Value Based Marketing Concept Marketing Essay

Value Based Marketing Concept Marketing Essay Research in Motion Limited, based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada was founded in 1984. It is one of the largest companies in Mobile Communications worldwide. It took the world by storm by launching its leading product Blackberry smartphone in 1999. The current product includes Blackberry Play book Tablet, Blackberry smartphone, software for Businesses and other related accessories. It has got its identity in North America, Asia-pacific, South America and Europe. The Company is led by President and CEO, Thorsten Heins. Frank Boulben was named Chief Marketing Officer effective June2012. Executives and sales people from around the world boasts about the possession and utility of Blackberry. It enhances their ability to access key corporate information and connect with their colleagues in real time. The resulting efficiency has resulted in sales agreements being closed faster and key decisions being communicated to Top Honchos. The BlackBerry smart phone has become the one device that many business people find hard to function without.(Mcgraw-hill.com) The BlackBerry solution is now available on over 300 networks in over 120 countries. Recently, on 5 June 2012, its stock fell below $10 for the first time since 2003. Company is losing grounds to Apple Inc.s iPhone and phones that run Google Inc.s Android software like Samsungs. Revenue for the second quarter fiscal is $2.9 billion which is down 31% from $ 4.2 billion in the same quarter of fiscal 2012. Company net loss for the quarter was $ 235 million (www.press.rim.com/newsroom, 2012) After studying the case studies and using the Marketing mix strategy and Value based marketing models I have analyzed that customers want value for the price they pay for. RIM can create value through quick innovation, market research, market trends and realities. It also needs to change with changing needs of the people. Blackberry was once the pioneer in mobile industry, it has lost its shares in the current market due to slow adoption with changes in demand of consumers. I have also studied the strengths, weakness, threats and opportunities that blackberry have in the current situation. I have analyzed that Blackberry has a potential to rule the market again however the company should invest on new technology according to the needs and change in demand in the mobile industry 1.0 Value based Marketing concept Companies generally focus on maximizing the profits than on maximizing customer value. The late Peter Doyle, in his book value-based marketing, charges that profit maximization leads to short term planning and under-investment in marketing, promoting a focus on Sales, market share and current profits. (Doyle, 2000) This concept erodes the competitiveness in the long run as it eliminates the opportunities in the new markets. Companies ignore the fact that the real investment of a company relies on brand management, customer relationship, Partner relationship and knowledge about the market. Customers buy value rather than products and services. It is a Value package of cost of the product and the benefits that are significant to the end users. Customers hardly find true value, when they find they hardly ever leave until a better value takes over. (J Nicholas De Bonis, 2012) Companies should discover customers attributes and benefits the customers look for in a product and create a marketing strategy to deliver value to them. The steps involve market research and how customers perceive different brands available in the market. The diagram below depicts how cost based pricing is different from Value based pricing. In value based approach value comes first and in cost based approach companies target on profit maximization. (Pricing and price stratergy, n.d)http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSMggVwiSafznfxuwsbt3bnGX_6m75FlJJ993t1Gi9ezRLXeRaH7g How companies create values: Customer Relationship Management: Companies maintain the database base of the customers, collect information on the preferences and likings of the customers, Use information to target the potential/target customers through products services and promotions that adds value to the most important aspect of customer requirements. Target Segments: Value driven companies focus one or more consumer segments, ensure additional value on the product and reduce cost through extremely efficient operations. Retaining the existing loyal customers by adding value features that can be helpful to the target customers. http://image.slidesharecdn.com/valuebasedmarketing-120228185920-phpapp02/95/slide-8-728.jpg?1330477417 Companies can focus on key areas: Focusing on the customer Focusing on market trends realities Articulate new market opportunities Emphasizing on customer satisfaction Creating single cohesive strategy CMO of Research Motion also talks about which customers they intend to serve and why they are going to serve them better than the competitors. By adding value to the product, RIM could have the greatest come back http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAJp_tL7ggE (Boulmen, 2012) 1.2 Marketing Mix Strategy http://business-fundas.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Strategies-for-Marketing.jpg (The 4 Ps of marketing, n.d) The term marketing mix was coined by Neil Borden. Every Marketer should have knowledge of this theory. It is part of the segmentation process where all 4 Ps, Product, Price, Place, Promotion play their role. This model helps in positioning based on the elements that are best suited for marketing. The above diagram also talks about the relevant questions that the company can think of and based on the best answers the strategies can be made. By answering the above questions, RIM can create a value for its products to effectively compete in the market. 2.0 Driving forces of change in the mobile Industry and changed landscape The best innovation ever is of a mobile phone. Mobile has created worlds most innovative companies. The macro trends surrounding the industry are: Persistent Demand: There seems to be a never ending demand of mobile phone. There has been demand of mobile phones, smartphones tablets throughout the world. People strive hard to earn a good phone. The market has been swayed with the extensive demand of mobile phones. Customer Centric Mobile Applications: Every company is struggling hard on innovation to compete on products and features that the customers expects or over expects from mobile phone. Market Disruption: There is a deadly competition happening in the mobile market. There are mergers, acquisitions, war among technologies, Facebook planning to create its own phone, Google planning to buy Motorola. Lack of innovation problem for Nokia Blackberry has created havoc in the Mobile Industry. Based on the trends that we analyzed, we can say that Mobile industry will remain the most lucrative industry in the years ahead and will lead to further innovations in technology and designs. 