The Contribution of the Luxury Fashion Industry in Economic Development of the World

Introduction From time in memorial the fashion industry has made significant impacts to the politics, economy, education and art of various cultures. Today, as illustrated by Brun et al. (2008 p. 558), it marks as a significant element of increasing globalisation.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Contribution of the Luxury Fashion Industry in Economic Development of the World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Furthermore, Brun et al. (2008 p. 548) brings out the significance of the industry with a meaning of luxury as opposed to asserting that the products and services are exclusive to the wealthy and powerful in the society. Luxury is a ‘soft or extravagant living, sumptuousness, opulence’’. In the ancient times, the colours and features of the clothes worn indicated the social and political classes of the people and expressed the power vested in people who adorned certain clothes or apparel. In 21st Century, it is essential to note that not much has changed in this regard. The luxury fashion industry is marked by willingness to spend to get the best outfit that builds expression, perception and recognition. In essence, from an economic point of view where costs are minimized to get higher profits, developing and managing the luxury fashion brand is a difficult and long process. Notwithstanding, getting their contribution to economic development and growth requires a consistent, integrated, innovative and rigours strategy. With such controls, obtaining feedback auditing and other relevant information is significant in this endeavour. Various authors and researchers have tried to estimate the fashion industry growth and its significance. For instance, Datamonitor (2009) have put down that the global luxury fashion sector is estimated to be worth about US $ 130 billion with an annual growth rate of approximately 20%. The global fashion industry significance to the national economies is fundamental in their consumers. As such, their growth is inevitable. However, the gap exists, other than the industry growth and development, but the contribution to economic development and growth of the world is missing. The industry is dominant in countries like the United States of America, Spain, France, China and Italy.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This fact does not disqualify its presence and active contribution to the GDP of other countries. However, enough data, justification, input and CPIs with regard to its contribution in economic growth and economic development of the world pushes the researcher to this determination. This information will have a fundamental impact in the level of reliance to the luxury fashion industry sector. Again, it will open the market for more countries to channel or withdraw their resources to or f rom the industry. Hypothesis Null Hypothesis The fashion industry has very little contribution to the economic development of the world. In essence, the luxury fashion industry has no significant contribution to the economic development of the world or the economic growth. Alternative Hypothesis The fashion industry contributes significantly to the economic development of the world economy. This means that the luxury fashion industry has a major impact in the economic development of the world as well as the economic growth. It is therefore critical that we determine, through scientific methods and approaches, the level of contribution of the luxury fashion industry to economic development of the world. This indicates the critical quest for an effective study as a secondary invention to go through the world national economies as well as its commercial industry. Methodology The study will involve use of qualitative and quantitative research. Thus, assume the research design on data us ed. According to Sounders, Lewis Thornhill (2003), the deductive approach will be used to determine the quantitative data. On the other hand, the inductive approach will be applied in measuring and ascertaining the qualitative data. As such, the literature review will involve evaluation of secondary data in an effort to rely on empirical evidence and utilise the necessary concepts. Subsequently, analysis of the field research data shall be undertaken to focus on the objective of the study (Sounders, Lewis Thornhill 2003).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Contribution of the Luxury Fashion Industry in Economic Development of the World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Presuppositions of the ethical neutrality shall be considered while collecting data with adequate and correct placement of statement on the population objects being the MOschino following the probabilistic predictions. The field data wil l be from MOschino Fashion Company since it is the most dominant company in the international scale. Again, its products are used all over the countries. As such, reviewing of its data on sales, imports, exports and exchange of goods will have a sense of input or output from over 80% of the world nations (Sounders, Lewis Thornhill 2003). Results It is quite evident