Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Trafficking Of African Women and Girls Essay Example for Free

Trafficking Of African Women and Girls Essay Part 1: Problem: Human trafficking tarnishes the global scene today, as slavery used to decades ago. The women and girls are vulnerable to exploitation within the country as well as out of the country. The trafficking of women and girls for prostitution is a big business. The horrific experiences of migrant women and girls, who have very little choice or control over their lives is a sad tale. Women are made to work in extremely exploitive conditions of sexual exploitation, forced to risky practices, high levels of exposure to HIV, threat, violence and even murder. The trafficking of women is th third largest profit making business which runs in the form of organized crime. It is just little behind the practices in the field of drug deals and arms deals. Human trafficking denotes business with human souls and spirit, which is inhuman. Africa needs to establish stronger laws against trafficking of women and girls, supported by Commonwealth, Amnesty International, Human Rights and other world forums. International Law under the rules defined by human rights with the support of United Nations, needs to play a very proactive role in safeguarding and protecting the victims who have been subjected to trafficking. The doctrine of International law needs to be more defined to help and support individual within the state rather than the protection of the state alone. In the past â€Å"International Law was notorious for the ease with which it sanctioned violence against non-western people† (Bal Krishnan Rajagopal, 2003.p.11) in the colonial set-up. The advocates of International Law should avoid the previous path of resistance to interfere in the issues related to domestic events and violence. Rather it should actively get involved to address such issues and help the government and the local bodies take effective steps to control such problem. The law enforcement authorities need to put together an effective plan to ensure safety and forced exploitation. The cross border laws need to get tighter so that loopholes may not be wrongfully used by people to migrate across borders illegally for better prospects and then being exploited to prostitution and forced labor. The universal definition of trafficking as formulated by Human Rights can be briefed in this summary and statement. It defines trafficking in persons as the employment, carrying, transfer, possession or delivery of persons, by the use of intimidation or compulsion in which some kind of kidnapping, cheating, deceit, oppression and exploitation is used. It further states that any exchange (giving or receiving) of expenses in the form of payment or profit to induce a person to give consent in the situation when a person is having control over the other person, for the deceptive purpose of exploitation ( even if the person has given consent) comes under the practice of trafficking. Exploitation has been further expanded to define exploitation for the purpose of prostitution which means sexual exploitation in various models. It also includes forced labor of services, slavery or practices similar to slavery in some form of servitude. This definition has been formulated as the draft of the international definition of trafficking so that there is universal understanding with clear guidelines which can help identify the problem of trafficking in different regions and different communities. This can help prevent, stop and punish the trafficking persons especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. (Raymond and Hughes, 2001) The international recognition of a common definition would help come to uniform legal action taken against the perpetrators so that effective law and enforcement can be executed. Some of the key questions which have been addressed are who are trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation whether it is across borders or within countries, with or without their consent, through force, fraud, deception or abuse of the victim who is vulnerable. Human trafficking is what leads to prostitution, so any measures taken to make anti-trafficking policies should take into consideration the issue of organized prostitution and domestic trafficking. Human Rights legislation against trafficking must apply to the international as well as domestic women across the platform. (Raymond and Hughes, 2001) Human trafficking is one of the most inhuman and harsh crimes which give rise to innumerable victims, mostly young women and girls, who are forced into prostitution or forced labor. They have to live their everyday life under threat, violence and captivity with no hope and no direction as to where there life will lead. This is a life worst than an animal. Most of the exploiters are men or sometimes women who have been through such abuse themselves. Mostly this results from a rosy dream to have a better life, a financial burden, acute poverty and abuse. Human trafficking is mostly an underground activity involved in providing sexual services to legitimate clubs, brothels and agencies. The most unique aspect of this type of trade is that in this case a human body is traded instead of commodity. (2006) Part 2 International Law:Migration It is very urgent to recognize that women rights should be applied universally to grant women equality, security, liberty, integrity and dignity like all