3.0 Understanding Customer Behaviour and upcoming Challenges Customers look at maximizing values. High customer value delivery is the key to customer loyalty. 3.1 Drivers of Customer Equity Value Equity: It is a combination of effective of quality, price and convenience. It is effective where companies have differentiated products. Brand Equity: Its a bundle of perception, attitude and awareness. Effective when products are less differentiated. Relationship Equity: It is for companies relying on customer loyalty programs and special and maintaining relationships. 3.2 Factors affecting Customers behavior Personal Factors: Includes Age, Gender, values, personality, lifestyle, occupation, etc. Blackberry is targeted for a separate class of people that needs quick texting, believes in getting things done, messenger, and Internet access with media player. It is a great way to connect people, place and resources access through Mobile. Cultural Factors: It involves the cultural differences of individuals based on the culture and background an Individual comes from. Geographical location, Nationality, Religion is a part that affects the customers choice and beliefs. Social Class: It is segmented based on the income earned by an individual group of people. It affects the customers behavior in a way where not every person can buy a specific product because of limited source of income. 4.0 SWOT Analysis Strengths Brand: Brand is internationally recognized and established. Products beneficial for consumer and business professionals as well. The most relied upon phone for business e-mails Potential to develop a range of products based on specific designs and innovations over the years Patented rights for the thumbwheel and QWERTY keyboard found on the device. Its products have awarded for unique features and products. It still has a huge database of loyal customers who do not want to part from their phones. Weaknesses Prolonged lack of innovation Persistent fixation with a platform which is losing appeal for both customers and developers Blackberry phones are expensive and chic product that is gets costly for organizations that want to offer email across large organizations. Limited storage capacity compared to other phones. Opportunities: Non Exposure of its product line RD talent is getting increasingly low. Acquisitions: Smaller firms with low resources to invest on technology can be a good buy-out option. Market Intelligence reveals an immense opportunity for smart phones similar technology that can be exported. Exports are expected to can reach billions by 2013 end. The new BlackBerry Tablet OS (found on the Play Book) looks like a robust platform in the long run, and it is built on QNX OS that is tried-and-tested. Threats: Aggressive competition on evolving new soft wares in the global smartphone market In 2007 Symbians operating system designed for mobile devices held an estimated 65% worldwide share of the converged devices, exporting 77.3 smartphones in 2007, while RIM Blackberry OS at 11%.(2011) In Exports RIM leads in North America standing at 42% Key competitors have already expanded globally like Apple, Samsung, LG, and HTC Product imitations, loss of source code, software piracy and are more common in developing and third world countries Competitive market for employees in the global software development industry. Rapid innovations from other companies. Changing consumer behavior: With wider options in features and technology customers choice change rapidly. It is a threat as it becomes difficult to cope with the rapid change in consumer requirements. 4.1 TARGET MARKET The primary target market for Blackberrys is the business people between 25 to 60 years. These people are the ones that want their things done, more on the go people and mostly occupied with their work. A device which can provide them more suppleness of wireless network i.e. internet services, emails and GPS services is needed to make lives easier of the corporates. Blackberry should also add features that can target children and Generation Y as they are more technology savvy and innovation hungry. The Gen Y group is always exquisite about latest and smarter technology and they respond rapidly to changes in technology. They are also willing to pay high prices for the benefits and value offered to them. Hence it is a prospective market for RIM. 5.0 Marketing Mix strategy for RIM to achieve the lost market share PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT BRANDING: In this dynamic environment of technology RIM needs to invest on innovation and R D. Horizontal business opportunities like Multimedia and Satellite services will generate extra revenue. RIM needs to position itself as the leading smart phone provider for professionals in emerging countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China. MARKET SEGMENTATION: They should target others segments not specifically but by adding additional features that can attract students, youths and try to indulge in other product or cross sell other products. CHANNEL SALES: RIM can negotiate with major phone services provider in several countries, this will help RIM to promote their phones through a mutual relationship. Internet marketing and social media channels can also be widely used for advertisements marketing COST CUTTING: RIM can also look at reducing the cost through operational excellence. This can further reduce the cost of the supply chain and can also reduce the per unit cost of making the phone and ultimately selling it at a competitive price. 6.0 RECOMMENDATION 1) RIM needs to innovate and invest on technology this needs to come with new products with more user friendly feature to satisfy current consumer demand and attract new customers 2) RIM should also strongly focus on the advertising campaign to increase brand awareness through viral advertising, television advertisements, internet marketing etc. 3) RIM sells its equipment and services in around140 countries, so it should target to place the product in some other developing countries. 4) RIM should target not only business clients but also target tech savvy Generation Y by increasing product line. 7.0 CONCLUSION Looking at the disappointing sales figure of this year RIM should develop robust product strategies to win over competitors. In order to regain the competitive edge RIM needs to utilize its resources to utmost level by increasing the product line. Also RIM can make strategies to foresee future competitors e.g. Facebook planning to launch its own mobile phones. Facebook Inc. and plan long term strategy as per market demand. It is time for RIM to step ahead of the game and compete directly with Apple and Samsung. As per market research Blackberry is in the maturity phase of its life cycle so it needs to make the future plans accordingly. It is high time that Blackberry enters the market with a big bang giving tough competition to its competitors.

