Mankind, Humankind, and Gender

Mankind, Humankind, and Gender Mankind, Humankind, and Gender Mankind, Humankind, and Gender By Maeve Maddox A reader takes me to task for not having used â€Å"gender neutral language† in a recent post: In your definition of eschatology you use the word mankind. You run a writing website, please use gender neutral language please, it isn’t that difficult. My views on gendered language are perhaps too loose to meet the more extreme requirements of political correctness. For example, I don’t see anything wrong with using the word mankind in the sense of â€Å"all human beings living on the earth.† As I understand the word, it comes from an Old English construct in which man means person. I do not countenance words like poetess and authoress, which I believe convey a sense of condescension. I condemn the expression â€Å"woman doctor† used to indicate the gender of the doctor rather than the doctor’s medical specialty. On the other hand, words like chairperson strike me as faintly absurd. And efforts to translate the Bible into â€Å"gender neutral language† seem rather misdirected, considering the patriarchal viewpoint of the content. I suppose that I was supposed to substitute humankind for mankind. I don’t see the point. The word human derives from the Latin word for â€Å"man†: homo, There was an Old English cognate, guma (pl. guman), that also meant â€Å"man.† It survives in our word bridegroom, â€Å"the bride’s man.† Excessive concern over â€Å"gender neutral language† frequently results in unidiomatic English and/or unnecessary transformations of useful and innocuous words. This is a writing site, but it is also a blog. Readers have to expect that some opinion will inform the posts. I feel an obligation to verify my discussions of standard usage by consulting the OED, the Chicago Manual of Style, and other recognized authorities. In the matter of what does and doesn’t count as â€Å"gender neutral language,† however, I feel no compulsion to buy into the world of Chairperson Greenspan and Every man and woman for him or herself. I don’t happen to see every word with a syllable spelled m-a-n as an affront to womankind. (Should we still be using the word woman?) In my opinion, humankind is no more â€Å"gender neutral† than mankind. Both mean exactly the same thing, and both derive from the word â€Å"man.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Exquisite AdjectivesAwoken or Awakened?How to Treat Names of Groups and Organizations

Writing a Memoir from Occupied Palestine

Writing a Memoir from Occupied Palestine In Gaza, I Dare to Dream: Writing a Memoir from Occupied Palestine Rana Shubair is a writer from Palestine specializing in English language training, testing, and translation. Her first book, In Gaza I Dare to Dream, is a powerful memoir detailing everyday life within the Gaza Blockade.I discovered my passion for writing at the age of 12. I'd buy a stack of paper and sit at the back of the school auditorium, scribbling down my thoughts. As a babysitter, I would write poetry for hours, long after putting the child to bed. It was a way of collecting my thoughts; I could express my feelings, if only to a diary. Over the years, I bought many locked diaries and wrote in them every day. It was my retreat, my passion, and my remedy.My country has been a place of turmoil for the past 68 years. Denied basic human rights like freedom of movement and access to proper medical care, the daily struggles we Palestinians endure under the Occupation is almost unbearable. In the city of Gaza, we have been under an Israeli-imposed siege for ten whole years now, locked in a big open-air prison and denied a normal life.   These harsh conditions pushed me to voice my thoughts, igniting a desire to speak to the outside world.I can't end this post without mentioning my book and cover designer, Domini Dragoone. What I loved most about her was her sincerity and enthusiasm for my project and the help she gave me beyond her design work.   Here is what she had to say about my manuscript: "I'm very moved by your book and hope it gets into the hands of many readers; I feel like your story has the power to inspire such compassion and understanding, both things that the world can use a lot more of! I don't always get to work on projects with topics that I care about a great deal, so it has been a treat to work on a book that feels very important".Now having published my first book,In Gaza I Dare to Dream, I'm happy to say that one of my dreams has come true. And I couldn’t have done it without the help of some great people.In Gaza I Dare to Dream  is  available on Amazon  for Kindle and Paperback.

