Pharmaceuticalisation of Sexual and Repruductive health Essay

When it comes to the interaction of males and females with social structures in society, a degree of inequality has always been existent. Many times the female gender bears the brunt of these inequalities. Cultural ideologies drive these inequalities, and shape our ways of being and views on life’s situations; particularly evident when it comes to the issue of sexual and reproductive health. These phenomena have gained significant amounts of popularity with the evolution of time. And have also been subject to much social construction. It is from those constructions that the pharmaceuticalization of sexual and reproductive health arose. This essay will look at sexual and reproductive health as social constructs, and discuss the impact of these social constructions on pharmaceuticalization and how they have influenced it. The essay will also explore the differences in how sexual and reproductive health have been pharmaceuticalized in male and females, and the possible reasons behind it Pharmaceuticalization is a process which is intimately linked with medicalisation. In this way these two phenomena could be defined as processes by which more and more of society’s social problems have come to be seen and described under medical terms, and hence medical interventions have been put forth as solutions for these problems (Zola, 1983, p. 295). Hence we can say that one is as is by the influence of the other, pharmaceuticalization driving and sustaining medicalisation (Conrad 1981). However the medicalisation of society is as much a result of medicine’s potential as much as it is society’s desire for medicine to use that power (Zola, 1972, p 182). Given this statement, it can therefore be argued that the society’s ideas, culturally motivated or otherwise, have a lot to do with the pharmaceuticalization of sexual and reproductive health. Almost as though it is society’s ‘wish’ for pharmaceuticalization to exists. Hence we can say that pharmaceuticalization is also in part a process of capitalizing on the views of sexual health and reproduction. The evidence of the existence of the four bodies indicates that the body is not just an excluded or separate entity from social structure. Similar is the case for the meaning attached to the penis in males. It is not just another organ carrying out its designated functions but it carries a lot meaning for the man in society. The penis is not only intimately connected to men’s sexuality but it is also connected to masculinity and virility. And as with most things that carry meaning in society, the meaning of ‘the proper/perfect’ penis has been a subject of much social construction. A study(2012) conducted in Australia among 103 women found that the majority of the women preferred or were more attracted to men with larger penises, it was argued that the reason behind that had to do with the famous saying that ‘bigger is better’. This comes upon a time were sex has increasingly become used for recreation rather that procreation. Hence we see hear reports of penis enlargement pills and surgical procedures that can bring forth that kind of penis which is desired by the men and their women. In contrast however, we find that women’s sexual health has not been pharmaceuticalised to the extend it has been in men. Perhaps it has to do with the old age stereotype that women are passive and fragile. This notion links into the idea of sex in a way that the man is the one who is most active during the sexual act. And hence the one who carries the responsibility for the sexual climax of both himself and his partner. And it is because of this pressure to perform that more and more men are using pharmaceutical methods in order to acquire ‘the perfect penis’ to do the ‘perfect job’, proving their masculinity in the process. This ties in with the use of Viagra in older males. Another interesting factor is the wide commercialization of the male condom as a form of sexual health in the context of HIV/AIDS, whereas the female condom is to some extend looked down upon by both male and females, UK study (1997). We also find that female sexual health has not been commercialized to the extend it has been in males. The Johannesburg CBD for example, is crowded with posters at all corners advertising penis enlargement resources and guaranteeing a ‘better, bigger penis’; the long term effects of which are not well known, similarly the credibility thereof. Among all these posters I have yet to witness an advert for female sexual health. And you find that even men in the prime of their youth use these penile enlargement resources, debunking the stereotype that it utilization of these resources is by aged men. It is not to say however that women do not use sexual enhancement pharmaceutical products. Whereas in women it is found that the use of sexual enhancement resources is done most by older women, a majority of which have been through menopause. When we come to sexual reproductive health however, we find that there is an interesting shift in positions. It is women who are often put under the spotlight of pharmaceutical companies. Again this can be said to have arose because of the common stereotype ‘the weaker female body’ has to be the one with the issue when confronted with infertility. So the pharmaceutical companies position themselves to target women with solutions for sexual reproductive health. Here we see medicalization, whereby women are encouraged to go for regular pap smears to reduce the risk of cervical cancer and infertility in the future. This pressure on sexual health may be said to result from the fact that women are only fertile up to a certain age whereas men can be fertile till the day they die. This essay argued the extends to which male and female sexual and reproductive ability have been medicalised and pharmaceuticalized. I extended my exploration to the possible reasons behind the approaches that may have influenced this differences in the degrees of pharmaceutilisation. In addition my analysis showed how these different approaches are influenced by socio-cultural factors.

