The Best Jobs for Recent College Graduates

The Best Jobs for Recent College Graduates it’s rough entering  the job market after college these days, and a rough market regardless. candidates with experience are almost universally privileged in the hiring process. it can take a while to find your opening and grab it. that said, recent grads have the advantage of being (usually) single and flexible. you might consider moving across the country for a job, where someone more entrenched would not. if you’re that flexible, consider the states on this list, by field, where recent grads and gen y-ers will have the best luck getting a great gig.industry: airlinepossible jobs: engineering (aerospace, flight, electrical, mechanical design, etc.), pilot, customer service rep, officer, flight attendant, pricing analystbest place to be: minnesota. younger workers in their  20s  make up a much larger percentage of the work force there, and the median annual salary for employees of this age group wasn’t any lower.industry: ambulatory health carepossible jobs : physical therapy, personal training, dental hygienist, case manager, office manager, pa.best place to be: connecticut, with median salaries for employees under 30 at 21% above the national average.industry: bankingpossible jobs: teller, assistant branch manager, analyst, customer service rep, loan officerbest place to be: utahindustry: beverage and tobacco marketingpossible jobs: account manager, sales manager/rep, event coordinator, financial analyst, designer, marketing managerbest place to be: new york. try first at pepsico and phillip morris.industry: broadcasting (tv/radio)possible jobs: account executive, advertising film/video editor, graphic artist/designer, reporter, producer-director, radio show host, etc.best place to be: new york. try: viacom, cbs, nbc, abc, fox, turner broadcasting, or mtv.industry: clothing and accessoriespossible jobs: assistant buyer, designer, assistant designer, retail department manager, graphic artist/designer, retail salesbest place to be: new yorkindustry: computer and electronic manufacturingpossible jobs: electrical or mechanical engineer, film/video editor, graphic artist/designer, software developer/programmerbest place to be: virginia. try qimonda, micron technology, and genesic.industry: constructionpossible jobs: manager, commercial estimator, marketing coordinator, project engineer, staff accountantbest place to be: washington,  d.c.industry: educationpossible jobs: admissions counselor, elementary school teacher, financial aid counselor, high school teacher, non-profit program coordinator, special education teacher, teacher’s assistantbest place to be: washington,  d.c.industry: electrical, appliance, and component equipment manufacturingpossible jobs: account manager, sales, customer service rep, electrical or mechanical or manufacturing engineer, inside sales rep, operations manager, outside sales rep, sales engineerbest place to be: new jersey. try tyco, cn burman, sea gull, and griffith electric supply.industry: executive, legislative, and other general government supportpossible jobs: accountant, administrative assistant, auditor, cpa, financial or intelligence analyst, senior tax accountant, software engineer, developer/programmer, staff accountant, data entry specialistbest place to be: washington,  d.c.industry: servicepossible jobs: barista, cashier, supervisor, restaurant manager, marketing, grocery staff accountantbest place to be: new york. the higher-end the place, the better your paycheck.industry: funds, trusts, etc.possible jobs: benefits or business or research analyst, financial/securities/investment analyst, fund accountant, pension administration, staff accountantbest place to be: massachusetts. surprising though it may be. try watson wyatt worldwide, putnam investments, fidelity investments, and harvard management first.industry: heavy and civil engineering constructionpossible jobs: accountant, administrative assistant, civil engineer, financial analyst, mechanical engineer, petroleum engineer, project engineer, staff accountantbest place to be: utah. try questar!industry: hospitalspossible jobs: rn, medical/clinical laboratory tech, occupational therapist, physical therapist, pabest place to be: nevadaindustry: hotelspossible jobs: assistant general manager, front desk clerk, guest services manager, night auditor, sales manager, shift managerbest place to be: washington,  d.c.industry: internet service providers, web search, and data processingpossible jobs: graphic artist/designer, marketing coordinator, it project manager, web developer, software engineer, web designer developerbest place to be: maryland. try bay broadband communications and comcast.industry: legal services, accounting, and scientific researchpossible jobs: paralegal/legal assistant, certified public accountant (cpa), civil engineer, graphic artist/designer, information technology (it) consultant, interior