An Examination Of Childrens Right To Participation

An Examination Of Childrens Right To Participation One of the guiding values of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC) 1989 is participation, as well as one of its basic challenges. In the Convention, childrens contribution rights are restricted in the bunch of Articles 12 through 17 that pass on to public participation: right to have voices heard and measured (Art.12), right to freedom of expression (Art.13), right to beliefs (Art.14), right to association (Art.15), right to protection of privacy (Art.16), and the right to access appropriate information (Art.17) (Alderson, P. 2005). However, mainly article 12 and 13 of the Convention that focus on the rights of children to participate in all matters of concern to them, both in the family and in society (Sheridan Samulesson, 2001). The principle recognizes that children are full-grown persons who have the right to articulate their views in all matters moving them and entails that those views be heard and given owed load in agreement with the childs age and maturity. I n addition, it recognizes the potential of children to develop administrative processes, to split perspectives and to take part as citizens and actors of change (Alderson, 2005). The childrens right of participation must virtually be measured in each and every stuff connecting to children. The childrens participation in this essay will be alert on Articles 12 13. B. Understanding the notion children right to participation Human life is a continuum in which all periods should receive equal respect against the prevalent view that regards adulthood as the standard according to which other phases of human life weighed. Childhood is not as an impediment but rather as the first of many steps that makeup human life. Childhood emerges when young persons responsibility to protect themselves is taken over by the state, using its powers to recognise, shape and respond to what it perceives as the fundamental traits of young people. The need for safeguarding childrens wellbeing is widely acknowledged in theory and legislation in the Western world (UNCROC, 1989). Therefore, the recognition of children as rights-bearers, and the institution of basic rights for children have proved to be helpful in supporting childrens wellbeing (Benporath, 2003). Understanding of childrens participation is still in its relative infancy, having only really begun to be widely explored in the early 1990s (Sheridan Samulesson, 2001). From a system perspective, participation is quickly interpreted as a requirement for the well functioning of society (Jans, 2004). According to Stephenson (2004), the notion child participation can be defined as children influencing issues affecting their lives, by speaking out or taking action in partnership with adults. The energy behind child participation comes from: the growing emphasis on child rights good community development practice enabling people to address their own problems (Stephenson, Gourley Miles, 2004). C. Why child participation in decision making process? Children create a picture of themselves from the message they get from the surroundings. If others particularly adults identify them as able and competent, children will come to see themselves in the same way. Therefore, Prout (in Woodhead, 1998) declares that respect for childrens right to participation demands that children be viewed not just as subjects of study and concern, but also as subjects with concern (p.135). Children need to have the self confidence and skills to explore, take on new challenges, test their theories about how the world works, make mistakes and discover unexpected consequences. This self confidence is more likely to occur when children are provided with an occasion to add to their own experiences and learning, sharing in the decisions about what they do and how they do it. If children have the right to express their own views, they must also be given the opportunities to develop standpoints and skills, which enable them to declare them (Sheridan Samulesson, 2001). Learning to make decisions is an important life skill. Just like any other skill it needs time and practice to master and refine. The early childhood setting is a safe environment in which to rehearse. The pre-school should be one place in which children can participate and practice influence and through participation learn that their opinions and feelings are respected and valued (Sheridan Samulesson, 2001). D. Childrens right to participate in early childhood settings and teachers role Early experiences set children on developmental paths that become progressively more difficult to modify as they get older (Alderson, 2005). This fact has also been recognised in the discussion paper (for Australia) on A national framework for early childhood education and care that says, The early years of childrens learning and growth needs to be seen as vital in their own rights as well as being a base for life outcomes. During the early years children ask, discover and learn much about the world around them, establishing attitudes to learning that stay with them all the way through their lives (Productivity Agenda Working Group, 2008). The UNCROC emphasises for the development of child as a whole (Article 29(1)) and the contribution of early childhood education and care cannot be denied. In their daily lives, children mainly remain within and connect to three settings their schools, home and recreational institutions (Rasmusen, 2004). These environments have shaped by adults therefore quality early childhood performance is built upon the distinctive role of the adult. The experience, dispositions, competencies, and understanding of adults, in addition to their ability to reflect upon their job, are necessary in sustaining and ensuring quality experiences for each child (Wyatt, 2004). Therefore for high quality in pre-school, the children participation is an important criterion. However, for teachers in such settings, it can be difficult to facilitate childrens participation to know the limits of childs right to participation in decision making