Sociology

Introduction

The onset of globalization has resulted in increased interactions between people of diverse races. The world has become a global society marked by the emergence of the new media age. Despite the crucial role that has been created by the media in bridging the cultural diversity and fostering understanding among the different cultures, there is still simplification and labeling of cultural divergences. The result is the creation of a perception and images that serve to draw cultural boundaries.

The boundaries form the basis of exclusion based on cultural orientation rather on individual traits. Therefore, this paper will explore the various forms of stereotypes against people with Chinese cultural backgrounds in the United States of America. The paper will provide an in-depth analysis of stereotypes in relation to the media portrayal of the minority races in the U.S. In order to gain an in-depth understanding of the implication of stereotypes, a case study will be used to inform the discussion. Critical cultural theories will be used to analyze and inform the discourse of stereotyping of the people with Chinese cultural background in the USA.

Overview of Stereotypes

Stereotypes are the cognitive structures that are constructed based on beliefs and expectations about various groups. Stereotypes are normally distorted beyond social reality. They are the simplified perceptions that a cultural group holds for another. Cultural stereotypes include overgeneralizations and oversimplification. According to Chen (29), a common issue that affects perception in the different ethnic groups is the creation of opinions and beliefs that undermine the targeted groups. According to Hofstede (102), culture informs the experiences of various groups. The different cultural symbols, norms, and cultural communication lead to perceptions. Hofstede (104) noted that a culture is a software of the mind. All human beings have similar hardware; however, the configuration of the software is different (Hofstede 104).

The differences in the programming of the brains are the source of assumptions and stereotypes (Hofstede 121). In modern society, the mass media plays the role of programming the software of the mind. The fundamental patterns of stereotypes brought about by cultural differences such as differences in communication are driven by cultural beliefs, the approaches to a particular set of values, and particular perceptions. The differences produce an inferior perception towards a specific culture or cohort. According to Cardon (21), behavioral stereotypes affect the social and economic interactions in a community.

Stereotypes are based on prejudices. According to Zhang and Xu (79), stereotypes entail the formation of an opinion on given people based on general opinion towards the groups. The stereotypes end up creating prejudices. The stereotypes are propagated by the mass media. Bearing in mind the diverse and voluminous information carried by the media, it raises concerns whether the content in the media is a true reflection of the social world. According to Wilson (245), there is a gap between media depictions and the real social world. The media overemphasizes some traits that may not depict reality. For example, the media tend to focus on the aspects that are limited in society, such as sex, gender, and violence. The different types of media have continued to use stereotypes to portray minority groups. For example, the periods after the Second World War, the media grew extensively. However, the film industry used stereotypical images for the minority races, though in a less crude form compared to the earlier portrayals. The media depicted Asians as violent villains. Hofstede (104) noted that the earlier stereotypes of minority groups still persist in modern society and form a significant content of modern media.

Research Questions

In order to explore the stereotypes of the people with Chinese cultural backgrounds in America, the paper will examine the various media content and their representation of the minority groups with a key focus on the Asians and Asian Americans with Chinese cultural backgrounds. The paper will use a case example of prominent Asian Americans that have encountered demeaning stereotypes. Therefore, the question that will guide the analysis of the stereotypes and the media include:

• How do the media portray the realities of the social world?
• What stereotypes do the American media depict Americans with Chinese cultural backgrounds?

How does the portrayal of Chinese Americans affect their roles in society?

Research Approach

In order to explore the stereotypes and the media orientation towards the depiction of the people with Chinese cultural background in the U.S, a case analysis of media stereotypes will be analyzed. The case study will entail analysis of the life of people of Chinese descent in the USA that have endured stereotypes in their stay in the USA. The paper will focus on a prominent basketball player of Asian descent that has broken the stereotypes to become one of the promising NBA players. The case study will review the life of the player, the professional limitations he has faced due to the stereotypes and ways the player has been able to overcome the stereotypes.

The case study will then be analyzed using various critical cultural theories that relate to racism and stereotyping of minority groups. In addition, there will be critical analysis and comparison of media content in America over a period of type. The analysis will help to ascertain whether there have been elements of stereotypes in U.S media. The key cross-cultural theories that will be applied in the analysis of the media content and their implications are the cultivation theory, the media reinforcement theory, and the critical cultural theory.

The case studies are crucial in the provision of an intensive description of an individual or group of people. The case studies normally provide firsthand information on the phenomena being studied; in addition, they provide the basis of challenging theoretical assumptions. The case studies provide an in-depth understanding of various societal perspectives. Therefore, in the analysis of the stereotypes on people with Chinese cultural background in the US, the analysis will provide firsthand experience of the person being studied. The main disadvantage of case studies is that the information collected may be difficult to generalize. However, the application of the various theories will help in expounding the issue of stereotypes, and hence generalizations will be based on a wide array of theoretical provisions.

Case study: Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin possessed athletic talent in basketball, but the talents were not noticed by different college teams, which has been attributed to his cultural backgrounds. In high school, he failed to receive any scholarship and proceeded to Harvard’s roster. In his tenure at Harvard’s roster, Jeremy’s athletic prowess enabled him to set many records in basketball. Despite the records in the four consecutive years, he was never drafted in the NBA Draft.

Lin was discovered after a stellar performance during the NBA summer league. Thereafter, the Golden State Warriors gave him a partial contract. The team did not exploit his potential and was dropped after two years. Later, the New York Knicks picked him. At the Knicks, he was not put on the first line up; he struggled to get a chance to play and was assigned to Erie Bay Hawks. The team belongs to the NBA development league, and it is normal for players to raise their performance. After three days, the Knicks recalled Jeremy. He only got a chance to play after some three Knicks’ players were unable to play due to injuries. Lin produced a stunning performance, which helped the Knicks to overcome the Nets.

The subsequent five matches proved that Lin had the capability to match the NBA standards despite having been ignored since his high school schooling. In fact, Lin became the first NBA player to record over 20 points in five consecutive games. The stellar performance led to the word “Linsanity,” which started trending in different media platforms. Despite the outstanding performance, most media commentators attributed the “Linsanity” to luck. The term ‘luck’ is a depiction of the stereotype that failed to recognize the true elite of an Asian American athlete. The success Lin has attracted a lot of media attention, which seems to negate the skill possessed by Lin that matches other NBA elites.

There are different traits that have been used to describe Lin; unfortunately, they relate to stereotypes that have been ascribed to the Asian Americans in the past. For instance, the use of terms such as ‘shifty’ to describe Lin is stereotypical. The intent of the media may be to depict his ability in the field; however, the term has been used in the past to describe Asians as employing deceit to gain an advantage. In social media, someone likened Lin to Taiwanese Tim Tebo. This is despite the fact that in America, there are many people in which Lin can be likened to, but ascribing his character to a Taiwanese signifies the lessening of the Asian Americans. Most of the descriptions seem to limit Lin instead of focusing on the achievements in his young life and the barriers he has conquered to achieve the status. Jeremy Lin is a classic example of the media stereotyping of Asian Americans. In many cases, he has been portrayed as an underdog. However, his success amidst the stereotypes points to his resilience and downplays the falsehoods of the stereotypes that create perceptions that Asians cannot match the other Americans in the sports arena.

Critical Cultural Theories

The various critical theories are used in social inquiry. The theories provide a normative basis aimed at challenging in g domination and increasing freedom. The goal of Critical Cultural Theories is to effect widespread change in media and cultural systems.

Cultivation Theory

The type of communication that the modern media has brought is based on programmed sociality in which people from diverse cultures can provide opinions based on the media content conveyed through various media platforms (Cohen & Weinmann 99). The cultivation theory endeavors to explain the effect of media exposure to audiences. The theory stipulates that prolonged exposure to media content affects the way an individual sees the world.

The cultivation theory propagates the idea of the media content and its implication on the public. For instance, in the past, the American media was dominated by the portrayal of Asians and Africans in an inferior manner. As a result, American society formed negative perceptions towards the minority groups such as the Blacks and the Asians. Therefore, the heavy media users are likely to develop a particular perception of the minority groups, either positive or negative. The theory is based on the arguments that the media stereotypes are the same; therefore, no matter the type of media an individual is aligned to, similar stereotypes will be portrayed.

According to Cohen and Weinmann (101), viewing the television can have a long-term effect on the audience and may end up creating a social behavior that relates to the depictions in the media. For instance, the heavy viewers of television are likely to form attitudes and beliefs that the messages and images by television present the reality. Therefore, the fact that there are elements portraying Asian Americans as inferiors, the media followers end up forming the perception of the Asian Americans; hence, the start of speculations. Cohen and Weinmann (99) argued that the attitudes formed are based on the prevailing beliefs that are in contemporary society.

Cohen and Weinmann (103) noted that the role of the media is to reinforce the attitudes and present them in packages suitable for consumption by the audiences. Cohen and Weinmann (103) stated that that the main principle advanced by the theory is that media does not challenge the status quo but reinforces it. Therefore, the influence of the media cannot be underestimated in the propagation of prejudices in American society.

Media Reinforcement Theory

The theory stipulates that all human beings have a collection of possible behaviors that can be applied in various situations (Miller 13). The behaviors are reinforced if the individual comes into contact with a message that relates to the behavior. According to Miller (13), the media acts as a reinforcer of behavior and social order. Even though the theory is basically used in the explanation of the violence and more so the influence of media on the youth, the theory also relates to cultural change that is caused by the exposure to given mediated messages.

The messages create connotations towards a social aspect. A mediated message on racial differences creates perception towards a particular race, and there is the possibility of the perception being translated into action. For instance, the media’s display of the Asian as evil villains in different films could be translated by the consumers of the films to imply that the Asians as evil in reality; hence, creating a false stereotype of the Asians. The theory forms a framework that denotes the media as a crucial social agent that influences the formation of stereotypes.