designer, staff accountantbest place to be: washingto n,  d.c. try booz allen hamilton, corporate executive board, ibm, bearingpoint, accenture, and sra internationalindustry: miscellaneous manufacturingpossible jobs: biomedical or manufacturing or medical device quality engineer, biotech research associatebest place to be: nevada. try international game technology and aristocrat technologies.industry: museums, historic sites, etc.possible jobs: art gallery curator, graphic artist/designer, program coordinator, recreation coordinator, special events coordinator, zookeeperbest place to be: new yorkindustry: national security and international affairspossible jobs: aerospace engineer, contract administrator, electrical engineer, financial or intelligence analyst, mechanical or software engineerbest place to be: massachusetts. try raytheon in waltham and general dynamics in quincy.industry: oil and gas extractionpossible jobs: accountant, chemical engineer, financial analyst, mechanical engineer, oil gas landman, petroleum engineer, an d geologistbest place to be: utah. try questar and chevron. or louisiana as an alternative.industry: online publishingpossible jobs: copy editor, graphic artist/designer, news reporter, software engineer/developer/programmer, web designerbest place to be: new york. try nytimes.com, yahoo!, aol, and fox interactive.industry: performing arts, spectator sports, etc.possible jobs: copy editor, event coordinator, executive assistant, film/video editor, graphic artist/designer, marketing coordinator, producer-director, tv/cable broadcast, special events managerbest place to be: new yorkindustry: pharmaceutical/chemical manufacturingpossible jobs: chemical or mechanical engineer, biotech research associate, research scientist, pharmaceutical sales representativebest place to be: maryland. try otsuka maryland medicinal laboratories, bowles fluidics, and millennium inorganic chemicals.industry: print publishingpossible jobs: assistant editor, copy editor, editorial assistant, graphic artist/ designer, managing editor, marketing coordinator, newspaper reporter, software engineerbest place to be: washingtonindustry: securities, commodity contracts, financial investmentspossible jobs: associate in investment banking, banking analyst, financial/securities/investments analyst, financial adviser, fund accountantbest place to be: new yorkindustry: social workpossible jobs: case manager, child care/day care worker, child, family, or school social worker, director, child care, nanny or au pair preschool teacher, (not special education) program coordinator, nonprofit organization social workerbest place to be: washington,  d.c.industry: sporting goods, hobby, book, and music storespossible jobs: customer service rep, store department manager, graphic artist/designer, inside sales representative, marketing coordinator, retail sales associate/assistant manager/manager, and wholesale and retail buyerbest place to be: new jersey. try toys ‘r’ us, sports authority, hein o’s sky cycle, barnes noble.industry: transportation equipment manufacturingpossible jobs: aerospace engineer, electrical engineer, financial analyst, industrial engineer, manufacturing engineer, manufacturing process engineer, mechanical design engineer, mechanical engineer, product development engineer, automotive senior mechanical engineerbest place to be: maryland. try alcore.

Do any foreign policy models (the bureaucratic politics model, Essay

Do any foreign policy models (the bureaucratic politics model, groupthinking, etc.) help to explain American failure in Vietnam - Essay Example According to the research findings before oil was discovered in Middle East, this region had become a major target for a myriad of religious conflicts and wars, which were fought over the rich resources found there and the amount of land. When the Ottoman Empire faced a downfall, it provided a path for the European colonial and imperial powers to take matters in their own vested interests and gain access to various parts of Asia, which gradually also enabled them to secure these regions in their own favor. The biggest asset of Middle East is the amount of oil that is concentrated in the region, which has simultaneously also emerged as one of the biggest problems. Therefore the Western population is highly accustomed to the propaganda of the Middle Eastern regions, and this has also brought Islam in the middle. It was especially prominent during the European colonial times, which was also exacerbated by Edward Said in his famous book, â€Å"Orientalism†. The way it has been neg atively stereotyped has provided tremendous justification for involvement and also in ensuring a certain level of stability for the interests of powers that are present in the region. Another issue, which is also pivotal to Middle East, is racism and cultural stereotyping that has become very concentrated. There are certain war films that