and the consequences of involvement of children in decision making processes and roles (Sheridan Samulesson, 2001). It is the responsibility of early learning and child care practitioners to not just present children with facts, but to offer children opportunities to experiment, and to support them as they explore. Involving children as participant, providing them an opportunity to get engage and learn from the experiences (Alderson, 2000). For example when children play a part in singing and dancing, they may learn new words from the song. They start to gain bodily alertness through dancing; they learn that they can move in unique and artistic ways to the music and express themselves all the way through dance. Does the Teacher or caregiver know what children like to do? Based on a research study, Sheridan Samulesson (2001) says that most children gave answer to this question a definite No! because children believe that the teachers dont know what they like to do in the preschool (Sheridan Samulesson, 2001). It is the right of the child to communicate and to develop skills to argue their standpoints. In order to be possible, an interactive environment that involves children is required (Saljo, 2000). Therefore, carers can ensure that they acknowledge children as being competent and capable. Before starting any activity relating to children, the carers either consult them or ask their permission (Benporath, 2003). For example, before starting play or drawing activity and before packing away materials. Observe and listen to children, let them tell us what and how they want to learn, what they need to do and the way they want to do it. The carers should offer only genuine choices to the children and respect their decisions. Enough time should be given to children to do things in their own way. Sometimes overprotection may becomes an obstacle in childrens learning (Benporath, 2003), therefore, avoid being overprotective and encourage children to investigate and manipulate materials at their own pace and to try new things. However, at the same time carers should remain sensitive to each childs ability and confidence and should know when to offer assistance as children attempt somethin g unfamiliar. When guiding childrens behaviour carers should be prepared to compromise in conflict situation and ask themselves that whether their demand from a child is reasonable or necessary. They should involve children in setting the rules and in decisions about acceptable behaviour in childhood setting. Children should be encouraged to use their own skills first in resolving a conflict, but carers should stay close enough to offer assistance and support the child when required. Carers can assure children by expressing their ability to deal with conflict in positive and constructive ways. The feelings of participating and being able to exercise influence seems to occur when a child asks the teacher something and the teacher says yes (Sheridan Samulesson, 2001). To decide Participation cannot be genuine if children have no opportunity to decide. The child perceives the teacher as an authority and seems to take his / her right to decide for granted. What the teacher tells the child to do is also of real affective significance (Sheridan Samulesson, 2001). But children should be consulted and their views should be considered. The UNCROC stipulates the right of children to express views freely and to get enough knowledge to make knowledgeable decision, although it does not entail compulsion for children to express their views (Article 13). However, it does not give children a universal right to decide and /or to supersede the decision of others. Decisions are to be made in an independent way, and parents (as well as teachers) should give appropriate direction and support when children presume their rights, as declared in the Convention (Article 5) (Sheridan Samulesson, 2001). Children are quiet certain that they can decide about their own play, their own belongings, some activities and about themselves (Sheridan Samulesson, 2001). Therefore, choices and opportunities should be provided to children to make some decisions for themselves. For example, to select the book or activity for group time. Such opportunities to choose are easy for the child carer to put into practice, but can have thoughtful belongings on a childs wisdom of empowerment and self confidence. E. Examining participation In order to involve children in decision making in programmes / matters relating to them, we need to examine ourselves and our roles in relation to children. A balance should be adhered between the type and quality of participation that occurs. Children should be involved in a way that respects and supports their roles as decision makers. This is not an easy task. According to Lansdown (2005), the children participation in any programme can be measured from three dimensions which are (Lansdown, 2005); Scope The extent to which children are empowered to exercise agency within an initiative will be influenced by the degree to which they are participating. This perspective needs to be considered in respect of each potential stage of childrens involvement what is being done? Quality Practically how far programme complies with some standards such as an ethical approach, child sensitive and enabling environment, voluntary and relevant participation, inclusive participation, secure environment, qualified dedicated and responsive staff, and community, professional and family links how is it being done? Impact The impact of child participation will need to be assessed in accordance with the objective for involving them. For example, the objective might be to promote childrens self-esteem and build skills and confidence why is it being done? (Lansdown, 2005). If childrens participation is to be sustained, replicated, resourced and institutionalised into wider communities in which children live, it is necessary to begin to construct methods of measuring what is being done and how it is impacting on childrens lives. Only by doing so, and demonstrating its efficiency, will it be possible to argue the case for