Wednesday, December 25, 2019
The Unequal Distribution Of Wealth Affects Students From A...
Education Inequality From an early age, individuals in America have tried to do everything in their power to reduce the inequalities of gender and race; however, the inequalities of education have proven to affect the future of the country the most. Education is a fundamental human right that is indispensable to both the well-being of an individual and society. To many people, it is considered a great equalizer in America, improving the lives and opportunities for children from a young age. Nevertheless, the great equalizer is constantly threatened, affecting the developments of these opportunities. The unequal distribution of wealth affects students of all ages in the education system. In order to reduce education inequality, the funds allocated to the low-income neighborhoods in a state should to be increased not only to decrease the gap between rich and poor and decrease the amount of poorly paid teachers, but also to provide schools with enough resources to ensure success. Although in the past the biggest cause for unequal opportunities in education has been the gap between different races, recently the gap between income percentiles has affected students substantially. Students go to schools in districts that correlate to the income percentile they are in. Because of this, many students in high-poverty neighborhoods are not given the same amount of time and money as students in upper-class neighborhoods are (Cordes and Miller). This can be seen in a study, conducted inShow MoreRelatedEquality And Social Inequality Of Class And Class Equality1400 Words à |à 6 Pagesdivisions. (reference thoughtco) Social inequality affects the way we view other people, meaning that some people are treated better than others. (Wilson and pickett spirit level) This essay will be focusing on class and ethnic social divisions and how they highlight an unequal distribution of wealth, privilege and power. Unequal distribution can be seen in a variety of ways, such as inco me and wealth inequality for the working class, and unequal opportunities for ethnic minorities in the workplaceRead MoreIn Australia, a Persons Social Class Impacts Their Life Chances1698 Words à |à 7 PagesSocial class affects oneââ¬â¢s life chance across a broad range of social occurrence from education achievement to health care to contact with the criminal justice system. This essay will argue that class has a remarkable impact on the life chances of an individual. It will further expostulate that high outcomes in academic performance in Australia is more prevalent on students from the high rank of hierarchy than those from poor families, that health issues are more profound in people from lower socioeconomicRead MoreThe Wealth Gap Issue Of America1338 Words à |à 6 PagesThe Wealth Gap Issue The wealth gap. It affects us all; old or young, male or female, and-- most importantly-- rich or poor. Itââ¬â¢s what separates the most powerful and highest-paid people in America from the rest of us. Itââ¬â¢s an issue that receives some attention, but perhaps not enough. The richest 1% of the U.S. owns more wealth than the bottom 90%, and thatââ¬â¢s not the only reality of this issue. You see, this is a social and economic problem contributing to a plethora of other big problems hereRead MoreKeeping Our Youthfulness in No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz1459 Words à |à 6 Pagesis struggling with drug addiction. In Horner, there are two gangs that claim it as their area, and the Rivers family is always hiding from all the shooting. The apartment they live in is so unkempt, and mostly too old. Their mother, LaJoe, does all she can to keep her children out of danger in the community. The children also have to watch out for themselves from danger and quickly losing their childhood. The boys find it difficult to have friends because most of the other children are involved inRead MoreEssay on The Conflict of the Republic of the Congo1655 Words à |à 7 Pagesthe damage of social and economic structure have destroyed the economy. Corruption among government officials and foreign investors in the Republic of Congo has increased widespread poverty, hampered economic development, and widened unequal income and wealth distribution that is negatively affecting the poor more than the rich. By implementing new strategies for the Republic of the Congo, a more justified approach in government could provid e better economic growth and development for the country inRead MoreInequality Is A Natural Side Effect Of A Capitalist Economy1658 Words à |à 7 PagesIntroduction The Issue In President Obamas State of the Union address he stated income inequality as the biggest problem facing the future of the world. Income inequality is defined as the unequal distribution of wealth throughout a groupââ¬â¢s population (Inequality). Inequality is a natural side effect of a capitalist economy, but when itââ¬â¢s left unchecked like in most 3rd world countries it creates growing divides that hamper growth, prosperity, happiness