Globalization with Dr. Najib Hourani Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Globalization with Dr. Najib Hourani - Essay Example The forces of globalization include international commerce and finance, travel and tourism, transnational migration, the media and various high-tech information flows (Nanda & Warms 5). The three dominant views on the historical analysis of globalization include the skeptics who argue that globalization is not so quite a novel phenomenon, the hyper-globalists who do not deny the importance of previous bouts of globalization, but ascertain a historical juncture after ,which contemporary globalization emerged, and the transformationalists who argue that globalizationis the major force underlying the rapid, widespread social, political and economicchanges that are currently restructuring modern societies andthe world order. Globalization increases economic growth, sadly, also inequality. It may be termed as beneficial in the medium term, but harmful in the long run when neo-colonialism starts to factor in (Kottak 5). The phrase, â€Å"the white man’s burden† is used to describe the psychological conception that colonizing countries could bring non-colonized countries and cultures to a much better and superior lifestyle through the displacement and replacement of their customs and traditions. Colonizing nations believed that it was their obligation enlighten these â€Å"non-civilized† countries about the goodness that comes with western civilization, obviously an assumption. Based on Gandhi, the movie, it may be somewhat evident that the Indian nationals may have been more civilized than most of their British oppressors. With the aim of trying to self-preserve the Indian people, Gandhi often undermined this reality. He however enlightened his people that it was very much possible to remain true to one’s own culturedespite the predetermined effects of colonialism (Nanda & Warms 6). The difference between colonialism and globalization is that colonialism aims at completely eradicating the traditions of a

The Warming of the Earth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Warming of the Earth - Essay Example With the millions of people that call Earth 'home', the condition of the planet is one that many have sought to gather more information about, in order to understand the degree in which the planet may be in peril, as well as to what degree human actions would be responsible for it. "Throughout Earth's history, the climate has varied on many time and space scales. In that sense, climatic change is not new, and humanity has had to adapt to a constantly changing climate. Human action has itself had an impact on that climate. Until recently, the impact was local, but now there is concern that human activity, primarily through the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, is leading to a world-wide climatic change which is more rapid and more extreme than any encountered during human history," (Robinson & Henderson-Sellers, p.267). While the extent at which the climate of the planet has varied, so has the impact of its inhabitants. As humans increase their usage of such resources, the rate of global warming is steadily increasing, in conjunction with such behavior patterns. As is the case with many di

