I Stand Here Ironing by Tillie Olsen

Stephanie Fernandez Instructor Larson Enc 1102 September 30, 2011 Society’s Blind Eye Many women in today’s society are struck with reality when suddenly they are left to fend for themselves and a young offspring; this hold true for Emily’s mother in Tillie Olsen’s â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing†. This is a story about a mother having a flashback on her daughter’s life, and how she has played a role in each stage of it. She reminisces on how she deprived her daughter of that stability she longed for, wishing she could go back in time and give it another try.Waking up to feed your children, and nurture them as their emotionally deprived souls seek love and affection is so easy to do when you don’t have the weight of the world on your shoulders. There is so much pressure to raise children the â€Å"right† way according to society. When women have to provide financially for their family, time is divided, and has to be balanced precisel y. Parenting is severely hindered by the financial and emotional stress placed upon single mothers in society.When you have both mother and father in a home- the financial responsibilities, along with parental responsibilities are split between two people. A single mother has to work twice as hard to meet the family’s financial and emotional obligations. Society is the first to see when something is going wrong with a child, but turn a blind eye when the mother is struggling to keep a roof over that same child’s head. Emily’s mother maintained a hard work ethic to provide for her daughter, but when that still fell short, she had no choice but to give her away for a while until she got back on her feet.The narrator reminisces leaving her daughter at a daycare, while she would work, but when she would return to pick her daughter up she would begin bawl. This holds true for too many women, having to leave their children in the hands of others, for their own good. I t is devastating to know that another woman has to raise a child that isn’t hers, and she too is doing it for money. A daycare could never provide, or come close to providing the emotional comfort that a mother will give her own child. Unfortunately, single working mothers do not have a choice. Read also: â€Å"Stand and Deliver Character Analysis†Society points fingers, with no clear direction as to where to go or what the mothers are expected to do. There are no special rules when it comes to single parenting. There is no such thing as a this-is-how-you-raise-children handbook being handed out to new mothers in hospitals. Why does society have a silent requirement for mothers to have all the answers, when they simply are just not provided? Tillie Olsen clearly states her narrators’ ambiguity in the second paragraph when she says, â€Å"Even if I came, what good would it do?You think because I am her mother I have a key, or that in some way you could use me as a key? She has lived for nineteen years. There is all that life that has happened outside of me, beyond me† (par 3). There is no way that any parent can be with their child every waking moment of their life to guide them in a desired path. Even less likely is a single working mother able to perfo rm or attempt to perform such a significant task in her child’s life. Children grow up to be more distant from their mothers, because of that lack of communication, and there is nothing that can be done to make up for that lost time.Something has to give in order for there to be any sort of stability in a single parent home. Most single parents are women. For many, many years, it has been known that in order to produce a chubby being, a man needs to take part in the baby making process. Too much responsibility and too much blame have been placed on mothers for the lack of their offspring’s healthy childhood and as good mothers, they overlook the allegations being placed on them, and continue to strive for their children.When Emily’s father â€Å"‘could no longer endure’†, the narrator did the best she could to provide for her. All of the weight falls on the mother in the unfortunate event that the father leaves. The mother no longer has a cho ice but to be strong, and endure what the father clearly didn’t have in him to. Fathers are equally responsible for the way their child turns out to be. Single middle class women have an obstacle placed before them that not one person, besides another woman in her same position can relate to.They are responsible for raising happy healthy children, even if their insides are drowning with sorrow. For many years, women have been held on a pedestal, expected to obey the silent rules placed before them, and for many years, they have. Emily’s mother had worked very hard to get her daughter where she had got her, and a talented young woman did she turn out to be! But the question was still asked, question that she did not have the answer for, and she never will. Resources Olsen, Tillie. â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing†. Web Site: Alexanderbecquer. Publisher: Becquer Publishing Company.