and the general well-being of the populationRead MoreInformation Technology1980 Words à |à 8 Pagesinfluenced by colonial policies On development, certain regions in Kenya have benefited more from development in terms of social amenities. This school usually have high infrastructure with well developed in terms of buildings, equipped libraries and high number of qualified teachers. This system still holds and education is still distributed along colonial administrative division. Communities in more regions benefit from the proximity to these facilities. These regional disparities make sum schools to beRead MoreSocial Inequality In Australia Essay1580 Words à |à 7 PagesSocial inequality and its impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Social inequality is a problematic phenomenon that occurs all around the world and affects both the developed and developing nations. It is defined as ââ¬Å"the unequal distribution of social, political and economic resources within a social collectiveâ⬠(van Krieken et al. 2013, p. 205). Inequality is closely connected with social stratification, a system of social hierarchy that positions individuals and groups into categoriesRead More Poor Living Conditions and Ill Health Essay2062 Words à |à 9 Pageshas been a strong push amongst policy makers to study the non-medical determinants of health as opposed to the traditional narrow way of thinking with regards to medical treatments or lifestyle choices (Mikkonen, Raphael 2010). Income and income distribution is thought to be the most important of the social determinants of health because it further influences other social determinants of health for example, low-income families are forced to live under circumstances of materi al and social deprivationRead MoreStudents With A Quality And Equitable Education2070 Words à |à 9 Pagesprovide all students with a quality and equitable educationââ¬â¢. There is a plethora of empirical evidence suggesting that the education system is failing to meet the social justice needs of a growing minority of students. ( iAustralian Bureau of Statistics, 1997, iiBuckingham 1999, iiiLuke Freebody 1999, ivMCEETYA, (2001) The system is failing three main groups of students, these being lower class / Socioeconomic students, rural students and Language Backgrounds Other Than English students (LBOTE).
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
The Evolution Of The Human Body - 989 Words
The evolution of the human body can be observed from studying the intermediates found in ancestral organisms. Shubin proposes that every attribute that makes us human can be traced back to a time that showcases its importance for survival. Every single trait in the human body has been selected for through multiple mechanisms of evolution, natural selection being one of them. This theory is intriguing because not long ago it was unheard of to relate humans to fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds. Every highly specialized characteristic such as balance, sight, smell, and more began as an extremely simple mutational advantage. The complexity seems unfathomable to many as to how the human body as been come to be, but everything can be explained logically once scientists take a closer look at other organisms. Selective pressure is constantly promoting the survival of advantages mutations and quickly removing disadvantageous traits. Organisms were not designed to be what they are today but rather they underwent a lengthy experiment of trial and error. The different environmental pressures have lead to a vast expansion of biodiversity, each organism is best suited to fit their own niche. There is no ââ¬Å"superiorâ⬠organism since the outcome is that the species is the best adapted to its environment over another species. Species always have a potential niche and a realized niche where their specific advantageous traits were selected for to aid in their survival. SpecificShow MoreRelatedThe Evolution Of The Human Body996 Words à |à 4 Pagesinformation website is primarily focused on the evolution of the human body. The web source provides various selections to choose from, including: the human evolution summary, timeline, hall of skulls, and their perspectives. Likewise, the human evolution page describes the fossil hominids and their origins. The author recapitulates the hominid family, which consists of Homo, Australopithecus, and Ardipithecus. Correspondingly, the human evolution timeline page includes six distinct topi cs that followRead MoreThe Evolution Of The Human Body997 Words à |à 4 PagesThe human form is simple yet faintly complex, always present yet hidden. The human figure has always been a common subject in visual art. For centuries, there has been a development of diverse depictions of the human body. The earliest known representations of the human body come from Europe and are dated back to approximately 25,000 and 12,000 years ago. As artwork surfaces, the similarities of physical features and styles are distinctly noticeable, therefore grouping artwork from specific timeRead MoreThe Evolution Of Ballet And The Human Body2010 Words à |à 9 PagesEmma Weber Instructor Miller Speech 96-111 April 7, 2015 The Evolution of Ballet Influential philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, stated that ââ¬Å"the human body is the best picture of the human soul.