depict an Islamic or Arab group as bad, which clearly show the current conflicts etc. A bad guy is very often an Arab from one of the rogue states and because of the 9/11 attacks perpetrated against the United States and also the War on Terror; it’s very likely that this description will continue. Another huge problem is that to maintain their dominance and supremacy in the Middle Eastern, the West has also put a lot of power, money and influence in the hands of corrupt Arab leaders, and consequently collaborated in the overthrow of those people who were seen as a threat to their interests. Furthermore, it has contributed a great deal in kee ping the populations at bay, for the wealth, power and militarization of the elite class. It is also said to be done for combating the phenomena of communism. The major underlying factor has however been the effort to secure access to imperative resources such as oil (Bard, 1). Middle East is one of the most militarized regions in the world, and there are a lot of arms present. Majority of the people who have been oppressed see the influence of the United States in their region as the biggest cause of all the problems, which has also led to a rise in several acts of terrorism, Islamic militancy and anti-west sentiments. Although, there have been several declarations by the United States department that most of the American interests are vested in supporting the foundation of governments based on a democratic edifice, there have been some instances when the U.S has supported the suppressed regimes in the Middle East. When the U.S were having a Cold War with the Soviet Union, there we re a few policymakers who saw a very stable ally in the Middle East, whether it was tyrannical or not, which would be more preferred rather than an unstable regime that would side with the Soviets. Even when the Soviet Union collapsed, there was a whole lot of financial assistance and U.S dollars that kept flowing in to the regions, which were supposedly known as the centers for the regulation of human rights, or the evident lack of democracy. This also included Saudi Arabia (where a Wahhabi administration puts restrictions on the rights of women), Israel (which doesn’t promote the concept of equal rights for all its citizens), and the Egyptian government where an Egyptian cum American was imprisoned for supporting voter participation. In

Social intelligence Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social intelligence - Assignment Example They should be aware of the unspoken setting patterns, social regulations, and paradigms that govern different situations. Appreciation of various views from people and an understanding of the way these people react to uncertainty, stress, and conflicts should be part of a leader. 2. Leaders should be present This is the way a leader affects groups or individuals through his or her body language, physical appearance, how he occupies space in his office, as well as his demeanor and mood. Leaders ought to have listening skills to create a quality of effectiveness self assurance that allows them to relate well with others. 3. They should be Authentic Authenticity reveals how sincere and honest leaders are with themselves and with the rest. According to Albrecht, when leaders respect themselves, believe in their personal faiths and values, and are realistic, they will probably serve others with authenticity. In this context, authenticity entails the capacity relate genuinely with others, a value that demands compassion and empathy. 4. Leaders should be clear Clarity means that leaders should express their opinions, thoughts, intentions, and ideas in a clear way. They should understand the power of language as a means of expression and thought, and thus use it as a strategic asset. Leaders with high social integrity clarity can monitor their language patters as well as that of others, in order to avoid particular pathologies that can result to personal and collective disputes, misunderstandings, and maladjustments. 5. Leaders should embrace Empathy They should look at how considerate and really aware they are of how others feel and how capable they are to treat other people as unique persons. It is all about identifying with those who are below and sharing or appreciating their feelings. Albrecht views this strategy as a sense of connectedness and a state of positive feeling or rapport between two people. Protecting oneself from toxic personality Toxic personality o r behaviors are those which make others feel inadequate, angry, guilty, devalued, and frustrated. If one of my family members has these personalities, I can protect myself from letting his negativity by using the nourishing behaviors. I can do this by analyzing the few positive traits of my sibling, and how important he is in my life, such as by determining what critical roles he plays in terms of my overall composure and well being. If he has a value that may