other deserving human beings. These rights and principles are enshrined in international instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1993). This resolution will strengthen the process to address that violence against women is an obstacle in achieving equality, development and peace, so serious strategies need to be implemented to fight violence and abuse and exploitation against women. Most of the women who entered United States came on tourist visas and overstayed their visas. Sometimes they would use fraudulent travel documents. Some of the legal means by which they entered United States were on spousal visas, student visa, and work permit and on rare occasion with an immigration green card. These variety of different ways in which a person can enter another country, are major loopholes which are used by the traffickers to be successful in their mission. It requires more strict check on the part of the law enforcement and immigration officials. The success of the trafficker is often supported by the network of the local legitimate businesses such as hotels, bars, travel agencies which flourish as the result pf cooperation and corruption of the immigration and law enforcement agents worldwide (Raymond and Hughes, 2001). Trafficking flourishes for the major part because the victims want to migrate to a particular country other than their own for innumerable reasons. This requires cooperation and great deal of border crossing from one country to another. It is greatly affected by the demand and the supply, as determined by the current wave. The demand and the supply aspect of human commodity has not always been the same. Over last twenty years four waves have been seen to influence the migrants heading to Europe. The first wave was characterized by women from Far East, especially from the Philippines and Thailand, this was immediately followed by the second wave of women originating from Latin America, the Dominican Republic and Colombia, the third wave consisted of women from Africa, and in particular Ghana and Nigeria followed in nineties by women from Ukraine and Moldova. (2006). Most of the trafficking groups have networks which are of a multinational and multi-ethnical nature; this makes the cross-border operation an easy route for vast majority of trafficking cases. Most of the people who are involved in this discreet business and perpetrate trafficking are restricted to the confines of the geographical boundaries of the country or the countries where the victims are recruited, the countries where they are transported and finally the countries where they are ultimately and eventually exploited. Very few traffickers have moved up to the level of international scale of operation and network, where they recruit and transport to different countries. Some of the names which crop up significantly in this field are the Albanian traffickers, the Nigerian traffickers and the Turkish traffickers (2006) The general studies in organized crime reveal that women are not very involved in the crime activities, but in the world of human trafficking which is dominated by male, women play the roles of the accomplices in three different ways: they are the recruiters, sometimes former victim becomes offenders and in case of Nigerian groups: women play very important role in trafficking as a culturally embedded involvement. The strategy used by the trafficking organizations is to deploy women as the recruiter to help them get the first initial contact, which can further be manipulated to overcome the initial suspicion of the victim. Thus women play the safe role to entice, comfort and then exploit the other women. Several reports mention that women are used as a trap by showing off their wealth and social status, to get the younger women to aspire and aim for the same glitter and shine, leading to the path of darkness and dungeon. In Nigeria these women perpetrators play a very important role and are referred to as Madame. These Madame’s are former victims and they work as intermediary between the prostitutes and the traffickers. Nigeria plays a very significant role in the organized trafficking specially in the European countries. The study done by the Nigerian Ploice Force and the Women Trafficking and Child Labor Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF) has come up with the estimate that the number of women who are trafficked out of the country shows sharp increase in the numbers from 1126 in 1999 to 5000 in the year 2001. Nigerian women constitute to about 80% of the workers in the sex industry of Italy. Some of the other European countries which are common destinations for these women are Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Austria and the United Kingdom. The destinations vary in their acceptance and legal privileges. Italy is the only European country where majority of legally resident Nigerians are women. (2006). There is a clear connection between the trafficking and its roots in Nigeria, this is directly related to high level of corruption in both public and private sectors. The trafficking is a self propelling vicious cycle, which moves on from victims becoming trafficker. It always begins with a pact, which keeps on increasing with penalties and punishments, and the best option to clear the debt is to continue to work for freedom and eventually become a Madame. In Nigeria traffickers do not always have to recruit victims; many times victims come to them. It is a very