Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Rape and Intimate Partner Abuse In The Lesbian Community...

In every 45 seconds, someone is sexually violated in the United States. Out of every 6 women, one has experienced an attempted rape or complete rape. Lesbians and bisexual women remain at increased risk of sexual victimization compared to heterosexual women. In order for a woman to determine the direction of her life, she must first determine her sexuality. Sexuality is a deep, integral part of any human’s life. This should not be a subject of coercion or debate. The society must recognize that a woman has the right to freely pre-determine her sexuality without oppression and discrimination (Burn, 2004). Traditionally, women throughout history and culture have undertaken the role of independent, non-heterosexual, women-connected existence.†¦show more content†¦Women neither become lesbians due to shortage of men nor because they were abused by men. Lesbians, just like women in heterosexual relationships are subjected to physical, sexual and verbal abuse by their partn ers. Abusive dominating partner may subject the partner to emotional, physical and psychological abuse. The notion that a woman does not possess the strength or aggressiveness possessed by men is wrong and misplaced. Cases of lesbians being abused by their partners have been reported in the United States and other parts of the world including South Africa. Studies on domestic violence have been carried out for decades. In recent years, scholars have been paying attention to domestic violence in the context of non-heterosexual relationships. They have called for intensive research of lesbian intimate partner violence (IPV) and into the experience of lesbian survivors (Walters, 2011). There is a myth regarding lesbian utopia. The myth originated from the idea that societies in which friendships and relationships are void of men are protected from the natural control and power men possess over women in the patriarchal society. This utopian myth has the perception that since lesbian rel ationships are composed of two women, then a kind of default egalitarianism is naturally created. Such a myth encourages the delusion that lesbian communities are more enlightened thanShow MoreRelated Rape and Intimate Partner Abuse1558 Words   |  7 PagesIn every 45 seconds, someone is sexually violated in the United States. Out of every 6 women, one has experienced an attempted rape or complete rape. Lesbians and bisexual women remain at increased risk of sexual victimization compared to heterosexual women. In order for a woman to determine the direction of her life, she must first determine her sexuality. Sexuality is a deep, integral part of any human’s life. This should not be a subject of coercion or debate. The society must recognize that aRead MoreGender, And Sexuality Studies1285 Words   |  6 PagesHomosexuality Are lesbian more accepted by society than gay men? Acceptance amongst lesbian more so than gay men is one of the few of many discriminating factors that occur amongst the homosexual community. When it comes to homosexuality women has a better chance of being accepted by society than gay men. In most cases lesbians are taken less serious, people do not react to lesbians the same way they react to gay men. Studies have shown that gay men are more victimized by society than lesbians. It does notRead MoreDomestic Violence At Affordable Price Please Use Custom Research Paper1276 Words   |  6 Pagesin-text citations, and a bibliography with 31 sources. Outline I. Introduction II. History III. Types of Abuse A. Physical Violence B. Sexual Violence C. Psychological Violence D. Stalking E. Dating Violence IV. Prevalence of Domestic Violence V. Explaining Domestic Violence A. Cycle of Violence B. Psychopathology C. Perceived Gender Roles VI. Domestic Violence and the GLBT Community VII. Domestic Violence: Myth Versus Fact VIII. Domestic Violence Legislation A. Effects of LegislationRead MoreViolence Against Women s Violence872 Words   |  4 Pagesof our cultures and our lives. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), it is estimated that 84,376 forcible rapes were reported to law enforcement in 2012, estimated at 52.9 per 100,000 female inhabitants (Uniform Crime Reporting [UCR], 2013). However, these rape statistics are actually much greater, due to the fact that many women do not report their rape and/or the violence and assault itself. Thirty years ago, most forms of violence against women were hidden under a cloak of silenceRead MoreGender And Gender Violence1482 Words   |  6 PagesGender-based violence is the unequal power relationships between men and women. It includes rape, sexual assault and harassment, domestic abuse, and stalking. Gender violence reflects the idea that violence is often used to uphold structural gender inequalities. Gender violence includes all types of violence against men, women, childr en, gay, lesbian, and transgender people. Gender violence may be experienced differently based on the social variables of race, age, gender, social class or anotherRead MoreDefinition Of Violence Against Women Essay1372 Words   |  6 Pagesdomestic violence usually refers to interpersonal