A Creative Society Helps the Development of a Country

A Creative Society Helps the Development of a Country Jonathan Alberto Hermenejildo Bello Suneeta Williams    Abstract The next pages focus on an investigation of how creativity can become a great tool, which helps the development the country with the creation of new things. The methodology that was used to carry out the research was through the collection of data of articles, documentaries, videos on YouTube, and dictionaries. Creativity needs to be cultivated in children between four and five years old at school to create efficient people by changing the model of education in the country. Moreover, with inclusion of creativity in the educational system can generate breakthroughs in the society of a country. This way can change the world and help to have a better society. Whats done to children, they will do to society. -Karl A. Menninger (2001) Creativity is the capacity to generate new interesting ideas. These ideas might be applied to real life, and this is called innovation. Also, creativity is another way of seeing things compared to other people. According to Ossola (2014) creativity is innate because each person thinks in different ways. Nowadays creativity is being lost and one of the most important reasons is that students do not have motivation to improve their capacity to think or develop imagination. The way students learn and what they need to learn is rapidly changing. The antiquated model of education used in Ecuador does not develop good creativity in students. Creativity needs to be cultivated in children between four and five years old at school to create efficient people by changing the model of education in the country. First, historically the Ecuadorian educational system was guided by republican governments and religion, specifically Catholicism. Ecuador is funding has given priority to invest resources in other areas as the construction of roads or other public works; neglecting thus the process education in the country. Vicente Rocafuerte founded schools and colleges in the country. The general direction of studies, which, although they provided guidelines to meet the requirement in Quito and Guayaquil were targeting other governments in Ecuador remained insufficient education for many years. (Eval, 2016) Kofi Annan said that Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. As it has been creativity and innovation are important factors in developing countries and have to put special attention in the education as the way in which people can get more creativity and innovation and expand it. Every country has their own education system managed and directed by a government. A system education well managed and organized will have positive effects on teaching-learning of their students. For this reason is important to renew the educational model to develop creativity and imagination in students. Hence the Ecuadorian educational system has been progressing for many years. Second, society needs to stimulate creativity from an early age. According to Robinson (2012) we have to rethink the fundamental principles on which we are educating our children, because of early age they are developing their abilities. The Ecuadorian educational system needs to promote critical thinkers, innovators, and excellent citizens. The professor cannot just focus on theory in class. The educational model of Finland is leaving aside the memorization of concepts and emphasizes the development of curiosity, creativity and experimentation. To finish, people, matter of transmitting information is not the only important thing, where it is most important to learn to think. In a study UNICEF (2008), the range of ages where a person develops the capacity the capacity to reason and communicate is from four to six years of age. This period of time a child devoted all their energy and all their interest to learn and playing, which some of the activities necessary for the development of life. Where each person that is around him is responsible of his education principally the family, teachers and friends. Those people contribute to teaching that this child will develop and practice for their life. Third, the children have the need of exploring, know and act on the world that it surrounds and is starting from there build and develop their expertise. According Juscelina is the Director of Ananda Marga said that We are going to focus on their balance, boundaries, education and values. We involve the entire learning process; cognitive, intellectual, physical, and creative. (Zoomin TV World News, 2016) A child needs to make decisions and take action to control the environment that surrounds it. For this reason is important to stimulate the mind and body of the child from an early age. For instance the language of a child is poor and this is learning all the words that this listening around him. On the other hand, the movements of a child of six years are more complex than them from one of two. Therefore, Schools must take a more holistic approach to education and centering mindfulness as a component of instruction. Thus, the set of changes that experiences the child with the increa se of its age is called development, which helps him to future life. Another clear example is the Cedarsong Nature School in U.S. is defined as unstructured free time in nature resulting in an intimate, deep and personal connection to the natural world. (Kenny, 2011) This educational center focuses on children between two and six years age. The focus of this school is that children need to be outdoors to get stimulation of their brains through interacting with nature. That practical learning is the best educational approach for children. Also the teachers arouse the curiosity in the children, besides fomenting confidence in them. In times of crisis, only imagination is more important than knowledge. Albert Einstein said it because he knew that an idea might be more useful than a mathematical calculation or a chemical formula. Many characteristics of talent that a human being comes from a well-worked childhood where in areas such as art, music, sports and reading are part of parenting, as a mechanism to complement learning and understanding of exact sciences. I think we take for granted that we rely heavily on scientific creativity, whether we realize it or not, said Rex Jung (cited in Ossola), a professor of neurosurgery at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Whether we use the advanced technology for to create new