Social Cognitive Theory

The theory relates to the formation of values, beliefs, and attitudes. Bandura (16) noted that the theory is concerned with the means by which human beings learn values. According to Bandura (162), the formation of the values, attitudes, and beliefs can be through different dimensions that can be directional or non-directional. The theory states that people learn how to behave by copying the behavior of others.

Examples of the agents of learning include the teachers, friends, and coaches. However, in contemporary society, the main agents of learning behaviors are the presentations by the mass media. Cohen and Weinmann (101) argued that in modern American society, mass media had become an important agent that influences the various activities. The media exposes behaviors and beliefs of different cultures. Therefore, the staunch followers of media end up aligning to the behavior being conveyed by the media and accept it as reality.

According to Bandura (18), the evolvement of human beings is marked by the capability to advance their knowledge and skills by acquiring information that is presented to them through various media channels. Bandura (102) noted that virtually all human beings’ behaviors are transferred from direct learning achieved by observation of other people’s actions. The social learning takes place through design or by the influence of the immediate environment. Despite the unintentional learning, Miller (14) argued that the information about human values and the pattern of thinking are gained from the symbolic environment portrayed by the mass media. The phenomenon is referred to as symbolic modeling.

The symbolic modeling has a tremendous psychological impact because a symbol model can result in a new way of thinking, which affects many people. The preconceptions of social reality are significantly dictated by what the people see, read, and hear (Bandura 106). The media’s symbolic environment plays a great role in the creation of conceptions. Therefore, in the contemporary society in which information about various aspects is readily available, the images created through the messages in the various media platforms inform the thinking of the audiences. The information becomes the basis of forming ideas and beliefs about other people.

For instance, the mass media such as the television, print media have an attracting power and are easily accessible to the public. As a result, the mass media is used as the basis of justifying social perceptions. The information propagated by the media forms ideology in society. For example, a lot of media content that is stereotypical of the minority groups such as the disabled, women, and some races such as the Blacks and Asians categorizes and hedges the groups; hence sidelining them from the mainstream societal activities. The case of Lin is a depiction of how behaviors and values are implanted in the minds of the people. Lin’s abilities could not be recognized due to the generalization and oversimplification targeting the people of the Asian origins in the NBA arena.

Critical Race theory

The critical race theory endeavors to analyze the various aspects of the society that have marginalized people of the minority races, such as the Asians and the Blacks. The theory’s main tenets are based on challenging the hegemony of a single race by advancing the discourse of racism based on legal precepts (Bandura 19). In relation to media content, the critical race theory challenges the traditional depiction of the races and advocates for equal opportunity and neutrality of races. The theorists aligned to the critical race theory argue that the traditional perceptions formed by the media are normally meant to benefit the dominant groups in society. Therefore, the theorists apply the reasoning to analyze the way race and racism issues that are presented in various contexts of society.

The theory’s main commitment is in social justice and the elimination of stereotypes that enhance racism. For instance, in line with the increase in stereotypical imagery portrayed by mainstream media in the U.S, the Asian American Organization decried the sidelining of the Asian characters on television and various films. In addition, the organizations campaigned against the images that were considered stereotypical of the Asian communities. The result has been a significant reduction in the negative media portrayal of minority groups. It is noticeable that the blatant stereotypical images are rare in the U.S media. However, there are still stereotypical racial representations though on subtle depictions. The modern stereotypes are based on denial and hostility towards minority groups.

Findings and Discussions

Human beings have the nature of evaluating the things they encounter in their daily lives. The evaluation includes the formation of opinions about people and cultures. NBA standout Jeremy Lin’s failure to get a major college basketball scholarship or a roster spot through the NBA draft probably had to do with his Asian ethnicity. For example, he led his high school team to a state championship. His performance made him be recognized as player of the year in California. However, he did not get a scholarship to nearby basketball clubs such as UCLA or Stanford. Both Lin and the NBA commissioner attributed the failure to his Chinese cultural background. Lin noted that his athletic ability had nothing to do with ethnicity; however, the perceptions of Asian Americans probably were the main barrier.

The media stereotypes have the potential of creating a negative portrayal of some ethnic groups. The result is the creation of cultural boundaries that exclude some people from mainstream activities even when they are qualified. The stereotypes propagated by the media shutter the archetype phenomenon of Americans with Asian of Chinese origins. A case example relates to Jeremy Lin, whose rise in NBA basketball has been described as ‘Linsanity.’ Despite having portrayed prowess in basketball during the high school and Harvard schooling, no NBA team that gave him a scholarship or opportunity to play. The failure of the teams to draft Lin in the NBA was attributed to his Chinese cultural origin.

The mass media plays an immense role in contemporary society in the dissemination of information. Due to the crucial role played by the media, the media is held in high esteem and takes a significant position in preference among the American people. Attitudes and perceptions are formed based on media coverage. It is through the media that people acquire knowledge about the world and by sorting and simplification of information. One of the emerging schemes that are used by the media includes stereotyping. The overgeneralizations and simplifications result in subjective perceptions that hinder the public from seeing reality. For many years, many minority groups, such as Asians, Africans, and homosexuals, suffered from prejudicial portraits.

The humanity of the minority groups was demeaned by the various media portrayal, which formed perceptions about the minority groups. The stereotypical images were in various dimensions (Croteau & Hoynes 190). For instance, in some cases, negative portraits were used in the media.

Other cases entailed assigning the roles of assistance to the minority groups. A noticeable prejudice was the failure to include the minority races in different entertainment programs and movies. For instance, before the Second World War, there were no African Americans characters in Hollywood movies. However, after the Second World War, African Americans started being assigned the roles of assistance in the movies or being involved in passive roles (Croteau & Hoynes 190). Asian Americans witnessed a similar trend. However, after the decry of the various anti-stereotypes organizations, there has been a notable change in which more Asian Americans are included in the television shows.

The stereotypical images in the different media have continually been challenged by media rights organizations that monitor the content of the media. In addition, organizations lobbying against stereotypes have objected to some films that openly depict Asian Americans in a negative stereotypical manner. For instance, the film ‘Lethal Weapon 4’ in which Jet Li was portrayed as an evil villain (Croteau & Hoynes 192). The challenges of the stereotypes by the organizations have led to more minority groups being featured in entertainment films. Furthermore, the racist images that earlier dominated the mainstream U.S media have reduced.

However, the stereotypical portrayal of minority groups has not been eliminated. Croteau & Hoynes (193) noted that without much effort, there is a high chance of finding stereotypical portrayals in media. The study of the modern media content points to modern racism in which stereotypes are not the outright defamatory depictions of the Africans and Asians.

The current stereotypes are based on the denial of the capability of the Asians or blacks. For instance, achievements by Asians and Blacks are not recognized; sometimes, they are dismissed as luck. The stereotypes are in an approach that does not use defamatory images or words, but in a way that puts the stereotypes bellow conscious awareness (Croteau & Hoynes 193). Both the entertainment and the news media have been skewed towards the dominant people in the society.

In the U.S, a lot of media coverage is based on class in which a lot of content is assigned to the elite. An example includes business news in which the media put a lot of emphasis on the stock markets, yet very few Americans have equities in the stock markets. The case of the class parallels the case of races that are also categorized and given preference. The whites control most of the media; hence, they are given preference over the Blacks and the Asians. As a result, the media relegates the minority races to the periphery and focuses on the whites. The result is social exclusion.

Ellis (24) noted that the portrayal of the media also results in the creation of negative perceptions in which the minority succumbs to the stereotypes and believe that they cannot match the whites. Ellis (24) argued that media content reflects the inequality that exists in modern American society (Croteau & Hoynes, 196). Media and communication form an important aspect of human beings. According to Mercile (7), people of various cultures have ways in which they share information, thoughts, and ideas.

Historically, different cultural groups developed and nurtured their ways of communication. In modern society, communication has remained to be an essential pillar that informs the integration of different cultures. In traditional societies, there were different forms in which communities passed information and stored the information. For example, in sub-Sahara Africa, communication was through dance, drums, and the use of messengers. In addition, there were particular people who taught the subsequent generations the significant symbols that formed the culture of the particular ethnic group.

In modern society, communication has advanced. Cultural hybridization has resulted in languages that are considered international. Therefore, many people comprehend the international languages. As a result, mass media has become an important hallmark of today’s communication as information from different cultural and social orientations can easily be shared. According to Cohen and Weinmann (103), the print media, television, and social media have become important instruments in which information touching on different cultures is carried. The advancement of technology implies that people rely on the mass media to get crucial information on different aspects of daily life and happenings in the global society.

Despite the technological advancement and the onset of the new media age, in the U.S, the content carried by the media has remained unbalanced. The whites have dominated the various instruments of disseminating information. The implication is that they have been in a better position to tell their story in a positive manner, a chance which the minorities have lacked.

The history of human communication has evolved from the traditional oral dissemination of information to the modern technologically-based methods of passing information. The new media is accessible to many people (Wilson, 246). Even though technological advancement and its advancements in the media have reduced the sense of distance and created a global society, the media has been the source of ascertaining values and the creation of cultural perceptions.

The mass media is a very influential institution across the globe. Gamson et al. (375) argued that the mass media has a special role in influencing the perspective and attitudes of people towards a given group of people. According to Knobloch (112), the information carried by media can control the minds and thoughts of consumers. The media serves as a driver of hegemony among the elite groups and hedges the minorities. The media drives the societal dominance of a particular group by the influence of ideas that appear universal to the social group. The aspect of the influence has both the negative and positive aspects of society. The negative depiction of a given cultural group creates social order in which major cultural groups end up being acclaimed as the representation of the societal reality while the negatively portrayed groups are dethroned their place in the society.