violence in a domestic setting such as family or intimate relationships. This can occur between man and woman, parent and child, siblings and same sex partners (Flood Fergus, n.d). There are nine different types of violence perpetrated against women. These include physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal, spiritual, cultural, financial and abuse (Violence prevention initiative, 2015). Violence against women can happen anywhere such as inRead MoreDomestic Violence And Sexual Abuse881 Words   |  4 Pagesof domestic abuse against current players. In it, a woman phones the police, forced to pretend to be ordering a pizza in order to not raise suspicion from her abuser, who is in the roo m with her. The creator of the commercial, No More, is an advocacy group that is working to end domestic violence and sexual abuse. On their website, they cite the 2013 Avon Foundation for Women’s NO MORE study, which found that while nearly two thirds of Americans know a victim of domestic or sexual abuse, those twoRead MoreDomestic violence Essay examples7765 Words   |  32 Pagesviolence or other abuse by one person against another in a domestic context, such as in marriage or cohabitation. Intimate partner violence is domestic violence against a spouse or other intimate partner. Domestic violence can take place in heterosexual or same-sex relationships. Domestic violence can take a number of forms including physical, emotional, verbal, economic and sexual abuse, which can range from subtle, coercive forms to marital rape and to violent physical abuse that results in disfigurementRead MoreHunyango Sa Bato - Abdon Balde Jr.6135 Words   |  25 Pagesalso known as  domestic abuse,à ‚  spousal abuse,  battering,  family violence, and  intimate partner violence (IPV), is defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one partner against another in an  intimate relationship  such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation.[1]  Domestic violence, so defined, has many forms, including physical aggression or assault (hitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, slapping, throwing objects), or threats thereof;  sexual abuse;  emotional abuse; controlling or domineering;  intimidation;  stalking;Read MoreEssay on Domestic Violence Informative Outline1358 Words   |  6 PagesViolence, Every nine seconds a woman is abused by her husband or intimate partner. At least 1 in every 4 women and 1 in every 9 men have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in their lifetime. Most often the abuser is one of their own family. Domestic violence is a problem that somehow affects every one of us in this room at some time and is actually the leadi ng cause of injury to women -- more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined. RELATE TOPIC TO AUDIENCE: As I mentioned, domestic

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Day Walking Into Bangkhram Hospital - 924 Words

The first day walking into Bangkhram hospital, I was unsure what to expect. A rural hospital located in central Thailand, millions of questions ran through my mind: Will the patients be receptive of me? Is this truly the career path I would like to take? These questions ceased as I met patients suffering from chronic mental illnesses, watched newborns receive breathing treatments in the emergency department and a woman who received a pap smear after 22 years of avoiding it. By the end of my time in Thailand, I confirmed my interest in clinical medicine. During the months I have spent in the emeregency department, I have observed amazing cases and witness the dynamic qualities of a physician such as being a critical thinker, showing compassion and expressing empathy. Today’s doctors are more than the, â€Å"know all end all†, as what was suggested in previous decades. They are teacher and a student as knowledge is constantly evolving. As I observed the emergency docto rs’ bedside manners, they were always concerned for the patients best interest which included going â€Å"the extra mile† for their patients’. I admired their dedication and will strive to do the same when I become a physcian. Being able to the handle the fast pace environment of a level one trauma center stemmed from my volunteering at the Health Outreach Quality Improvement Program. Picture this: an old, used RV bus now used as a â€Å"doctor’s† office, a few wooden chairs, and a few medical, premedical, and physician

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Reflective Paper for Change and Project Management †Free Sample