continuing investment in strategies to promote participation, and indeed, to build and share understanding of what constitutes effective participation (Lansdown, 2005). F. Elements for childrens active participation in decision making Child contribution stands on its own being a basic right of the child that requires a clear assurance and useful actions to become a living truth and therefore is much more than a simple policy or style (Alderson, 2005). Possibly it was for this reason that the Committee on the Rights of Child recognized the right to contribution as one of the guiding values of the Convention. Regarding childrens views signifies that such views should not be disregarded; however it does not mean that their opinions should be automatically certified. Because expression of opinion cannot be equated with decision taking instead it implies the capability to control decision (Alderson, 2000). The support of discussion and views exchange process will give to children a sense of trust and self-confidence where they will presume increasing responsibilities and will become vigorous, democratic and tolerant (Jans, 2004). In any such process adults are anticipated to provide suitable route and guidance to chil dren while bearing in mind their views in a way consistent with the childs age and adulthood. Such like practices will allow the child to understand that why specific options are followed, or why decisions are taken that might be different from the one he / she favoured. To make effective and meaningful the participation of children in decision making, it is necessary that such participation should be; 1. Free from pressure and manipulation: Children should not be pressured, constrained or influenced in ways that might prevent them from freely expressing their opinions of leave them feeling manipulated (Alderson, 2000). This principle is usually applies where a child is forced to choose some tangible material from few offered resources without providing them a variety of open ended resources where a child has the choice to choose those that interest him/her and match his/her level of competence. 2. Recognizing Childrens evolving capacity: The UNCROC didnt set any minimum age for children that could limit their right to express their views freely and acknowledges that children can and do form views from a very early age and thereby refers to childrens evolving capacity for decision making (Benporath, 2003). This means, for example, that parent and other family members and/or, where require, members of wider community are expected to give appropriate direction, guidance or advice to children. However, parents guidance and advice will take on greater value and meaning till the child grows, develops, gains sufficient maturity and experience for becoming more autonomous and more responsible. 3. The role of parents and carers: The Childs developing capability pointing towards one side of the equation: the other involves adults growing aptitude and readiness to listen to and learn from their children for considering and understanding the childs point of view, and as a result prepared to reconsider their own opinions and attitudes and to imagine solutions that address childrens views (Benporath, 2003). Contribution is a demanding learning process both for adults and children that cannot be condensed to a simple procedure. The realisation of childrens right to participate requires preparation and mobilizing adults who live and work with children, so that they are ready to offer opportunities to children to contribute liberally and increasingly in society and expand self-governing skills. 4. Providing appropriate information: The childrens right to participate is closely linked to freedom of expression. But this right can be made meaningful and relevant when children are equipped with necessary information relating to potions that exist and the consequences of such options so that they can make informed and free decision (Alderson, 2000). Providing appropriate information enables children to gain skills, confidence and maturity in expressing views and influencing decisions. G. Conclusion Childrens are considered the worlds most valuable resource. The right to participation is a guide to the exercise of all other rights, therefore, childrens development to full potential and to continue to flourish as conscientious citizens, they require opportunities to work out their participatory privileges throughout all stages of their growth. Early childhood carers and educators are well located to endorse childrens participatory rights and preschool institutions their voice must be heard (Sheridan Samulesson, 2001). Children should be asked to split their views on aspects of their learning environments.

Nickel and Dimed: on (Not) Getting by in America

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America In the thought provoking novel, Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich explores the life of low-wage workers in America’s society. While speaking with an editor one day, the question of poverty and how American’s survive off six and seven dollars an hour played in Ms. Ehrenreich’s mind. So as a journalist, Ehrenreich goes undercover working several minimum wage jobs and tries to survive off the earnings. Seeing and living the lives of these poverty-stricken workers, Ehrenreich learns that hard work doesn't always lead to success and advancement in today's society. This novel takes you on a journey, revealing the insights of how people strive to survive in America’s society working minimum wage jobs that do not suffice adequate funds to cover their needs and expenses. Ehrenreich begins her research in Key West, Florida. Her first task was to find a place to live. She opts out of her decision to leave in a convenient and affordable apartment for a five hundred dollar a month efficiency that is about forty-five minutes away from the employment opportunities Key West has to offer. Her next task was job searching. Ehrenreich applied for numerous jobs, and learns about the low-wage job application process. These job applications usually just involved several multiple-choice questions and a urine test. After not hear back from any of the jobs, Ehrenreich applies for a waitressing position at the diner â€Å"Hearthside,† (which is not the actual name as well as the names of associates she comes in contact with). Ehrenreich is offered the position of a waitress and is hired at Hearthside and works the night shift working from 2:00 in the evening until 10:00 at night for $2. 