methods of communication and thus shorten distances. Also in the medical field as vaccines for any disease or simply facilitate the resolution of the problems of daily life, creativity and innovation is incredibly important to our quality of life, Jung said (cited in Ossola). Creativity is fundamental in the development of a country and social welfare of this. The capacity we have to change things and people through the creation of unimaginable things. While creativity is the meeting point between imagination and reality, the door to both our emotions and our knowledge; is a fundamental right of children and a human responsibility. Creativity is a great motivator because it makes people interested in what they are doing. Creativity gives hope that there can be a worthwhile idea. Creativity gives the possibility of some sort of achievement to everyone. Creativity makes life more fun and more interesting. Edward de Bono said. A good school does not only mean having the best grades or competing to be the best without assimilating what has been learned and without coherence between to teach and learning. For a good education you need to instruct the children on a path to love what they do. While a child is at ease with himself and his surroundings can build things that change the world towards comfort. Nowadays, education in Ecuador must development approach in the creativity of its infants. Children need principles that help them be reflective and interpret the information that teachers teach them. In addition to having knowledge in an area specifies for example, mathematical or physical, the professor must also have a preparation of as educate. Thus, that master also will have the tools necessary to mold of the best way to a student. These teachers will get the best potential of their directed and place them in the route of creativity and innovation. On the other hand, the family also has an important role in the development of creativity of sons. The parents can achieve it through the game where he proposes to the child is what experiment. It is to say to prove your potential to a problem to make you think that there are many ways to solve it and any solutions, is correct. Because this do not try to annoy child, but this tries that child travels for himself, his personal tastes and his character. So the child can motivate himself and learn as much as he wants without any limitation. So the child will be able to develop with the necessary tools to be able to face any difficulty that is presented around him. Specifically, the role of educators and parents is to be close, not wanting to eliminate their creativity in children. Also, understand that as much as children and adults, we are wrong. The mistakes the child makes will teach him not to repeat them again. In the other hand, if the child feels permanently criticized, this will generate insecurity in itself. All this will take the child to leave that use his imagining. Therefore, the child will not think that there are other ways to solve problems and he will agree what society dictates. I truly believe that everything that we do and everyone that we meet is put in our path for a purpose. According Marla Gibbs said There are no accidents; were all teachers if were willing to pay attention to the lessons we learn, trust our positive instincts and not be afraid to take risks or wait for some miracle to come knocking at our door. Finally, Ecuador cannot fail to recognize the role of the professors in education, since it is true that their role is changing in response to new demands of the knowledge society. It can be referred to an inspirational role. Furthermore, the role of government, which would be invested in the education of the country is pivotal. A good model of education helps to improve, prepare, develop virtues, and promote autonomy. The government needs to concern their effort in improving the quality of education and giving the necessary tools to children from an early age. Those people can develop things to improve not just the world, but also a tenacious society that is unafraid. Thus, those future thinkers will change their current situation in Ecuador with creativity and innovation. Works cited BrainyQuote, 2016 (2001) Marla Gibbs quotes. Available at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/marlagibbs499846.html (Accessed: 12 December 2016). Childress, S. (2007) A Young Tinkerer builds a windmill, electrifying a nation. Available at: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119742696302722641 (Accessed: 20 November 2016). Education (2008) Available at: https://www.unicef.org/education/ (Accessed: 20 November 2016). Eval, N. (2016) Ecuador educational System-overview. Available at: http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/400/Ecuador-EDUCATIONAL-SYSTEM-OVERVIEW.html (Accessed: 8 December 2016). Hamblin, J., Ossola, A., Brannen, P., Smith, E.E., Stern, J.E., Cooper, M., Graham, D.A., Prestowitz, C., Bodenner, C., Beinart, P., Gilbert, S., Green, E., Ajaka, N., Skurie, J. and Pollock, N. (2014) Scientists are more creative than you might imagine. Available at: http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/11/the-creative-scientist/382633/ (Accessed: 13 December 2016). Jaime (2012) The Finland phenomenon: El mejor Sistema Educativo del mundo. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2JGeGNxlh4 (Accessed: 20 November 2016). Kenny, E. (2011) Cedarsong nature school. Available at: http://cedarsongnatureschool.org/forestkindergarten/forest-kindergarten/ (Accessed: 8 December 2016). In-text citations: Kelley, T., Bodenner, C., Fallows, J., Kitfield, J., Rosengren, J., McGill, A., Ossola, A., McAdams, D.P., Green, A., Mokyr, J., Goldberg, J., Bigelsen, J., Varjacques, L., Ajaka, N., Hamblin, J., Pollock, N. and Skurie, J. (2014) Scientists are more creative than you might imagine. Available at: http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/11/the-creative-scientist/382633/ (Accessed: 20 November 2016). Menninger, K.A. (2001) Karl A. Menninger quotes. Available at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/k/karl_a_menninger.html (Accessed: 20 November 2016). Thomson, S. (2016) World economic forum on Latin America 2016. Available at: https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-on-latin-america-2016 (Accessed: 20 November 2016). Zoomin TV World News (2016) Zen preschool: Wellness parenting brazil style. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-45C9kvv7A (Accessed: 8 December 2016).