bring the best in me such as paying my school fees, even though he is harsh or abusive, I can ignore the â€Å"grenade† side of him and appreciate him in the well-being point of view. Proximity interaction zones and non-verbal cues According to Albrecht, social intelligence involves correct interpretation based on social signs of nonverbal behavioral cues and generation of non-verbal cues displaying social signals suitable in a given situation (Albrecht 2005). If I enter in a room a â€Å"Mix and Mingle† Business and people are already talking in groups, I would introduce myself by expressing some sense of happiness through a genuine smile. The second step will be to make an aye contact with the person close to me, a nonverbal cue that will engage the gathering and show my interest in participating in the discussion. For any leader who might get himself in a situation like mine, I recommend that he should first of all learn how to use positive body language signals. If people

Sophocles’ Oedipus the King and Shakespeare’s Hamlet Essay Example for Free

Sophocles’ Oedipus the King and Shakespeare’s Hamlet Essay It is hard to divorce the subject of the gods in discussing Oedipus’ tragic flaw. In Sophocles’ time, the Greeks’ way of life was determined by the gods. They would not dream of calling practices such as consulting the Oracle or the procession as superstitious. Similarly, it is difficult to discuss Hamlet’s madness without relating it to the Ghost. Shakespeare’s England, fresh from experiencing the Reformation, also had its own sets of superstitions. In the same way that peoples’ lives in those times were powerfully affected by superstitions and the supernatural, the decisions of several characters in the plays mentioned above were also influenced by superstitions and the supernatural. Although it is often thought that the plots of Oedipus the King and Hamlet revolve around the manner in which Oedipus and Hamlet use human reasoning and rational thinking to fashion themselves as heroes, the purpose of this essay is to argue otherwise, since both heroes are fashioned by superstition and the supernatural that provide the heroic codes that they must follow, dictating them how to live their lives as heroes. The plots of both Hamlet and Oedipus the King revolve around solving the evils in Thebes and Denmark, respectively. The supernatural reveals the causes of these problems and the actions that the heroes must take in order to put balance back into their worlds. For the heroes to do this, they must complete a superstitious task. As one might see, the tasks of both heroes are strangely similar. For Oedipus, it is taking â€Å"the son’s part† (280) and punishing the murderer of Laios. For Hamlet, it is avenging his father’s murder.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Oedipus the King, the cause of the plague is revealed through the Delphic Oracle. Due to the on-stage absence of the gods in the play, oracles and Teiresias function as their voices. Both of these are essential for truth and revelations. They represent the supernatural. In the play, the truth means power, as Teiresias affirms as he argues Oedipus, â€Å"[†¦] there is power in truth† (390). Teiresias knew that the truth itself can kill Oedipus. The drama evolves through revelations about Oedipus’ fate and his apparent blindness to it. Oedipus, as a tragic hero complete with characteristics such as hubris, hastiness and blindness, tries to shift the center to himself as a god-like problem-solver, declaring â€Å"I, Oedipus, who bear the famous name† (8). He follows the mystery to the end until his eventual fall, causing him to inflict the punishment upon himself in order to appease justice. Though Oedipus is no slave to fate, he was a victim of it since he could not avoid his fate. Though fate can be seen as the will of the gods, it is maintained that Oedipus alone is responsible for his actions, as the second messenger pointed out: â€Å"The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves† (1283). The concept of fate is complicated, but it is very similar to the Protestant doctrine of predestination, where one is destined to be somebody or do something even when one has free will. In the first scene, the chorus asks why Oracle does not divulge the identity of the murderer. Strangely, Oedipus himself provides the explanation for this: â€Å"[†¦] no man in the world can make the gods do more than the gods’ will† (296-297). Teiresias also insisted that â€Å"[†¦] there’s no help in truth† (334), but Oedipus forces him into saying it. He insisted on knowing out of his own sense of piety and justice. That is his downfall. It is too late when Oedipus realizes this: â€Å"He [Apollo] brought my sick, sick fate upon me, but the blinding hand was mine own!