seen as part of a women's' meaning on earth. However, it cannot be looked upon, only in disgrace. Is it a disgusting view to see a woman pregnant? Or is it disgusting to see a woman out of shape, from societies view of what a woman should look like, as I suspect it could be. Women's careers are perceived as more intimately tied to their biology and reproductive cycles than are men's. Men's bodies are defined by their performance and action in the labour market and public life. Their reproductive functions and their bodies are seldom referred to and are seen as unproblematic. Women's body shape and reproductive functions are constantly studied and are sometimes referred to as determining their lives (Ussher 1989). In the media it is women's bodies that are used to sell their products. A car advert will usually at some point show a young stereotype of a woman draped over their product in order to sell it. It is unusual to see a man or even a larger woman used in the same way. Women's lives are constantly referred to by their menstruation. They are frequently seen as ‘victims' of ‘ragging hormones' either because of ‘pre-menstrual tension' or because of menopause. Each case supposedly causes women to ‘suffer' from temporary indisposition that can sometimes become ‘insanity'! This then could be the reason why it is used for reasons of moodiness, road accidents and even cases of murder. On account of these biological ‘problems' women's lives are intervened with medical attention and even seen as a kind of disease. Women can be recommended hormone replacements therapy and hysterectomies as a solution to menopausal problems and are given special diets or hormone treatment for pre-menstrual tension. Unlike male bodies women's are somewhat controlled by medical science from the moment of first problems with menstruation or with the need for birth control through to menopausal problems. Some women may never need medical assistance, but most do at some point in their lives. â€Å"Imagine what might have happened in a world with different cultural and moral attitudes towards gender and responsibilities for family planning and children. It is not beyond imagination that we would have ended up with a male contraceptive pill, a medical treatment for male menopause and a classification system of multiple sexes (Oudshoor 1994). One of the most traumatic times in a person's life is the process of ageing. No person wants to loose his or her looks, shape or mind. For men it is loosing their hair or gaining that ‘beer belly'. For women physical attractiveness is the most important feature and loosing this is a major source of anxiety. Women spend thousands of pounds on creams, potions, dieting, exercise and even plastic surgery. Men today are also increasingly purchasing these types of items but it is generally women that advertising is focused on (Arber and Ginn 1991). It has been questioned what is persona purpose in life? One of the proposed reasons is to reproduce, to keep the population. Men are seen to do this throughout their lives, so women who have therefore passed the menopause could be seen as having no use anymore for their reproductive functions and therefore are uninterested in sex. Doctors are more likely to recommend hysterectomies to women than men. In medical textbooks women's ovaries are described as ‘shrivelled' or ‘senile' metaphors, which, imply they are ‘useless', or ‘past it'. Women are classified by their biological position in and throughout their lives. Pre-menstrual' in their youth, ‘pre-menopausal' in their thirties, ‘menopausal' in their forties and ‘post-menopausal' in their fifties, its as though their reproductive organs control women's lives. Women who have children find themselves defined in terms of their roles as mothers and carers. On the other hand childless women are seen as frustrated mothers and somehow incomplete. It is as if a woman's ultimate goal is to bare children. A childless woman is classed as having psychological inadequacies or a lack of feminine qualities. Today many more women are pursuing careers rather than starting a family, this is seen as selfish whereas men are not exposed to such punishments. It is seen as acceptable for a man to never be a part of a family. Women's lives are seen as shaped by their biological bodies and the changes these bodies undergo. Men's lives by contrast are seen as shaped by their achievements. Throughout our lives we are governed by our sex and opinions made by society which label us according to our sex. These labels are started through opinions made from birth, which stay with us until death.