open trafficking market, where many times girls are put under pressure by the family to get involved with trafficking. . â€Å"In Nigeria the ‘classy lady’ is called the Italo: women who return to Nigeria after a couple of years of prostitution in Italy†. (2006). International Law needs to play a dynamic role in the internal momentum to curb corruption and support international institutions to take active role in creating awareness and safeguarding the rights of its women and girls. There are several push and pull factor of economic, political and social nature which encourages the victim, to fall prey to the trafficker. The victims are vulnerable and dependent on the trafficker for they are involved in a business which is illegal and ill-reputed. It is a very complex regulation issue for the law enforcement authorities to control and regulate the complex nature of human trafficking. The migrant women and girls have very limited choice or control over their lives. In this new era of globalization, these women and girls are the new slaves of the contemporary era. The attractiveness of this industry on the international level as an organized crime network is estimated at $7 billion USD. The monetary return keeps the practice alive and creeping at a very high rate. A trafficker can buy a girl in China for $20/- to $30/- USD and can sell her in San Francisco for $3000/- USD. Monzini, Paola (2005). Human trafficking, the modern euphemism for slavery, is a major problem in Africa. The trafficking in women and girls is now considered the third largest source of profit for organized crime, behind only drugs and arms. This situation has resulted in a very high number of women who are forced to compete for work in the conditions of excessive social exploitation and are forced to risky practices which ultimately leads to very high levels of HIV, brutality and slaughter. The practices which are considered standard in this kind of marketplace are often very harsh and extremely brutal. It is like slow, dark and dreadful death of the body and the soul (Mon zini, Paola (2005). The term declaration of â€Å"violence against women† implies any act of gender based violence which causes or is likely to cause any kind of physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to the women. These acts are very well defined as acts of intimidation and force or illogical withdrawal of the freedom in the public or the private life. Women like men are allowed to have pleasure and gratification just like men. They also need the security of all human rights and fundamental freedoms which are considered necessary for good living. They need for their growth and development freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field. They need the sanction of the same rights as the right to life, equality, liberty and security as an individual. They also need the right of equal protection under the law, freedom from all forms of discrimination, the right to seek the best physical and mental health, right to work in just and humane conditions. They specially need the right to be protected against torture or cruelty, where inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment is practiced. The state has the responsibility to attack such practices of violence against women and should restrict any such customs, traditions and religious practices which enforce such inhuman practices. State should immediately and forcefully intervene in curbing any such practices by introducing a sound policy which enacts without delay to eliminate violence against women. The different branches and the specialized agencies of the United Nations within their respective fields of operation should acknowledge the recognition of the rights and principles which has been mentioned and acknowledged within the Declaration. The Declaration is like the flashlight highlighting the misery of the women and showing them the course of action which could save them from this peril. It gives the essential guidelines for awareness and self recovery (1993). Part 3 Viable Change: Poverty, social disruption and family pressures and even natural disasters sow the seeds for the practice, while armed conflict, corrupt governments and a universal demand for cheap labor help reap the crops of new victims. Africa needs to establish stronger laws against the trafficking of women and children on and from the continent as well as better child-labor laws, a former U.S. ambassador to Madagascar told members of the newly reconstituted Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations. One should investigation into the causes and forms of violence against women, looking at the relationship between poverty, militarization and discrimination.. Amnesty International shows how women have led campaigns against all forms of violence and have achieved dramatic changes in laws, policies and practices. This is an inhuman condition which cannot be allowed to emerge, as it tarnishes the color of human race and civilized society. There is a complex push and pull factors which determine the nature of trafficking and the vicious cycle which it creates. It is a complex mixture of circumstances and the reasons why people want to leave their country to migrate to another country with dreams of better and brighter future. Some of the key factors which push the victim to take such a drastic step can be categorized as socio-economic push factor which is a lure to amore wealthier country for escape