43 an hour, plus tips. If a person strives to make means off six and seven dollars an hour, surely $2. 43 is not sufficed, especially when customers do not like tip the waitress. During her time at Hearthside, Ehrenreich comes to despise management. She finds that while she must constantly find busy work to do, anything at all but being still, while her superiors are able to sit for hours. Management lacks the compassion for their employees and for their customers. They have only one concern in mind and that is make sure the restaurant makes money. I’ve personally experienced this on my job. Sometimes there is absolutely nothing else to do at work. Why? There is one simple answer; everything has already taken care of and much more. But, management will hassle you to keep busy even when there is nothing else to do. Once Ehrenreich gets a feel for the job, she begins interacting with her co-workers and learns of their poverty lifestyle. Her observation also revealed that most of the workers were minorities. Ehrenreich then begins to compiles a survey on the workers living arrangements: Gail, whom she becomes close to, shares a room with a roommate for $250 a week. Ehrenreich p. 24) Now if you access the situation and do a few calculations you can realize that Gail is strictly living paycheck to paycheck. Claude, a cook, lives in a two room apartment with his girlfriend and two other people. Others are paying to stay in hotels each night, some pay $170 dollars a week for a one person trailer, and others are living out their cars. Ehrenreich soon realizes that unless she wan ts to live out of her car she needs to find another job. She picks up a second waitressing job at Jerry’s. Ehrenreich comes to find out that Jerry’s is a ruin. The kitchens are a mess, the bathrooms are never adequately equipped, and there is no break room because breaks are hardly allowed. Ehrenreich is unable to juggle working at both the Hearthside and Jerry’s, so she leaves Hearthside so she can earn more money at Jerry’s. Ehrenreich is able to find a small trailer in a trailer park and moves closer to Key West. After a month of waitressing, Ehrenreich gets a housekeeping position in a hotel which pays $6. 10 an hour. Unfortunately Ehrenreich only lasts on the job for one day. After having a miserable days work at Jerry’s, Ehrenreich quits the job by simply walking out. Ehrenreich turns her trailer over to Gail and says goodbye to Key West. After departing Key West, Ehrenreich travels to two other states, Maine and Minnesota, in hope of finding better jobs as well as better pay. In the final chapter, Ehrenreich evaluates her observations and provides an overall study of her project and draws together her conclusions. She believes she has done a good job living under these certain circumstance. These observations open ones eye to how many people in the United States, not just the World, who are leaving in such poor conditions. An abundance of individuals do not realize the poverty that’s occurring at home (U. S. ). We usually think of third world countries (i. e. Africa). Volunteering my time at the community market has helped me realize how many people need assistance and who are leaving in conditions that are considered to most people as degrading. I know how hard it is to live of the earnings I make. My earnings approximate around nine dollars an hour and even with these ages it is hard to survive. You have startup costs, deposits, power bills, water bills, food, telephone bills, car notes, etc†¦ the list goes on and on. It is difficult to even live off of halfway decent wages yet alone minimum wages of six dollars an hour. Gas prices nowadays, are about two-thirds of the wage amount. I feel honored and privileged to be able to volunteer my time to such activ ities and organizations as the community market and the community garden. It gives me assurance that I can help make a difference in my community and society. I hope that more people would become aware of these activities and help contribute their time to help cease starvation and poverty in the world. Ehrenreich does an excellent job of revealing the inadequate wage conditions of society. Her plan was to reveal and understand the everyday life of low-income people, how they survive on a daily basis and find out what wage workers really go through. Most people don’t know what is next for them or what the next day has in store for them. But the final conclusion is that low-wage lifestyle is unfair and impractical. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America Imagination and research are the two important tools for a successful writing assignment. Research can be academic as well as practical. If the author/authoress is willing to live through the life of the subject matter of the book, and possesses the writing skill, chances are that it becomes a great book. The ‘suffering’ of women in any segment of the society is always something special—discrimination on the basis of gender (sex) as they call it! The modern materialistic civilization, the industrial and internet revolutions have thrown up innovative subjects for a writer. Some comforts and luxuries apart, the total effect of this civilization on the inner world of an individual is devastating. The standard of living has improved at the cost of standard of life. In the present book, Barbara lives through several self-created miserable and tricky situations, just to know what does it to mean to live under such trials and tribulations! It was not necessary for her to put her personal comforts at stake. She is highly qualified and the adage, ‘curry for the night is worry for the morning, and tomorrow’s bread is not assured from today’s labor,’ is not applicable