â⬠A great example of the human body portraying the soul is through the art of ballet. From the Cambridge Dictionary Online, ballet can be defined as ââ¬Å"a type of dancing in which controlled movements of the body are designed to express the beauty of physical motion, often while telling a story, or a piece ofRead MoreTracing Chemical Evolution of the Human Body Essays631 Words à |à 3 Pagesseveral different means. Two of the most popular are looking at the phenotypic signs like body structure or appendages things that can be seen, another popular way of tracing is similar structures that have developed or gone away like a tail bone on a human. Another way to track evolution is to look at the development of proteins and other chemicals in the organismââ¬â¢s body. Through tracking the evolution of chemicals a person can see how close two organisms are related. This method of trackingRead MoreEvolution Is More Correct Than Creationism1196 Words à |à 5 PagesWhy Evolution is More Correct than Creationism Would you believe that humans and other primates have a common ancestor? Would you believe that you evolved so much that your appendix is a useless organ? Evolution has all of the answers to these questions. However, Creationism doesnââ¬â¢t have all of the answers. Over 60 percent of people believe in evolution. Why shouldnââ¬â¢t you? Evolution is defined as ââ¬Å"the slow process by which changes in plants and animals happen over timeâ⬠(Websterââ¬â¢s Dictionary)Read MoreEssay about Evolution1502 Words à |à 7 PagesAdaptations are phenotypic variants that result in the highest fitness among a specified set of variants in a given environment. In reference to humans, there are many traits that have been selected and adapted for throughout their evolutionary history giving them the characteristics that they have today. In this paper I will discuss some parts of the human body, which have been found to be selected for by the evolutionary mechanisms of natural selection, adaptation and mutation. Natural selectionRead MoreEvolution : A Scientific Theory1625 Words à |à 7 PagesScience Education, evolution is a scientific theory that explains the emergence of new varieties of living things in the past and in the present. Evolution accounts for the striking patterns of similarities and differences among living things over time and across habitats through the action of biological processes such as natural selection, mutation, symbiosis, gene transfer, and genetic drift. There has been an ongoing debate between religion and science as to whether evolution truly takes placeRead MoreUnderstanding The Mind Body Problem994 Words à |à 4 PagesSection one, question two 2.) Discuss how the following concepts relate to the mind-body problem: * neurophysiology * psychophysics * theory of evolution. For each, be sure and: (1) describe the area of study, (2) discuss the views of at least ONE major thinker associated with that area of study, and (3) explain what that area of study contributed to the attempt to reconcile the mind-body problem. The mind-body problem tries to explain the states of the minds, occurrence of events, and actionRead MoreEssay on Different Theories of the Creation of the World850 Words à |à 4 Pagestwo that rival each other are the religious versions and the scientific version. The quote ââ¬Å"They say that every atom in our bodies was once a part of a starâ⬠, by Carl Sagan an astronomer, supports the scientific theory, which is being accepted as true more and more each day. What the quote tells us is that Carl Sagan believed in the Big Bang theory and the theory of evolution. This quote supports the Big Bang theory in many ways. First, the big bang theory is the theory that the universe expandedRead MorePsychology : Mind Body Problem898 Words à |à 4 PagesMind body problem tries to explain the states of the minds, occurrence of events, and action of processes. For instance, thinking is related to other processes and events of the mind. The fact that the mind is not physical in nature and the body is physical attests to this explanation. Mind body problem relate to some of the scientific concepts in different kind of ways. The relationship between the mind body problem and the concepts of neurophysiology, psychophysics and theory of evolution is discussed
Monday, December 9, 2019
Inequality in Organizations