from poverty and desire for better or wealthier lifestyle. Sometimes the decision to migrate is backed by desire to support the family financially and dream to ensure better future for the children. Some just want to have high social status with modern and emancipated lifestyle. In some societies and cultures women are not given the freedom to growth and good life. These cultural factors can push a woman to leave their woman-unfriendly atmosphere where she does not have the same chance as men to education and career. Political circumstances, turmoil and civic unrest can also be factors which may motivate a woman to take refuge to some other country where difficulty and threat to life would be less. Some of the other factors which might play a significant role in migration could be alcoholism, drug addiction, criminality, maltreatment in the social proximity of a person. These factors lead to unemployment and poverty, which leads to migration and trafficking. Some of the pull factors are opportunities for better life and future, with employment and lack of poverty. The prospect of brighter and wealthier lifestyle in the west is a great lure. The demand for prostitutes and the demand for services, in wide variety of areas can be a temptation for taking the step to leave the security of the country to migrate in another country. (2006). A very serious concern for national and international institutions should be the health effects of sex trafficking and prostitution. The investigation in medical and social sciences indicate rates of high incidence of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in certain populations of women in prostitution. The physical and emotional effects and aftereffects of trafficking and prostitution on women is also a great concern for health care providers and social service providers. A considerable number of women suffer from various health problems related to violence and sexual exploitation. The nature of their injuries is similar to those of women who are battered, raped and sexually assaulted. Their situation is grim and their plight is miserable. The fundamental source of trafficking is the lack of awareness, insufficient support, lack of education, vulnerability of women as a gender. On an international scene explosion of organized crime and easy access to transportation of â€Å"Humans: women and girls† across border with a promise for better and brighter picture. The dependant status of this gender further encourages trapped into such practices, even without conscious will. The national consciousness’, international legal support and geographic migration laws have to join hands to bring about effective change in the depressing condition of women and girls in Africa. The human rights should play a forceful role backed by powerful countries to support in aid and legislation with severe penalties for the offenders. This is an inhuman condition which cannot be allowed to emerge, as it tarnishes the color of human race and civilized society. Countries, organization and people should unite to fight against and encounter the grim condition emerging on the African soil. One should tap into the greatest resource in Africa: Women and give them a bright and promising future. Rajgopal, offers great insight into this field with his research experience in South and Southeast Asia, South Africa and Brazil. His current investigation into four areas of research: : new democratic and legal strategies for making operational the socio-economic rights, especially rights to water, food, land, housing, and environment in India, South Africa and Brazil; the impact of globalization and decentralization on protection of human rights; the accountability of international organizations; and corporate compliance with human rights law. He helped establish first human-rights field office in Cambodia Helped establish the first human-rights field office of the United Nations in the mid-1990s and has been a consultant to several international organizations and NGOs on development-related human rights and legal issues. Member of the Asia Advisory Board of Human Rights Watch, the Executive Council of the American Society of International Law and the International Advisory Board of the Robert Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights. The idea of International Human Rights is western in origin; rather non-western societies did not have a conception of human rights. Now that the world has become so global the countries should unite to fight this war of exploitation and slavery hideously practiced by the traffickers hiding under the mask of businesses, law enforcement and predators. Jack Donnelly puts it. â€Å"human rights represent a distinctive set of social practices, tied to particular notions of human dignity, that initially arose in the modern west in response to the social and political changes produced by modern states and modern capitalist market economies†. (Bal Krishnan Rajagopal,2003, p.175) International Law should find a way to penetrate and resist the violence and torture of any kind inflicted on any woman and girl, in any country, by implementing forceful laws which issue severe penalties, restrict illegal migration and punish the organized trafficking institution. The government should protect the victim, raise their realistic awareness and provide safer domestic environment. The recognition of the rights and the penalties for the offenders can ensure the safety of these victims, who are waiting to be saved from the tyranny of physical torture, psychological degradation and social elimination. They deserve a normal human life like every other individual and they should be guaranteed this without condition. Annotated Bibliography 1. Akintunde, Dorcas Olu Labeodan Helen (2002) WOMEN AND THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE IN TRADITIONAL AFRICA. Nigeria, Sefer Books Ltd. This is a collection of essays first presented at the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians on February 5, 2002. These papers look at a variety of issues concerned with womens rights in Africa. The authors describe the realities of equal rights policies, sex and power, cultural roots of insecurity. 