to her. Like a true seeker, she decided to get at the truth of the issue, by experiencing it. So, this is the book written by an ex-waitress in Florida, cleaning woman and a nursing home assistant in Maine, the one possessing the   Wal-Mart experience, the humiliation of the urine test and what not! Barbara’s jobs hunt†¦.Getting Ready: So, her experiments with the truth of job-hunting and eventually getting it begin. What happened after a series of rejections, which had nothing to do with her merit for the post applied for as such is a revelation! She writes, â€Å"My next stop is Winn-Dixie, the supermarket, which turns out to have a particularly onerous application process, featuring a twenty minute â€Å"interview† by computer since, apparently, no human on the premises is deemed capable of representing the corporate point     of view. †¦.the interview is multiple choices. Do I have anything, such as child care problems, that might make it hard for me to get to work on time? Do I think safety on the job is the responsibility of management? Then popping up cunningly out of the blue: How many dollars’ worth of stolen goods have I purchased in the last year? Would I turn in a fellow employee if I caught him stealing? Finally, â€Å"Are you an honest person?†(p.13, 14) Ehrenreich has absolute command over the scenes and situations she creates for her and her writing style takes you to the spot of confrontation. The description is so realistic.   You feel, as if you are part of the drama. The story is interesting from the beginning to the end, without intermission. One feels sorry about the working conditions and the environment, and the humiliation that one suffers at the foul-mouthed, arrogant bosses. When one thinks that a worker has to spend his entire service life in such uncertain, difficult conditions—it is mind-boggling! And the fact remains that millions are undergoing such onerous ordeal. Suffering has become the badge affixed on them! The book contains 6 crisp chapters, Introduction: Getting Ready, Serving in Florida, Scrubbing in Maine, Selling in Minnesota, Evaluation and A Reader’s Guide: In the final evaluation, she experiences the academician in her come to give opinion and judgment. She brings the issues like class conflict and power dynamics. She has come out with some startling revelations. According to her no job is truly â€Å"unskilled† Some of the jobs she did had tremendous physical demands, and could damage to health if performed continuously. Her heroic performances had no corresponding rewards, which mean exploitation of labor is the common practice. She writes, â€Å" then trick lies in figuring out how to budget your energy so there’ll be some left over for the next day†(p. 195).She also comes to the conclusion that multiple jobs is the actual necessity as one can no survive   with the returns of one job. She has no hesitation in saying that the labor class of the lower rungs, whether men or women, are constantly suspected for one reason or the other. The employment tests and questionnaires contained strange enquiries. Her behavior was monitored in Wal-Mart under repressive surveillance by the designated staff both men and women and they were looking for theft, drug abuse, sloth and the like in her. She describes the different hurdles she had to cross to make both the ends meet, and issues related to luxury were out of question. She found out by experience how, necessity is the mother of invention. There are two options to meet the situation. Either cut down your expenditure, or spend more and also increase your income. When increment was not possible due to so many constraints, some came out with innovative ideas. She saw some co-workers sleeping in cars, to avoid huge rents, and some report for duty, ignoring their suffering due to back pain, arthritis, etc. She studies both the stands: The labor force which believes that the Management is the permanent enemy and the Unions should be at permanent war with it! And the Management that thinks innovatively to subvert the well-meaning labor laws passed for the welfare of the workers. She cites an example, when minimum wages were increased, management increased her workload, though it cut her working hours—the net result was that her paycheck showed the same figure. She made sincere efforts to live on the wages she got—without using her skills as PhD, lecturer or as an author. She makes the observation of an economist and socialist when she says, â€Å"Something is wrong, very wrong, when a single person in good health, a person who in addition possesses a working car, can barely support herself by the sweat of her brow. You don't need a degree in economics to see that wages are too low and rents too high.† (p. 199). She marvels at the strange working of American democracy. She clearly sees the dictatorship in the workplaces as for workers. Working poor have no other alternative but to submit to the systematic disempowerment on one pretext or other by the Management. â€Å"Someday †¦ they are bound to tire of getting so little in return and to demand to be paid what they're worth. There'll be a lot of anger when that day comes, and strikes and disruption† (p. 221). Conclusion: As for the evaluation part of her book, her observations demand attention. As earlier said, what she has written is the experienced research. Her findings are lessons for the economist, the sociologist, the politician, the management and for the union leaders. Solutions to various problems can be worked out. What is required is an attitude of sacrifice and compassion for the sake of the welfare of the needy. That is achievable by the genuine change in the thought process of concerned individuals. When the thought process changes, the action process will also change, hopefully for the better! .             