Question : Discuss about the Inequality in Organizations ? Answer : Introduction This study deals with analyzing the inequality that prevails in an organization. In this particular assignment, focus has been given on explaining the importance of ontological assumptions and it is related with the journal articles on inequality (Windzio 2013). The current segment elucidates the research theoretical perspectives that include modernist perspective and critical theory perspective. Both the perspectives are unique in their own ways and used by the researchers as and when required depending upon the nature of study. The present study signifies that inequality should be avoided in an organization as every employee has his or her own rights and responsibilities. They should be treated equally in terms of respect, responsibility, race, creed religion (Sieben, Braun and Ferreira 2016). The overview of the study is to bring out the best perspective of research theories that will be used by the researcher at the time of performing the research. The assignment defines both the perspectives and analyzes which perspective to be used in both the journal articles that are used in the study. It is therefore understood that organization should recruit HR managers who can bring out policies where there can be equal opportunities given to every employee who work for an organization (Podsakoff et al. 2013). Modernist Perspective- Modernist perspectives add value to an organization and it is more effective than postmodern, critical and sense-making approaches. This theory was developed during industrial revolution. Modernist perspective is a philosophical movement that works according to cultural trends and changes by bringing far-reaching transformations in Western society (Podsakoff et al. 2013). Modernist perspectives means the knowledge claimed in multiple perspectives like race, gender, class and group affiliations. In other words, individuals in the hierarchy of multiple meanings of language expose negative situation in the incidence of hierarchies, control, and power. The perspective takes into consideration the different discourses, marginalized people, as they are important by nature. It involves meta-narratives or universals that holds true of the social circumstances. This means there is need for deconstructing the text to learn about hierarchies, contradictions and opposition s (Sieben, Braun and Ferreira 2016). Critical Theorist Perspective- Critical theory perspective widely stresses on the reflective assessments as well as analysis of culture and background by applying information from communal sciences and humanity (Sieben, Braun and Ferreira 2016). This theory focus on empowering people for transcending the constraints placed on them by race, class and power. It can be interpreted or illuminated by communal action where themes involve scientific study of institutions and their alteration. This can be done by interpreting the meanings of communal life, historical troubles, communal struggles as well as domination and alienation (Pickett and Vanderbloemen 2015). Analyzing the different ontological assumptions that includes modernist and critical theorist perspective Ontological assumptions relates with the nature of the world as well as human beings in social context. It has been observed that there are various assumptions that can be viewed by seeing the world as outside individual. (Nunn and White 2016) Hence, ontology in normative explains that social phenomenon considered as independent from other major factors. The world is one and there are no further perceptions involved. Ontological relates to the nature of reality as well as its characteristics. According to researchers, the theory embraces the idea of multiple realities as well as report on the multiple realities by way of exploring the multiple forms of evidence from various individual perspectives and experiences at the same time (Sieben, Braun and Ferreira 2016). The first journal article is taken from Scandinavian Journal of Management and titled as Reproduction of Typical gender roles in temporary organizations (Sieben, Braun and Ferreira 2016). In this particular journal article, the author has argued regarding temporary organizations that are differing from each other in given aspects from permanent ones and as a result, this leads to gender-neutral. While conducting gender research in permanent organization, it has been noted that it indicates congruency between the gender and the project roles that has comparable mechanisms in both permanent as well as temporary system. In this article, modernist assumptions theory should have been used as the article itself exist and presented in form of journal articles. This will be a qualitative research that the researcher need to conduct so that they get to understand the multiple realities that happen due to inequality present in an organization (Sieben, Braun and Ferreira 2016). It is fact that every employees working in a organization are treated differently so it should be avoided and there should equal rights given to both gender such as male and female. The article highlights the fact as how there are typical gender role present while working in temporary organization and this means the projects that are short-term and closes after completion of that particular project (Lindberg, Forsberg and Karlberg 2015). The next journal article is taken from Human Resource Development Review and tiled as Deconstructing the Privilege and Power of Employee Engagement: Issues of Inequality for Management