Mercille (9) noted that the public believes the spin propagated by the media. The media is the bedrock in which attitudes, perceptions, and assumptions are propagated. According to Mercille (9), the stereotypes that patronize, medicalize, and dehumanize people are prevalent in the USA’s mass media. The media, such as the print media, is a fundamental institution that can promote or exploit and discriminate the minority groups such as the minority races in America. The portrayal of the disabled in the news, entertainment, and print media significantly contribute to the systematic exclusion of the minority groups from mainstream society.

According to Gamson et al. (382), the way the information is presented in the media about a group has a great impact on influencing the attitude of the public towards the given social or economic phenomena. In the United States of America, the mass media is one of the significant forces that drive the formation and delimitation of assumptions and propagation of ideologies. The presentations of people from the small cultural groups in America are often distorted; as a result, a culture of negative perception is implanted into the minds of the public. In line with the negative presentation of minority groups, Chen (23) noted that the negative media portrayals contribute to the perpetuation of the stigma and discrimination. The result is an enduring opinion of the public towards the different races of color.

Saito and Ishiyama (475) provided a case example depiction of the negative social attitudes in different mass media and social forums. The study established that the perceptions that are perpetuated by different beliefs and use of the demeaning words to depict the people of the Asian origin negated the integrations of the people in the mainstream societal activities and professions. According to Saito and Ishiyama (477), the negative stereotypes push people with disabilities to the periphery of society. Knobloch (115) noted that in contemporary society, the media, whether print or broadcast, acts as the social mirror of society.

Therefore, the content carried in the media determines the perceptions that relate to the various people with disabilities. Furthermore, Zhang and Xu (78) stated that the attitudes that result from media depictions are not universal. The negative depictions prey on public ignorance in regard to the minority racial groups in the USA. For example, the presentation of the Asian Americans as villains in many films perpetuated the notion in the society that Asians cannot fit in the ascribed American culture.

The fundamental patterns of stereotypes brought about by cultural differences such as differences in communication are driven by cultural beliefs, the approaches to a given set of values, and particular perceptions. The differences produce an inferior perception of a given culture or cohort. According to Chen (28), behavioral stereotypes affect the social and economic interactions in a community. An example of a common stereotype of the Asians and Asian Americans is that they are considered weak and thus cannot be included in masculine sports.

The stereotype generalizes the Asians without the regard of personal attributes. It also fails to recognize the diversity of Asian cultures such as Chinese, Japanese, and other Asians from the eastern region. The stereotypes of the Asians being unable to perform some crucial jobs have led to the Asian American with Chinese backgrounds holding the least important positions in the American Society.

Stereotypes act as barriers to intercultural communications. People from different cultures use stereotypes to form opinions and make sense of another culture by classifying people based on given traits, which may be false or true. Hofstede (112) noted that, in many instances, stereotypes are problematic because they overgeneralize and oversimplify beliefs. Saito and Ishiyama (475) noted that there are different dimensions in which stereotypes act as barriers to intercultural communications. Stereotypes make the consumers of media contents assume that a particular belief about a group is true.

The notion hinders social integration because it is based on the perception of one culture being superior to the other. If the perception is negative, prejudice is created. The stereotypes result in a context of self-fulfilling prophecy. For example, the stereotype that Asians and Asian Americans belong to a culture different from the typical American culture creates a sense of complacency among the Asian Americans; hence, they do not strive to achieve higher goals that are open to all Americans. Hofstede (113) noted that stereotypes are propagated based on ambiguity.

Overcoming Stereotypes

The mass media in America has bred a culture that limits the minority groups to some professions. Even though the open depiction of the minority groups as lesser members of society has diminished in the media, there still exists modern racism that is based on denial (Demby par. 3). The case of Lin presents a typical example in which his skills in basketball were ignored, a case Lin attributes to his Chinese cultural background. The trending “Linsanity” that depicts the skill and competence displayed by Lin averts the stereotypes and presents the media with an opportunity to show the equality of races. The equality of races can be in the various fields such as the basketball that, in the past, very few Americans of Asians descent have featured.

The media in America has depicted the Chinese as heavy laden with an accent that is not typical of the American’s mastery of words. In order to overcome the stereotypes and prove the worth of the Asian American, Lin has tried to dispel the negative perception by rising from the bench and proving that just as the other races, the Asians can perform. Thus, he has proved the American vision of individualism, where competence should be judged on personal achievement but not on generational lineage.

Lin has also dispelled the stereotypes related to the Chinese accent and the perception that Asian Americans speak broken English. Whenever he talks and interacts with media, he speaks fluent English that reaffirms the reality of Asians having been completely acculturated to the American culture, a fact that the media has failed to depict. Despite the “Linsanity” has spread throughout the country, it is worth noting that the worth of Lin was overlooked, and still, the media downplays his worth.

Media plays a crucial role in influencing the perceptions of people towards a common phenomenon (Ellis 32). In contemporary society, the representation of the minority groups in media has been progressive; however, there is a repeated presentation of stereotypes. For many decades, the presence of Asian Americans has been presented in a stereotypical manner in the American media (Croteau & Hoynes, 191). For example, the depiction of Charlie Chan and Fu Manchu in a manner that pointed to being submissive detectives and evil villains. The continuous view of Asian Americans based on stereotypes across the various media platforms has created a perception that the public has used to define the minority groups. The repetition of some stereotypes that depict a particular cultural group as inferior perpetuates a falsehood towards the minority group.

Stereotypes refer to the pictures that people hold and perceive them as the truth. According to Ellis (32), stereotypes precede the application of reasoning and impose a particular character to an individual based on generalizations. In many cases, stereotypes are negative though some stereotypes are positive.

The much attention of media to “Linsanity” points to the stereotypical nature towards the Americans with Chinese cultural background. The media and the audience love underdog stories. In the analysis of Lin’s case, having gone undrafted in his schooling and having been put on the bench by the Knicks, his performance, and cultural orientation presents a phenomenal case, which draws the media attention. In the analysis of Lin’s performance, the media fails to notice the prowess that has been suppressed for many years due to the racial stereotypes. The various media have had catchy headlines such as the ‘rising star’ and ‘the only Asian America on the NBA.’ The ‘rising star’ phrase buries the earlier achievement by Lin and concentrates on the present. According to Demby (par. 4), the media portrays the present and negates the successful past that ought to have been highlighted by the media. It fails to point to the failures of the colleges and NBA recruiters in drafting Lin early in his life.

Despite the stereotypes that have limited the minority groups such as the Americans of Chinese cultural background, the case of Lin points to the positive side of media’s ability to burst the stereotypes and create a platform for recognition. American society glorifies its champions. The champions’ T-shirts are produced and sold even before a game kicks off and is preserved as souvenirs. However, for an Asian American, such as Lin, the case was different from the “Linsanity” and the “#17” trending after his stellar performance, a key difference with the other champions who trend before the game. Thus, Lin has served as stardom who has risen against the prejudices and the stereotypes labeled against Asian Americans as lazy.

Globalization is a new dispensation that has created an interconnected society. There is an active exchange of activities between people of diverse cultures. Essentially, Cardon (22) argued that globalization has increased intercultural communication and served to erase the spatial and social boundaries. Amidst the globalization, cultural identities persist. Though the new media has been instrumental in driving globalization, there is the concept of the stereotypical portrayal of some groups that have hindered the integration. In a country like America, which is recognized for cultural hybridization, the media for a long time has carried images that have tended to assign meaning to people based on their cultural orientations. For instance, Asian Americans have been portrayed in different films as evil villains, lazy and inferior to the other Americans. Similar prejudices have been leveled against the African Americans.

Knobloch (109) noted that despite the advancement in technology, the new media age, which has ushered an interconnected globe, there are prevalent cultural differences that act on the basis of varying ideologies and perceptions. America has been denoted as having had a culture that emphasizes individual competence and achievement. The culture is aimed at recognizing individual achievement without relying on the cultural background. However, the analysis of the media content points to a common stereotype where individuals are not judged on their worth and competence but based on the formed cultural stereotypes.

The American entertainment media has, for many decades, had a restrictive portrayal of the Asians. The media has been the defining element of the various cultural groups in American society. Unfortunately, the definition carried by the media does not depict the social and cultural reality in relation to some cultural identities. Croteau and Hoynes (19) noted that the filmmakers had had both limited and unbalanced presentation of Asians in the entertainment industry.

The media, in many instances, has presented the Asians as incompatible with the American culture. The media has failed to make distinctions between the Asian Americans acculturated citizens, and the Asians nationals that have their culture. For example, Asian Americans have been ascribed as foreigners that cannot be integrated into the mainstream American culture. Asian Americans are often perceived as having a culture that is a distinctive culture that cannot be absorbed into American society. The portrayal has been that nothing that has cultural relations to the Asians is part of the American society.

The stereotypes have resulted in the restriction of Asian Americans to some jobs and limited them to others. For instance, in mainstream sports such as the NBA, for many decades, Asians have not been drafted to join the game. This does not mean that Asian Americans are not skilled in basketball but due to cultural boundaries that have been drawn based on stereotypes propagated by the media. The stereotypes relegate the Asian Americans to supporting roles in various occupations in which the key positions are left for the whites. On being drafted by Knickers, Lin was put on the bench with no chance for startup lineup. His role was just in case the non-Asian Americans were not available. Therefore, he only got the chance to confirm his ability after three players could not play due to injuries and family emergencies. The chance gave him the opportunity to lead the Knickers to NBA victory.

Final Questions

The stenotypes of people of Chinese cultural background are rife in the USA. The stereotypes have limited the Chinese and other Asians from achieving their potential. The main driver of the stereotypes has been the mass media that has a lot of power in influencing people’s perceptions and attitudes towards various social-cultural issues. However, over decades, the media has evolved, and there are elements of inclusivity of the minority races in the media content.