When identifying the learning support of dyslexic pupils, the same :: Education

When identifying the learning support of dyslexic pupils, the same underlying principle of careful assessment of skills an â€Å" When identifying the learning support of dyslexic pupils, the same underlying principle of careful assessment of skills and strategies should apply to literacy and numeracy. Discuss the implications for classroom practice. In this essay I will be discussing the importance of careful assessment in the management of dyslexia with particular reference to literacy and numeracy and the subsequent implications that this will have on classroom practice. Current theory shows that although there is no one definition for dyslexia it is widely recognised as being a specific learning disability of neurological origin that does not imply low intelligence or poor educational background It is were the language section of the brain is not developed in the normal way,so preventing the acquisition of phonological skills ,decoding and encoding of words.These difficulties are believed to be due to the inherited aspects of language processing.The neurological bases of dyslexia are now well founded and reflected in the current definitions of the term.The British Dyslexia Association (1996) produced the following definition; â€Å"Dyslexia is a neurological condition, which is constitutional in origin. The symptoms may affect many areas of learning and function and may be described as a specific difficulty in reading , spelling , and written language. One or more of these areas may be affected.Numeracy ,notational skills (music), may also be involved. However ,it is particularly related to mastering written language, although oral language may be affected to some degree.† The Dyslexia Institute (1997)defined dyslexia as â€Å"a problem dealing with words and symbols that make it hard for a dyslexic person to learn to read write and spell and sometimes causes difficulty with mathematics and music†. Dyslexia is therefore a disorder in the cognitive processing system of the brain which presents itself with difficulties with organisatonal skills ,short term memory problems ,reading ,writing and spelling problems and to some extent difficulties in numeracy. A dyslexic pupil may have problems with word retrieval and pronounciaton ,difficulties with rhyme and alliteration, sequencing problems and naming.Singleton an E.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance Essay -- Philosophy Religion

Told by the blurb that we have here "one of the most unique and exciting books in the history of American letters," one bridles both at the grammar of the claim and at its routine excess. The grammar stays irreparable. But I have a hunch that the assertion itself is valid. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values, by Robert M. Pirsig (Morrow), is as willfully awkward as its title. It is densely put together. It lurches, with a deliberate shift of its grave ballast, between fiction and philosophic discourse, between a private memoir and the formulaic impersonality of an engineering or trade journal. As it stands, it is a very long book, but report has it, and fault lines indicate, that a much longer text lies behind it. One hears of an eight- hundred-thousand-word draft and feels perversely deprived of it by the mere sanity and worldliness of the publisher. Zen and the Art is awkward both to live with and to write about. It lodges in the mind as few recent nov els have, deepening its grip, compelling the landscape into unexpected planes of order and menace. The narrative thread is deceptively trite. Father and son are on a motorcycle holiday, traveling from Minneapolis toward the Dakotas, then across the mountains, turning south to Santa Rosa and the Bay. Asphalt, motels, hairpins in the knife-cold of the Rockies, fog and desert, the waters dividing, then the vineyards and the tawny flanks of the sea. Mr. Pirsig is not the first ever to burst: Kerouac has been here before him, and Humbert Humbert, a clutch of novels, films, stories, television serials of loners on the move, lapping the silent miles, toasted or drenched under the big skies, motelling from one neon oasis to the next, and glidin... ... exception. The cracker-barrel voice grinds on, sententious and flat. But the book is inspired, original enough to impel us across gray patches. And as the mountains gentle toward the sea with father and child locked in a ghostly grip-the narrative tact, the perfect economy of effect, defy criticism. A detailed technical treatise on the tools, on the routines, on the metaphysics of a specialized skill; the legend of a great hunt after identity, after the salvation of mind and soul out of obsession, the hunter being hunted; a fiction repeatedly interrupted by, and meshed with, a lengthy meditation on the ironic and tragic singularities of American man- the analogies with Moby Dick are patent. Robert Pirsig invites the prodigious comparison. It is at many points, including, even, the almost complete absence of women, suitable. What more can one say?