Managing and Leading People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Managing and Leading People - Essay Example The findings from the primary study have been compared with the existing theories of human resource management. The study shows that Fiat follows effective HR strategies that should be emulated by every organization in the globalised world. Fiat, a renowned brand, is the largest automobile manufacturer in Italy and also holds considerable market share in the overseas market. Fiat is the abbreviation of ‘Fabrica Italiana Automobili Torino’. The firm manufactures cars that cater to almost all the segments of the market. The company was established in the early years of the industrial revolution, precisely in 1899. Its first production commenced in the year 1900, with employee strength of over one hundred fifty workers. The famous logo of the company was adopted in the year 1904. The logo gained gradual acceptance and is still recognised as a global brand. The company has grown by leaps and bounds and has a significant market share in the automobile segment (Fiat-a, 2010). In addition to cars, Fiat also manufactures tanks, railroad vehicles etc. In addition to Italy, the firm has its production units based in Brazil, Poland and Argentina. The company is also known for its innovations in the field of automobil es. An example in this regard is the â€Å"Centro Ricerche Fiat† (Fiat-b, 2010). This is a unit that has been developed by Fiat and is based in the Italian town of Orbassano. This division deals with research and development in the field of automobile engines and vehicle systems. Innovation is the buzzword in this unit. Some of its notable contributions in the field of research and development are â€Å"Legambiente 2000† (Common Rail Diesel engine Technology). The unit also received the Ferrari technology award for development of the hybrid methane engine. Some other notable achievements of this unit are the creation of multi jet engine and also the design of models like Idea, Punto, Panda and Stilo (Fiat-b,

MGT 511 CASE ASSIGNMENT MODULE 4 Employee and Industrial Relations Essay

MGT 511 CASE ASSIGNMENT MODULE 4 Employee and Industrial Relations - Essay Example In terms of strategic human resource management, the employees as well as the industrial relations play a major role in the success of the strategic human resource management. A few of the many aspects that impact the strategic human resource management within a company include the following: a) Engaging employees: Employees form the main element of any business and the main aim of industrial relations is to ensure that a strong and effective relationship is built between the employers and employees (D'Annunzio-Green, Maxwell and Watson). The industrial relations also focus on protecting the rights of the management as well as the rights of the employees. This is in most cases done by creating goodwill and also with mutual understanding and trust among all the parties involved in the organisation. Industrial relations focuses on complete engagement of the employees and also focuses on improving the overall productivity and performance of the employees. Here the aim is to reduce the p ossible turnover and also to reduce the frequent absenteeism within the company as well (Armstrong). Strategic Human Resource management is focused on developing an interrelated approach towards better relationships and also higher productivity. The participation of the employees and the emphasis on the work groups have a major impact on the overall strategic human resource management (Greer). Employee participation includes the following aspects, i.e. motivation of employees, the commitment of the workforce, high efficiency, and also good and strong decision making within the company (York). All of these contribute to the strategic human resource management. b) Employee Performance and Documentation: The need for freedom of performance, thought and also expression is one of the main aspects of every employee in almost every industry. However when these are ignored and employees are treated more as objects than individuals, the impact is directly seen on the overall desire, motivati on and performance (Beer, Lawrence and Mills). An important aspect that every worker wants from the job is the security and recognition of a job well done. Employees also seek out good pay, good and safe working conditions and also any chance of participating in the decision making within a company (Dessler). Human resource management involves the understanding of the needs and aspirations of the workers and also works developing and explaining the behaviour of both individuals as well as groups and to look at possible ways to use the behaviour to improve the working conditions and also to work more successfully towards the objectives of the company (Jack and Halloran). Good understanding of the employees and their needs and also focus on the improvement of the working conditions of the company help reducing the overall conflicts within the company and also help in betterment of the employee participation equally (Torrington, Hall and Taylor, Fundamentals of Human Resource Managemen t: Managing People at Work). c) Complaint systems and whistleblowers   A complaint system and whistleblower is important for every business and helps keeping the disputes at bay and even in a number of cases preventing the disputes. Different complaint systems like the employee grievance redressals, which work on ensuring that the employee grievances are looked into and taken care of and industrial disputes are