that the luxury fashion industry is dominant from the international scale marked with cross border international business. The development from the general scale is influenced by the frequency of the luxury fashion industry. It revealed that during the year 2009 to 2012, the global luxury fashion sector (on MOSchino statistics, and financial statements) is estimated to have transacted a turnover of about US $ 100 billion with an annual growth rate of approximately 12%. Discussion and conclusion A turnover of about US $ 100 billion with an annual growth rate of approximately 12% within three years is a big figure. This ind icates a significant contribution of the fashion industry sector to the economic development and growth. As such, the researcher is left to refute the null hypothesis that the luxury fashion industry has not contribution to world economic development. Rather, the researchers agrees to the alternative hypothesis that the fashion industry contributes significantly to the economic development of the world economy. References Brun, A, Caniato, F, Caridi, M, Castelli, C, Miragliotta, G, Ronchi, G, Sianesi, A, Spina, G (2008). Logistics and supply chain management in luxury fashion retail: Empirical investigation of Italian firms. International Journal of Production Economics. Volume 114. Issue 2 pp. 554-570.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sounders, M, Lewis, P, Thornhill, A (2003). Research Methods for business students, 3rd ed. Prentice Hall, Pearson education limited: Italy. Datamonitor (2009). Clothing and footwear-Italy. Web. This research paper on The Contribution of the Luxury Fashion Industry in Economic Development of the World was written and submitted by user Desiree Holder to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Fiscal Policy Paper Essays - Fiscal Policy, Free Essays, Term Papers

Fiscal Policy Paper Essays - Fiscal Policy, Free Essays, Term Papers Fiscal Policy Paper Instructor Sam Pirnazar ECO/372 July 27, 2015 Introduction Here we will discuss as a group of like minds how and why the USs deficits surplus and debt have an effect on tax payers and future social security and Medicare users. Now in many cases deficit can affect multitudes while a surplus creates positive results for those on the receiving end. As you may know debt requires the liability to be paid or the liability in some cases it may be repossessed or rendered bad credit to the individual. Now while Americans face issues with debt, surplus, and even deficit it is important to know that the United States deals with it first hand as well. Several areas the three topics affect include tax payers, unemployed, Social Security, Medicare, imports, exports, and the GDP. A synopsis of Team Bs discussion of the topics follows, however in this reading we will focus on Taxpayers, fyture social security and Medicare users. Tax payers Fiscal deficit means government expenditure exceeds its revenue in any particular year. All taxpayers are affected by U.S.'s deficit and debt. Higher government debt crowds out private investment in the form of higher taxes and inflation. Higher debt raises several question marks on government ability to repay it. Due to higher debt levels, risk premium increases, which leads to rise in interest rates. High interest rates negatively interest rate sensitive sectors of the economy such as real estate, consumer durable. High government deficit results in increasing US debt. In order to reduce the current deficit, government hikes tax rate on taxpayers. High debt and fiscal deficit affect US taxpayers in the form of tax hikes, high interest rate on debt, reduced social security benefits/programs and weakening of currency. The overall effect of all these measures results in lower purchasing power of taxpayers and they are left with less money to invest or spend. Fiscal surplus means government revenue exceeds its expenditure in any particular year. When the government runs surplus, it positively affect taxpayers. There are differing ways in which government could spend surplus money. The surplus money could be used to repay debt. Government can decide to issue tax refund to taxpayers or government can increase its spend on social security benefits and programs. The overall effect of all these measures results in higher purchasing power of taxpayers and they could spend or invest more money. Future Social Security and Medicare users The meaning of deficit is defined as, the amount by which something, especially a sum of money, is too small. The meaning of surplus is defined as, the amount of something leftover when requirements have been met; an excess of production or supply over demand. The meaning of debt is defined as, something that is, typically money, owed or overdue. Now that the terms are in order and understood, the answers to how and why can now be addressed. The reason that the United States deficit, surplus, and debt effect future Social Security users is the following; according to "The Medicare Newsgroup" (2015), "Medicare significantly contributes to the federal budget deficit only through its general revenue financing under its Medicare Medical Insurance (Part B) program. Its outlays