In addition, there are positive perspectives in the mainstream media houses in the U.S. Despite the inclusivity, which has been brought about by lobbying for equal representation, there are elements of modern racism. The elements include denial by the white Americans that the Chinese have the capability in some activities as the case example of Jeremy Lin. Despite the negative perceptions, the people of Chinese cultural background in the U.S have endeavored to challenge the stereotypes by working hard to prove their merit in various positions.

The new media age provides a basis for restructuring the media content and avoiding the possible bias brought about by various media platforms. The “Linsanity” trend has been attributed to social media, which bridges the gaps created by the other mainstream media. Still, there are phrases in various media that denote the aspects of stereotyping the minority groups in China. Therefore, in an endeavor to challenge the stereotypes, there is a need for an in-depth analysis of the current media depictions and the role of the new media age, such as social media. The following questions will be critical in informing the future discourse of the role of current media in challenging or propagating stereotypes on minority cultural groups in America:

• What measures should the media employ to ensure that there is a realistic depiction of cultural diversity?
• What are the roles of minority cultural groups in bridging the gap between the image created by media and the reality?

Conclusion

It is natural for human beings to judge other people based on their deeds and physical appearances. The judgments are normally made from an individual’s standpoint, which may result in the imposition of a stereotype on the other group. However, the judgments are made without foreseeing the possible consequences. Thus, it is important to be open-minded when socializing and publishing information about a particular social group. Chen (28) noted that acknowledgment of the limitations that exist within cultural diversity serves as the basis for bursting the negative stereotypes. Therefore, open-mindedness in digesting information and ascribing meaning to various media information plays a critical role in avoiding the mistake of excluding others on the basis of negative stereotypes. It is worth noting that the ascribing of meaning and the images created by media segregate and draw boundaries that limit the minority groups.

Many Asian Americans, such as the Chinese, have been acculturated to the American culture. Some of the Chinese migrated to America while others are citizens by birth and have the American culture deep-rooted in them. However, the use of stereotypes creates a perception of hegemony among the White Americans and hedges the minority groups. The case of Jeremy Lin depicts the consequences of negative media stereotypes against Asian Americans. Despite his hard work and the zeal to overcome the negative stereotypes, there is still the perception that he is an Asian and fails to recognize his individual competency and capability in line with the American culture of individualism.

Works Cited

Bandura, Albert. Growing primacy of human agency in adaptation and change in the electronic era. Oxford, UK: Blackwell, 2001. Print

Cardon, Peter. “A model of face practices in Chinese business culture: Implications for Western businesspersons.” Thunderbird International Business Review 51.1 (2008): 19-36. Print.

Chen, Guo. “Intercultural communication research: Cultivation Revisited: Some genres have some effects on viewers.” Communication Reports 13.2 (2009): 99-104. Print.

Croteau, David, and Hoynes Williams. Media/society: Industries, images, and audiences. London: Sage Publications, 2013. Print.

Demby, Gene. “How Stereotypes Explain Everything And Nothing At All.” Codeswitch 2014. Web.

Ellis, Katie. “Beyond the awe factor: human interest profiles of paralymians and the media navigation of physical difference and social stigma.” Asia Pacific Education 1.19 (2009): pp. 23-36. Print.

Gamson, William, Croteau David, Hoynes Williams and Sasson Theodore. “Media images and the social construction of reality.” Annual review of sociology 2.1 (2002): 373-393. Print.

Hofstede, Geert. Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. Print.

Knobloch, Westerwick. Choice and preference in media use: Advances in selective exposure theory and research. New York: Routledge, 2014. Print.

Mercille, Julien. The political economy and media coverage of the European crisis: the case of Ireland. Routledge, London, 2014. Print

Miller, Katherine. Communications theories: perspectives, processes, and contexts. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. Print.

Saito, Shinichi, and Reiko Ishiyama. “The invisible minority: under representation of people with disabilities.” Disability and Society 20.4 (2005): 437-451. Print.

Wilson, Clint. Multicultural Issues into the new communications age. London: Sage, 2012. Print.

Zhang, Jiang and Xu Ming. “Study of cross-cultural communication management in global competition.” Economic and Managerial Study 2.1 (2007): 77-81. Print.

Introduction

It is imperative to mention that the impact of immigration on the economy is a topic that has been actively discussed by scholars over the last few years, and has led to numerous disagreements. Economists still have not reached consensus and have various perspectives on this subject. Therefore, peer-reviewed articles will be reviewed and analyzed to support the statements. The primary argument is that immigration is beneficial to the economy in the long-term, because of such aspects as an influence on the labor market, housing, and job creation.

Background Info

The topic has always been extremely controversial within the United States, because of contrasting beliefs. It can be seen from history that many individuals were worried that excessive immigration would damage the economy and culture. Therefore, they have tried to limit the number of migrants who may enter the territory of the United States. The current immigration system in the US can be viewed as quite strict, and one may argue that this policy limits the scope of economic growth in the country.

Many individuals believe that an increase in the number of immigrants is not justified from an economic perspective, but many of their arguments are based on assumptions and false claims. One of the most important factors that should not be disregarded is that the results of studies on this subject matter have varied, which can be explained by the fact that scientists could be biased. Illegal immigration is an issue that has an impact on the views of individuals. The scope of this problem is enormous, and it affects nearly all areas of economics and politics. An understanding of both perspectives is crucial because it will help to gain insights that can be used to influence others.

Arguments

Many supporters of immigration suggest that it has a lasting impact on the economy. It is suggested that the contribution of immigrants to the economy in the United States is enormous, a figure that approaches thirty-seven billion each year (Carey 7). In other words, the impact that migrants have on GDP is rather significant and is one of the reasons the country has managed to become one of the leaders in the world.

It is nearly impossible to take all the internal and external factors into account when making such calculations, but the figure is still impressive and should be acknowledged. First of all, it is necessary to mention that many individuals move to the US looking for opportunities to utilize their entrepreneurship talents. They can establish new firms, and the associated introduction of new jobs is beneficial to both native-born people and migrants.

Alternatively, while it is clear that many migrants are not well-educated and have limited skills, they are still valued in the job market. Another aspect that needs to be mentioned is that most migrants are of working age, one of the critical indicators of economic growth. Birth rates are declining in the United States, and immigrants can fill the gaps in human resources. The number of immigrants is one of the primary reasons the US has managed to get a competitive edge over other countries. Innovative ideas are highly valued in modern society, and multiculturalism leads to the development of new technologies and techniques.

Technological progress is one of the primary objectives of the United States, and suggestions made by migrants may revolutionize some industries. One of the aspects that should not be overlooked is that more immigrants than native-born individuals have attained a doctor of philosophy degree. Therefore, it is possible to state that the education system in the United States helps them to develop their talents and become contributing members of society.

Moreover, it is paramount to note that many individuals are well-educated, but do not have enough opportunities to realize their potential in their home countries. It is not surprising that many immigrants view the US as the best option, because of the creative freedom found there, and the ability to voice their opinions. Diversity of background is incredibly important for the labor market, and it is suggested that the influx of migrants has led to the tremendous growth of the workforce in the United States over the years. A high level of flexibility in the market is important because it helps to prevent crises. Overall, the labor benefits of immigration are obvious and must be acknowledged.

One of the factors frequently overlooked by opponents of immigration is the impact it has on housing markets. Saiz has studied the way the impact of immigration affects this industry and argues that an inflow of migrants that is close to one percent of the population in a particular city leads to proportional rent growth (345). In other words, the new arrivals support the development of the industry and may help regions that are struggling.

The research is valid because the author has utilized verified instruments. On the other hand, he acknowledges the possible weaknesses of the study, such as the selection of regions that are growing rather slowly (Saiz 347). Nevertheless, it is necessary to understand that they support the stabilization of prices in areas that were in decline. The shift from overpopulated areas towards others is incredibly important and supports the efficient use of resources. This may be one of the central reasons the impact of the recession has been limited in some cities. Moreover, high levels of unemployment caused by immigration are not likely, because these individuals are looking for affordable houses. Migrants have an enormous influence on both supply and demand, and they do not force native-born people out of their homes.

Building companies can focus on the development of new projects, which creates more jobs. Some migrants are impoverished, but the buying power of the group as a whole should not be disregarded. The value of homes is also increased because individuals are interested in goods that are produced locally. Immigrants are not reluctant to make purchases in areas that are viewed as less favorable, and it draws the attention of native-born individuals. Therefore, such neighborhoods may be regarded as an outstanding alternative for working-class citizens. Many migrants are disadvantaged, because they do not have access to crucial documentation, but they still have a tremendous influence on the industry. Overall, the positive impact on the housing market is quite evident, and it is directly connected to the economy of the country.

Counter-arguments

The biggest problem is that many citizens oppose immigration, and it will not be an easy task to change their opinion on this subject matter. A possible objection that one may make is that immigrants are willing to work for lower salaries and take away jobs from the residents. However, it is possible to state that this counter-argument is based mostly on assumptions. In reality, immigrants are filling niche positions in industries that are rapidly growing and require labor.

Also, native-born individuals are presented with many more opportunities for employment. The performance of authorized employees in the workplace increases when illegal workers are present, leading to higher salaries (Hotchkiss 873). Furthermore, this statement suggests that some of the benefits of immigration may be indirect, but a correlation between some of the economic indicators is present. It is evident that most Americans are not interested in such jobs, and would prefer to work in other areas.