Abortion Essay example -- essays research papers

Abortion has been and still is one of the most controversial topics in American culture. The reason for the controversy is the different viewpoints of this very personal matter. Some believe that abortion is the same as murder. Others believe it’s a personal choice which only they have the right to make. Due to the nature of the procedure and the concerns associated with ending a pregnancy, abortion will continue to top the list of â€Å"touchy† subjects in American politics and culture. As a pro-choice advocate, it is important for the right to have an abortion to be established and protected. An abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. The most common abortion procedure is the vacuum aspiration or suction curettage.   Ã‚  This is performed during the first trimester of a pregnancy. â€Å"†¦   The physician will then gradually widen (dilate) the cervix.   When the cervix has been dilated to the width appropriate for your stage of pregnancy, the physician will insert a small tube (cannula) which is attached to a suction machine.   The machine’s suction empties the contents of the uterus through the tube†¦The entire procedure takes just a few minutes†. On the other hand, the most controversial abortion procedure is the Partial-Birth abortion. This procedure, performed past the first trimester, has been banned in many states, including New York. â€Å"†¦the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, Bush administration lawyers said the procedure was never medically necessary to protect a woman's health and caused undue pain to the fetus, making t he procedure inhumane.† (2) The procedure is also known as dilation and extraction, or D&X, and dilation and evacuation, or D&E. â€Å"In a regular D&E abortion performed in the second trimester, a patient's cervix is dilated and the fetus is dismembered and removed by forceps†. (3) In 1973 abortion was legalized in the United States. In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to forbid a woman to have an abortion during her first trimester of her pregnancy. The Court also ruled that second trimester abortion was to be regulated by the state and only when the Woman’s health was at risk. This decision was a big step in the fight for women equality in the United States. It gave women the right to decide when or whether or not to become a mother. This was unheard of before. Before Roe v. Wade, women were having illegal... ... away with passing this first act it is only a matter of time before abortion is banned all together. This will mean a step back for all women in the fight for equal right in the United States.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What will happen if it is banned all together? Well for starters, the practice of illegal abortions will be reinstated in the country. Young girls will go to these â€Å"doctor† and put their lives in their hands not knowing exactly what the outcome will be, because as with any illegal practice it will not be performed in a safe environment. It will not be followed up with proper medical attention. As a result, women will die. They will be forced to put their lives and their relationships with their families at risk. It will no longer be a personal matter or a private choice because once a woman who is afraid to have an illegal abortion and instead keeps an unwanted child will have to deal with the consequences. This might lead to losing a job, dropping out of school or even becoming mentally and emotionally unstable. I am pro-choice. I want my rights protected and I believe every woman whether she is pro-choice or pro-life will appreciate at least having a choice.

Do Soaps Represent ‘real’ life? Essay

Soap operas are viewed by millions of our population every day; on average Eastenders has a viewing coverage of approximately 13million. There are a number of reasons as to why soap operas appeal to such a large and diverse audience. In this essay I will be examining these reasons with reference to my own attraction to soaps, and seeing how the soap stories fit into the everyday lives of the millions who watch them. Furthermore, I will investigate the way in which the construction and conventions of a soap opera relates to ‘real’ life. My discussion will include different aspects of a range of the most popular British soaps, for example, Crossroads, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Eastenders. It is hard to prove that soaps represent real life. Surely if they were truly reflective, we would all have fallen tragically into at least one coma by now. And we would have come out of it, too, with better hair and a new contract. It is true that the murder rate in Britain is at a record high. But if soaps were to be believed, it would be a whole lot closer to Colombia’s murder rate. You’re no one on the small screen until you’ve been whacked. The incidence of animal-print evening wear has also skyrocketed in this country. But it could never reach soap-opera Bet Lynch proportions. Similarly, the use of the phrase â€Å"If you ever come back here again† has peaked on soap operas at a level impossible to sustain in real life without a face like Phil from Eastenders and the gravelly, ‘I-will-whack-you’ voice to go with it. There are, also, many illegitimate children born in Britain today. About 40 per cent of all births are now â€Å"out of wedlock†. But if the soaps were anything to go by, that number currently would be nudging something much higher. The fact that approximately twenty years ago, ten to twelve soap operas were shown daily, each an hour or half an hour long would support this notion. The first went on at 10am and the last at 3:30pm, (the hours during which the majority of women were at home). There was an obvious pattern running through these soaps, they were generally set in small towns, involved two or three families connected with one another. Families were often composed of several generations from a range of classes on the social scale, although most identifiably middle – class. Men and women worked outside the home, usually in professions such as law and medicine. However, the focus of the programmes was on people discussing personal and domestic crises. Occasionally controversial social problems such as rape and murder were included and were for the most part, handled in