Nickel and Dimed: on (Not) Getting by in America Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America In the thought provoking novel, Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich explores the life of low-wage workers in America’s society. While speaking with an editor one day, the question of poverty and how American’s survive off six and seven dollars an hour played in Ms. Ehrenreich’s mind. So as a journalist, Ehrenreich goes undercover working several minimum wage jobs and tries to survive off the earnings. Seeing and living the lives of these poverty-stricken workers, Ehrenreich learns that hard work doesn't always lead to success and advancement in today's society. This novel takes you on a journey, revealing the insights of how people strive to survive in America’s society working minimum wage jobs that do not suffice adequate funds to cover their needs and expenses. Ehrenreich begins her research in Key West, Florida. Her first task was to find a place to live. She opts out of her decision to leave in a convenient and affordable apartment for a five hundred dollar a month efficiency that is about forty-five minutes away from the employment opportunities Key West has to offer. Her next task was job searching. Ehrenreich applied for numerous jobs, and learns about the low-wage job application process. These job applications usually just involved several multiple-choice questions and a urine test. After not hear back from any of the jobs, Ehrenreich applies for a waitressing position at the diner â€Å"Hearthside,† (which is not the actual name as well as the names of associates she comes in contact with). Ehrenreich is offered the position of a waitress and is hired at Hearthside and works the night shift working from 2:00 in the evening until 10:00 at night for $2. 43 an hour, plus tips. If a person strives to make means off six and seven dollars an hour, surely $2. 43 is not sufficed, especially when customers do not like tip the waitress. During her time at Hearthside, Ehrenreich comes to despise management. She finds that while she must constantly find busy work to do, anything at all but being still, while her superiors are able to sit for hours. Management lacks the compassion for their employees and for their customers. They have only one concern in mind and that is make sure the restaurant makes money. I’ve personally experienced this on my job. Sometimes there is absolutely nothing else to do at work. Why? There is one simple answer; everything has already taken care of and much more. But, management will hassle you to keep busy even when there is nothing else to do. Once Ehrenreich gets a feel for the job, she begins interacting with her co-workers and learns of their poverty lifestyle. Her observation also revealed that most of the workers were minorities. Ehrenreich then begins to compiles a survey on the workers living arrangements: Gail, whom she becomes close to, shares a room with a roommate for $250 a week. Ehrenreich p. 24) Now if you access the situation and do a few calculations you can realize that Gail is strictly living paycheck to paycheck. Claude, a cook, lives in a two room apartment with his girlfriend and two other people. Others are paying to stay in hotels each night, some pay $170 dollars a week for a one person trailer, and others are living out their cars. Ehrenreich soon realizes that unless she wan ts to live out of her car she needs to find another job. She picks up a second waitressing job at Jerry’s. Ehrenreich comes to find out that Jerry’s is a ruin. The kitchens are a mess, the bathrooms are never adequately equipped, and there is no break room because breaks are hardly allowed. Ehrenreich is unable to juggle working at both the Hearthside and Jerry’s, so she leaves Hearthside so she can earn more money at Jerry’s. Ehrenreich is able to find a small trailer in a trailer park and moves closer to Key West. After a month of waitressing, Ehrenreich gets a housekeeping position in a hotel which pays $6. 10 an hour. Unfortunately Ehrenreich only lasts on the job for one day. After having a miserable days work at Jerry’s, Ehrenreich quits the job by simply walking out. Ehrenreich turns her trailer over to Gail and says goodbye to Key West. After departing Key West, Ehrenreich travels to two other states, Maine and Minnesota, in hope of finding better jobs as well as better pay. In the final chapter, Ehrenreich evaluates her observations and provides an overall study of her project and draws together her conclusions. She believes she has done a good job living under these certain circumstance. These observations open ones eye to how many people in the United States, not just the World, who are leaving in such poor conditions. An abundance of individuals do not realize the poverty that’s occurring at home (U. S. ). We usually think of third world countries (i. e. Africa). Volunteering my time at the community market has helped me realize how many people need assistance and who are leaving in conditions that are considered to most people as degrading. I know how hard it is to live of the earnings I make. My earnings approximate around nine dollars an hour and even with these ages it is hard to survive. You have startup costs, deposits, power bills, water bills, food, telephone bills, car notes, etc†¦ the list goes on and on. It is difficult to even live off of halfway decent wages yet alone minimum wages of six dollars an hour. Gas prices nowadays, are about two-thirds of the wage amount. I feel honored and privileged to be able to volunteer my time to such activ ities and organizations as the community market and the community garden. It gives me assurance that I can help make a difference in my community and society. I hope that more people would become aware of these activities and help contribute their time to help cease starvation and poverty in the world. Ehrenreich does an excellent job of revealing the inadequate wage conditions of society. Her plan was to reveal and understand the everyday life of low-income people, how they survive on a daily basis and find out what wage workers really go through. Most people don’t know what is next for them or what the next day has in store for them. But the final conclusion is that low-wage lifestyle is unfair and impractical. Nickel and Dimed: on (Not) Getting by in America Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America In the thought provoking