Foreign Market Entry and Diversification Essay Example for Free

Foreign Market Entry and Diversification Essay Create An Argument For Diversification Of Your Business That Will Be Presented To The Board Of Directors Or Business Investors. Diversification is going to be the key to the longevity of our label. Our smallest competitors, Simply Fashion and Cato, offer shoes and accessories; while our largest competitors, Lane Bryant and Avenue have begun to offer minimal exercise wear. â€Å"†¦diversifying entrants pose a bigger threat in increasing rivalry and challenging incumbents’ market share†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Klein Lien, 2009, p. 299). Right now, Lane Bryant is the leader in diversified product lines, although our competitors offer a variety of products in plus size fashion. Our company will improve on quality in order to become a threat to the competitors. If we do not diversify, we will quickly become irrelevant in the market, like our smaller competitors. If we plan to succeed and increase longevity we must diversify and improve upon what our competitors offer. Develop A Strategy For Diversification Indicating The Products And Industries For The Diversification And How Synergies May Be Gained From The Diversified Activity. As a way to increase popularity and customer base loyalty, marketing, research and development will work with designers and distributors on a costume accessories line for plus size women. Currently plus size women are hard pressed to find bracelets for the larger wrist, rings for the larger finger and necklaces that fall where they are supposed to. Lane Bryant is the leader in accessories but they are extremely expensive at twenty to thirty dollars for a ring or bracelet. Costume jewelry is not an item that is meant to last forever. Metals tarnish, plastic’s color fades after repeated use. Our company can come in and offer the correct size accessories at the correct price. Claire’s is a leading accessories line for average women. They are successful because they offer an extremely wide variety of accessories at varying price levels but they do not have many pieces for larger fit. They do offer extenders for necklaces and some bracelets but the extenders are generic and most times do not match the jewelry purchased. We see a synergy with them as a way of increasing sales and market for both companies. Another area for diversification is the exercise clothing line. Collaboration with Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig will put us ahead of our biggest competitor. The need for properly fitted, comfortable exercise clothing is great enough for our company to corner this market. The collaboration will give the weight losing industry a chance to enter another market. Identify And Discuss The Foreign Market That The Company Should Enter And Discuss The Strategy It Should Use To Enter The Market. According to the demographic population statistics of 2011, pu blished by MINTEL (Mintel Group Ltd., 2011), England has the next highest population of plus size women. Almost 25% of the women wear size 18 and over. Nearly 40% of the female population in the UK wears size 16 and over. With these demographics, our company plans to enter the global market in those countries. They have seen an increase in the sale of plus size clothing but the numbers are still small, leaving the industry open for infiltration. Plus size attire only accounted for 17% of total women’s clothing sales in the European market in 2011. The strategy for entering the market will start with opening the online boutiques. As popularity increases we can look into established a brick and mortar location. The store will be a representation of our American locations but also blend with the local atmosphere. â€Å"Purchasing locally [is] a key strategy as it pleases the local authorities and meets the needs of the local consumers. European retailers are more likely to export retail formats that add value by catering to the needs and tastes of the local market, they are likely to enter foreign markets that are developing and are likely to scale up profitably, keeping pace with the economic development of the market place† (Bell, Lal, Salmon, 2004, p. 312). We will establish relationships with local designers and fabric retailers. The building of this relationship will help us gain trust and loyalty within the local economy. Discuss The Challenges That Company May Face In The Foreign Market, And How It Might Respond Strategically To Minimize The Impact Of These Challenges. Even though all the research shows the industry being ripe for new entries, the target market is a challenge. Plus size women don’t necessarily want to be plus size women. The ones who wear sizes under 18 will shop in regular stores if possible because once they start shopping in a specialty store they have to admit facts to themselves that they may not want to address. Plus size figures are not always bigger replicas of the average sized female. With being larger there sometimes are different shapes that have to be accounted for when buying clothing. The best way to combat that would be to align ourselves with the different coalitions that are forming in the European to help understand and beat obesity. We could donate time, supplies and some proceeds from special campaigns to their cause. Our company will avoid being seen as an enabler to obesity. â€Å"Obesity and overweight among children in Europe is also associated with the socio-economic status of their parents, especially their mothers. Furthermore, cross-country comparisons show the prevalence of childhood overweight is linked to a Member State’s degree of income inequality or relative poverty† (Robertson, Lobstein, Knai, 2007, p. 9). Since studies have shown that obesity is mostly a socioeconomic problem, we can take on a â€Å"Be Beautiful Being You† motto. We can work with local groups and organizations to bring awareness to the community. Helping to create positive self-image and awareness of affordable healthy choices will be a goal of our compa ny. Create A Scenario When It Would Not Make Sense For The Company To Diversify Or Expand Into A Foreign Market. Provide Support For Your Rationale. The clothing industry as a whole has been branching into China because of their expanding economy and large population. According to Business of Fashion, China has seen a 33% increase in the purchasing of luxury fashion goods (Harilela, 2012). Normally, this would make it a prime target for global expansion for our company. However, China is country where our company would not likely prosper. China has only seen an increase in waistlines in the past few decades. Even with the increase in size, the numbers are enough to validate entry into their economy. â€Å"The obese are roughly one out of 70 people in China, as opposed to one out of three in America† (Suarez, 2010) Even though those statistics are from 2010, they still warn against expansion into their market. Assess How The Company Will Create A Business Environment Conducive To Ethical Behavior. Ethical business practices will start in upper management and pass down to lower level employees. The company handbook will have a section on the importance of ethical policies and how to conduct business as such. Employee interactions will involve speaking truthfully, taking responsibility for one’s actions and learning to be upfront about opinions. Customer service ethical standards will include providing quality products at fair pricing, being honest about features of the clothing and the floor sales clerk will not be allowed to give judgment on customer apparel choices. Employees will be encouraged and required to report safety issues, theft, harassment issues or any other work related problem. Our company will be committed to conducting business in a way that meets the needs of our present market goals without compromising the company brand image. Works Cited Bell, D. E., Lal, R., Salmon, W. J. (2004). Globalization of Retailing. In J. A. Quelch, The Global Market: Developing a Strategy to Manage Across Borders (pp. 290-312). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Harilela, D. (2012, April 8). The Top 20 Movers, Shakers and Decision-Makers in China Fashion. Retrieved from The Business of Fashion: http://www.businessoffashion.com/2012/04/the-top-20-movers-shakers-and-decision-makers-in-china-fashion-2.html Klein, P. G., Lien, L. B. (2009). Diversification, Industry, Structure, and Firm Strategy: An Organizational Economics Perspective. Economic Institutions of Strategy Advance in Strategic Management, 299. Mintel Group Ltd. (2011). Fifth of Brits are Plus Size but clothing selection is thin on the ground. Mintel Group Ltd. Robertson, A., Lobstein, T., Knai, C. (2007). Obesity and socio-economic groups in Europe: Evidence. European Commission. Suarez, R. (2010, June 1). Reporters Notebook: Obesity on the Rise in China. Retrieved from PBS News Hour: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/06/reporters-notebook-obesity-rising-in-china.html