Question: Discuss about theReflective Paperfor Change and Project Management. Answer: Introduction Student in Work Role I had an opportunity to work for the ABC Company in which I was involved on a project. The experience helped me learn about project life cycle, planning, HR management, and more. In this report, I would be reflecting back on my experience with a major IT organization. The initial days went into observing what the project manager was doing. The project manager was very open to explaining and taking my inputs on anything positively which made me feel like a contributor. After working with him for a couple of projects, I was given a new project. This project was from an existing client and processes were already set. The project manager helped me as a guide. This report would explore two major challenges of project management including strict timelines and lack of leadership. The project taken as a base for learning was a new software development project that was managed by me. My role in the project was to coordinate project activities from start to finish including requirement gathering, planning, execution, project progress monitoring and controlling. The initial days of the project were hectic as I was unable to plan out the resources deployment as per the strict project timelines. Usually the project would take around 3 months to completion, in the particular case; the client wanted us to complete the development of the application within 2 months. He was also willing to pay more for that. However, the resources that were used to working things out in 3 months were to be buckled up to manage this strict timelines. To be able to do that keep the people motivated to work harder, we needed support from top management which was challenging. The company was going to re-structuring and new managers hired were not well informed about internal processes. This had put a burden on me to manage the project within its constraints without asking the management for intervention or provided additional resources. They were in the favour of cost cutting and thus, I had to work with the limitations of human resource ensuring that existing project team was scaling up capacities to meet project deadlines. Module Concepts Business of Projects The module literature says that companies need to compete in the market using its operational capabilities and dynamic capabilities. Operational capabilities can be ability to respond to market needs, effective and efficient use of human resources, and reduction in working capital utilization. To be able to survive, companies need these operational capabilities. The company used resources effectively and restricted their capital expenses to remain profitable. This was rather a survival strategy that could help them succeed on the project(CDC, 2006). However, the projects also require companies to have dynamic capabilities like identification of opportunities and threats that may come in future. The management clearly failed to identify the risks or threats that were associated with the project and that was a major delay in delivery that was caused due to lack of resources. Because of lack of support from top management, the project team was not empowered and most of the staff did not give much respect to the deadlines. At some point, even I was de-motivated and agreed to accept that the project would get delayed(Bright Hub Media, 2015). Defining Project Mission Project mission defines what a project stands for. This includes identification of project purpose, scope and quality standards. A full realization of mission of project is hard because of high levels of uncertainty. Stakeholders also add to challenges by changing their mind during the execution (BIS, 2010). Yet defining project mission is important for the success of the project. It allows a company communicate its strategic intensions that help in establishing control over project. For identification of project mission, soft systems methodology, which involves consideration of different perspectives related to the project, was recommended in the module. However, this appears to be a very systematic process which was actually not practiced in the real case of project that I managed. The mission of the project was rather very simple objective of the project and not a very thought-out statement(Caltrans, 2007). As per the module, the mission can be used for developing the scope of the project such that the scope takes the project in the direction of achieving the missions of the project. In practice, the scope of the project did help in achieving the mission. The mission statement was expanded into the scope(Divurgents, 2014). Designing and Leading Project Organization Next stage is designing of the project organization which involves development of governance frameworks, internal structure, project delivery organization structure, and PMO. The company did not explore developer organization structure but contact details of key people were recorded. The company also did not define any governance structure but used some performance measurement parameters for evaluation of the project progress. The impact of lack of project governance was seen on the project at later stages of development in the product development lifecycle. Lack of project governance meant no integration between the company and developer team and thus there was insufficient involvement of stakeholders. Also, there was a lack of commitment from top management and no strategic alignment was achieved. As the importance of the project was not understood strategically for the company, for the top management, it appeared to be a very small project and thus, they did not give much attentio n to it. This caused delays that disturbed the schedule and escalated the cost of human resource(Morgan Gbedemah, 2010). The project star model identifies four elements of project including