Commodore Perry’s Journey to Japan

After the conclusion of the War of 1812 and prior to the Civil War, the United States Navy entered into a peacetime role. Initially, this role was to protect commerce trading in both inland and international waterways. However, that role was soon expanded upon with Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry’s journey to Japan. The journey had its immediate impact, including the signing of a comprehensive treaty that established trade relations with Japan and provided protection for sailors and their ships. Perry’s expedition also had the impact of serving as a precursor for the change in what the Navy’s responsibilities encompassed, which even carry on to the present day Navy. Commodore Perry left for Japan with the objectives of opening up Japanese ports to trade and ensuring American presence and protection in East Asia. These terms were outlined in â€Å"detailed instructions from the Secretary of the Navy John P. Kennedy, diplomatic instructions from the State Depart ment, and a letter from President Millard Fillmore to the Emperor of Japan†2 that Perry carried with him on his voyage.From beginning to end Perry’s voyage spanned nine months and was filled with trials and tribulations. The Japanese were initially turned off to the idea of Americans entering their country, and would not even let them step on land. Only twice did Perry and his squadron come ashore in the nine months prior to the signing of the official treaty. Most of the negotiations took place upon various ships in Perry’s control and the meetings were often difficult to coordinate.Based on notes from Perry’s personal journal, these complications often lead to frustration and Perry was constantly considering employing â€Å"whole force† that he was granted to use if he deemed it necessary to achieve his goals. 3 However, this was ultimately unnecessary, and Perry did well to remind himself that his voyage was diplomatic and pacific in nature. The negotiations were an arduous process and Perry even left Japan returning later with twice as many ships, anticipating a struggle. This was unnecessary as the Japanese agreed to Perry’s desires and the â€Å"black ships† saw no combat.With the agreement of the Japanese the Treaty of Kanagawa was drafted and subsequently signed on 31 March 1854. This treaty allowed for a U. S. consul to be created at Shimoda, and allowed access to the ports of Hakodate and Shimoda for the purpose of obtaining â€Å"wood, water, provisions, and coal, and other articles their necessities may require. † The treaty also required that â€Å"whenever ships of the United States are thrown or wrecked on the coast of Japan, the Japanese vessels will assist them, and carry their crews to Shimoda. Thirdly, men staying in Shimoda and Hakodate, or any seamen shipwrecked shall be free and â€Å"shall not be subject to†¦restrictions and confinement. †4Although there was not a formal agreement on trade in these open ports, Perry assumed correctly that with an American presence in port, trade would come naturally. 5 The initial impact of Perry’s expedition and the treaty with Japan gave the United States Navy many new roles and an international presence on the high seas. Japan had been a country focused on isolationism for centuries. This isolationism is mainly connected to the zeal of early missionaries who traveled to Japan.The United States was able to avert this conflict in values by Commodore Perry’s outright statement to the Japanese leadership that the United States government â€Å"does not interfere with the religion of its own people, much less with that of other nations. †6 Several attempts were made to open Japan to American trade, but all had failed. One such failure was that of Commodore James Biddle, which proved to be a complete embarrassment for the United States, as he made several mistakes in his conduct and on top of it a ll needed to be towed out of port by a Japanese ship. The fact that Commodore Perry was successful in his mission changed the status quo in regards to what the United States Navy could and could not do. Perry proved that the United States was capable of having a forward presence in foreign lands and was able to establish international trade in East Asia. The establishment of commercial relations with Japan furthered the Navy’s responsibility in protecting trade. Perry’s exploits also showed that diplomacy was a possible way for the United States to establish influence in other countries.Thirdly, Perry and his â€Å"black ships† were the first sign of American deterrence. The fact that American ships were off the coast of Japan ready to attack an underprepared country made it very difficult for the Japanese to negotiate anything in their favor or make any tactical or strategic decisions to remove the threat of Perry’s force. The roles of the Navy that Comm odore Perry established in the mid-nineteenth century are still prevalent in the present day.The idea of the Navy as a protector of commerce (although established before Perry, he was instrumental in expanding the Navy’s prevalence in ensuring safe trade) continues into the present day. An example of this would be ships stationed in the Mediterranean Sea. This area, specifically around the Strait of Hormuz is crucial to trade in the Middle East. The presence of the United States Navy maintains a safe trading environment between the United States and its allies, and other countries in the region.Commodore Perry also introduced the idea of deterrence, which is crucial in the operations of the Navy in today’s world. One example of American deterrence is the use of submarines, equipped with nuclear war heads and ballistic missiles, which are virtually invisible to our enemies. Perry also proved that diplomacy was a very potent way to establish influence in foreign countrie s and maintain a presence without force. This is also seen in the United States establishment of embassies in foreign countries and the use of diplomats to negotiate with foreign countries.Commodore Perry’s expedition to Japan had a tremendous impact on the United States at the time it occurred, but it also had an everlasting impact on how the Navy operates and what roles and responsibilities it chooses to take on. Notes 1. Walworth, Arthur. Black ships off Japan; the story of Commodore Perry's expedition 242. New York: A. A. Knopf, 1946. 2. Bradford, James C. Quarterdeck and bridge: two centuries of American naval leaders 115. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1997. 3. Perry, Matthew Calbraith, and Roger Pineau.The Japan Expedition, 1852-1854; the personal journal of Commodore Matthew C. Perry 157. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1968. 4. Barrows, Edward Morley. The great commodore; the exploits of Matthew Calbraith Perry 365. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill C o, 1935. 5. Anderson, David. â€Å"Perry, Matthew Calbraith. â€Å"American National Biography Online Feb. 2000 (accessed October 2, 2012). 6. Walworth, Arthur. Black ships off Japan. 243. 7. Bradford, James C. Quarterdeck and Bridge. 113. Bibliography Anderson, David. â€Å"Perry, Matthew Calbraith. â€Å"American National Biography Online Feb. 000 (accessed October 2, 2012). Barrows, Edward Morley. The great commodore; the exploits of Matthew Calbraith Perry 365. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Co, 1935. Bradford, James C. Quarterdeck and bridge: two centuries of American naval leaders. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1997. Perry, Matthew Calbraith, and Roger Pineau. The Japan Expedition, 1852-1854; the personal journal of Commodore Matthew C. Perry 157. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1968. Walworth, Arthur. Black ships off Japan; the story of Commodore Perry's expedition. New York: A. A. Knopf, 1946.