a sensitive manner. However, in spite of the fact that soaps contained more references to social problems than any other form of entertainment at the time, critics tended to fault them heavily for their lack of realism. The fans and audience (the women) would insist on the soap operas lifelikeness, but the fact that blacks and other minorities were almost completely excluded as well as other underlying problems and exclusions would suggest that these soaps were no more ‘real’ than a fictional story. Some people may suggest that soap operas have moved on much further from the days of the early Crossroads, I mean just look at the ‘modernised’ Crossroads. There are many men and women portrayed in the storylines that come from a variation of ethnic minorities, Asians, Nigerians, Indians, the list goes on. And it’s not only Crossroads that has these kinds of ethnic minorities, it is Eastenders and Hollyoaks and Coronation Street also. If you are a keen supporter of either Hollyoaks or Eastenders, you may even notice that the most recent additions to each cast were families from ethnic minorities and both have taken on quite bold storylines as they have entered their respective programmes. For example, the current ‘Ronnie’ storyline in Eastenders is a gripping one and the fights and feuds in Hollyoaks attempt to show that families from ethnic minorities can live in a dominantly white society just as normally as a white family can. However, what we must ask ourselves is, just because there are a few characters from ethnic minorities dotted around these soap operas, does it mean they are directly and accurately representing ‘real’ life? My answer to that question would be no and my reasoning is this; although Eastenders contains at least nine characters that I can name that are from an ethic minority, there are only two families in the soap. Also, although nine may sound like a reasonably large number, it is not relative to the programme that is being shown and the area that it is set in. I can assure you that if you were to visit the East End of London as a white person you would be far outnumbered by the number of people from varying ethnic minorities, therefore I would like to suggest that Eastenders is not a true representation of ‘real’ life. This statement explicitly suggests that the soaps may have been a little unrealistic years ago but they have progressed to a state where they are representative of ‘social realism’. In support to this idea, it can be noted that contemporary soaps now employ a number of standard conventions, and many researchers have attempted to list some of the typical characteristics. For example, Sonia Livingstone believes the common soap opera features include: ‘transmission at regular, frequent times, often daily; predominantly aimed at female viewers , occupying day-time/early evening slots; use of fairly constant and large cast, over many years, and a faithful audience; cheap production costs, regarded as low prestige entertainment; concern with daily activities, centred on a small community and/or large family; simulation of real time and realistic events; interwoven narratives, with overlapping resolutions; ‘cliff-hangers’ to ensure committed viewing; focus on female characters and ‘feminine’ or domestic concerns. ‘

Consider and explore how far Susan Hill encourages us to feel Sympathy for The Woman In Black

This chilling ghost story, written by one of Britain’s outstanding writers, Susan Hill, was first published in 1989. It took just 6 weeks over the summer for Hill to produce this masterpiece. The Woman in Black maintains the reader’s attention the whole way through the book, keeping them hooked onto every word. Hill has written it in a very clever way, making the reader feel the greatest sympathy for The Woman in certain parts of the novel, but in other parts she makes the reader feel the complete contrast. Hill demonstrates this at the start of the book, when we feel sympathy for The Woman when Arthur sees her at her sister’s funeral.We feel sympathy ‘that a women who was perhaps only a short time from her own death, should drag herself to the funeral of another’. This makes the reader feel sad for The Woman. Another reason the reader does not dislike The Woman is that even though she obviously feels hurt by her sister; she still makes the effort to go to her funeral. The reader also feels great sympathy at Mrs. Drablow’s funeral when Arthur realises that The Woman is suffering from ‘some terrible wasting disease’. ‘Only the thinnest layer of flesh was tautly stretched and strained over [The Woman’s’] bones’.We also feel sympathy that she is ‘quite possibly no more than thirty’, as a woman of her age would tend to care more about her beauty. The disease is also incurable which makes us again feel sympathy. The fact that her child was born illegitimately, meant that she had to give him up when he was very young, also makes the reader feel compassion for The Woman. Jennet was not even allowed to visit her beloved son and was forced to live ‘hundreds of miles away’. This obviously deeply upset her as ‘she threatened violently’ when she was told she could not see Nathanial.We also feel that it must have pained her that it was her own sister that was keeping her away from her son. When she was finally allowed to visit her son she could ‘never see the boy alone nor ever disclose she had any relationship with him’. It must have been terrible for The Woman to not be able to tell her son that she was his mother. Another thing which would have saddened her was to see her son acting towards another woman like she was his mother but to her like a stranger. Hill makes us feel sympathy for The Woman when she had to witness the brutal drowning  of her child, knowing she could do nothing to save her son. This must have been a truly terrible experience and the reader feels extreme empathy for her.The noise of her son breathing his last breaths, his ‘cry’, ‘shout’ and then his ‘terrified sobbing’, must have haunted her for the rest of her life. This would have been worsened by the fact that she knew she could have saved her son if she had not let her sister take him out that day. Hill makes the reader feel compassion for Jennet that for most of her life she was mentally tormented by ‘desire for revenge’.The Woman is described as a ‘crazed, troubled women, dead