structure, processes, incentives against performance, and competencies of people working as the project team. On the mentioned project, the structure of the internal organization was clearly defined as well the processes were identified. However, the team was offered any special incentives for performance. Thus, there was a lack of motivation in team. Only the leadership skills of the project manager were used to keep the spirits of the team high. However, being not so senior a person, I found it difficult to show authority and have control over the people while they caused delays(FME, 2014). Moreover, the project team was decided on the basis of past experience of project. No competency mapping was done considering the current project. The competencies identified included understanding of application development projects. However, the competency on the front of the understanding of the industry was not considered(GDE, n.d.). In a project organization, key roles include: Promoter: He defines the project needs and ensures that they are met. On my project, the client organization was the financer Financier: He provides funds for execution Decision maker: He takes decision to push the project towards completion. My senior project manager was involved in this role. Recruiter: I was involved as a recruiter and thus, mobilized human resources on the project. There was no one involved from top management and thus, I faced difficulties like delays, lack of sufficient skills and less competencies in resources. As per the module assumptions, a project board is usually setup for directing the project. They are involved in risk management, change management, ensuring commitment of resources, ensuring consistency of output with plans, and bringing effectiveness in communication. There was no specific project board that was set on the project managed by me and all these assurances were only managed by me which I found difficult to manage alone. However, my senior had been a very skilled person and had given been guidance every time I needed support to ensure smooth running of the project(InterGlobe , 2008). Managing Threats and Opportunities The module identifies cognitive approach to risk management. Information is used for understanding the risks in better ways to increase confidence over understanding of possibility of risk occurrence. This could be used for identifying threats that could negatively affect deliveries and opportunities that could improve them. Uncertainty could affect the identification of future consequences. With effective strategic planning tools, the future could be clearly visible or alternate futures can be identified. However, in case of ambiguity, determining the future impact of current decisions is difficult(InterGlobe , 2008). The software development project was managed by me. I identified opportunities as well as risks that were most likely to occur. However, there were still many surprises that affected the project at later stages and decisions were to be taken accordingly(KPMG, 2013). cyne?n framework identifies differential natures of causes and effects of such events. A simple nature would have a clear relationship identified. A complicated relationship can be understood by taking expert inputs. Complex relationships are difficult to make predictions difficult. Chaos can cause turbulence. Disorderly processes make it difficult to identify conditions. On the application development project, some relationships were simple while others involved complications. Situations that were simple were managed by me while those showing complicated were discussed with senior project manager. I can use it to identify cause and effect relationships situation(Lacaster University, 2006). The module suggests use of four steps for risk management. These include identification of threats and opportunities, analysis of known knowns, proactive analysis to determine possibilities, and monitoring of activities throughout the project. It also suggested the use of knowledge management and event register for record keeping. On my project, only a risk register was maintained. Opportunities were only initially identified by there was no event recording that could be used for continuous improvement(Masons Thelen Reid LLP, 2006). Reflective Actions: Ideas Insights It was found that despite the project management discipline widely studied and practices, there are many organizations that still do not make use of the best practices of project management. In fact, some of the basic tools, assumptions, principles and practices are ignored while planning or executing projects. For instance, a project governance structure is highly ignored area despite it being the major cause of failure of most projects(Morgan Gbedemah, 2010). Project governance deals with policies, regulatory procedures, functions, processes and responsibilities of managing and controlling projects. Even when governance structure is not identified, the projects still have to manage these. The communication management plan would identify processes and functions of the project. In absence of a regulatory procedure, a standard process of monitoring project progress, comparing it with initial plan and controlling deviation