Poverty in the USA Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Poverty in the USA - Research Paper Example For a person to get a satisfying job, he/she needs to have the quality education (Kotler, 12). Most students leave school due to diverse reasons such as early pregnancies or drugs; hence, cannot find a rewarding job. Monetary instability causes low quality or no education at all. Many youths desire to advance their education and acquire rewarding jobs. Unfortunately, their parents and guardians are unable to pay their fees; thus they have to abandon school to secure jobs and help their parents pay debts. Â  Therefore, they create a cycle that never ends, that is from uneducated parent to an uneducated child. American citizens’ faces poverty since they can not grant the manpower needed to ensure a boost in the country’s economy. Majority of the developing states globally lives in destitute scarcity. The wealthy states such as America are a source of refuge to the growing states. They are perceived as ‘lands of opportunities’. America is one such country, of ten referred to as the world’s superpower nation because of her stable economic. This makes it a niche for citizens of developing countries to scramble for employment possibility from its citizens and illegal immigrants. Since the immigrants can settle for any amount of money they are mostly offered jobs, unlike the Americans. The immigrants can work for the extra time, and do multiple jobs. For this reason, they further deny employment opportunities to the citizens who meanwhile, are fighting with the youths for menial jobs.

Identification of Relevant and Irrelevant Cost - Coca Cola Flavored Essay

Identification of Relevant and Irrelevant Cost - Coca Cola Flavored Milk - Essay Example In the mid of 2007, the company underwent some serious planning regarding the extension of current product lines. Carbonated drinks, mineral water, fruit juices and other non-alcoholic beverages were already there in company’s product portfolio, yet the company realized the importance of adding a new product in the form of flavored milks. The launch of this new product under the name of Coca-Cola’s brand name is one of the most challenging tasks for the product managers as well as the project managers of the company. The research and development department of the company undertook rigorous workings on the proposed launch of flavored milk. The whole research process followed the different stages including planning, development of the new product, testing, commercial viability, branding, initial launch of the new product and many other activities. Each of these activities had its own cost estimates which are considered as either relevant or non-relevant. Planning Stage Th e planning stage is the general stage for all those products that are intended to be launched. The costs arising due to this activity are always considered as irrelevant because the planning process always keeps going on irrespective of the fact whether a new product is launched or not in the current timeframe. The general expenditure of Coca-Cola on account of its planning activity amounts to around $1 million annually. However, this cost is the general expense of the company and cannot be allocated to the product cost of flavored milk. Development Stage Once a basic formula is identified for one or more products, then development stage is commenced in order to create a better product. However, this activity is carried out for every product that can be produced by the company irrespective of the fact whether it would be launched by the company or not. As a result, the expenditures pertaining to this particular stage are considered to be irrelevant and assumed to be accounted for as the general research and development expenditures of the company. The rough estimates of Coca-Cola under this activity, ranges between $1 and $3 million depending upon the level of estimates. Testing Stage After the products are developed, there comes the next stage in which the products are gone through rigorous testing activities such that the products are tested in a real environment and timeframe. The taste, quality, odor, and other characteristics of the product are tested by the consumers as how they rate those products as per their own taste preferences. Since this process also occurs on uniform basis for every developed product, therefore the cost pertaining to testing is considered as irrelevant. Roughly estimates of this cost ranges around $0.5 million to$2 million a year and is expensed out on general basis. Commercial Viability Testing stage leads to the stage where the products are checked for their viability as to whether a particular product would be liked and accept ed by the consumers, concerns of distributers regarding the effective transportation of the product as the product is at its birth stage and with many other issues. This cost is the piercing cost among the relevant and irrelevant cost. It depends upon the policy of the company whether to account for this cost as a relevant or irrelevant cost. Branding After it is decided as to which product is going to be launched in the market, effective marketing strategies are formulated