and Human Resource Development (Shuck et al. 2016). In this paper, the author had explored the job demands by using resource model of engagement through critical lenses of privilege and power. In other words, the deconstruction of the privilege and power of employee engagement widely focus on the principles such as who are responsible for controlling the context of work, determining the experience of appointment, defining the value of engagement and remuneration from the high levels of meeting. In this article, it requires to use critical theory perspective, as it will help in understanding the changes in how people react and interact or network for social theorizing (Lee and Turner 2014). The researcher needs to focus on use of intensive case study that will help in comparing the cases by using formal models. There have been various issues that are highlighted in the article by the author regarding the issues of inequality for Management and Human Resource expansion. This means people are not given equal rights in an organization that leads to inequality such as difference in race, creed and religion. These differences should not be created in an organization as all are equal and have the same rights and values when they work for any particular organization (Henry et al. 2015). Demonstrating the ability for recognizing the different assumptions made by modernist and critical theorist writings- Ontological takes into consideration ones view on reality and is the starting points that likely lead to own theoretical structure (Hearn 2016). Ontology is the study of claims and assumptions that are made from nature of communal reality, claims about what exists, what it looks like as well as how these units interact with one another. Person who studies ontology takes into account the matter that actually exist in the society as a whole. In this study, the selection is made of analyzing the ontological assumptions on the topic of inequality in an organization (Sieben, Braun and Ferreira 2016). This method has been used for the study as it set out clear relationship when a researcher thinks can be researched connecting it with the topic on inequality in an organization. These assumptions will inform the epistemological assumptions while collecting the data for study in the near future. Modernist theory paradigm of an organization majorly identifies the five core elements of an organization such as technology, social structure, environment as well as physical structure and organizational culture as a whole. In this, environment is composed of discretely identifiable players or stakeholders as it gets fit between the organization and its environment (Sieben, Braun and Ferreira 2016). In addition, technology is considered as the process that converts inputs to products and services or outputs in the transformation process that takes place in an organization. This is one of the theories that underpin the biological concept of various integration for justifying the social structure within an organization that is represented by hierarchy in the most appropriate way (Gray Adams and Owen 2014). Education research from the critical theory perspective challenges the reproduction of inequalities. It is too technological and concerned with competence as well as reasonableness of design that will be done by neglecting the social inequalities and issues of power. This reveals the fact that researchers should be looking for the political as well as financial foundations of constructing the information, teaching and curriculum (Fowler 2013). In an organization, this theory plays an important role as explicit part by constructing the facts based power on society. This help in understanding the interests of those who have power. It is essential for reducing the inequality in an organization and maintains the status quo at the same time. Comparison between modernist and critical theories perspective - On comparison between Modernist and critical theories perspectives, it has been noted that critical theories perspective is more effective than modernist theory (Sieben, Braun and Ferreira 2016). This is for the reason as Critical theory perspective assumes that social reality defines from persons who live in a society. This means social reality is socially constructed with the help of media, society and institutions. Hence, communal behavior is the major result of exacting illegitimate, oppressive factors as well as dominatory as it is not operated in general interest of a single person group, freedom and power. Modernist perspective had been criticized on the grounds as it fails to provide clear possible idea knowledge by any means. In case the researcher falsified an assumption without even affirming it, then also the research is objective as well as reflects social reality. This perspective lacks objectivity while c onducting any research (Dorling and Dorling 2015). This theory has behavioral uniformities but they are not evident among other entities and illusion of social construction. How both the selected perspectives deals with inequality- Critical theory