would be used. Governance structure can formalize all processes and help in establishing control over project execution(University of Exeter, 2015). It was also found that the mission is an important part of any project as it helps in proper identification of scope that is aligned with the organizations goal. In case the mission is not established properly, only the technical objectives of projects may be identified but their connection with the strategic objectives of the company cannot be determined. The mission of the project I worked on only defined the wide scope of the project as development of the application ensuring that all functional and quality parameters of the client are met. This statement did not connect with strategic goals. With a well established mission and identification of strategic objectives, senior management involvement could also be improved(UCSC, 2009). To work effectively, a project manager can be involved in following ways: Planning: He can create a sound plan considering the impacts of each planned activity on the probability of the success of the project. Thus, a project manager has to ensure that he has taken into consideration all the important factors while making a plan. A project manager can involve all stakeholders to ensure that the project requirements are clarified in the beginning. The project manager must have good knowledge of internal structures, processes and competencies of people such that resources can be distributed efficiently to get best results(U.S. Department of the Interior , 2012). Controlling: Project manager can play a crucial role in establishing control over the project such that it does not deviated from the plan and at the same time deliver desired results of the project. For this, project manager can identify and establish a project committee or board to establish a governance structure. He may also identify threats and opportunities, establish a procedure for monitoring and define clear responsibilities. Communication and Coordination: He is responsible for managing communication with team members and stakeholders. He has to identify roles, responsibilities, communication needs, and communication channels. Project manager has to use communication procedures for coordinating with people. These people include members of project team and software developer team, project financer, project decision makers and key stakeholders(Time is Ltd, 2015). Some theories given in the module were relevant to project situation in following ways: Project Mission through life cycle: The theory states that the mission of the project must be developed considering the whole life cycle of the project such that organizational assets can be best utilized throughout the project life cycle. This can be useful in formulating that is also strategically aligned with the organizational goals (The University of Manchester, 2009). Soft Systems Thinking: This provides a systematic procedure for thinking about complex issues of projects. This involves exploration of various different perspectives for getting a deeper understanding of the mission as well as project processes. Thus, it can be used for formulating mission statement as well as for designing processes. The Project Star Model: This model identified key elements of a system design including mission, scope, structures, competencies, incentives, and processes. All these areas are important to understand while managing a project. Thus, this model can be used for formalizing requirement gathering stage(TRU, 2011). The Project SLM: This can be used for defining project mission, creating organizational design, understanding risks and uncertainty, and bringing collaboration in the project teams. Using this model, a project manager can establish strategies for reducing uncertainties and brining coordination among teams. Further, an effective organizational structure may be identified for a stronger communication and more efficient management of project(PMI, 2015). Circles of influence and concern: This model can help understand the influences that can affect the project progress. Aim of a project manager is to increase his circle of influence. This model can be useful in establishing strategies for creating a governance as well as control framework such that execution of the project can be made smoother(The University of Manchester, 2009). Key Learning Points Actions My key learning from the reflective exercise was: Project governance helps in ensuring project success Identification of opportunities can help company in positive ways. Commitment from top management is necessary as it can help in ensuring resource commitments as well as establish a control over the processes such that chances of project success can be increased Clear identification of mission that can link the strategic objectives of the company with the project objectives is important. Risks and opportunities records must be updated as the project progresses using appropriate monitoring procedures. Identification of structure of the delivering organization is important and it should be mapped with project organizational structure. Defining specific incentives for the team is important for the team to remain motivated and