† (1386-1387). Even in the end, superstition limits what he could do to himself. It prevents him from committing suicide, since in Hades, he does not know how to face both his father and mother (1419-1422). The modern reader would most probably wonder why Oedipus is subjected to such a fate. One may not answer that completely and accurately for the Greeks would argue that it is not any mortal’s business to ask that. In the play, moral characters’ lives are contrasted with the gods’ immortal lives. Through the gods, the Greeks are reminded of their mortality seeing â€Å"how our lives like birds take wing† (183). Oedipus’ story also reminds them of this lesson. The play concludes with that same thought: Let every man in mankind’s frailty Consider his last day; and let none Presume on his good fortune until he find Life, at his death, a memory without pain (1581-1884). In Hamlet, it is suggested that the superstitions and the supernatural have a real hold upon the characters. The appearance of the supernatural, in this case, the Ghost, tells the characters that â€Å"something is rotten in the state of Denmark† (1.4.90). Like in Oedipus the King, superstitions provide explanations for certain scientifically unexplainable events and occurrences. The Ghost first appears on the first scene of act one where Horatio, Marcellus and Barnardo were waiting for it. It doesn’t utter a word so one could only visualize the Ghost through what the trio says of it. From Horatio, the audience learns that it looks like the dead king and that he is wearing the armor that he wore when he â€Å"smote the sledded Polack on the ice† (1.1.59-63). As he tried to question the ghost, he referred to three more popular superstitions to explain the reason behind the Ghost’s appearance: it seeks someone whose action will enable it to rest in peace (1.1.130-131), it knows of a future disaster in store for Denmark (1.1.133-134) or it seeks buried treasure â€Å"extorted† when alive (1.1.136-137). The Ghost vanishes as the cock crows. Horatio is not the only superstitious character in the play. Hamlet meets the ghost on the fourth scene. Though he knew not whether the ghost is of heaven or hell, he calls it â€Å"Hamlet,† his father (1.1.44-45). As the Ghost beckons him to a remote place, Horatio and Marcellus urge Hamlet not to follow it for fear that it might â€Å"draw him into madness† (1.1.75). True enough, that is exactly what will happen in the next scenes and acts. The Ghost doesn’t speak to Hamlet until the next scene. It introduces itself as Hamlet’s father, hinting at the terrors of the afterlife (1.5.9-13).   It asks him to â€Å"revenge his foul and most unnatural murder† (1.5.25). Strangely enough, Hamlet is not completely surprised, even guessing the murderer as his uncle (1.5.40-41). In this scene, the Ghost acts and thinks like Hamlet who also condemns his â€Å"most seeming virtuous queen† (1.5.46). In its last words to Hamlet it cries â€Å"remember me† (1.1.91). Hamlet does remember him throughout the play. It is this rite of revenge that he will enact until the last act. He has to do it at the right moment, as superstition dictates. The scene where Claudius prays is not the right time for his death. The Ghost and its memory guide his actions and decisions, though invisible. In Hamlet’s confrontation with his mother, the Ghost appears again in a more domestic garb, preventing him from harming his mother. It is strange though that in that scene, Gertrude doesn’t see the ghost. One may never know if this is a sign of her moral blindness or if this is only a projection of Hamlet’s madness as Gertrude thinks. The Ghost causes Hamlet’s â€Å"dread of something after death† (3.1.78). This is exactly the subject of Hamlet’s most famous speech. Because of the terrifying vision of the Ghost, death becomes an â€Å"undiscovered country† (3.1.87). Hamlet doesn’t know where he will go after death, so he doesn’t commit suicide. Conscience, or the lack of it, makes a â€Å"coward† of him and therefore, â€Å"lose the name of action† (3.1.96). When finally Hamlet does avenge his father, all is set aright. As Hamlet dies, he elects Fortinbras as the new king of Denmark, who like him has also lot his father. It is through this deed that Hamlet becomes a fully fledged hero. Like his father in death, Hamlet also appeals to Horatio â€Å"draw thy breath in pain to tell my story† (5.2.183-184). Thus, he passes the call for remembrance. Superstitions and the supernatural indeed provide the heroic codes which shape the plots of these dramas. Although Oedipus and Hamlet both conform to their periods’ respective notions of heroes, the concept above runs the same for them. In the endings of both plays, the audiences come face to face with visions of mortality. These visions are intended for them, as well as the characters, to remember life itself.       Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. Folger Library Shakespeare. NY: Washington Square Press, 1992. Sophocles. â€Å"Oedipus Rex.† The Oedipus Cycle. Trans. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. San Diego and NY: Harvest/HBJ, 1977.