Dmitri Shostakovich and the Soviet State Essay -- Soviet History

Dmitri Shostakovich was one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century. He achieved fame, but with much hardship along the way. He was censored and threatened with not only his life but that of his wife and children by playing the role of a public figure in Soviet Russia. The question is was he a committed communist or a victim? The events in his life, good or bad, shaped the music that he created and led to one of the greatest symphonies of the 20th century, his Fifth Symphony. Born in Saint Petersburg, Russia on September 25, 1906, Shostakovich was the second of three children born to Dmitri Boleslavovich Shostakovich and Sofiya Vasilievna Kokoulina. His father was of Polish descent but both his parents were Siberian natives. Dmitri was a child prodigy as a pianist and composer. He began taking piano lessons from his mother at the age of nine. He displayed an incredible talent to remember what his mother had played at the previous lesson and would get caught pretending to read the music, playing the music from his last lesson instead of what was placed in front of him. In 1919, at the age of thirteen, he was allowed to enter the Petrograd Conservatory in Saint Petersburg and studied piano with Leonid Nikolayev. Because the conservatory was poorly funded, it did not have heat; the students had to wear coats, hats and gloves constantly only taking off their gloves when composing. Because of these poor living conditions Dmitri developed tuberculosis of the lymph glands in spring 1923 and had to have an operation. Nevertheless, he completed his final piano examinations at the conservatory in June with his neck still bandaged. Shostakovich, though very intelligent and talented, was seen as immature in his fin... ...alled. Works Cited †¢ Burkholder, J. Peter, Donald Jay Grout, and Claude V. Palisca. A history of western music. 8th ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2010. Print. †¢ Fanning, David. Shostakovich studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995. Print. †¢ Hurwitz, David, and DmitriÄ ­ Dmitrievich Shostakovich. Shostakovich symphonies and concertos: an owner's manual. Pompton Plains, N.J.: Amadeus ;, 2006. Print. †¢ Norris, Christopher. Shostakovich, the man and his music. Boston: M. Boyars, 1982. Print. †¢ Volkov, Solomon, and Antonina W. Bouis. Shostakovich and Stalin: the extraordinary relationship between the great composer and the brutal dictator. New York: Knopf, 2004. Print. †¢ David Fanning and Laurel Fay. "Shostakovich, Dmitry." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 14 Apr. 2012 .