Balance scorecard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Balance scorecard - Essay Example The Balance Scorecard is a framework or tool for measurement of sustainability of an organization which acts as a decision support system for the management for taking necessary action in order achieve sustainability of business operations in the long run In order to maintain sustainability of business, it requires constant monitoring of business operation which needs to be measured and quantified as per certain parameters that are preset. The various perspectives, with the help of which the performance of an organization are measured are namely financial perspective, customer’s perspective, internal perspective and learning perspective (Niven, 2005, p.49). The performance in these internal and external areas supported by proper funding and training of human capital are essential for sustainable growth of business of a company. Each perspective of growth of the company is assigned a metric and a target value against which the performance of the company is measured. The financi al objectives of the company are growth of revenue, growth of operating profits and solvency of the company in short term as well as long term (Olve and  Sjostrand, 2006, p.43). The fulfilment of these objectives is essential in order to achieve sustainability in business operations. The revenue growth is measured by an annual rate of growth and a target value is assigned against which the actual growth rate is measured. The growth of operating profits is measured by the amount of earnings before interest and tax as a percentage of sales. The metric for short term solvency is the current ratio and for long term solvency is the long term debt-equity ratio. The actual performance of the companies in any industry is measured against these metrics and the achievement of these metrics against the target values. The performance on sustainability of the company from customer’s perspective is measured by the average transaction size of customers, annual rate of increase in customer base and percentage reduction of customer complaints. The measurement of the company’s performance against the target values of these metrics supports the decision making process of the management. The internal performance of the company is measured by evaluating the performance to fulfil the objectives of product innovation, quality of service, sustenance of domestic market share, etc. These are measured by the metrics namely, the percentage of expenses for research and development with respect to the revenues earned, average turnaround time, percentage of market share, etc (Kaplan and  Norton, 1996, p.79). The actual performance of the company against the target value of these metrics helps the management to take decision to attain sustainability of the organization. The final perspective is the learning perspective which helps the companies in any industry to retain their employees and train them for sustainable operations and development. The learning performance of th e companies could be measured with the help of metrics like employee turnover, annual hours of training of the employees and average compensation. The comparison of actual values of these metrics against the target values helps the business to take decisions on sustainability (Blokdijk, 2008, p.88). The Balance Scorecard provides insight to the management on the different areas of business management and also allows them to take necessary steps for ensuring sustainability of business. Strengths and Limitations of Balance Scorecard The balanced scorecard is an important strategic performance measurement tool and semi-standard structured report that helps the managers to keep track of several activities executed by the staffs. In addition, this tool effectively monitors the consequences arising from several organizational actions. This part of the essay will determine several

Real Estate Personal Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Real Estate Personal Statement - Essay Example This experience enriched me with a native fluency in the second language and unique experience in an international environment. In addition, I have greatly improved on my organizational skills due to continuous time pressure during my study abroad. I am conscious that a real estate agent, especially in touristic areas, has to be proficient in several languages and possess a power of persuasion. That is why French and Spanish are my additional languages of choice that I work on in parallel to my main studies and already achieved significant proficiency in both of them. Moreover, I try when possible to engage in volunteer activity or short part time work as a receptionist to polish my communication skills with as a large variety of people. In final years of my undergraduate study I focused more on the Real Estate related profession and in two years successfully acquired a Real Estate License from Chamber of Commerce of Perugia. As my final exams are approaching I would like to define my future career entry as precise as possible and make sure that any additional studies or internships are well aligned with my professional goals. I strongly believe that my motivation and enthusiasm combined with short, but intense professional experience will help me to tackle future challenges in professional as well as educational settings. I look forward in exploring new horizons and educational opportunities that could help to propel my future

The Superiority Complex Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Superiority Complex - Essay Example The article is a good one and is not biased in any way. It explains why people succeed in life and give reasons as to why others do not. The writer is precise in putting across her message to the audience on the required traits needed for anyone who wishes to succeed. This is a sign to show that anyone with a mission to succeed will achieve his goal if only he is determined.America has been in the forefront to fight racial prejudice and the writer joins hands by way of placing her audience in a single platform informing them of her advice to them despite of the difference in culture or origin. It is a high time that people look beyond their skin colour and base their personality on their ability in the society. Blame games based on racial grounds has no place in the modern society. She gives examples of people from other races that were despised on racial grounds, but have since leant in overcoming the inferiority within them, developed self control and have no more feeling of insecu rity.Suketu Mehta is said to have made a significant impact in the social life of Americans. She is a US citizen but has her origin in India. She is among the discriminated individuals, but one thing she has done is to surpass the challenges and leads a successful life. The history of America has cases of racial prejudice and the government is fighting to eliminate the menace. Her impact in helping hand towards the progress is a matter that will be appreciated by generations to come. Her article clearly illustrates her role in the fight.