committed to deadlines. Project board plays a key role providing direction to the project and guidance to the project team as well as aligning project objectives with the strategic goals of the project organization. Thus, it is crucial that organizations identify members of the board and establish a committee(The State of Maryland , 2015). Certain activities may be planned for managing projects in future such as: Establishing of project board and a governance structure Establishing of a process for monitoring and recording events considering both threats and opportunities Defining of a clear mission considering its strategic alignment to business objectives and scope Development of an incentives scheme for the project team before assigning them responsibilities and using the same to keep them motivated towards the achievement of goals and within timelines. Identification of structures of all the organizations linked through the project and mapping of different roles so as to strengthen the communication flow to achieve project success. Getting buy in from the top management by involving them during the planning stage itself and ensuring that their roles are clearly defined (Team FME, 2014). Critical Reflection This reflective exercise helped me identify gaps in current practices. I have understood that the success of project can result from a sound planning. A good plan includes identification of scope, development of governance structures, risk management planning, resource management planning, and opportunity indication. For a project to be successful, acceptance from key stakeholders including top management, employees, project team, suppliers, financer, project board, and project manager is important. I also realized the importance of human resource on projects. Human resource serves as the most important asset of an organization that would help in achieving success on a project. Thus, while managing future projects, I will ensure that the human resource structure is clearly defined, roles and responsibilities are clearly identified and proper governance structure is used(Prosci, 2007). Also, now I can clearly understand the importance of sound communication management practices for the success of project. The reflective study helped me understand how the project manager can use his leadership qualities for managing the project. I have also gained much clarity on different considerations and practices of project management which I would be able to use in future. There were some new tools identified such as event registers, information analytics, and governance structures and so on. I would be able to become a better project manager when equipped with these tools(Pearson, 2000). References Changefirst Limited, 2009. Change and project management , s.l.: ChangeFirst. PM College, 2009. Resource Management and the PMO, Philadelphia, Pa., USA: Project Management Solutions, Inc.. Project Management Solutions, Inc., 2014. The State of the Project Management Office (PMO), USA: PM Solutions. Abbasi, N., Wajid, I., Iqbal, Z. Zafar, F., 2014. Project Failure Case Studies and Suggestion. International Journal of Computer Applications, 86(6), pp. 34-39. BIS, 2010. How to organise, plan and control Projects, s.l.: BIS. Bright Hub Media, 2015. Constructing Powerful Scope Statements. [Online] Available at: https://www.brighthubpm.com/project-planning/57950-example-and-evaluation-of-project-scope-statements/ Caltrans, 2007. Project Communication Handbook. s.l.:Caltrans. CDC, 2006. CDC Unified Process Practices Guide: Projecct Charter, s.l.: CDC. Divurgents, 2014. Standardizing the PMO will Improve Project Success. [Online] Available at: https://divurgent.com/standardizing-pmo/ [Accessed 05 February 2015]. ExecutiveBrief, 2015. Which Life Cycle is best for your proect?. [Online] Available at: https://www.projectsmart.co.uk/which-life-cycle-is-best-for-your-project.php [Accessed 12 November 2015]. FME, 2014. Project Human Resources Management, s.l.: FME. GDE, n.d. Project Management Methodology Guidelines. [Online] Available at: https://www.chandleraz.gov/content/pm000pmmethodologygde.pdf [Accessed 12 February 2015]. InterGlobe , 2008. What is Project Leadership?, s.l.: InterGlobe Consulting. KPMG, 2013. Preventing Black Swans: Avoiding Major Projct Failure, s.l.: KPMG. Lacaster University, 2006. Case Study of Successful Complex IT Projects, s.l.: The British Computer Society . Masons Thelen Reid LLP, 2006. Managing Payment Risks on International Construction Projects, s.l.: Overseas Construction Association of Japan, Inc.. Metafuse, Inc.;Core Performance Concepts, 2015. Project Scheduling. [Online] Available at: https://www.projectinsight.net/project-management-basics/project-management-schedule Morgan, A. Gbedemah, S., 2010. How Poor Project Governance Causes delays, s.l.: Society of Construction Law. Oracle, 2011. Why Projects Fail: Avoiding the Classic Pitfalls, s.l.: Oracle. PDA, 2007. Project Management: Project Justification and Planning. 