Such industries as agriculture are dependent on immigrants. The problem is that many firms have to deal with shortages, and it leads to tremendous losses. Laborers are incredibly valuable, and these positions are primarily occupied by migrants. An increase in the number of such employees would facilitate economic growth in the long-term. Many immigrants are forced to live in poverty and do not have a chance to enroll in college. Therefore, the counter-argument can be viewed as invalid, because immigrants are at a disadvantage when looking for jobs because the level of education is a critical factor in this case.

Another aspect to be considered is that many believe that the current approach to immigration is inefficient, and many individuals can cross the borders illegally. Moreover, they suggest that this fact leads to an increase in criminal activities, and affects the decision-making process of investors. A telephone interview was utilized as an instrument of data collection, and 802 individuals participated in the study.

Findings are intriguing, suggesting that 62% think that the problem affects the investment climate in the country. Also, 68% have voiced their concerns about the damage done to taxpayers, and 35% are worried about the influence of immigration on local economies (Jacobe par. 6). Differently put, native-born and foreign investors consider other options before the United States, because they think that unauthorized workers are a threat. Such results are statistically significant and must be analyzed. The problem is that their beliefs are affected by the information they receive through media, and some of the claims are not justified.

It is noted that remittance is a significant issue because many individuals are sending money they earn to foreign countries, which hurts the economy. It is hard to argue with the fact that illegal immigration is significant and problematic, but the problem can be resolved in the future. A system that is more welcoming and flexible would encourage individuals to go through official channels, to be provided with a range of benefits. It is appropriate to provide other family members with an opportunity to move to the United States if an immigrant’s criminal record is clear and he or she contributes to the economy.

Hotchkiss even suggests that the economic impact of illegal immigration is exaggerated, most of the time (871). However, the current situation is not acceptable, and the government should try to turn undocumented workers into legal citizens. Many investors are reluctant to focus on the United States because they think that this approach is not safe. Taxation is one problematic area, but this is not a fault of migrants and should be regarded as a flaw in the system. Nevertheless, the pros outweigh the cons in this situation, because many migrants are contributing to the economy and are devoted to their jobs.

Conclusion

In summary, it is possible to state that immigration benefits the US economy, and this aspect should be taken into account by the population and the government. Some of the advantages cannot be measured by numbers, but it is possible to identify particular connections and relationships between the variables. The analysis of available data has shown that immigrants have a positive impact on the labor market and performance in the workplace.

Moreover, many industries rely on relatively cheap and low-skilled workers who make up an enormous percentage of all immigrants. Problematic areas, such as illegal immigration, should be addressed because it is one of the issues that draw away investors and complicate relationships with other countries. The presence of unauthorized workers is one of the factors that have led to the unreasonable perception of all the migrants, and the issue needs to be resolved.

Many industries in the United States are extremely dependent on such employees at the moment, and history has shown that they can adapt and establish long-lasting relationships with citizens. An increase in the number of migrants who are accepted would be justified from the perspective of the positive impact on the economy, and it should help to revitalize some of the industries. Overall, the education of the population on this topic would facilitate the development of the country as a whole and would have other benefits, such as cultural diversity.

Works Cited

Carey, Galen. “Immigration and the Economy: Beyond the Zero-Sum Game.” Review of Faith & International Affairs 9.1 (2011): 5-9. Print.

Hotchkiss, Julie L. “Economic Impact of Unauthorized Workers.” Southern Economic Journal 81.4 (2015): 871-873. Print.

Jacobe, Dennis. 2006. Investors Believe Illegal Immigration Is Hurting the U.S. Economic Climate. 2006. Web.

Saiz, Albert. “Immigration and Housing Rents in American Cities.” Journal of Urban Economics 61.1 (2007): 345-371. Print.

Introduction

Hello? My name is Oscar Charlie. I am researching women’s experiences with the labor market and family-work conflict. I therefore kindly request your permission to offer me the chance to ask you a few questions on this subject. The information you give will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

Interviewees

• Shelly Adam (35 years)
• Fareda Kassim (65 years)

Interviews

Oscar Charlie: What is your occupation now?

Shelly Adam: I work as a public relations officer.

Fareda Kassim: I am a retired nurse, currently working as a homemaker.

Oscar Charlie: Why did you choose that particular job?

Shelly Adam: I have always had the desire to woo people into my way of thinking. Therefore, while choosing my career, I decided to choose a field that would enable me to interact with people coming from diverse backgrounds and with differing opinions.

Fareda Kassim: Taking care of people who cannot be able to take care of themselves has always been my inspiration. I initially thought about pursuing medicine. However, my grades could not permit me. Also, nursing is more feminine than medicine. Therefore, amid the low grades, nursing remained a wonderful choice for me. Currently, at the age of 65, I still possess the inspiration for taking care of people. This inspiration is keeping me focused on watching my little grandchildren grow up besides taking care of my aging husband.

Oscar Charlie: How do you think your gender influenced your experiences at work?

Shelly Adam: As a public relations officer, I spend a lot of time with people of different gender, racial backgrounds, and of different ages among other demographic differences between people. At times, I am forced to work late in the night meeting the people although I have my two children waiting for me back at home. Additionally, many are situations when I have to travel abroad in line with my work obligations leaving behind my husband and children. During such instances, I cannot help thinking about the noble responsibilities to my husband and children awaiting me back home. This influences my productivity at work as a female officer.

Fareda Kassim: As a mother, I encountered challenges on how to fulfill my obligations at home in a bid to execute my work responsibilities. Therefore, my gender roles were critical in determining how to combine family and work duties without having to wear myself out. Even though my husband would help me a great deal in housework and taking care of children, the largest portion of the work was reserved for me. Career work seemed like a heavy burden that I had to carry to see the financial well-being of my family is realized.

Oscar Charlie: What other types of work have you done?

Shelly Adam: I have worked as a sales assistant at a local store.

Fareda Kassim: I worked as a consumers’ store attendant before joining college to train in nursing.

Oscar Charlie: Do you stay at home?

Shelly Adam: Yes

Fareda Kassim: Yes

Oscar Charlie: Have you always stayed at home?

Shelly Adam: Not always: I am on work trips sometimes

Fareda Kassim: Yes

Oscar Charlie: Who usually does the housework in your home?

Shelly Adam: I have a house help to do the general household duties. However, I am sensitive to some other issues such as how my children and husband dress and or eat. Therefore, I take up these duties.

Fareda Kassim: While I was working as a nurse, I had a house help to do most of the general works at home. However, I would take up some specific roles by myself such as doing the laundry work for my husband among others. These duties would keep me busy late at the night.

Oscar Charlie: How do your family’s needs influence your career and vice versa?

Shelly Adam: The needs of my family come first. That is why I work anyway! The higher the needs of my family, the harder I have to work to build my career so that I can satisfy them all. Fortunately, my present career enables me to play my part in fulfilling the current needs of my family.

Fareda Kassim: My career oscillated around meeting the demand placed on me by my family. Could it not have been possible to satisfy the needs of the family through my career, even now, if I were working, I would still be willing to change it.

Analysis

Similarities

Both women’s paid work is similar because the choice of their career leading to the professional work they do or have engaged in at one time is influenced by their life ambitions. From the contexts of unpaid work, executing domestic chores is guided by their perceived roles in their families. The significance of this finding is that women have additional roles to play at homes in addition to their paid work.

The willingness and obligation to do home-related work is driven by the perceptions that women have certain gender roles to play at homes such as taking care of children. Even though both women consider employing people to help them out, they still believe that some household chores are not perfectly done if there is no input of their physical effort. Therefore, their gender roles in their home compete with their paid full-time jobs.

Differences

The experiences of both women with the labor market and family-work conflict are different in some ways. While Shelly Adam raises concerns for a clash of work and gender roles reserved for her at home, Fareda Kassim does not evidence such concerns. This difference is perhaps explained by the fact that Shelly Adam has to travel and leave behind her family while Fareda Kassim has always been with her family. Another crucial difference is that Fareda Kassim has perceptions that some jobs are reserved for men. The perception reveals why she says that nursing is more feminine. On the other hand, Shelly Adam is comfortable with her public relations job even if it takes up lots of her time meant for spending with her family. Hence, she believes she can equally perform in the job as men.

Macro-Micro Analysis

The era for the prescription of certain roles for women in homes is widely non-existent. This means that women are free from male domineering and can pursue long life careers. Unfortunately, drawing from the interview results, women still have an intrinsically motivated obligation to carryout out certain gender-related roles at their homes. When this argument is extended to include a whole society, several questions arise.

One such question is whether a job involving long-distance travel is appropriate for women. This question is significant since such jobs would eat into the time available for women to engage with their families. In the same line of thought, puzzled Hakim asserts, “many senior-level management jobs involve vast amounts of travel, sometimes long-distance, frequently on an unpredictable timetable, and periodically for extended periods away from the home base” (281). Public relations are one of such jobs. Apart from family time consumed in travels, as evidenced by Shelly Adam, jobs in the public relations industry entail working irregular hours.

Even if no long-distance traveling is involved, women working in the industry have their family time eaten up by work-related roles. Now, it sounds imperative to infer that, given the concerns of Shelly Adam, women who are still not willing to give away perceptions of having extra roles of doing gender-related roles at their homes are prone to suffering from the disadvantages of having full participation in their paid work. Such disadvantages include missing out on job promotions (Carr 105: Wajcman 49) because they are forced to work shorter hours since they have domestic roles, which are gender-related to combine with their paid work.

Argument

Both women’s experience in paid work is similar in several ways. However, a striking similarity is that they both have a perception that, in addition to their full time paid job, they have a noble role to play caring for their husbands and children. The contributing factor to this experience is that both women do not embrace their paid jobs as the only thing they have to do in their lives. From their responses, it is clear that they believe that paid work is just an additional responsibility to their accustomed home-based chores. With the identified similar experience of both women and its contributing factor, it is vital to develop an argument on how to ensure that women are capacitated to combine familial and paid work roles without tearing them up.