2. Amnesty International (2004) ITS IN OUR HANDS: Stop Violence Against Women. United Kingdom: Amnesty International. This is an investigation into the causes and forms of violence against women, looking at the relationship between poverty, militarization and discrimination. Amnesty International shows how women have led campaigns against all forms of violence and have achieved dramatic changes in laws, policies and practices. 3. Bal Krishnan Rajagopal.( 2003) International Law from Below : Development, Social Movements and Third World Resistance. United States, Cambridge University Press. The emergence of transnational social movements as major actors in international politics as witnessed in Seattle in 1999 and elsewhere has sent shockwaves through the international system. Many questions have arisen about the legitimacy, coherence and efficiency of the international order in the light of the challenges posed by social movements. This ground-breaking book offers a fundamental critique of twentieth-century international law from the perspective of Third World social movements the first ever to do so. It examines in detail the growth of two key components of modern international law international institutions and human rights in the context of changing historical patterns of Third World resistance. Using a historical and interdisciplinary approach, Rajagopal presents compelling evidence challenging current debates on the evolution of norms and institutions, the meaning and nature of the Third World, as well as the political economy of its involvement in the international system. 4. Commonwealth Secretariat (2003) REPORT OF THE EXPERT GROUP ON STRATEGIES FOR COMBATING THE TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN. United Kingdom: Commonwealth Secretariat. The trafficking in women and girls is now considered the third largest source of profit for organized crime, behind only drugs and arms. This concise report describes the political and social background to the trade across the Commonwealth and looks at prevention strategies and assistance to victims. Bib 5. Hallam, Rebecca (1994) CRIMES WITHOUT PUNISHMENT: Sexual Harassment and violence Against Female Students in Schools and Universities in Africa. United kingdom: African Rights. This is a discussion paper addressing the widespread and persistent problem of sexual harassment and violence against women and girls in educational institutions in Africa. The paper also deals with wider problems of teenage pregnancy and lack of sex education in schools, and the specific problem of rape by forces of the state, such as soldiers and policemen. 6. Human Rights Watch (2002) THE WAR WITHIN THE WAR: Sexual Violence against Women and Girls in Eastern Congo.USA Africa Watch/ Human Rights Forces on all sides in the Congo conflict have committed war crimes against women and girls, Human Rights Watch said in a new 114-page report. The report documents the frequent and sometimes systematic use of rape and other forms of sexual violence in the Rwandan-occupied areas of eastern Congo. 7. Monzini, Paola (2005) SEX TRAFFIC: Prostitution, Crime, and Exploitation.United kingdom: Zed Books. The trafficking of women and girls for prostitution is big business. This book focuses on the experiences of migrant women and girls who have very little choice or control over their lives. Women are forced to compete for work in conditions of extreme sexual exploitation, often being exposed to risky sexual practices, high levels of HIV, violence and murder. This book examines the techniques of recruitment, methods of transportation, and forms of exploitation abroad, and focuses on womens own experiences of migration. It explains the mechanisms of supply and demand and assesses attempts at controlling trafficking and strategies for resistance and change. 8. Oguli Oumo, Margaret; Molokomme, Imelda M.; Gwaba, Monde M. Mogegeh, Valencia K.D (2002) PROMOTING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO COMBAT GENDER BASED VIOLENCE: A training manual. United Kingdom: Commonwealth Secretariat This is a manual promoting an integrating approach to combat gender based violence with governments, non governmental organizations, private sector and international organizations working together. It includes instructional material and case studies for training trainers, middle level professionals, development workers and extension agents 9. (20 December 1993). Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. Retrieved March 29, 2007, from Office Of The United Nations High Commissioner For Human Rights Web site: www.ohchr.org/english/law/eliminationvaw.htm (1993) 10. Raymond and Hughes, Janice G. and Donna M. (March 2001). SEX TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN. Retrieved March 29, 2007, from Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Web site: action.web.ca/home/catw/attach/sex_traff_us.pdf (Raymond and Hughes, 2001) 11. (2006). TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS:. Retrieved March 29, 2007, from Assesing Organized Crime Web site: www.assessingorganisedcrime.net/publications/AOC-DLV17-vR3.pdf