perspective deals with inequality in terms of ownership of wealth as well as controlling the material possessions (Armingeon and Schdel 2015). It is considered as a simple view where other forms of equality are experienced in the society. Inequality has been described power that has the ability in influencing others that claimed that power and had number of sources like ownership of land and capital, physical strength as well as social status and education at the same time. It requires viewing at the stratification in terms of relationship between classes, party and status. This means status is related with the inequality that is to do with the way where people judge and relate to each other. On the contrary, class relates with inequality that have their sources in the workings of capitalism as well as marketplace. Status is the form of tendency where people judge each other. Some of the values has some feature s and despise others (Cingano 2015). Conclusion On critical analysis, it has been noted that the managers should use critical theory perspective so that they can reduce the organizational problems that rises from inequality. Organization should focus on attributes such as HR practices as well as other closely related organizational structures, practices and process. It is advisable to the organization to undertake multifaceted approach as it is consistent with the model whereby inequality can be reduced to large extent. It requires exploring the nature of inequality that prevails in an organization. It is the responsibility of the HR managers for looking into the matter and mange the workforce in an effective way. HR Managers should bring out set of policies as well as events enacted by managers and supervisors without any type of formal teaching. HR managers should believe in bringing uniformity at workplace where each employee will be treated with equality. They should access the employees and value their work by giving reward a nd recognition for the hardworking and sincere employees. It is thereby essential for an organization to look after their employees and treat them equally as they are the real asset of the organization. Human resources such as employees should be managed in the best possible ways so that they work hard and results in increased production in the upcoming financial year. Reference List Armingeon, K. and Schdel, L., 2015. Social inequality in political participation: The dark sides of individualisation.West European Politics,38(1), pp.1-27. Cingano, F., 2015. Trends in Income Inequality and its Impact on Economic Growth.INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS RESEARCH JOURNAL,10(3), pp.97-133. Dorling, D. and Dorling, D., 2015.Injustice: Why social inequality still persists. Policy Press. Fowler, A., 2013.Striking a balance: A guide to enhancing the effectiveness of non-governmental organisations in international development. Routledge. Gray, R., Adams, C. and Owen, D., 2014.Accountability, social responsibility and sustainability: Accounting for society and the environment. Pearson Higher Ed. Hearn, J., 2016. Inequality, liberal society, and the balance of power.Revue internationale de philosophie, (1), pp.109-128. Henry, S.K., Sandler, J., Passerini, L. and Darmstadt, G.L., 2015. Taking on the gender challenge in organisations: what does it take?.Global public health, pp.1-12. Lee, D.J. and Turner, B.S., 2014.Conflicts about class: Debating inequality in late industrialism. Routledge. Lindberg, M., Forsberg, L. and Karlberg, H., 2015. Gendered social innovation-a theoretical lens for analysing structural transformation in organisations and society.International Journal of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation,3(6), pp.472-483. Nunn, A. and White, P., 2016. The IMF and a new global politics of inequality?.The Journal of Australian Political Economy, (78), p.186. Pickett, K. and Vanderbloemen, L., 2015. Mind the gap: tackling social and educational inequality.Cambridge Primary Review Trust Report,4. Podsakoff, P.M., MacKenzie, S.B., Lee, J.Y. and Podsakoff, N.P., 2013. Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies.Journal of applied psychology,88(5), p.879. Podsakoff, P.M., MacKenzie, S.B., Paine, J.B. and Bachrach, D.G., 2013. Organizational citizenship behaviors: A critical review of the theoretical and empirical literature and suggestions for future research.Journal of management,26(3), pp.513-563. Shuck, B., Collins, J.C., Rocco, T.S. and Diaz, R., 2016. Deconstructing the Privilege and Power of Employee Engagement: Issues of Inequality for Management and Human Resource Development.Human Resource Development Review,15(2), pp.208-229. Sieben, B., Braun, T. and Ferreira, A.I., 2016. Reproduction of Typicalgender roles in temporary organizationsNo surprise for whom? The case of cooperative behaviors and their acknowledgement.Scandinavian Journal of Management,32(1), pp.52-62. Windzio, M., 2013. Integration and inequality in educational Institutions: An institutional perspective. InIntegration and inequality in educational institutions(pp. 3-18). Springer Netherlands.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