novel, Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich explores the life of low-wage workers in America’s society. While speaking with an editor one day, the question of poverty and how American’s survive off six and seven dollars an hour played in Ms. Ehrenreich’s mind. So as a journalist, Ehrenreich goes undercover working several minimum wage jobs and tries to survive off the earnings. Seeing and living the lives of these poverty-stricken workers, Ehrenreich learns that hard work doesn't always lead to success and advancement in today's society. This novel takes you on a journey, revealing the insights of how people strive to survive in America’s society working minimum wage jobs that do not suffice adequate funds to cover their needs and expenses. Ehrenreich begins her research in Key West, Florida. Her first task was to find a place to live. She opts out of her decision to leave in a convenient and affordable apartment for a five hundred dollar a month efficiency that is about forty-five minutes away from the employment opportunities Key West has to offer. Her next task was job searching. Ehrenreich applied for numerous jobs, and learns about the low-wage job application process. These job applications usually just involved several multiple-choice questions and a urine test. After not hear back from any of the jobs, Ehrenreich applies for a waitressing position at the diner â€Å"Hearthside,† (which is not the actual name as well as the names of associates she comes in contact with). Ehrenreich is offered the position of a waitress and is hired at Hearthside and works the night shift working from 2:00 in the evening until 10:00 at night for $2. 43 an hour, plus tips. If a person strives to make means off six and seven dollars an hour, surely $2. 43 is not sufficed, especially when customers do not like tip the waitress. During her time at Hearthside, Ehrenreich comes to despise management. She finds that while she must constantly find busy work to do, anything at all but being still, while her superiors are able to sit for hours. Management lacks the compassion for their employees and for their customers. They have only one concern in mind and that is make sure the restaurant makes money. I’ve personally experienced this on my job. Sometimes there is absolutely nothing else to do at work. Why? There is one simple answer; everything has already taken care of and much more. But, management will hassle you to keep busy even when there is nothing else to do. Once Ehrenreich gets a feel for the job, she begins interacting with her co-workers and learns of their poverty lifestyle. Her observation also revealed that most of the workers were minorities. Ehrenreich then begins to compiles a survey on the workers living arrangements: Gail, whom she becomes close to, shares a room with a roommate for $250 a week. Ehrenreich p. 24) Now if you access the situation and do a few calculations you can realize that Gail is strictly living paycheck to paycheck. Claude, a cook, lives in a two room apartment with his girlfriend and two other people. Others are paying to stay in hotels each night, some pay $170 dollars a week for a one person trailer, and others are living out their cars. Ehrenreich soon realizes that unless she wan ts to live out of her car she needs to find another job. She picks up a second waitressing job at Jerry’s. Ehrenreich comes to find out that Jerry’s is a ruin. The kitchens are a mess, the bathrooms are never adequately equipped, and there is no break room because breaks are hardly allowed. Ehrenreich is unable to juggle working at both the Hearthside and Jerry’s, so she leaves Hearthside so she can earn more money at Jerry’s. Ehrenreich is able to find a small trailer in a trailer park and moves closer to Key West. After a month of waitressing, Ehrenreich gets a housekeeping position in a hotel which pays $6. 10 an hour. Unfortunately Ehrenreich only lasts on the job for one day. After having a miserable days work at Jerry’s, Ehrenreich quits the job by simply walking out. Ehrenreich turns her trailer over to Gail and says goodbye to Key West. After departing Key West, Ehrenreich travels to two other states, Maine and Minnesota, in hope of finding better jobs as well as better pay. In the final chapter, Ehrenreich evaluates her observations and provides an overall study of her project and draws together her conclusions. She believes she has done a good job living under these certain circumstance. These observations open ones eye to how many people in the United States, not just the World, who are leaving in such poor conditions. An abundance of individuals do not realize the poverty that’s occurring at home (U. S. ). We usually think of third world countries (i. e. Africa). Volunteering my time at the community market has helped me realize how many people need assistance and who are leaving in conditions that are considered to most people as degrading. I know how hard it is to live of the earnings I make. My earnings approximate around nine dollars an hour and even with these ages it is hard to survive. You have startup costs, deposits, power bills, water bills, food, telephone bills, car notes, etc†¦ the list goes on and on. It is difficult to even live off of halfway decent wages yet alone minimum wages of six dollars an hour. Gas prices nowadays, are about two-thirds of the wage amount. I feel honored and privileged to be able to volunteer my time to such activ ities and organizations as the community market and the community garden. It gives me assurance that I can help make a difference in my community and society. I hope that more people would become aware of these activities and help contribute their time to help cease starvation and poverty in the world. Ehrenreich does an excellent job of revealing the inadequate wage conditions of society. Her plan was to reveal and understand the everyday life of low-income people, how they survive on a daily basis and find out what wage workers really go through. Most people don’t know what is next for them or what the next day has in store for them. But the final conclusion is that low-wage lifestyle is unfair and impractical.