1st: Scottish Qualifications Authority . Pearson, 2000. Basic Skills for Project Managers, s.l.: Pearson Education. PMI, 2005. Delivering on Strategy - The Power of Project Portfolio Management, s.l.: Deloitte. PMI, 2015. Capturing the Value of Project Management, s.l.: PMI. Prosci, 2007. Impact of effective change management on project success , s.l.: Prosci. Team FME, 2014. Human Resource Management: Project Skill, s.l.: FME. The State of Maryland , 2015. Project Scope Statement, s.l.: s.n. The University of Manchester, 2009. Strategic Management of projects. s.l.:The University of Manchester. Time is Ltd, 2015. Evaluating a Project. [Online] Available at: https://www.time-is-ltd.co.uk/Management/Promise/PMManual/Evaluating%20a%20Project.htm TRU, 2011. TRU Website Redesign Project Charter, s.l.: Thompson Rivers University . U.S. Department of the Interior , 2012. Project Management Framework, s.l.: U.S. Department of the Interior . UCSC, 2009. Web Function Design Project Charter , s.l.: UCSC. University of Exeter, 2015. C5: Post Project Appraisal and Evaluation. [Online] Available at: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/finance/cpp/appraisal/appraisalandevaluation/

Sunday, December 1, 2019

The Enlightenment in the 18th century

It has been argued that if Locke is the idealist of the enlightenment, then Voltaire is the realist. This statement is totally true. Although the works of these two philosophers overlapped, they differed a lot in the ideology of some issues.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Enlightenment in the 18th century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Both of these people were philosophers during the enlightenment era in Europe which occurred sometime during the eighteenth century. During this era there were movements which were lead by intellectuals who believed that scientific knowledge and information should be incorporated into the human beliefs as an aid of understanding the universe in a better way (Palmer 8). According to the philosophers, people should abandon traditional and religious beliefs and embrace this new idea. Locke was among the enlightenment philosophers in England and used this idea to fight for equal rights for all people in the society. He believed that every man was equal and that no one should be treated in the society. Despite his fight for human rights and equality, he did not advocate for the rights of women and slaves in the society and neither did he believe in democracy (Delaney 18). Through his works people referred to him as an idealist. Idealism is a doctrine that reality is based in the mind of an individual and has a relationship with the mind structure. Idealism relies mainly on the ideas rather than the ideal situation and is related to metaphysics therefore contrasting with materialism and realism (Creatorix.com 2010). Voltaire on the other hand has been referred to as a realist. Realism entails an ideology which acknowledges the object world with reality which people perceive to be true when they are in contact with them (Creatorix.com 2010). In his works and literature Voltaire believed that one did not need to follow traditions or religion to believe in God but rather one needed to have a reason to believe in God. According to him, it was evident in the mind of people that there is a more powerful and intelligent being who is eternal thus one does not need faith to believe in this because it is a fact. He developed mixed reactions to the bible and as a result of the skeptical attitude of his works and ideologies, he was separated from Unitarians and biblical-political writers like Locke (Nosotro 2010). In his book Second Treatise of Government  Locke talks about the various aspects of life and politics. He states that for the proper understanding of the origin of political power, one must understand the origin of mankind in the state of nature (Locke 14). During this period no one had control over the other but each one of them was a judge of what the law required. In this state every individual is equal since they are all born indiscriminately with similar advantages and disadvantages.Advertising Looking for term paper on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Since each individual interpreted the law in his own way, there are instances where one might breach the ideals of another person and even if there was a universal judge his decisions may be biased. This is the point where the state of nature which seemed to be so ideal starts to fail (Locke 15). Although Locke fought for equality, he did not consider the rights of serfs, women and children. As a matter of fact chapter four and sixteen of his book entitled slavery and conquest respectively posed a lot of confusion since the latter advocated for the justification of slavery and the former talked about the rights of conquerors. He was therefore seen by other scholars and intellectuals as being a supporter of the slave trade. Others say that he was a hypocrite since he talked about equality yet he does not consider the rights of the slaves and women. Voltaire idea of realism is brought out i n his book Candide; or the Optimism in which the protagonist, Candide, was always optimistic in his life even thought he faced a series of misfortunes in his life as a result of the evils of the world. He faced prosecutions, murder, earthquakes, tsunamis and death of his loved ones (Voltaire 18). Voltaire uses this method to bring out