Skinheads an Example by
Skinheads Abstract essay Need essay sample on "Skinheads" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed In todays age of mass communication and lightning fast transmission of news and information, there are very few people who are not influenced by the generalizations that exist in society due to media coverage, rumor, and fear. A perfect example of this is the case of when inpiduals with shaved heads, wearing combat boots and blue jeans, with a few tattoos added for good measure are categorically identified as Skinheads, and automatically assumed to be violent racists, Nazis, and the like. In reality, while most Skinheads, as they have come to be known, are far from harmless, those who fit the previously mentioned description can be different from their counterparts elsewhere. In this paper, the Skinhead Movement will be traced from its origins to the present day; along the way, the global reach of these inpiduals, the possibility of their role as terrorists, and what the future holds for them will be discussed. Ultimately, the researcher will have presented a well rounded and balanced analysis of Skinheads, and their movement, upon completion of the paper. The Birth of the Skinhead Movement Before one can fully understand what genuine Skinheads represent and their impact on the world, a trip back in time is necessary to see exactly what kind of a mindset gave rise to the Skinhead Movement. Generally speaking, all true Skinhead factions can trace their lineage back to the early 20th century and the movements of the ultra-conservative right wing and fascism. More specifically, as the 20th century progressed, political activists like Russias Black Hundred advocated the overthrow of the established political order in favor of forms of government which advocated racism and violence as a means of gaining control of power (Lutz). Ultimately, this ideology would be embraced by a young Austrian named Adolf Hitler, who used genocide, violence, and deadly force to increase the power of his National Socialist, or Nazi party, and create what he envisioned to be a Master Race of blonde haired, blue eyed, Caucasians who were genetically superior. This Master Race, Hitler theorized, would rule the world for 1,000 years (Lutz). When Hitler was defeated in World War II, culminating with his suicide, there were those who still embraced the cause of Nazism and held out hope for its rebirth, although it would be inaccurate to say that they were Skinheads, just as it would be inaccurate to say that all Skinheads are Nazis. To study the birth of the Skinhead movement, one needs to fast forward to the Great Britain of the 1960s and move forward. Great Britain of the 1960s was a land of tremendous change; having just emerged from the destruction of World War II. The children who were born in the period immediately after World War II were entering their formative teenage years in the 1960s, and like most teenagers throughout history, sought to form their own cultural identity. Because of this identity search, these teens eventually discovered the mod style of dress and music taste popularized by Brits who wished to make a bold cultural statement in the late 1950s (Brown), with one notable exception- teens began not to wear their hair in an uncongenial style, but to either shave their heads completely or to shave their heads to the point where virtually no hair was left- hence the term Skinhead. At this point, the original birth of the Skinhead, the term simply referred to the appearance and musical taste of the inpiduals, rather than some sort of political statement or ideology. However, the Skinheads would soon become known for a lot more than music and appearance, as their need to find acceptance made them easy prey for others with more sinister motives than a good time and wild looking appearances. Eventually, on a global scale, Skinheads would take on, and be known for, other activities and values. Global Reach of Skinhead Groups Strangely enough, studies of the typical Skinhead show that they are not traditionally from the lowest socioeconomic tier of a given population, but more often than not, are from middle or even upper class families, but somehow have found themselves disillusioned with the path that their elders have chosen for them and seek a way to rebel. A broad act of rebellion that brought about an evolution in the Skinhead movement came with the Punk Craze that hit Britain in the 1970s. By the 1970s, Skinheads were positioned to move beyond Britain and to change their characteristics; these changes came about mostly due to the proliferation of Punk music, which by its very nature featured loud guitars and screaming anthems of rebellion and violence. A mutual love of this music between the rebellious youth of Britain and Germany eventually led to a sort of cultural exchange between the nations, and with it, an exportation of the ideas of white supremacy and old fashioned Nazism from the fringes of German society to the fringes of British