Essay on Abuse of Power in Catch-22 -- Catch-22

The Abuse of Power Exposed in Catch-22    In 1955, Joseph Heller wrote Catch-22. The story takes place on a small island in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Italy. As the story progresses, it follows the actions of a man named Yosarrian and his companions in his squadron. Many of the men begin with high rank and others are promoted throughout the novel. As these men come into power, one of Heller's themes is explicitly shown; as men achieve power, they become compelled to abuse it.    The story begins with Yosarrian in a hospital. He is there "with a pain in his liver that fell just short of being jaundice. The doctors were puzzled by the fact that it wasn't quite jaundice. If it became jaundice they could treat it. If it didn't become jaundice and went away they could discharge him. But this just short of being jaundice all the time confused them" (7). Yosarrian is clever about how he fakes his condition and is able to stay in the hospital for as long as he wishes. The doctors in the hospital are blind to the deception and allow Yosarrian to stay. After Yosarrian realizes that he can deceive the doctors, he returns whenever he wishes to relax and escape from the war. He even kicks other patients with real conditions out of their beds. "The startled patient jumped down to the floor at Yosarrian's command and ran away. Yosarrian climbed up into his bed and became Warrant Officer Homer Lumley, who felt like vomiting and was covered suddenly with clammy sweat" (286). Yosarrian likes the way it feels to move into someone else's bed and continues to do abuse this power when at the hospital.    Another hospital episode is rather frightening. Yosarrian has been wounded and is semi-conscious as he listens to two ... ...operating, so he allows Milo to take credit for the flights of others. Milo is an example of the worst of the human spirit. His desire to make a quick buck makes him one to easily abuse his power for his own gain.    To a certain extent, all men desire power. Yet how much power any man craves depends on his surroundings. In World War II, men were put into a survival of the fittest environment. For many, survival meant obtaining power in order to control their destiny. In Catch-22, Joseph Heller captured that feeling in his characters. From the absurdity of Lieutenant Scheisskopf to Milo's syndicate, Heller shows how easily men are able to abuse their power. To this day that feeling lurks somewhere inside of all of us. It is just a matter of what it takes for that need to emerge. Works Cited   Heller, Joseph. Catch-22, Simon and Schuster, 1955

Gerontology and Social Exchange Theory Essay

Introduction The fundamental biological problem that all theories of aging seek to explain was stated very elegantly in 1957 by Williams when he wrote, â€Å"It is indeed remarkable that after a seemingly miraculous feat of morphogenesis, a complex metazoan should be unable to perform the much simpler task of merely maintaining what is already formed.† The difficulty in attempting to establish an understanding of aging is that it is not a single physiological process. It is multifaceted and hierarchical in its expression with subtle changes occurring simultaneously at the molecular, cellular, tissue and organ levels. The variety of characterizes many species, particularly humans, and the complexity of environmental interactions results in an enormous phenotypic variability being associated with aging. This variability is frequently confounded by the symptoms of underlying pathology and invariably increases between individuals with aging. First Transformation of Theory The beginning of social gerontology began as general perspectives on aging rather than as actual scientific theories. Prior to 1961, social gerontology attempted to explain how individuals adjusted to aging from role and activity perspectives. Growing old was seen as an inevitable process that led to the development of problems an individual experienced overtime. It wasn’t until 1961, with the development of disengagement theory, that there was an actual theory being used as a basis for scientific research. A basic assumption of the theory was that all societies have to transfer power from an aging population to a younger one. Disengagement attempted to explain this process of power transfer and complimented gerotrancendence, another theory from what is considered to be the first transformation of theory. Gerotrancendence follows the beliefs of Jung and Erikson that as a person ages, they withdraw from the external world to an internal world focused on spirituality, wisdom, se lf-acceptance and purpose. Both disengagement and gerotrancendence theories attempted to explain what social gerontologists thought aging should be. They did not try to develop a universal theory to explain the variety of experiences of people as they age (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2011). In the case of disengagement, this withdrawal from power was  believed to be a universal experience that transcended gender and culture. Death was inevitable; decline in abilities was probably. It was only natural that others would have lowered expectations for aging individuals. In the case of gerotrancendence, this withdrawal resulted from an individual not achieving ego identity. An individual would either attain this ego identity, a positive regard for their life, or withdraw as a symptom of despair (Andrus Gerontology Center; University of Southern California, 2005) A third theory of the time period was continuity theory, which postulated that â€Å"individuals tend to maintain a consistent pattern of behavior as they age, substituting similar types of roles for lost ones and keeping typical ways of adapting to the environment† (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2011, p. 319). Individual satisfaction was dependent on how consistent a person was able to maintain the same patterns of behavior. Though attempting to challenge previous theories based on activity and disengagement perspectives, it also did not address any personality differences among aging individuals, nor did it address any political, social, historical or cultural influences on the experience of aging (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2011). It