Monday, January 20, 2020

Charles Dickens Aimed His Books At Criticizing America Essay -- essays

Charles Dickens Aimed His Books at Criticizing America Europe in the 1800s was beginning to develop a deep cultural sense for literature. Romanticism and Romantic novels were quickly becoming popular, and authors such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe from Germany and poets such as James Macpherson from England, were rapidly becoming icons of their nations, as well as the beginners of influential and opinionated novel writing. Charles Dickens was, and still is, an extremely renowned English Romantic writer, generally considered to be one of the greatest of the Victorian period. He has written almost fifty pieces, of which many books we still hear about today: A Christmas Carol, The Pitwick Papers, American Notes, and Great Expectations – amongst another fourteen novels, five novellas, many poems and plays, and illustrations. However, one of his most famous and critical works is his story of Martin Chuzzlewit. Being Americans, although we may respect and enjoy many of Dickens’ books and novels, we yet have a reason to d islike him: the tale of Martin Chuzzlewit, along with Hard Times, and American notes were directly aimed at criticizing and ‘trashing’ America. Through these books, Dickens’ purposely satirized and disparaged our American lifestyle. Charles Dickens was born in Portsea, Hampshire, in 1812. In 1814 Dickens moved to London, and then to Chatham, where he received some education. In 1824, at the age of twelve, Dickens was sent to work for some months at a blacking factory at the Hungerford Market, London, while his father, John Dickens, was in Marshalea Debtor's Prison. In the years 1824-27 Dickens studied at Wellington House Academy, London, and at Mr. Dawson's school in 1827. From 1827 to 1828 he was... ...ntly almost inexistent in sophisticated England – he got these ideas from events in his stay in America. The book was an obviously disturbing portrayal of a morally corrupt American society. When Charles Dickens was in America, the social norms and values he was raised with clashed with everything he observed in the Americans lifestyles. He was taken off balance at the amount of freedom people had when it came to etiquette and proper behavior. Furthermore, he was completely disgusted and appalled by even the day-to-day activities such as the way people ate, spoke, and conducted themselves in public. He clearly and strongly expressed this revulsion in his books Martin Chuzzlewit, Hard Times, and American Notes. He was quick to judge, and did not take time to simply appreciate the fact that us Americans lived a different culture – equally worthy of respect.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Communication Methods Essay

Drugs are constantly under scrutiny from various organizations. The removal of medication is costly in product and reputation. However, it is important that withdrawal of a drug, which may affect the safety of patient’s withdrawal from the market, is imperative. Usually this prompts unexpected adverse effects that were not detected during clinical trials and apparent from surveillance of the data from the patient community. The scenario outlined involves the removal of medication from the shelves of hospitals, drugstores, and individuals home. It is imperative that communication reaches the masses in a concise and timely manner. The different types of communication are verbal, non-verbal, written and visual. Verbal communication simply involves face-to-face communication with another or group of people or communication over the telephone. For verbal communication, success requires the sender and receiver obtain what is required to make communication effective. When communicating verbally tone, dialect, and language are important factors (Cheesboro, O’Connor, Rios, 2010). Non-Verbal communication involves communicating without words. Non-Verbal communication ultimately ties in with verbal communication, without even speaking your body language, eye contact, posture, and facial expressions are all communicating. Cultures also exist with non-verbal communication. Cultural difference exist in the way people greet each other, what gestures mean, how far or how close to stand when interacting with someone and so forth (Cheesboro, O’Connor, & Rios 2010). Written communication involves writing letters and emails. Written communication skills are just as important as verbal communication skills. Last, there is visual communication and the portrayal is through some form of visual aid such as; signs, drawings, power points, graphs and many others. When using visual communication verbal and written communication may be involved (Chessbor , O’Connor, & Rios, 2010). Communication has advantages and disadvantages and traditional communication is still the number one form of communication to use if clarity is a primary factor. Traditional communication usually includes face to face or over the phone. When communicating face to face you always receives the opportunity to interact