society (Brown).It was through this process that the Skinhead Movement became universally and permanently linked with racism and violence, whether correct or not. When the worst aspects of the lowest common denominator of the Skinhead population were spread through the international media and popular culture, the stereotype of all Skinheads being racists and Nazi sympathizers grew. In fairness, however, Skinheads range in political ideology from the white supremacists of the political far right to those who fight for equality among the races on the far left, with many varieties in between (Braun). In other words, there are as many different mindsets among Skinheads as there are among normal society, but there are situations where Skinheads are linked to terrorist activities. The possibility that Skinheads could drive terrorist activities on a global scale is very real and merits additional discussion. Skinheads as Terrorists Strong evidence exists to show that Skinheads are responsible for a large amount of global terror, such as racism, sexism, ethnocentric thinking, and the like; this form of terrorism is not limited to a certain geographic area, but can be found in such global regions as Europe, the Americas, United Kingdom, and so forth (Baron). As widespread as these groups are, and despite the fact that they may never actually meet each other, the far right extremist wing of the Skinhead Movement are terrorists by definition, and advocate racial/ethnic segregation, genocide to remove the weak, sickly and elderly from the population, and the promotion of the type of Master Race that Hitler devoted his life to a generation ago. One of the major catalysts that has given the Skinhead Movement, especially the more extreme factions of it such strength in numbers is the ability of manipulative inpiduals to capture the allegiance of disenfranchised youths from all corners of the earth and induct them into The Skinhead Nation as it has come to be known. This is done through the promise of the respect and independence that they may not receive at home with their parents, mixed with the ability to listen to the music that they prefer, dress the way they like, and basically run wild and free-provided they fulfill their responsibilities to the Skinhead Nation, which ultimately become violent and racist in nature (Hamm). With the extremists of the Skinhead Movement firmly entrenched, and indications that the movements worst aspects will continue to grow as time goes by, the question arises as to where the Skinhead Movement will advance in the future. The Future of the Skinhead Movement While there are indications that the Skinhead Nation is growing in members and popularity, there is one thing that holds a slight ray of hope for those who wish to see the violent faction come to an end- a lack of organized leadership. While there are pockets of Skinheads worldwide, there is no unified leadership to bring them to a state of widespread power or status, which may in fact be the saving grace for the civilized world (Braun). This is vitally important as an issue of international security. Summary This paper, in an effort to explore the Skinhead phenomenon, has utilized historical context, comparison and contrast to show that Skinheads vary in beliefs, values and geographic location, but all Skinhead groups possess one common attribute that is perhaps the most important to be understood by the readers of this paper- potential for incredible brutality and disruption of the common good. The turbulent times of the 21st century have made it possible for any loosely organized group to seize power, and the Skinheads are no exception. Therefore, in closing, it is essential for all nations to keep a vigilant eye open to prevent Skinheads, or anyone else, to violate the freedom of decent people everywhere. Skinheads, as citizens of a civilized world, must be able to respect the rights of others if they are to be permitted to free expression, and in this concept lays the key to world peace- the age old ideal of respect. Then, and only then, can the world truly know peace. Works Cited Baron, Stephen W. "Canadian Male Street Skinheads: Street Gang or Street Terrorists?." The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology 34.2 (1997): 125+. Questia. 27 Nov. 2006 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000574314>. Braun, Aurel, and Stephen Scheinberg, eds. The Extreme Right: Freedom and Security at Risk. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1997. Brown, Timothy S. "Subcultures, Pop Music and Politics: Skinheads and "Nazi Rock" in England and Germany." Journal of Social History 38.1 (2004): 157+. Questia. 27 Nov. 2006 . Hamm, Mark S. American Skinheads The Criminology and Control of Hate Crime. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1994. Lutz, James M., and Brenda J. Lutz. Global Terrorism. New York: Routledge, 2004. Moore, Jack B. Skinheads Shaved for Battle: A Cultural History of American Skinheads. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1993.
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