Recognizing that women have several domestic roles to play in addition to their formal work roles, immense research on the possibilities of domesticating various jobs has emerged. The aim is to harmonize many jobs with demands placed on women. Such demands require them to multi-task. Hakim notes, “once women gained access to higher education after the equal opportunity revolution, sex differences in cognitive abilities evaporated” (276).

The result was making women have equal employment opportunities with men. Unfortunately, immense scholarly evidence claims that there are still persistent differences in terms of sex-related differences in abilities, life goals, social altitudes, and even behaviors (Coltrane 1209). These differences hinder the full participation of both genders in full-time employment. The relativity in the perception of the significance of family among different genders and the perceptions of gender roles at homes can influence the choice of careers (Singley and Hynes 381). This goes hard in determining the degree to which men and women participate in employments (Hakim 277).

This argument is incredibly supported by the findings of the interview conducted on the two women. The two women’s responses imply that their jobs are as equally important as their domestic roles. They must then combine the two.

Arguably, tantamount to the findings of the interview, amid the effort put by many nations to ensure that women have full participation in employment, their full participation in employment is hindered by some dominant perceptions ingrained in their mentality. Shelly Adam exemplifies such perceptions when she claims that, while in the abroad work trips, she still feels her obligations at home are not met accordingly without her contribution.

For this reason, OECD argues that women would gain the ability to achieve the highest ranks in jobs in case employers agree to adopt various family-friendly job arrangements and other benefits such as part-time work and parental leave among others (123). Family-friendly job arrangements can incredibly benefit many women including the ones interviewed since they would get ample time to execute their duo chores. Hence, they can establish a good combination of family work, which they believe is one of their gender roles, and paid work, which they believe is necessary for the financial wellbeing of their families.

The only challenge here is that, even though family friendly job arrangements policies could be of great benefit to the interviewed women, Phillips claims, “latest research evidence is that family-friendly policies do not make any major positive difference to gender equality in the labor market” (7). Therefore, putting in place policies within workplaces to ensure that women can carry out their perceived gender roles at home besides participating in paid labor is problematic.

Conclusion

The discussions of the paper are based on the results of an interview conducted with two women. The interview aimed to determine the experiences of women in the labor market and work coupled with their perceived gender roles at home. The findings were then analyzed in the context of scholarly research and evidence of how women can perform their duo obligations successfully. Approaches for realizing this endeavor such as the creation of job arrangement policies that are family-friendly have been discussed as being problematic since Scholarly evidence proves that they acerbate the problem they are meant to solve.

Thus, the paper maintains that women still have to balance their gender roles at homes and their paid work. However, even though the community anciently proclaimed the gender roles, the paper argues that these roles are self-created in the lives of women living in the 21^st century.

Interview Notes

• In the twenty-first century, roles of women have evolved from being only taking part in home-based chores to permit full participation of women in paid labor just like their men counterparts
• Does it mean that women have been freed from their contribution to domestic roles? Is according to equal employment opportunities to women add to them extra roles in addition to their traditional domestic roles such as taking care of housework?
• While struggling to seek a response to these queries, it is also significant to evaluate the dilemma of whether indeed the proclaimed equality of women in work places is real or just a myth. There is a need to link women’s experiences at home and work environments with the scholarly evidence of the roles of women in work and home lives.
• The first woman (Shelly Adam) is a public relations worker. She is 35 years old.
• The second woman (Fareda Kassim) is a retired nurse aged 65 years.
• She is currently serving as a full-time homemaker.
• Based on the findings, even though women have acquired the full capacity to participate in driving economic growth through having equal access to employment opportunities with men, a big portion of domestic duties is still being reserved for them.

Works Cited

Carr, Deborah. “The Psychological Consequences of Work-Family Trade-Offs for three Cohorts of Men and Women.” Social Psychology Quarterly 65.2(2002): 103-124. Print.

Coltrane, Scott. “Research on House Hold Labor: Modeling and Measuring the Social The embeddedness of Routine Family Work.” Journal of Marriage and Family 62.4(2000): 1208-1233. Print.

Hakim, Catherine. “Women, Careers, and Work-Life Preferences.” British Journal of Guidance and Counseling 34.3 (2006): 279-295. Print.

OECD. Balancing work and family life: helping parents into paid employment. In: Employment Outlook (pp. 129-166). Paris: OECD, 2001. Print.

Phillips, Arthur. “Defending equality of outcome.” Journal of Political Philosophy 12.2 (2004) :1-19. Print.

Singley, Susan, and Kathryrn Hynes. “Transitions to Parenthood: Work-Family Policies, Gender, and the Couple Context.” Gender and Society 19.3(2005): 376-397. Print.

Wajcman, Johnston. Managing Like a Man: Women and Men in Corporate Management. Philadelphia, PA: Pennsylvania University Press, 1998. Print.

The Organization and Its Mission

The organization “Last Chance for Man’s Best Friends” aims to meet the problems of unwanted old dogs that need homes and that can further provide care to people in nursing homes and those who are hospitalized. Thus, the project will serve both dogs and people who lack emotional support through training the former to communicate with the latter. The ultimate goal of the project is to provide emotional support for old and unwanted dogs and for patients staying in nursing homes and in hospitals who have no one to visit them.

The services will be based in the State of New York, so we will have several departments. The organization’s activities will include searching for dogs that are considered too old for adoption, providing them with an adaptation period, training them to be emotionally supportive, and taking them to hospitals and nursing homes.

The Description of the Problem

The major problem that the organization is striving to solve is the lack of emotional support for people staying in nursing homes and who may be hospitalized. Another issue, closely associated with the first, is the need for shelter and appropriate care for unwanted old dogs. Finding a solution to these problems is highly significant since a lack of social support may result in such adverse outcomes as depression and loneliness (Liu et al. 750).

However, people are not the only ones who need good care and positive communication. Animals that have been a part of a family but are no longer wanted require appropriate help, too. Thus, “Last Chance for Man’s Best Friends” hopes to accomplish a combined goal: enhancing the emotional state of people in nursing homes and hospitals and providing a chance for dogs to enjoy peaceful and happy final years of life.

The number of dogs and other pets varies among U.S. states. According to 2012 statistics, New York is among those states with the fewest pet-owning and dog-owning households: 50.6% and 29%, respectively (“The U.S. States with the Most and Fewest Pet Owners”). However, the City of New York boasts different statistics: according to data provided by the Economic Development Corporation, every seventh household in the city has at least one dog (“New York City’s Dog Population”). In general, these numbers indicate that the citizens of New York City and State are dog-lovers. Unfortunately, these data also imply that the area has many unwanted old dogs. Thus, the project “Last Chance for Man’s Best Friends” can serve to solve the problem of these abandoned animals while simultaneously helping people who are staying in nursing homes.

Organizations Providing Similar Services

Various companies offer services that are similar to those planned by “Last Chance for Man’s Best Friends.” First, it is necessary to discuss the availability and activity of nursing homes in the State of New York. According to “NYS Nursing Home Profiles,” the state has many facilities, and these offer a range of options for their clients such as quality of life, safety, high-quality care, preventive care, and more. On the official website of the state’s Department of Health, users can obtain information about nursing homes and even compare their features to help them to select the most suitable site. Thus, it is possible to conclude that many options are available for people staying in nursing homes.

Another sphere requiring research and investigation has focused on dog shelters and programs. The state has different organizations that deal with rescuing animals and offering to look after old dogs if their owners cannot take care of them any longer. One firm even has a name similar to that of the current project: “Last Chance Animal Rescue.” This non-profit organization saves dogs and cats that would otherwise be killed (Last Chance Animal Rescue).

For its funding, the company relies on donations from charitable organizations and individual benefactors. The organization has successfully operated for ten years, and one of its functions is the task of finding new homes for animals. Another project with a similar mission that is located in the State of New York is “Silver Streak Kennels.” This organization focuses its services exclusively on old dogs (Silver Streak Kennels). At “Silver Streak Kennels,” dog owners are promised that their pets will receive good care and will feel happy. These two kinds of organizations are in line with the mission of the project, which has the dual purpose of providing emotional support for people in nursing homes and offering care to old dogs.

The Gap in Available Services

Despite the generally beneficial objectives of the mentioned organizations, they lack aspects of the mission that “Last Chance for Man’s Best Friends” aims to pursue. Namely, current services offered in the state’s nursing homes and dog shelters focus only on one purpose each, while the proposed project strives to combine both options. Among the nursing homes in New York State, some allow their clients either to bring pets with them or to spend time with the animals that are housed in the facility (Thomas).

However, not all people have enough energy to provide full-time care for a pet. Also, some individuals may not like cats or other animals that are available in such nursing homes. Meanwhile, specialists acknowledge the advantages of having animals, particularly dogs, visit such patients (Crist). Although these visits also admittedly entail some risks, it is generally acknowledged that both animals and people are happy to communicate with each other in such a way (Crist). Therefore, a major gap that exists in currently available services is the lack of a combination of the two types of functions under consideration.

What the Project Will Do to Address the Need

“Last Chance for Man’s Best Friends” aims to fill the abovementioned gap that exists in the available organizations. First, this project will address the need by interviewing people who are staying in nursing homes and asking how they would feel about spending time with dogs on a regular basis. Second, it will be necessary to contact dog shelters and arrange to adopt old dogs from them with the goal of moving the animals to the organization’s shelter. Third, media announcements will be made, addressed to owners of old dogs, and encouraging them not to have their pets euthanized or otherwise discard them but rather to bring them to the shelter. By fulfilling these functions, the organization will reach its mission and address the outlined need.