financed under its Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) or by individual premiums are features of the programs expenditures, but do not show up in federal budget calculations (para. 1). Social Security is currently running a surplus, due to all of its revenue figures that get combined and calculated determining the payroll taxes, trust fund interest, and income taxes earned from some of the Social Security benefits (Morrissey, 2011). According to the Economic Policy Institute, Morrissey (2011), "The trust fund, which currently has $2.6 trillion dollars, is projected to grow to around $3.7 trillion in 2022. But once Social Security starts drawing down the principle in the trust fund to help pay for the Baby Boomer retirement, Social Security will be running a deficit. Also, Social Security is currently running a primary deficit, which means it would be running a deficit absent the interest on the trust fund. (Is Social Security running a deficit?). Conclusion Reference Morrissey, M. (2011). Economic Policy Institute. Retrieved from epi.org/blog/social-security-federal-deficit-part-1/ The Medicare Newsgroup. (2015). Retrieved from medicarenewsgroup.com/news/medicare-faqs/individual-faq?faqId=69028cf0-2ab2-453e-a43d-5f143debc68c How our national debt hurts our economy. (n.d.). Retrieved July

Electricity Industry in the U.S Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Electricity Industry in the U.S - Essay Example Coal is the leading electricity generating source. In 2013, 39.1% of electricity was generated using coal. Natural Gas was second with 27.4%. The nuclear source contributed to 19.4% of the total electricity generated in that year while renewable sources like solar and wind generation had 12.9%. Other sources of electricity had the least percentage of only 1.2%. Compared to the same data recorded in 2006, the share controlled by natural gases had dropped dramatically from 70%. Nuclear energy was contributed to 20% in 2006 while renewable energy rose from 3% in 2006. However, the percentage contributed by coal was not shown in 2006. Hence, it could be assumed that a coal production is a form of electricity generation in the US. The electricity industry in the U.S is comprised of several companies and stakeholders that offer services through electricity generation, transmission and distribution. Other industrial players are domestic and commercial market operators besides product sales personnel. A survey conducted in 1996 showed that there were at least 3200 utility firms engaging in power distribution. Among the 3200 firms, at most 1000 engaged in electricity generation (Only ten were government owned while the rest were private enterprises) (Blume, 2007, p. 83). In the US, electricity transmission is carried out under the supervision of independent system operators and regional transmission firms. The electricity transmitting organization focusses at offering equity services rather than being profit oriented. These utilities and organizations are controlled by public institutions, for example, Department of energy that generates electricity policies and Environmental Protection Policies that develop environmental policies.

Workplace Romance in the Hospitality Industry Research Paper

Workplace Romance in the Hospitality Industry - Research Paper Example As a result of this constant sharing of working space there remains a high chance of the workers in the hospitality industry getting romantically involved with each other. Every worker spends a considerable amount of the day in his or her office. Above that the workers in the hospitality industry work under stressful conditions like round the day duties and living up to the demands of people of different kinds. As a result seeking supports from co-workers and consequent blooming of romance between them is prevalent trend in this industry. In any office environment the co-workers share a lot of feeling like experiences, interests, fears, setbacks and achievements with each other. Therefore it can be seen that the factors responsible for giving birth to romance are always present in the working environment. The constant sharing of emotions may lead to the development of emotional and romantic leanings on each other. The usual office romance varies from casual flings and affairs to the more serious relationships. In the hospitality industry there are also many instances of sexual harassment between co-workers and the scholars have distinguished the workplace romance from sexual advances. Workplaces romances in have been defined as relationship based on mutual desire and physical attraction between the workers of the same organization. It is also necessary that the people have found each other through the course of their work and the relationship is consensual. For romance between workers separated by hierarchy it is important that the romance spreads beyond the traditional employer employee relationship. Workers from all age group have been found to be associated with workplace romance. However the highest probability of romance between colleagues lies in the age group from 35 to 44. In a survey almost 44% of the interviewee in this age group has admitted