in a back and forth discussion. The use of non -verbal’s, facials and gestures maybe an advantage to some and a disadvantage to others. Disadvantages of traditional communication can be that conflict can be more intense and difficult to diffuse. Electronic communication is more prevalent but it still has its pros and cons. Many companies depend on electronic communication because information delivery occurs within different locations. There are also people that travel on their job and have no choice but to communicate through electronics. Not only is electronic communication fast and convenient it is the source of communication which allows for the responses and flexibility in replying. Despite the many advantages of electronic technology in the workplace, there are potential disadvantages including, the possibility of decreases patient safety, and breach of confidentiality (Broussard 2013). Many caregivers or physicians have mobile devices usually supplied by their organization. The concern with phones at one’s use at all time is the employee focus on sending a text or responding to an email versus delivery the appropriate care to the patient. Confidentiality concerns can come about form a simple phone conversation where names may not be spoken, but enough patient history and information is more than enough details. There is also the use of language. Being precise and complete is necessary when sending any form of electronic message (Cheesboro, O’Connor, & Rios, 2010). Remembering basic grammar and formatting can go completely wrong. A professional email can become very unprofessional fast especially if the sender fails to review it prior to pressing send. With this concern comes the major issue of decrease in patient safety, possible violation of the HIPPA, patient safety, and breach of confidentiality.. Social media plays a major part in daily life for most people. Many advantages and disadvantages come along with using social media especially in a health care setting. First, the use of social media depends on the organization. Not every health organization is equipped or in need of the use of social media. However, when an organization does choose to use social media advantages can be the use of improved communication. Employees and others can discuss post and view new ideas and plans for the company (Society for Human Resources, 2012). There is an opportunity to gain more clients and reach a wider range of people especially if the organization is worldwide. Marketing opportunities are everywhere on social networks. Disadvantages can be employees misusing the social network. Potentially results in negative comments from employees  about the company or potential legal consequences if employees use these sites to view objectionable, illicit or offensive material (Society for Human Resources 2012). Technology is not perfect and is still prone to malfunctions. There is also the possibility of virus’ or hackers to come about when organizations are using social media. When a health organization uses social media it is important to have basic rules and regulation set in place to help ensure efficiency versus misuse. In the health care world, patient confidentiality is a primary concern. HIPPA is what help to protect patient’s personal medical information. Electronic and social media communication use in health care communication enforces patient security and adherence to Joint Commission guidelines and rules. Maintaining confidentiality, however, is becoming more difficult. It was easy to ensure the protection of individual privacy when files are in paper folders. It was not a perfect method, but it worked because information is powerful and it must be available for all to review. Information systems and other technology now allow instant retrieval of medical information, along with widening access for a greater number of people (McCall, 2000). The use of electronic and social media communication will ultimately affect HIPPA, because these forms of technology evolve in the health care world the HIPPA law must also transform and change continuously protect patients (McCall, 2000). The HIPPA law is in place to protect patients and although communicating through social media or any other form of electronics. The use of these forms of communication does put the exposure of private information risks. However, it is important for every health care organization to have their own set of rules and regulations to help prevent exposures. Each entity engaged in electronic transmission of health information must assess potential risks and vulnerabilities to the individual electronic health data. Organizations must develop, implement, maintain, and document appropriate security measures based on the risk assessment (Peterson 2001). In conclusion, health care and communication go hand in hand. Traditional communication is still at the forefront in health care when it comes to efficient communication. Electronic communication is very convenient and necessary when it comes to many different job types. Lastly, social media helps to market and bring in new ideas to the health care field. Overall, Traditional, Electronic, and social media will  continue to play a part in health care communication. As health care evolves communication, as well privacy and security methods must evolve as well. References Broussard, B. S., & Broussard, A. B. (2013). Using Electronic Communication Safely in Health Care Settings. Nursing For Women’s Health, 17(1), 59-62. doi:10.1111/1751-486X.12007. Retrieved from http://www.EBSCOhost.com Cheesboro, O’Connor, Rios. (2010) Communicating in the workplace. New York, New York: Pearson Education. McCall, M. (2000). HIPPA regulations:Challenges for perspective leaders. Surgical Services Management, 6(10), 18. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/237194292?accountid=458 Petersen, C. (2001). How private is private? HIPPA. SSM, 7(6), 49. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/237195101?accountid=458 Society For Human Resources, 2012. Social Media:What are the advantages and disadvantages of social networking sites? What should we include in a policy? Retrieved from http://www.societforhumanresources.org