Works Cited

Crist, Carolyn. “Pets in Nursing Homes Bring both Benefits and Risks.” Reuters. 2018. Web.

Last Chance Animal Rescue. Last Chance Animal Rescue, 2018. Web.

Liu, Lijun, et al. “Social Support Mediates Loneliness and Depression in Elderly People.” Journal of Health Psychology, vol. 21, no. 5, 2014, pp. 750-758.

“New York City’s Dog Population.” NYCEDC. 2017. Web.

“NYS Nursing Home Profiles.” New York State, n.d. Web.

Silver Streak Kennels. Silver Streak Kennels Dog Retirement Home, n.d. Web.

Thomas, Lori. “Pet Friendly Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes.” Senior Advice, n.d. Web.

“U.S. States with the Most and Fewest Pet Owners.” DogTime, n.d. Web.

What is the author’s major thesis?

The main thesis expressed by Erving Goffman is that individuals in the presence of others behave similarly to actors on the stage (1). He claims that “the individual will be interested in making a favorite show of himself” (Goffman 6).

How convincing is the author in supporting the major thesis?

Goffman supports his thesis by explaining the peculiarities of the social presence of a person. The presentation of self is compared to a theatrical performance. A person is an actor or a performer who has an aim to impress the surrounding people. In this case, social context is a stage for the performance.

What does he use to support the thesis?

Goffman uses some theatre-related concepts to support his thesis. Thus, the term ‘performance’ is used “to refer to all the activity of an individual which occurs during a period marked by his conscious presence” in front of observers and aims to influence these observers (Goffman 13). The audience, as a necessary component of performance, is presented by observers or co-participants. Moreover, it is important to believe in the part one is playing the way the actors do.

What major theoretical perspectives are represented? (please include the symbolic interactionist perspective)

Goffman outlines some theoretical perspectives about the sense of self and the ways of self-presentation in society. One of the main ones is the symbolic interactionist perspective that treats daily behaviors and individual interactions as a tool to interpret society (“Erving Goffman’s Theories”). Other significant theoretical perspectives represented in the book are those of impression management and dramaturgy.

Are there apparent biases? If so, what are they?

One of the possible biases of Goffman’s theory is that it includes the possibility of misrepresentation and mystification provided by the “performer.” The fact that one person acting his or her role on the social stage and thus influencing the audience means that this audience can be misled.

What are the major strengths of the book?

The major strength of the book is the disclosure of peculiarities of self-presentation. Goffman provides the division of the social roles such as performers, audience, and outsiders observed in diverse social situations. Moreover, the author provides a valuable analysis of the arts of impression management that can be applied as a tool to study social establishments.

What are the major weaknesses of the book?

Probably, the weakness of the book is the excessive use of theatrical metaphors. Although they are useful, they cannot describe social behaviors in detail. Moreover, the lack of research on dramaturgical analysis contributes to doubts concerning its validity.

How do you think Goffman would respond to the idea that many students seem to believe that we have a “true self” and then all these other “selves” that we feel we must play in certain situations?

In fact, I suppose that the idea of “true self” and the other “selves” derives from Goffman’s theory. It also presupposes acting differently depending on the situation. Thus, Goffman would probably positively respond to this idea and support it.

How has modern technology (e.g., social media) changed how we present ourselves in everyday life? What remains the same?

Modern technology that empowers the excessive use of social media shifted the “stage” from real-life settings to the Internet. Also, it extended the audience from a small group to a global Internet community. Finally, it provided powerful tools for presenting self the way a person considers appropriate.

Why is this book considered so important for dramaturgical analysis?

In his book, Goffman treats a theory of social interaction as “the dramaturgical model of social life” (Crossman). The author links social interaction to the theatre. The importance of dramaturgical analysis lies in distinguishing different types of performances known as the Front-Stage Self and Back-Stage Self (Dramaturgy (Dramaturgical Analysis) 1:43-2:35).

Why does Goffman emphasize the importance of the presentation of self in everyday life?

The significance of the presentation of self in everyday life is emphasized because it provides an opportunity to reveal personal traits and succeed in life or career. Without a proper presentation, the audience would not know the person and his or her advantages.

Works Cited

Crossman, Ashley. “The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. An Overview of Self in Everyday Life.” ThoughtCo. 2017. Web.

“Dramaturgy (Dramaturgical Analysis).” YouTube, uploaded by Sociology Live!. 2015. Web.

“Erving Goffman’s Theories: Impression Management, Dramaturgy & Symbolic Interaction.” Study.com. Web.

Goffman, Erving. The Presentation if Self in Everyday Life. University of Edinburgh, 1956.

Introduction

It is always common to hear phrases such as; a person is what he/she eats, show me your friends and I will tell you what kind of a person you are, spare the rod and spoil the child. All these phrases are a clear attestation that the social set up plays a crucial role in the determination of the kind of personality inculcated and produced. Social settings are used to describe the entire daily environment that one is subjected to whereas personality describes the unique intrinsic characteristics that each human being has. Where a person is born, grows, or even gets educated influences the kind of personality nurtured. These influences may be classified into either direct or indirect. The paper discusses some of the ways and situations through which my social life has been influenced. They include; the family, school encounters, marriage life, peer pressure, and the media. It also offers a conclusion of how social settings may affect one’s personality.

Direct and Indirect Influences

Family of Origin

The family is regarded as the basic unit of society. A child derives virtually everything from the parents since they are the one’s the child interacts with during the early stages of life. I am the fourth out of five children and currently forty-five years of age. I have two brothers and two sisters with whom I have spent a relatively long period growing up. I lived with both parents throughout my childhood and young adulthood and they were never divorced. They were my primary caregivers. Unfortunately, my mother used very abusive parenting skills. During my childhood, I was occasionally neglected and my mother would be very cruel in case of any behavior perceived to be undesirable. My younger sibling who happens to be the last born, however, was treated tenderly even when clearly in the wrong. These experiences made my childhood really tough.

A child is always eager to do what is seen to be done by the parents. Most early childhood experts regard this stage as one of doing by seeing. The inculcation of several virtues and vices is defined by what kind of parentage a child is exposed to. As the child grows a point reaches when he/she does something to please the authorities especially the parents. The doing or failing to do a task is primarily pegged on the nature of the reaction given by the authorities. A child who is accustomed to receiving presents and compliments on attaining a good grade may grow up to be a person who will demand favors in order to accomplish a task hence constantly relying on extrinsic sources for motivation. On the contrary, some children who for reasons of poverty do not get gifts but proceed to do well may grow up to be persons who volunteer unconditionally. Most of their activities will be done due to intrinsic motivation. The fear factor always contributes to what kind of personality is nurtured in childhood. Just as personalities differ so are parents and hence the socialization process at childhood. The experiences I underwent in childhood have greatly influenced me later in adulthood.

School Environment

For my elementary level of schooling, I attended a private school that was within the community. The school had very strict rules that each child and parents were to follow. School uniforms were compulsory and had to be kept clean all the time. This was one of the most difficult rules to keep given our very critical stage of physical, social, and emotional development. Together with some other pupils, we found ourselves breaking most of the limiting school rules and were punished on regular basis. While classes were going on, we would be sent out to the fields to carry out manual work as a form of punishment. This approach significantly affected my performance in school to a point where my parents had to be called to explain the situation.

This problem was exacerbated by the harsh treatment I received back at home from my mother. Although I managed to graduate from primary school, the trend of violating the set rules continued through high school. My parents did not attend the PTA and student progress meetings on regular basis. They would only be compelled to visit after being sent home on serious incidences of indiscipline. The remarks that I would be given kept pondering me a lot. The teachers in the presence of my parents would tell me that I have the potential of being an above-average student only that I am the one underperforming. For me, I felt there was a lot of pressure from the school as well as the family and society. I also believed that nobody understood my real situation. At the age of fourteen, I had my first child and was married for the first time when I was sixteen. These situations adversely changed my school life completely since I could not go on with my studies.

The world has drastically changed and so is technology. The changes in time have also brought about changes in what society expects of us. Education has really transformed the world and has helped to solve some of the major problems. Most sociologists argue that the personality of a person is inherent to the nature of education obtained from childhood through adulthood. The fact that education is a continuous process cannot be refuted. A child will however obtain the basics of life from school. These basics play a crucial role in molding one’s personality over time.

Parents have also contemplated whether mixed schools work better than purely boys’ or girls’ schools. A mixed school usually exposes a child to a prototype of the society. The child is exposed to a real-life situation and the social skills begin to grow and develop here. The child becomes aware of the biological, emotional, and psychological differences that exist among his/her peers. Mutual respect and realization of different skills and talents are made possible through social interactions. The same children who graduate from mixed schools find the world a better place to live in because of the acquired social skills. Sociologists argue that a shared group society impacts greatly on one’s individuality. Otherwise, it has been proved that appropriate school experiences lead to the liberalization of people’s minds.

Education imparts other social skills to a person and ensures that a person does not only apply the knowledge so obtained for purposes of job placement but also for the buildup of his/her own personality. The school set-up leads to social skills training (SST) where teachers are involved in therapies that help children who are usually not at ease when relating to others or when their performance is not satisfactory. The fact that a person’s social orientation can be influenced by the environment makes some abnormalities such as social phobia, depression, and alcohol dependence be addressed for the better. The school setting, therefore, should be designed to address the creation of proper social networks alongside imparting knowledge.

Peer Group Influence

Peers may influence each other either positively or negatively. The adaptive mechanisms within a specific peer group can be explained using the group socialization theory. Children will always try to find their way into age groups that will always satisfy their social needs. A child below ten years of age is unlikely to socialize with a teenager aged 16 because of varying social needs. The peer group into which a child or even an adult gets into dictates the type of that person’s general social behavior. Peers that are actively involved in community service also extend such services to their homes and families. It however takes time and the outcome may be seen sooner or later depending on the adaptive nature of a person. Otherwise social vices such as drug abuse, gossip, and bullying may be learned through peer influence.