to date their co-workers (Pearce, 2010). Some very important points of discussion about workplace romance have been the causes for the development of the romance, the effect of office romance on the peers and environment of the office as well as on the people involved directly and the managerial decision or attitude towards accepting the romance (Odgers, 2004, pp 221-222; Burke, Mattis, 2005 p 153; Sias, 2009, p 140). It will be relevant to mention that many of the organizations have a defined policy on workplace romance though no such references could be found directly for the hospitality industry. It has often been debated whether workplace romance leads to better performance of the employees and also the effect of romance on the other co-workers Reasons and the Consequences of Office Romance According to Fiona M. Wilson (2007) the study of romance in office as a sociological subject started 30 years ago. Such studies were of immense interest for the management who wanted to know the consequence on the organization as a result of romances between the workers. According to Peter Corser (20 11), a person spends a third of their day in their office. Under such a situation the author finds it natural for romance to brew between the co-workers. Moreover it can also be mentioned here that for people working in a team the skills, experiences and the knowledge are very similar. Therefore there is a high chance of people sharing common interests and therefore finding each other attractive. However he has also noted that many organizations have discouraging policies for such romances. The organization has

Final project for LING 4100 topic2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final project for LING 4100 topic2 - Assignment Example The two English languages are widely spread through out the world. For instance, Indian people were colonized by the British and hence adapted to the British English. Their English differs from that of American people, with strong annotation on the accents and pronunciation. The analysis will concentrate on Indian English, pointing out differences and similarities in relation to the North American English. English is the native language spoken in India, and everyone can communicate using English. However, their English is pretty much different from the American English. We concentrate on the dialogue in the news cast between the anchor interviewing Mr Davender Ghai. The interview is in relation to Ghai’s fight to acquire an open funeral pyre while in United Kingdom. Cremation is not allowed in the United Kingdom and the Hindu activist fights to acquire the chance to be cremated after his death. They engage in a tough interview that is carried out in the Indian studios at New C astle. We concentrate the analysis from the first question that the anchor asks Mr. Ghai. The question demands to get an answer as to why Mr. Ghai engaged into the fight of an open pyre when he is in the United Kingdom. The analysis will also cover the answer he gives and the process he follows to answer the directed question. The second question directed to him by the anchor seeks to enquire if Ghai fought for the legalization of open cremation for himself or for the entire Hindu people in the United Kingdom. The analysis looks into the second question and the answer given. Data Sample Ghai starts by interrupting the anchor with a â€Å"thank you† before he is welcomed. It shows a difference in response between American English and Indian English. The first question that the anchor asks is; â€Å"Can you tell us what made you go in for this legal battle, what did you really want to do? Ghai responds; â€Å"Well, see. My father always wanted a funeral pyre when he died in 1 979, because we could not send the body to India, we couldn’t afford it. So, when he died I was very very upset. Okay, then I found out in 1932, the princess of Nepal was given open funeral pyre in London.† The second question is; were you fighting this battle for yourself or for all Hindus in the United Kingdom? The dialect language used is the official English spoken world wide by the Indian people. Ghai answers; â€Å"Okay, hear, I am a man of charity and I run a charity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Date sample analysis Critically analyzing the first question, one can see that the language used differs from the North American English. The first difference noted is the pronunciation of the English words, and the use of verbs in the sentences. Going by the American way, the question is wrongfully constructed. Pronunciation of the entire sentence differs from the American way. Secondly, a verb is the most critical part of a sentence since it explains the subject’s action. The verb used in the question â€Å"go† is followed by adverb. This is uncommon with the American English. The use of an adverb after a verb is said to be grammatically incorrect in the American English. The other significant difference that can be noted in this dialect is the phonetic aspect. It can be learned that the Indians use the middle of their tongue just before the end to pronounce. This is the reason that the pronunciation is different from the American pronunciation.