Media Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Media Law - Case Study Example Sullivan a policeman from Montgomery, Alabama, sued New York Times for alleged untrue facts about him in the ad of New York Times. Alleged false information consisted of several minor inaccurate details about the protests at Alabama State College. Most of them were of minor character (for instance the names of songs were confused or some other minor facts were stated). Supreme Court found that newspaper really misrepresented some facts, yet it nevertheless held that public official who sued for the damages must prove first of all, that untrue information was intentionally presented as such or that no attempt was actually made to find out whether this information was false or untrue and thus gross neglect to the verification of the truth occurred. However, in the opinion of the Court no such intentions were evident in the actions of New York Times, and thus the case of the Sullivan collapsed. 1 However, is Sullivan defense present in current libel laws of the United Kingdom In order to answer this question one has to study the law that regulates libel and defamatory. Let us consider the most important features of UK libel law. First of all, one should distinguish between slander and libel. ... Libel is the statement in print; whereas slander is statement in spoken form (however statement made by radio and TV broadcasters or by some performers can be regarded as libel as well). Libel can b presented in any form, it can be written on bulletin boards, websites and emails 2. As far as the broadcasting is concerned, defamatory statements are regulated by Broadcasting Act of 1990 3, and this act protects broadcasters especially if they make true, honest statements without malice. However, the broadcasting is a unique type of media, as the sound as well as visual materials is transmitted, and a broadcaster might wrongfully point out, or give the impression that they target some persons or companies. As the result of it some people may believe that they were especially targeted and singled out whereas they were not Also some allegations in defamation can be made when particular text can be on top of some pictures that might induce persons to make some conclusions about particular person or event. 2 Libel, 3 Broadcast The same pertains to the radio that can mix music with particular text and thus can give particular impression about the event or another person. 4 If the statements induce person to evince hatred toward particular individual, might entail isolation of the person mentioned (the person can be avoided by some group of people as the result of the libel), damage his reputation and entail some financial difficulties or losses either for business or some groups of people, then the statements can be denoted as defamatory ones5. However, if the statements might induce people to hate or consider with contempt Royal family, Government,

Is the U.S. seeking to contain China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Is the U.S. seeking to contain China - Essay Example China is believed to be aggressive and power hungry. Over the years it has built-up its military force and deployed them massively in the region. Such moves are seen as a threat to the security and stability of the region and a deliberate attempt by china to assert its power over its neighbours. This action prompted the U.S to construct an off shore alliance with other military forces in the eastern and southern borders of China such as Japan and South Korea. The U.S also formed the SEATO and ANZUS treaties which linked up countries such as Thailand, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand as its allies in the period between 1949 and 1969. It maintained military bases in these regions and also went to the extent of encouraging them to refrain from entering into diplomatic ties with china. However, over the years the Chinese have managed to create a coalition with some of its neighbours who are dedicated to containing Chinese power. Notably these coalition partners include South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines all of whom previously were U.S allies. This in some circles can be viewed as a deliberate move by the Chinese government to move into the territory previously occupied by the Americans. Such moves are further fuelling tensions of the intentions of such a quest for power and dominance by China. Furthermore, the Chinese constant threats to Japan over the island dispute amid the already heightened tensions created by its military forces are not helping the situation. These islands called Diaoyo by the Chinese and Senkaku by the Japanese has ushered in a new rise to probable aggressions and security instability especially considering Chinas firm stand on the subject. These threats to Japan further escalated when the Chines targeted a Japanese ship with its weapon s radar, a situation that did not go unmentioned when Japans prime minister issued a stern response terming that move as dangerous. An article that appeared in Chinas Daily, by Wang Xiaoxuan, confirmed that the territorial disputes were dangerous and needed prompt action from both parties. China has also been highly vocal criticizing the U.S. and its activities in the region. In 2009,