Restaurant Service Basics

RESTAURANT SERVICE BASICS Serving means to be useful. The working life is full of market segments, products and service providers. Service providers are people who every day make use of their ability to relate to people, proper handling of vocabulary and perseverance. Service providers do not handle a physical product; they are people selling experiences and creating memorable moments for the client.This is the case of the servers who, despite being the intermediaries between the kitchen and the guest, are the front of the restaurant where they work, they are the image that represents the company, who make the customer experience become enjoyable. While it is true that a restaurant is renowned for the quality of its dishes, it is also true that if the servers do not provide good service, the restaurant will sell exquisite food, but poor service.Among other skills that a server should have are: the allocation of the tables, how to prepare the presentation of the tables and courtesies with guests like REMOVING the chair of the guests to sit, remembering the order to perfection, ensuring that nothing is missing while the guest IS waiting for his dish and of course, thank them for their visit and hope they come back soon. Servers are responsible to reflect a positive image, hygienic, reliable, and helpful. The servers fulfill tasks from loading trays and taking them to their respective tables, to ensure that the guest does not lack anything.In order to provide quality service, the servers must be trained and aware of the right way to serve the guest. In the world of restaurants there are seven forms of service. According to Sondra J. Dahmer author of â€Å"Restaurant Service Basics† in collaboration with Kurt W. Kahl, types that are serving in a restaurant are: French, American, English, Russian, Family-style, Banquet, and Buffet. Each of these services will depend on the rotation of the restaurant as well as the type of restaurant that they service in parti cular.Every restaurant has a unique identity depending on the amenities offered to guests; also the type of service will be defined by the consistency in menu, decor, uniforms, table settings, ambiance and cuisine. I would like to mention and share my reflections of the services. In my opinion, THESE are the most relevant and mentioned in the service sector, and of course in restaurants. The authors of this book share a brief description of those services which says: French service is a formal type of service enjoyed by the few who can afford the time and expense of meals served in this manner.This type of service is used in upscale restaurants, elegant hotel dining rooms, cruise ships, resorts, and casinos. In fact, French service not only is an expensive way to eat, but also is the most luxurious and ancient since the restaurants were created. On other hand they describe the Russian service as: Russian service is very formal and elegant, and the guest is given considerable persona l attention; employs the use of heavy silver serviceware, and the table setting is identical to the French setup.There are many similitudes between the French and the Russian service; the main difference is the way they serve the food, more specifically, the utensils Russian service uses are more elegant than the French ones. In the same way we have the English style that says: English service is used occasionally for a special dinner served in a private dining room of a restaurant. The food is served on platters and the heated plates are brought from the kitchen and placed before the host at the head of the table. English service is also as formal as French and Russian, but this service has also a way to serve the plates which is to the left.The next service is the American which says that it is the most prevalent style in restaurants in the United States: American service: food is placed on the dinner plate. Food is served from the left of the guest, beverages are served from the right, and soiled dishes are cleared from the right. American service also is more casual than French, Russian and English service; probably this is the feature that has made the American service in the form of the most popular services in the U. S. and around the world. And last but not least the buffet service; the most common type of service in many restaurants with all inclusive.Buffet service, guests select their meals from an attractive arrangement of food on long serving tables. Buffet service is the most common in hotels because it does not need a very personalized service, plus it gives the customer the freedom of Selecting not limited and serving many times as necessary. There is much that must be considered to select the type of service in a restaurant, so the management must make it clear the restaurant concept and the way it operates, with the servers that can provide the best quality service and create moments that the client will never forget.

Masculinity, Masculinity And Violence - 1728 Words

Within many gender systems, masculinity is an expression of male gender that can vary based upon culture and society. Many cultures uphold a set of standards and expectations that an individual must maintain in order to be considered masculine. Several of these expectations can often be dangerous, violent, or even abusive. In particular with a focus on the two-sex, two-gender system of Western, patriarchal society, this paper will investigate the correlation between enforced masculinity and violence. According to Connell, masculinity in of itself does not discuss men but discusses gender order, and men s position within that order. Masculinities can also be defined as the patterns of practice by which people (men and women, but predominantly men) engage that position. (Connell 2005) Masculinities within themselves can change based on their participants and actions relating to their culture and society. In Canada and the United States in particular, there is an emphasized push for hyper-masculinity. It is a term used to describe the â€Å"exaggeration of traditionally masculine traits or behaviour.† (Collins Dictionary 2014) Men and boys are pushed towards achieving this goal of the ultimate male where â€Å"being a so-called real man means you have to take on this tough guise .† (Katz et al. 1999) They are pressured by society to be tough , both physically and emotionally, in order to fall under the category of real man . Achieving this tough appearanceSho w MoreRelatedMasculinity : Masculinity And Violence Essay2278 Words   |  10 PagesMasculinity and violence Violence is a mechanism of coercive control that is used to maintain and reinforce gender difference and hierarchy. Building on Lynch s (2009) claim that hegemonic masculinity is toxic to both the men and women left in its wake this essay aims to explore the relationship between hegemonic masculinity and violence. 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