Saturday, January 4, 2020

Womanhouse, CalArts 1970s Feminist Art Collaboration

Womanhouse was an art experiment that addressed the experiences of women. Twenty-one art students refurbished an abandoned house in Los Angeles and turned it into a provocative 1972 exhibit. Womanhouse received national media attention and introduced the public to the idea of Feminist Art. The students came from the new Feminist Art Program at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). They were led by Judy Chicago  and Miriam Schapiro. Paula Harper, an art historian who also taught at CalArts, suggested the idea to create a collaborative art installation in a house. The purpose was more than just to showcase womens art or art about women.   The purpose, according to Linda Nochlins bok on Miriam Schapiro, to  help women  restructure their personalities to be more consistent with their desires to be  artists and to help them build their art making out of their experiences as  women. One inspiration was Judy Chicagos discovery that a womans building had been part of the 1893 Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The building was designed by a woman architect, and many art works, including one by Mary Cassatt, were featured there. The House The abandoned house in the urban Hollywood area was condemned by the city of Los Angeles. The Womanhouse artists were able to postpone the destruction until after their project. The students devoted enormous amounts of their time in late 1971 to refurbishing the house, which had broken windows and no heat. They struggled with repairs, construction, tools, and cleaning out the rooms that would later house their art exhibits. The Art Exhibits Womanhouse was opened to the public in January and February of 1972, gaining a national audience. Each area of the house featured a different work of art.   â€Å"Bridal Staircase,† by Kathy Huberland, showed a mannequin bride on the stairs. Her long bridal train led to the kitchen and became progressively grayer and dingier along its length. One of the most famous and memorable exhibits was Judy Chicago’s â€Å"Menstruation Bathroom.† The display was a white bathroom with a shelf of feminine hygiene products in boxes and a trash can full of used feminine hygiene products, the red blood striking against the white background. Judy Chicago said that however women felt about their own menstruation would be how they felt seeing it depicted in front of them. Performance Art There were also performance art pieces at Womanhouse, initially done for an all-female audience and later opened to male audiences as well. One exploration of men’s and women’s roles featured actors playing â€Å"He† and â€Å"She,† who were visually depicted as male and female genitalia. In â€Å"Birth Trilogy,† performers crawled through a â€Å"birth canal† tunnel made of the legs of other women. The piece was compared to a Wiccan ceremony. The Womanhouse Group Dynamic The Cal-Arts students were guided by Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro to use consciousness-raising and self-examination as processes that preceded making the art. Although it was a collaborative space, there were disagreements about power and leadership within the group. Some of the students, who also had to work at their paying jobs before coming to labor at the abandoned house, thought that Womanhouse required too much of their devotion and left them no time for anything else. Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro themselves disagreed about how closely Womanhouse should be tied to the CalArts program. Judy Chicago said things were good and positive when they were at Womanhouse, but became negative once they were back on the CalArts campus, in the male-dominated art institution. Filmmaker Johanna   Demetrakas made a documentary film called Womanhouse about the feminist art event. The 1974 film includes the performance art pieces as well as reflections by the participants. The Women The two primary movers behind Womanhouse were Judy Chicago and Miriam Shapiro. Judy Chicago, who changed her name to that from Judy Gerowitz in 1970, was one of the major figures in Womanhouse. She was in California to establish a Feminist Art Program at Fresno State College. Her husband, Lloyd Hamrol, was also teaching at Cal Arts. Miriam Shapiro was in California at that time, having originally moved to California when her husband Paul Brach was appointed dean at Cal Arts. He accepted the appointment only if Shapiro would also become a faculty member.   She brought her interest in feminism to the project. A few of the other women involved included: Faith WildingBeth BachenheimerKaren LeCocqRobbin Schiff Edited and updated with content added​ by Jone Johnson Lewis.