Development In Social And Cultural Contexts

Development In Social And Cultural Contexts According to sociocultural theories, child development differentiates in different social and cultural contexts. Culturally- specific beliefs and practices in each sociocultural context influence childrens development in its unique way (Berk, 2009). This essay sets out to examine how Chinese childrens developments in academic knowledge and temperament are impacted by culturally-specific child rearing in Chinese society. Bronfenbrenners ecological systems theory and Vygotskys sociocultural theory are applied to analyse the general practices, the assumptions, the beliefs and the upheld values of child rearing in China. Definitions of Culture and Society Culture and society may mean different things to different people. For instance, society is defined as an association with ones fellowsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, the system of customs and organization adopted by a body of individualsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered communityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ in the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (2002, p.2906, cited in New Zealand Tertiary College[NZTC], 2010). In this essay, society refers to the aggregate of people living together. Therefore, the Chinese society means the populations living in China. Culture in this essay refers to the distinctive customs, achievements, products, outlook, etc., of a societyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦as defined in the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (2002, p. 575, cited in NZTC, 2010). By culturally-specific child rearing practices within this essay, it means the consistent and similar child rearing practices adopted by Chinese, such as feeding, toilet training, sleeping arrangement, a nd discipline. Academic Knowledge and Temperament of shyness Generally speaking, there are three broad domains of child development: physical, emotional and social, and cognitive (Berk, 2009). This essay will focus on studying the influence of culturally-specific child rearing on Chinese childrens academic learning (cognitive development) and temperament (emotional and social development). In a study of Hong Kong-Chinese preschool childrens literacy skills, it is advised that: 75% of five years olds can write their names in Chinese correctly; more than 50% of four years olds can write appropriately using strokes and stroke patterns (the two smallest units in Chinese writings); 75% of three years olds can differentiate drawing from writing, and 20% can write appropriately (Chan Louies, 1992, cited in Chan, Juan, Foon, 2008). In international cross-cultural studies of reading, mathematics, and science achievement, children from all the participating Chinese cities, namely Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao, are rated top performers, way above the international level (Programme for International Student Assessment, 2003, 2006, cited in Berk, 2009). Despite relevant high academic achievement, most cross-cultural studies define Chinese children as shy and withdrawn (Chen, Rubin, Li, 1995, Chen et al., 1998, cited in Berk, 2009). In a cross-cultural study of Chinese and Canadian two years olds, Chinese toddlers were found significantly more inhibited than Canadian ones (Chen et al., 1998, cited in Papalia, Olds, Feldman, 2004). Child rearing practices in the Ecological Systems According to Bronfenbrenner, the environment influencing child development can be classified into five different layers from the innermost to the outermost levels: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and the chronosystem. The microsystem refers to childrens immediate environment, such as home and early childhood centre .The mesosystem is the interaction between the microsystems. Other social settings outside the immediate environment that affect childrens development make up the exosystem. The macrosystem includes cultural values, laws, customs, and resources. Chronosystem means the whole environment system is an ever-changing system. Any changes in life events imposed by others or by the children as they grow up can modify the systems (Berk, 2009). The child rearing practices in the respective systems that contribute to childrens development of relevant high academic performance and temperament of shyness are analysed as below. At home (microsystem), the childcare is mostly carried out by mothers. Chinese mothers are found to indulge their infants and toddlers in terms of feeding, sleeping (Roopnariane Carter, 1992, cited in Yunus, 2005). They always keep their children close to them and favour physical contact over verbal stimulation. The mothers start toilet training the babies when they are six months and most of they are successfully trained by one and half years old (Whiting Whiting, 1975, Sung, 1995, Lee, 1999, cited in Yunus, 2005). It is suggested by Kelly and Tseng (2000, cited in Yunus, 2005) that the over-indulgence and early rigid toilet training are positively related to Chinese childrens slow physical and motor development. The fathers role is to discipline children. The discipline is taught by induction: explicit statement of what exactly the child is expected to do and why. If the child doesnt do as told, some parents might resort to shaming the misbehaved child, retrieving their love or e ven physical punishment (Jose, Huntsinger, Huntsinger, Liaw, 2000, Schwalb, Nakazawa, Yamamoto, Hyun, 2004, cited in Berk, 2009). The parenting style is less