is interesting to note that though continuity theory attempted to challenge the activity theory, it was similar to the activity perspective that that was a positive relationship between social roles and life satisfaction (Howe, 1987). Alternative Theoretical Perspectives Alternative theories based on a symbolic interaction perspective were developed to address external issues affecting aging while also attempting to connect the disparate theories of activity and disengagement. Symbolic interaction perspective is based on the premise that as an individual interacts with his environment; his experiences of aging are shaped by these interactions. Three of these alternative theories are: age stratification theory, social exchange theory, and the political economy of aging. There are many similarities and differences between these theories. Age stratification and political economy theories are based on the belief that as people age, the differences in their aging experience is significantly influenced by stratification. Age stratification acknowledges the differences experienced by those sharing a similar history. Similarities among life events and societal changes experienced by these historical  cohorts affect these individuals in similar ways. In contrast, political economy theory rejects all previous theories and posits that differences between individual experiences of aging are determined by social class. Socioeconomic and political factors determine the disparity between different groups in an aging population. Social exchange theory is based on an economic cost-benefit model of social interaction. It could be said that there is a similarity between social exchange and political economy in that disparities experienced are social in nature. Whereas in social exchange theory, an individual is thought to be able to influence or change one’s environment as one adapts, political economy believes that inequalities are built into the political system. Political economy critiques the current system which lulls the individual into believing one has to adapt to circumstances, rather than changing society’s structural inequalities. Of the alternative theories, social exchange is the only one to address the influence of culture on the experience of aging. Social exchange theory believes that people interact with those whom they believe the rewards outweigh the costs of the relationship (Taylor, Peplau, & Sears, 2006). Though social exchange theory acknowledges that though a person may no longer have the same economic value when older, that the older individual possesses other non-materialistic assets such as wisdom, love, and time for service. As our society modernized, these assets have been overlooked by a culture that now places importance on efficiency and productivity (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2011). The Second Transformation The second transformation was developed in the early 1980’s. This transformation includes the following approaches: social phenomenology, social constructivism, and social constructionism. Both of which discuss the influence of social perceptions, rather than actual facts. Social phenomenology is an interpretative approach to an individual’s social life on a day to day basis. The purpose is to gain a better understanding of the aging process and how it is influenced by social definitions and social structures. This approach can be a very helpful guide when gaining understanding of an individual’s social life, depending on how the information is obtained. The outcomes for this approach will be solely based on the interpretations of the individual (s) obtaining this information. Not  everyone has the same social definition and or social structures, which could result in numerous interpretations (Hooyman& Kiyak, 2011). Social Constructionism and Social Constructiv ism are both phenomenological approaches that focus on social phenomena development, but are very different. Social constructionism is the sociological perspective and focuses on the social contexts and structural development. This approach would view how an individual structures their life which shapes their old age experiences. Social constructivism is interpreting the meaning of an individual’s social context, psychologically. From this approach the researchers want to know more information on why a person chooses a specific context and how an individual does decide a specific social context (Hooyman& Kiyak, 2011). Critical Theory and Feminist Perspectives are also influenced by phenomenology. Critical theory refers to the biomedical model of aging, but focuses on structural and institution factors. This theory is suggesting that those (older people) participating in research studies should be allowed to come up with the questions they are requested to answer. For instance, research conducted regarding retirement would recommend a series of questions complied by other retirees (Hooyman& Kiyak, 2011). The Feminist Theory concludes that age related research outcomes involve inequalities against wom en. This theory suggests that women haven’t been included in research studies as they should be. It’s even been stated that men have been favored over women. Due to these inequalities all other theories of aging are insufficient. These inequalities also include gender with race, social class, sexual orientation, and disabilities, all of which aren’t discussed as much as they should be (Hooyman& Kiyak, 2011). These theories are all based on assumptions, rather than actual facts. The text states, â€Å"To positivist, phenomenological theories may seem impossible to test and closer to assumptions about meanings than propositions that can be proved or disprove† (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2011, p. 326).Society has a huge impact on our perceptions of life, which aren’t consistent and change over time. A huge factor of perception is that it’s not necessarily reality and lacks proven facts. If the information being evaluated isn’t consistent, lacks factual information, and is based on assumptions it shouldn’t be used for practice, but could be a beneficial guiding tool (Hooyman& Kiyak, 2011). Postmodernist Theory Postmodernist theory represents a decisive break with modernity or a positivist scientific