Deception Point Page 46

Delta-One had now finished packing snow down the woman's throat. Before turning his attention to the others, Delta-One unhooked the woman's belay harness. He could reconnect it later, but at the moment, he did not want the two people behind the sled getting ideas about pulling his victim to safety. Michael Tolland had just witnessed a murderous act more bizarre than his darkest mind could imagine. Having cut Norah Mangor free, the three attackers were turning their attention to Corky. I've got to do something! Corky had come to and was moaning, trying to sit up, but one of the soldiers pushed him back down on his back, straddled him, and pinned Corky's arms to the ice by kneeling on them. Corky let out a cry of pain that was instantly swallowed up by the raging wind. In a kind of demented terror, Tolland tore through the scattered contents of the overturned sled. There must be something here! A weapon! Something! All he saw was diagnostic ice gear, most of it smashed beyond recognition by the ice pellets. Beside him, Rachel groggily tried to sit up, using her ice ax to prop herself up. â€Å"Run†¦ Mike†¦ â€Å" Tolland eyed the ax that was strapped to Rachel's wrist. It could be a weapon. Sort of. Tolland wondered what his chances were attacking three armed men with a tiny ax. Suicide. As Rachel rolled and sat up, Tolland spied something behind her. A bulky vinyl bag. Praying against fate that it contained a flare gun or radio, he clambered past her and grabbed the bag. Inside he found a large, neatly folded sheet of Mylar fabric. Worthless. Tolland had something similar on his research ship. It was a small weather balloon, designed to carry payloads of observational weather gear not much heavier than a personal computer. Norah's balloon would be no help here, particularly without a helium tank. With the growing sounds of Corky's struggle, Tolland felt a helpless sensation he had not felt in years. Total despair. Total loss. Like the cliche of one's life passing before one's eyes before death, Tolland's mind flashed unexpectedly through long forgotten childhood images. For an instant he was sailing in San Pedro, learning the age-old sailor's pastime of spinnaker-flying-hanging on a knotted rope, suspended over the ocean, plunging laughing into the water, rising and falling like a kid hanging on a belfry rope, his fate determined by a billowing spinnaker sail and the whim of the ocean breeze. Tolland's eyes instantly snapped back to the Mylar balloon in his hand, realizing that his mind had not been surrendering, but rather it had been trying to remind him of a solution! Spinnaker flying. Corky was still struggling against his captor as Tolland yanked open the protective bag around the balloon. Tolland had no illusions that this plan was anything other than a long shot, but he knew remaining here was certain death for all of them. He clutched the folded mass of Mylar. The payload clip warned: CAUTION: NOT FOR USE IN WINDS OVER 10 KNOTS. The hell with that! Gripping it hard to keep it from unfurling, Tolland clambered over to Rachel, who was propped on her side. He could see the confusion in her eyes as he nestled close, yelling, â€Å"Hold this!† Tolland handed Rachel the folded pad of fabric and then used his free hands to slip the balloon's payload clasp through one of the carabiners on his harness. Then, rolling on his side, he slipped the clasp through one of Rachel's carabiners as well. Tolland and Rachel were now one. Joined at the hip. From between them, the loose tether trailed off across the snow to the struggling Corky†¦ and ten yards farther to the empty clip beside Norah Mangor. Norah is already gone, Tolland told himself. Nothing you can do. The attackers were crouched over Corky's writhing body now, packing a handful of snow, and preparing to stuff it down Corky's throat. Tolland knew they were almost out of time. Tolland grabbed the folded balloon from Rachel. The fabric was as light as tissue paper-and virtually indestructible. Here goes nothing. â€Å"Hold on!† â€Å"Mike?† Rachel said. â€Å"What-â€Å" Tolland hurled the pad of wadded Mylar into the air over their heads. The howling wind snatched it up and spread it out like a parachute in a hurricane. The sheath filled instantly, billowing open with a loud snap. Tolland felt a wrenching yank on his harness, and he knew in an instant he had grossly underestimated the power of the katabatic wind. Within a fraction of a second, he and Rachel were half airborne, being dragged down the glacier. A moment later, Tolland felt a jerk as his tether drew taut on Corky Marlinson. Twenty yards back, his terrified friend was yanked out from under his stunned attackers, sending one of them tumbling backward. Corky let out a blood-curdling scream as he too accelerated across the ice, barely missing the overturned sled, then fishtailing inward. A second rope trailed limp beside Corky†¦ the rope that had been connected to Norah Mangor. Nothing you can do, Tolland told himself. Like a tangled mass of human marionettes, the three bodies skimmed down the glacier. Ice pellets went sailing by, but Tolland knew the attackers had missed their chance. Behind him, the white-clad soldiers faded away, shrinking to illuminated specks in the glow of the flares. Tolland now felt the ice ripping beneath his padded suit with relentless acceleration, and the relief at having escaped faded fast. Less than two miles directly ahead of them, the Milne Ice Shelf came to an abrupt end at a precipitous cliff-and beyond it†¦ a hundred-foot drop to the lethal pounding surf of the Arctic Ocean. 52 Marjorie Tench was smiling as she made her way downstairs toward the White House Communications Office, the computerized broadcast facility that disseminated press releases formulated upstairs in the Communications Bullpen. The meeting with Gabrielle Ashe had gone well. Whether or not Gabrielle was scared enough to turn over an affidavit admitting the affair was uncertain, but it sure as hell was worth a try. Gabrielle would be smart to bail out on him, Tench thought. The poor girl had no idea just how hard Sexton was about to fall. In a few hours, the President's meteoric press conference was going to cut Sexton down at the knees. That was in the bank. Gabrielle Ashe, if she cooperated, would be the death blow that sent Sexton crawling off in shame. In the morning, Tench could release Gabrielle's affidavit to the press along with footage of Sexton denying it. One-two punch. After all, politics was not just about winning the election, it was about winning decisively-having the momentum to carry out one's vision. Historically, any president who squeaked into office on a narrow margin accomplished much less; he was weakened right out of the gate, and Congress never seemed to let him forget it. Ideally, the destruction of Senator Sexton's campaign would be comprehensive-a two-pronged attack sacking both his politics and his ethics. This strategy, known in Washington as the â€Å"high-low,† was stolen from the art of military warfare. Force the enemy to battle on two fronts. When a candidate possessed a piece of negative information about his opponent, he often waited until he had a second piece and went public with both simultaneously. A double-edged attack was always more effective than a single shot, particularly when the dual attack incorporated separate aspects of his campaign-the first against his politics, the second against his character. Rebuttal of a political attack took logic, while rebuttal of a character attack took passion; disputing both simultaneously was an almost impossible balancing act. Tonight, Senator Sexton would find himself scrambling to extract himself from the political nightmare of an astounding NASA triumph, and yet his plight would deepen considerably if he were forced to defend his NASA position while being called a liar by a prominent female member of his staff.