warm and more controlling (Dehart, Sroufe, Cooper, 2004; Berk, 2009). Yunus(2005) suggests that Chinese parenting is more authoritarian compared to Western parenting. The communication pattern is one way: parent to child. At most times, children listen attentively to what parents say. Children are not to openly express opinions on certain issues (Chiew, 2000, Zhao, 2002, Akhtar, 1998, cited in Yunus, 2005), or to express strong emotions ever since they are babies (Berk, 2009). It is found that parents do little to help their children release emotions, encouraging them to hide the emotions (Chan, Bowes, Wyver, 2009).. Children are taught the emotion-feeling rules and display rules justified with moral reasons (Wang, 2006, cited in Chan et al., 2009). Being reared in an authoritarian way and taught the emotion display rules (hiding the emotions), Chinese children are inclined to be shy and withdrawn (Chan et. al., 2009). In terms of parents attitudes towards play, almost all Chinese parents discourage their children to play at home. They often tell their children Dont think of playing all the time. Learning is most important. Believing in the importance of academic learning, parents begin to teach their children to count and write since they are three in most cases. Therefore, for home activities as well as mother-child interaction, it would be mother teaching the child to write, count, and appropriate social behaviour through fable storytelling, especially respecting the elders (Pearson Rao, 2003). A recent survey shows that before children attend primary school, 88.6% parents teach their children reading, recognising Chinese characters and counting; 28.2% parents teach their children foreign language, and 20.3% parents tutor their children the courses for primary school (Wang, Wang, Chen, 2010). A lot of demonstration, time to practice academic skills, and explicit values of academic skills, faci litate Chinese childrens development in academic knowledge (Chan et al., 2008; Gershoff Aber, 2006, cited in Berk, 2009). Most Chinese parents send their children to kindergartens when they are three. The children will then spend eight to nine hours daily in the kindergarten (Liu Elicker, 2005). The interaction between Chinese parents and teachers (mesosystem) is limited (Schwartz, 2003, cited in Yunus, 2005). While parents do concern about their childrens learning, they assign the teaching responsibility to teachers, relying on the teachers for childrens learning in the kindergarten (Morrow, 1999, cited in Yunus, 2005). In a survey of parents expectations of kindergarten teaching, parents express their main aspirations for their children as possessing academic skills and filial piety (88%) (Xinyuan Kindergarten, 2010). Parents highly valuing academic skills urges teachers to put a lot of efforts in academic teaching to meet up their expectations. In China the child rearing is shared among the extended family (exosystem), especially grandparents take up a large role in raising the children. The filial piety and the whole system of family are greatly valued among the extended family (Yunus, 2005). Children are taught the importance of respecting the elders and the obligation to contribute to familys honour by behaving properly (Zhao, 2002, cited in Yunus, 2005). When children are shy, reticent, quiet, they are considered by the extended family to be well-behaved and having sense of understanding (Hart, Yang, Nelson, Robinson, Olsen, Nelson, Porter, Jin, Olsen, Wu, 2000). Children are constantly reminded that their first means to fulfil family responsibility and obligation is through education (Yunus, 2005). The expectation of academic achievement and honouring family reputations placed by the extended family put pressure on parents child education and childrens motivation towards high academic performance. In macrosystem, the Chinese families are greatly influenced by Confucian philosophy stressing the importance of academic achievement and social harmony. The following assumptions are deeply rooted in Chinese child rearing practices: children inherently penchant for the good; proper training during early childhood helps to build childrens positive character; formal education and high standards of academic achievement is important for childrens development (Yunus, 2005). It is the custom that parents are to provide an environment conducive to academic achievement, while children are to work hard for high performance in academics. Besides, Chinese value the doctrine of mean (Zhong Yong Zhi Dao in Mandarin), not being extreme. Inhibited, sensitive, and socially restrained behaviour are highly valued in the Chinese culture (Ho, 1986, Lao, 1996, Chen, in press, cited in Hart et al., 2000). It is partly because they prioritise the importance of maintaining social order and interpersonal har mony in the society at large in the collectivism society (Hart e al., 2000). The one-child policy in China also affects childrens development to a great extent. Having only one child, a lot of parents do their best to start their childrens education at the possible earliest age to make their children more advantaged within the intensely competitive Chinese educational system (Brassard Chen, 2005). Government also devote the increased resources to the care and education of children to support the families and to secure the countrys future generations success in the highly competitive economy (Dehart et al., 2004). In the chronosystem, while shyness is traditionally valued by parents and the society, recent researches indicate a change