approach to an â€Å"objective† truth (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2011, p. 331). Postmodernism focuses on how our world appears today, rather than focusing on how an individual wishes for the world to be seen. Postmodernist theory reviews the whole of a person’s experiences during their life time and examines the body not from a biological standpoint, but rather by everyday social and cultural practices built overtime to construct the identity of the individual. The individual will physically change overtime, but their essential identity develops based on achievements and future goals. An area that continues to develop in postmodernist theory focuses on biomedical technology that can provide options for reconstructing failing body parts to slow the process of aging. Postmodernist and social constructivist theories share the link of knowledge as a socially constructed element and each indivi dual’s social life events create who they are. This diversity of perspectives alerts social gerontologists to be concerned with the connections between scientific inquiry and the social milieu at particular influential points in time (Putney, Alley, & Bengston, 2005, p. 95). Both areas focus on an individual’s construct based on a cultural framework of customs, traditions, and beliefs. Social constructionism and postmodernist take into account how individual experiences alter an individual’s aging process allowing the person to develop their own reality. Each area stresses the importance of the individual’s social framework to help sustain their self-worth as they age. In contrast to political economy of aging, postmodernists focus on the well-being of an individual not from a social class or political standing, but from their life experiences. Structural factors of gender, sexual orientation, functional ability, race, age and class can have negative effects that limit an individual’s later opportunities. According to Hooyman & Kiyak (2011), these structural factors—often institutionalized and reinforced by public policy—limit the opportunities and choices of later life, resulting in cumulative disadvantages in o ld age, which are further exacerbated by retirement (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2011, p. 323). These differences force aging individuals to change themselves and their lifestyles to fit income, health and physical care policy constraints forced  on them. Increased reduction in public health and social services creates a barrier for individuals to affectively age and receive proper care. Postmodernist theory follows the same framework of individual aging. It develops with the individual to meet their needs on a personal level and takes into consideration what the body and mind have both gone through as they have aged. According to Powell (2011), older people are usually ‘fixed’ to roles without resources which does not do justice to the richness of their individual experiences and multi-facets of their personalities (Powell, 2001, p. 6). Postmodernism clearly focuses on the importance of an individual’s ability to develop overtime through experience and uses biomedicine to provide options for maintaining an individual’s physical body. This provides a solid framework for aging that meets the needs of an individual from both physical and mental capacities. Conclusion While these are the dominant theories, many other theories are in varying stages of development. In addition, theories are constantly being tested and modified as new data from aging research emerges. It is only in the last half-century that researchers have begun to focus their attention on older adults as a population worthy of special consideration. While earlier theories of aging were few in number, narrowly focused, and generally negative, recent theories have emerged that establish aging as a multidimensional process. These theories view aging as characterized by positive as well as negative qualities and are more interactive in nature. They emphasize the interaction of biological, physical, and social factors in each individual’s age trajectory, and attempt to explain how older adults can minimize the negative and maximize the positive aspects of aging, in order to more fully enjoy the increased life span that comes with living in the 21st century. References Andrus Gerontology Center; University of Southern California. (2005). The Psychology of Aging: Lecture Part II. Retrieved from http://gero.usc.edu/AgeWorks/core_courses/gero500_core/psychology_lect/index_a.htm Hooyman, N. R., & Kiyak, H. A. (2011). Social Gerontology, ninth edition. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Howe, C. Z. (1987). Selected Social Gerontology Theories and Older Adult Leisure Involvement: A Review of the

Gender And Gender Roles Have Radically From The Time...

The idea of gender and gender roles have evolved minimally from the time Henrick Ibsen â€Å"A Doll House,† was first published. In the late 1800s, just before the beginning of the first wave of feminism in the United States and Europe, women were looking for ways to gain independence from their â€Å"duty† to marry a man, have children, and live a life to home and yearned for the freedom to choose what kind of lives they wanted to live, what they wanted to do, etc. In the beginning of the play, the views of gender are fairly typical, though by the end of the play, the gender roles among the main characters change dramatically. According to an essay by Stephanie Forward, the original Norwegian title literally refers to a â€Å"small, cozy and neat† home, one that was meant to reflect the homes of the play s audience, so that members could better identify with the scenes, characters and occurrences that happen in the play. Nora Helmer, who we could consider the ma in character in this drama, ends the final act by walking out of her home into the dark night (literally and figuratively, as society would be unwelcoming to her) and slamming the door shut, implying that she left her husband and three children, which, of course, encouraged young, single women to achieve freedom, but also shocked a large percentage of the public. Critics viewed her character as someone who was â€Å"unnatural† for leaving her husband and children because they feared that such behavior would lead to an upheaval in