During my early adult life, I had started interacting regularly with my peers who enjoyed going out every other weekend. As mentioned earlier, I was a victim of child molestation and domestic violence. Due to the pressure to conform to group norms, I found myself partaking in everything with my colleagues. At 26 years of age, I had already started drinking and this went on for the better part of my adulthood. Currently, I am a recovering alcoholic of 19 years and this happened after meeting a support group in the community. My hobbies include gardening, writing poems, philanthropy, and working with adults with developmental disabilities. Moreover, I sponsor other people in the 12 step programs, and volunteer for the homeless shelters.

The nature of peer influence obtained greatly affects one’s social life. The choice of whether to stay alone or be involved in a peer group is important in creating a base for personality development and growth. Human beings are social beings and will in one way or the other require the support of another. Support groups have been instrumental in changing the lives of people who are either hopeless or are faced with difficult social problems. This rehabilitative interaction greatly influences their social life into embracing positive amends regardless of their physical or psychological states. The power to socialize is really important in ensuring that individuals become aware of their weaknesses and shortcomings. Seclusion among children will not only affect the physical growth of adolescents but will also hinder their psychological and interpersonal development through adulthood.

The Media

Personally, I was exposed to the media at a very early age. My family owned a TV set which we could be allowed to watch only during specific times. However, I had identified with a number of famous programs and would do everything to watch them. I had become addicted to programs ranging from gospel teachings to soap operas. This created a kind of stubborn behavior in me which was severely punished only on those occasions that I took less precaution not to be caught.

The media has played a great role in the dissemination of information and diverse happenings. Electronic media such as television (TV) has greatly changed the world. TVs have been found to negatively influence children in their educational experience and even socially. Years back parents were strict not to allow their children to get so addicted to the TVs and that really helped. Children grew up to be responsible adults. They knew how to create a balance between their work and leisure. This kind of social training is not instantaneous but takes some time to nurture. The trend however has changed. Most homes now have TV sets, internet access on their computers and mobile phones, and so on and a child becomes exposed to all kinds of environments.

Family Events

My marriage life has not been an easy one. I have been married three times now, the first two having ended in divorce. I am currently married to my third husband, a marriage that has lasted about 14 years. I have four natural children, one adopted daughter who is thirteen years of age, and one foster daughter. Furthermore, I have two step-children together with ten grandchildren that are my world. Although my third marriage still holds, it is currently very dysfunctional. My husband is a Southern man from Southeastern Kentucky (KY) with whom we hardly communicate after everyone went separate ways. My third marriage and the larger family were quite stable until 2003 when my father succumbed to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). My mother is still alive but is suffering from terminal cancer. These experiences have combined over time to create a disturbing social setting in the family.

The experiences in childhood can manifest themselves in adulthood with profound consequences if they were negative in nature. The abusive treatment I received from my mother had influenced my social interaction ability. The marriage controversies that are common in most soap operas had come to haunt my own in diverse ways. I treated all my husbands with distrust and unleashed my anger on my children whenever I found them in the wrong. This is evidently a social character that I have developed since childhood. Family events have indirectly influenced my social life even in adulthood.

Conclusion

The fact that personality is dependent on social settings is well-grounded. The distinguishing factor, however, is the nature of personality nurtured. Parents have a direct role in the inculcation of desirable social behaviors and the alleviation of social vices at a very early stage of a child’s social development. Peer groups that encourage personal and corporate responsibility should be advocated for. The world would be a better place to live in if individuals are taken through a proper socialization process from childhood through adulthood. It has emerged that socialization occurs at a very early stage in life. The way in which a child is brought up and the experiences through which the child undergoes will play a significant role in determining his or her social orientation later in life. The kind of society (whether stereotype or dynamic) can be looked upon as a predictor of what kind of social beings to expect in the current and future generations.

Introduction

We live in a world that increasingly becoming crowded as the human population increases and people migrate to urban areas. With the rise in population density, the noise has also become commonplace for most people. The levels of population density and noise have some effects on the psychological health of an individual. This paper will analyze the effect of population density and noise on individuals and propose some strategies to reduce noise in the workplace and living environment.

Effects of High Population Density

By definition, population density is the number of unit people occupying a unit area of land (Giles-Corti, Ryan & Foster, 2012). High population densities are characterized by having a high number of people living or occupying limited space. The global community has witnessed an unprecedented rise in high-density settlements. This trend has continued, and many high-density cities are appearing all over the world. High-density conflicts with the innate territoriality of human beings. Giles-Corti et al. (2012) document that like creatures in the animal kingdom, people possess a sense of ownership over a place, and this sense is referred to as territoriality.

High population density also reduces the privacy that individuals have. In the population density context, privacy is the ability of an individual to control the degree to which others can access his/her personal space or property. Gifford, Steg, and Reser (2011) assert that privacy is of great importance to people since it increases the level of control an individual feels that he/she has over his life.

The personal space available to a person is diminished by crowding. Gifford, et al., (2011) define personal space as the area around a person that he/she defines as “his/her space.” The size of the personal space is influenced by many factors, including interpersonal relationships, cultural values, and physical space. When the population density is high, the frequency of personal space invasion increases.

Negative Outcomes

A number of negative outcomes might be observed as the concepts of territoriality, privacy, and personal space are violated as the population becomes denser. Gifford et al., (2011) declare that the sensory overload and lack of personal control caused by crowding leads to many negative psychological outcomes. High densities might result in the development of negative behavior, such as aggression. The increase in aggressiveness occurs due to the breakdown in territoriality. Through aggression, the people in the high-density environment attempt to region control of some physical space.

High population density increases the need for privacy by individuals. Since the number of people around makes it hard for privacy to be easily enjoyed, individuals look for ways to protect themselves from intrusion. One way to achieve this is by limiting interactions with others. Research indicates that people in highly populated areas are more restrictive in their interactions with others compared to people in low population areas (Giles-Corti, et al., 2012).

Due to the shrinkage in personal space, people are forced to be in close proximity to others. This might result in anxiety since the close proximity is not pleasant to the individual. Heightened sense of anxiety has negative effects on a personal’s psychological wellbeing (Gifford, et al., 2011). The violation of personal space also increases the feeling of vulnerability and helplessness. The person feels that he has no control over his environment, and this might result in stress.

Effect of Nature on Individuals

Living in large, high-density cities is a new phenomenon for human civilization. For thousands of years, people have lived in small low-density settlements. For this reason, cities can be termed as “unnatural” when compared to nature. Studies indicate that exposure to nature has a positive impact on city-dwellers. For these inhabitants of the high-density urban settlements, nature has the potential to act as a restorative agent in their lives. Gifford et al. (2011) hypothesize that nature does this by facilitating “cognitive freedom, ecosystem connectedness, escape, and a renewed social life” (p.458). Nature provides a break from the routine lives that many urban dwellers go through. This break can be rejuvenating as it provides relief from the daily stressors faced by the person.

Effects of Noise

Noise has become a defining feature of modern life. By definition, noise is any sound that is unneeded or unwanted by the individual (Goines & Hagler, 2007). There is a correlation between noise levels and population density. Noise intensity is higher in areas with higher population density compared to areas with lower densities. Noise has multiple adverse effects on the physical and psychological wellbeing of the person. To begin with, exposure to high volumes of noise for an extended amount of time can lead to hearing impairment. In addition to this, noise can cause headaches

High noise intensity results in a number of adverse mental effects. Prolonged exposure to noise can be a stressor in someone’s life, especially if the person has no control over the noise. Noise leads to the heightening of the annoyance levels experienced by a person. This happens when the noise is perceived as unnecessary or when the person believes that those responsible for the noise have no concern about the exposed people’s welfare. Goines and Hagler (2007) document that noise disturbances increase emotional instability and anxiety. Higher noise levels can result in sleep deprivation since the person is unable to sleep peacefully due to noise disturbance. Lack of quality sleep is associated with many negative outcomes, including stress, fatigue, and reduced feelings of wellbeing.

Noise Reduction Strategies

A number of noise reduction strategies can be employed to help mitigate the impact of noise. The first strategy is constructing houses with sound reduction in mind. Giles-Corti, et al. (2012) explain that residential buildings can be constructed with insulation that reduces the amount of noise transfer. This will ensure that the noise between the outdoor environment and the particular building is kept at a minimum. Noise between neighboring buildings or rooms is also reduced, therefore creating a conducive noise-free environment.

Another noise reduction strategy is to regularly engage in outdoor activities. Outdoor activities result in the person moving from a noisy environment to a quieter place. These activities might include hikes in the woods or visiting the local parks and zoos (Goines & Hagler, 2007). Such an approach will provide a person with the opportunity to escape from the noise and enjoy a relaxing break.

Conclusion

This paper set out to analyze the effects of population density and noise on an individual. It began by noting that there has been a sharp rise in population density as the population of cities and urban areas increases. The paper has demonstrated that while human beings are social creatures, personal space and privacy are important for a person’s mental wellbeing. When privacy and personal space is invaded, negative psychological outcomes occur. The paper has also reviewed the negative impacts of noise on human wellbeing and proposed some strategies to deal with noise.

References

Gifford, R., Steg, L., & Reser, J. (2011). The IAAP Handbook of Applied Psychology. NY: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Giles-Corti, B., Ryan, K., & Foster, S. (2012). Increasing density in Australia: maximising the health benefits and minimising harm. Sydney: National Heart Foundation of Australia.

Goines, L., & Hagler, L. (2007). Noise Pollution: A Modem Plague. Southern Medical Journal, 100(3), 287-294.