of peoples attitudes towards childrens shyness. With the rapid growth of the economy, assertiveness and sociability started to be viewed as desirable for success in the society (Chen, Wang, DeSouza, 2006, Yu, 2002, cited in Berk, 2009). It is reasonable to assume, with parents values swift, their way of interacting with children will change accordingly in the future, influencing childrens development in a different way. Figure 1. Chinese child rearing practices contributing to academic learning and shyness in the Ecological Systems. Vygotskys sociocultural theory According to Vygotskys sociocultural theory, each culture provides its own context and different goals for children (Drewery Bird, 2004). Vygotsky proposes that cultural influence children through cultural tools, which refer to the knowledge of cultural practices that help children fit into their cultural context, including language, rituals, ceremonies and social values and beliefs that guide peoples thinking (Crain, 2000, cited in NZTC, 2010). Vygotsky further suggests that the values, beliefs, customs and desirable skills of a culture are transmitted to the next generation through social interaction, in particular through scaffolding by adults and more-advanced peers (Rowe Wertsch, 2002, cited in Berk, 2009). In china, the selected goals for children are high academic achievement and maintaining social harmony. There goals are valued by the Confucian philosophy which still deeply influences the Chinese parents (Hart et al., 2000). Parents encourage children to develop these culturally valued skills at an early age of three. Children strive for these desirable skills to fit into the sociocultural context. Social value and belief of early formal education, cultural practices upholding the academics and proper social behaviour of respecting elders and shyness add to the Chinese cultural tools. All these cultural tools support the daily child rearing practices, educational activities, the routines, the child-adult interactions as analysed in the ecological systems (Crain, 2000, cited in NZTC, 2010). Through interaction with their parents, extended family, children learn, apply and internalize these cultural values and tools of academic learning and temperament of shyness. Conclusion Different sociocultural environment places different goals and expectations on children. When the sociocultural context changes over time, certain values and practices might change. Generally speaking, Chinese children are expected to fulfill the goals and expectations of academic achievement and maintaining social harmony placed by their parents, extended family, and society. The values, beliefs upheld by the society affect the parents and extended family, and the extended family and parents influence childrens development in academic learning and temperament through specific child rearing practices emphasising these skills.

Male-female Stereotypes and the War of the Sexes in The Promises of the

All of us have heard generalizations about the opposite sex. Most of us have said our share of them when the phone does not ring at the appointed hour or the love of our life mentions those dreaded words: â€Å"open relationship.† Men have trouble understanding women, and women have trouble understanding men. This problem is universal, extending through different cultures and time periods. The Egyptian folktale â€Å"The Promises of the Three Sisters† reflects the division between the sexes, a theme which is as relevant in our modern society as it was then. In â€Å"The Promises of the Three Sisters,† the king represents the male world. In his castle, he is completely isolated from all female elements; the only companion mentioned is a male advisor. When he goes down to the village, he is confronted by the female world, as represented by the three sisters. The sisters have a supernatural quality, which shows how mystical the female world appears to the king. The women are weaving, a traditional female activity associated with an almost magical creativity. They are orphans, so their origin is mysterious. Also, their hut is removed from the familiar and conventional village. Each sister promises the king something if he marries her. The older two promise him physical gratification: a cake that will feed him and his army and a carpet that will seat him and all his soldiers. The inclusion of his army is an appeal to the traditionally male value of force and power. The youngest sister promises him emotional satisfaction: twins, a boy and a girl. Her approach is more typically female, since it appeals to his personal feelings and includes a daughter in the bargain. The king responds to his first contact with the fem... ...ard female sexuality. The female protagonists in the story—Sitt el-Husn, the old woman, and the third sister—are asexual, while the sexually potent older sisters and the Long-Haired Lady are all seen as dangerous. The men in the story feel that â€Å"giving in† to a woman sexually is allowing that woman control over them, and they are not ready for women to be equal to them. â€Å"The Promises of the Three Sisters† was told in a male-dominated society, and thus it begins with negative stereotypes of women: the conniving sisters, the extremely sensitive Sitt el-Husn. However, as the story progresses, Sitt el-Husn breaks the stereotype and is seen by her brother as an equal. Shattering the male-female stereotypes is necessary in order to achieve understanding between the sexes. Reference Yolen, Jane, ed. Favorite Folktales from around the World. New York: Pantheon, 1986.