Basquiat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Basquiat - Essay Example Though there were trying situations from his early childhood onward, he managed to find the most appropriate ways to counter them and to be exact in his road to fame. He painted as an artist who never bothered of restrictions and he had nothing to lose. Basquiat fought against many distressing situations in his life and rose to attain recognition by the year 1980 through 'The Times Square Show'. He collaborated with many artists of his time, including art-writers, curators, and collectors, to form a group which later came to be called as the Neo-expressionist movement. Though the painter developed to be one of the most realized artists of his time, his friends were worried about his extreme drug consumption, unpredictable behavior etc. Before he died at his 27 due to mixed-drug toxicity, he had achieved significant recognition. For a complete understanding of the life and artistic works of Basquiat, it is pivotal to depend on the authentic bibliography on him. However, the value of t he visual means along with the written word cannot be overlooked. In fact, the visual media has been able to offer a greater awareness of Basquiat's life. Therefore, though Basquiat has been memorialized through the biopic in 1996 by Julian Schnabel as well as the best selling biography of Basquiat by Phoebe Hoban in 1998, the former has a greater value to the audience as it offers a complete picture of the life of the artist through various aspects such as music and the sound effects, the effect of acting, and the other visual effects. This paper deals with a comparison between the reading and the film in order to suggest why the visual representation has a superior validity in understanding the life of Basquiat. Through his biography of Basquiat, Phoebe Hoban was able to create a true picture of the artist's life, but it was never a complete picture to the readers, as many often he failed to relate to the powerful emotion of the readers. Basquiat is represented as the most notorious artist who failed to accomplish his goals. Hoban presents the life of this great artist as cashed in on both fame and greed which were the characteristics of the 1980s. "Basquiat's life spanned an historic shift in the art world, from Pop to Neo-Expressionism, from hip to hype." (Hoban) To the biographer, graffiti was only the beginning for the painter and he soon involved with a New York scene which considered art as an element of the whole array of media. "'Artists were mixing up their media,' Phoebe Hoban suggests, and 'music film, painting and fashion were recombining in innovative ways' at the end of 1970s and early 1980s." (Thompson, 68) According to Hoban, Basquiat's stylistic qualities are part of establi shed African-American aesthetic traditions. The biography of Basquiat suggests why the artist was able to accomplish as a great painter. Accordingly, his contemporary world as well as the subsequent periods failed to recognize the "qualities in Basquiat's paintings and to concentrate instead'on his celebrity lifestyle'" (Thompson, 69) Similarly, the art movement of the time also failed to achieve a significant impact on the scenario. The biography Basquiat by Hoban,

Civil Right Act Of 1968 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Civil Right Act Of 1968 - Essay Example Before the civil rights era, the situations regarding the racial discrimination were very worse. White race was considered supreme and white Americans have the power to consider the black (Afro-Americans) as the underprivileged race. There was no equal education of the Black Americans, no equal employment, no equal housing. Black people were unable to buy a home even if they have the money to buy it. For this reason, black Americans demanded equal rights as that of the White Americans. Fair housing act was one of the demands that were debated and signed in 1968.Senator Edward Brooke of Massachusetts was the first African-American ever elected to Senate. He was unable to buy a home due to his race. After that issue, the fair housing act was debated in the Senate strongly. Senate Leader, â€Å"Everett Dirksen†, strongly supported the bill in the senate. It was thought at the earlier stage that the House of Representative would not gain a higher ratio of votes. However, the House of Representatives passed the bill due to urban unrest and militancy of African Americans movements.On 4th April 1968, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and African Americans movements played part in riots, burning and looting in most cities. President Lyndon B. Johnson emphasized to pass the new civil rights bill to cool down the African Americans movements. On April 10, the fair housing act was passed and signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to become a law the very next day.