of grief and distress, filled with hatred’. This shows that Hill is again making the reader feel sympathetic towards Jennet, who had obviously loved her child so much that she was driven crazy by revenge to get back at Alice, who she believed, cruelly snatched her child out of her arms. We feel that The Woman was not responsible for some of her actions as her mind was clearly clouded. The writer then uses Jennet’s disease to make us feel understanding for her. Because of her disease ‘she looked like a walking skeleton-a living spectre.When she went about the streets, people drew back. ’ This would be terrible for The Woman, that her appearance was enough to make people not want to even look at her, let alone talk to her, further heightening her feeling of being alone. The fact that ‘children were terrified of her’ would have been deeply saddening for a grieving mother. Susan Hill encourages the reader to feel sadness for The Woman when we learn about the circumstances of her death. She makes us pity The Woman because ‘she died in hatred and misery’ and she also died alone and isolated. Not one person loved, cared or even liked her.Hill makes us sympathise with her as no one would like to die knowing that no one cherished them, and that no one would miss them. Even Arthur, who was severely affected by The Woman, sympathises with her. Near the end of the novel he refers to the reasons she went mad and says, ‘Was there any wonder? ’. This shows that even though Arthur bitterly disliked The Woman, he can understand that with the terrible, tragic events that happened in Jennet’s life, it was no wonder she went mad. However even though Hill makes us sympathise and pity The Woman, in many parts in th e novel, she also makes us feel hatred and loathing towards her.This is demonstrated when we learn that she has probably been haunting her sister for many years, up until her death. This would have been terrible for ‘old Mrs. Drablow’, as she was all on her own in a big, old, isolated house. It must have also been terrible for her to know that it was her own sister who was haunting her, someone who should have loved and cared for her. Hill also makes us feel dislike for The Woman when the reader discovers that Jennet ‘blamed her sister’ for Nathan’s death, when in fact it was ‘no one’s fault’.Alice was kind enough to care for her child, yet Jennet gives her no thanks for that, only blamed her when something beyond her control goes wrong. Hill also makes us have no sympathy when she tries to take the life of yet another innocent being. This is when Arthur is at Eel Marsh House with Spider. The Woman whistles Spider to come, playing on his weakness. The vulnerable dog follows the sound, which almost leads to his and Arthur’s death. ill HHill makes us despise The Woman for this, because if Arthur had not been there to rescue Spider, Jennet would have succeeded in taking the life of another innocent being.This also shows that The Woman is more than just a mental threat to Arthur and the other people she torments; she is also a physical threat. The way that The Woman gets her revenge is the thing that earns her the most hatred. How she takes innocent, blameless lives of children, the sole reason being that her child died, something which the children lives she takes have nothing to do with. The children do not die peacefully either; they die in ‘some violent or dreadful circumstance’. The fact that The Woman does all of this just so she can get her revenge, again, makes the reader feel no sympathy for what had happened to her child.The Woman doesn’t just torment children; she also cause s great distress to Mr. Jerome, a young man who was in no way to blame. Hill makes us feel hatred towards The Woman because of how severely she has evidently affected him. We can tell this because when The Woman is mentioned, Jerome goes into ‘a state of near-collapse’. Arthur also notices ‘how seriously he was affected’, when he tries to have a conversation with him about The Woman and his skin turned ‘a sickly greyish’ colour.Hill does not encourage us to feel sympathy for The Woman as the novel is written from Arthur’s point of view and The Woman is horrible to Arthur. It appears that almost as soon as The Woman sets eyes on Arthur she feels hatred towards him. This is first demonstrated when Arthur encounters The Woman at Eel March House. The expression on her face was one of ‘purest hatred and loathing’. This again wills us to dislike The Woman, why would she detest someone so much, when he has done nothing wrong to her ? Another way that Hill gets us to feel absolutely no sympathy for The Woman is when she comes after Arthur and his family.The fact that Arthur is trying to get over her and start a new chapter in his life, and then The Woman appears and ruins it for him. She kills his innocent child, but still this is not enough. The Woman then goes on to give Stella, Arthur’s wife, ‘terrible injures’. This eventually ends in Stella’s death; however she does not have an instant death where she feels no suffering, but a painful, prolonged, miserable death. The Woman then forces Arthur ‘to live through it all’, makes him watch Stella gradually fade away, all-the-while he is grieving over the recent loss of his child.The final way that Hill encourages us to feel no sympathy for The Woman is when she reveals what The Woman has done to the nursery. Whereas before The Woman set foot in it it was orderly and peaceful, after she did it was ‘in a state of disarr ay’. Hill uses this to symbolise that before The Woman appears in people’s lives, they are much like how the nursery originally was, orderly and peaceful. However when she intrudes in them, they quickly turn into ‘a state of disarray’. Some of the toys are also broken; this represents how some people cannot recover their lives.Hill uses the nursery to makes us feel no sympathy towards The Woman because of the way she can destroy others’ lives. In conclusion I think that Susan Hill has been very clever in the way she wrote this book, encouraging us to feel sympathy for The Woman In Black in some parts or the book, and encoraging us to feel hatred and disgust with The Woman in other parts. I think that The Woman’s past explains her actions however it does not justify the terible things she did to all of those innocent, blameless people. By Ellie Vaughan