the evils which people are currently facing in the world. His work is different to that of Locke since he is advocating for a change which will improve the lives of everyone in the society unlike the Locke whose works only focused on a specific group in the community. Voltaire worked hard to bring the light to the people of France and free them from the oppression they were facing. He was against the religion which was being practiced in France at that time especially Orthodox Christianity thus introduced his idea of natural religion. In this religion it is believed that the Lord is the creator of nature which evolved with time and lead to the emergenc e of man. In this respect therefore, man was not created directly by God (Voltaire 21). This is a notion which up to the present moment scientists and pagans believe in. As it is seen the works of Voltaire on were mainly against religion and the fact that religion gave the leaders (kings and emperors) the divine power to rule other people and in return the leaders would protect the church. Through his works people started to demand for democracy, equality and freedom from their leaders. According to people, these factors were necessary values for the development of the society since they will lead to better political systems based on democracy, economic development, capitalism, and religious tolerance (Ayer 44).Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Enlightenment in the 18th century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Enlightenment in the 21st Century The 21st century needs the concepts of equality and democracy to be embraced so that the world can become a better place to live in. This is because we need to filter the negative effects of the twentieth century that were diminishing these concepts. That is why we need to apply the ideas of John Locke who preached for human equality and embracing of the scientific knowledge. Although the world people may think that there is equality in the world, traces of oppression are still present in some parts of the world. People are still being discriminated on the grounds of skin color, race, ethnicity, gender and religion. Societies have become enlightened over the years especially the African states in the 21st century. Most of the African states were colonies of European countries but gained their independence in the second half of the twentieth century. However the leaders who took power became dictators and took over all power and control of the state. This has lead to civil wars in many African states over the years. Sudan for example, has been in war for the last couple of decades. The country has been divided into two, the northern part composed of Muslims and the southern part composed of Christians. This division came about as a result of political and religious difference between the people of the north and the south. Development is mainly found in the north with the southern people being oppressed. The people of the south therefore had been fighting for the country to be divided into two different states so that they can enjoy their rights and freedom as a sovereign state. In January 2011 the people of Southern Sudan held a referendum which if passed will lead to the division of the country into two different states. The referendum was passed as majority of the people voted in favor of the proposed constitution (Tehrant Times 2011). They now have a chance of having a country which will give them absolute rights and freedom, something which they have been dreaming of for a long time. Conclusion Locke and Voltaire wor ks in philosophy have changed the perspective of life in many different ways. Before their works, many people who were oppressed did not know about their rights. Now, thanks to their works many people have realized that they need their freedom so that they can exercise their rights. In the 18th and 19th century, slave trade was abolished and most colonies got their independence like in America and France (where the monarch was overthrown).Advertising Looking for term paper on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More From there people have also been fighting for equality and human rights in the society. At the present moment, women and the gay community all across the globe are fighting for their rights and equality in the society. This struggle will continue even in the future all as a result of the enlightenment. Works Cited Ayer, Johnson. Voltaire. New York City: Random House, 1986. Creatorix.com. Glossary. Creatorix.com. Web. Delaney, Tim. The March of Unreason: Science, Democracy, and the New  Fundamentalism. New York:Oxford University Press, 2005. Locke, John. Second Treatise of Government. Ed. Richard Cox. Maryland :Davidson, 1982. Nosotro, Rit. Locke and Voltaire-A Tale of Two Exiles. Hyperhistory.net. Web. Palmer, Robert. The Age of the Democratic Revolution. Surrey, England :Ashgate, 1964. Tehrant Times. Sudan Referendum Ends Peacefully. Tehran Times. Web. Voltaire, Francois. Candide; or the Optimism. Ed. John Butt. Riverside :Penguin Books:, 1950. This term paper on The Enlightenment in the 18th century was written and submitted by user Saniya V. 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.