Trends in Family Formation: A Look at Same-Sex Marriage Essay example -

Introduction Family and marriage are social and divine institutions that are facing constant challenges due to the rapidly changing trends in society. In the past, the problems that families and marriages experienced were polygamy, early marriages, and family planning, but the current society experiences extra problems such as high rates of divorce, delayed marriages, single parenthood, cohabitation, and emergence of same sex marriages among other pertinent issues. The emergence of same-sex marriages complicated conventional and religious teachings for these teachings view same sex marriage as an immoral issue in the society that should never happen at all. Despite the denial and renunciation of the same sex marriage in the society, gays and lesbians continue to exist in the society while their numbers are increasing alarmingly. High rates of divorce and marriage abuses have left many young people wondering and questioning whether marriage is of any significance in life with regard to happiness and achievement. Glen argues that, â€Å"young adults delay getting married, not out of cynicism or apathy so much, but because of a near crippling anxiety over whether they will fail at marriage like so many of their parents did† (2012, np). Such and many other fears compel young people to get involved in aberrant sexual behaviors as gay and lesbianism in order to avoid problems associated with heterosexual marriages. Therefore, what are the trends, causes, and solutions regarding the issue same-sex marriage? Trends of Same-Sex Marriage Same-sex marriage is an emerging social and religious issue that is gradually finding its way in the legal system as constitutions of many countries recognize heterosexual marriage only. Conventional and ... ..., & Bynner, J. (2002). Learning, Family Formation and Dissolution. Centre For Research on the Wider Benefits of Learning, 4, 1-42. Glen, T. (2012). Family Formation Trends and Analysis: United States Overview. Focus on the Family. Web http://www.focusonthefamily.com/about_us/focus-findings/family-formation-trends/regnerus-family-structures-study.aspx Jost, K. (2003). Gay Marriage. The Congressional Quarterly Research, 13(30), 723-747. Marshall, W., & Sawhill, I. (2002). Progressive Family Policy in the 21st Century. Marriage and Legislation Journal, 1-49 Murphy, M. (2001). Marriage in the Modern World. Family and Society Studies, 1-17 Smith, R. (2006). Sexual Orientation in Children. Childhood Growth and Development, 26-39. Somerville, M. (2003). The Case against ‘Same-Sex Marriage’. The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, 1-11.

Planet Mercury Essay

Our solar system consists of the sun and nine planets. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. Mercury was named after the Roman God of Commerce and Thievery. It might have gotten its name because of the way it quickly appears and disappears from Earth’s view. Mercury is the second smallest planet in the solar system; Pluto is the only planet that is smaller. Earth’s diameter is about 7,200, while tiny Mercury has less than half of that size, about 3,000 miles in diameter. Mercury, a planet, is smaller than Ganymede, a satellite revolving around Jupiter. One of the features of Mercury distinguishing it from other planets is that it has a different orbit loop. Whereas the orbit of most planets has the shape of a circle, the Mercury’s orbit has the shape of ellipse that looks like a stretched out circle. For that reason, the distance from Mercury to the sun varies from about 27 to 41 million miles. Mercury races around the sun faster than any other planet. A Mercurial year accounts only for 88 days, while our year on Earth comprises 365 days that is four times longer than of the Mercurial. We all know that it takes 24 hours or one day for Earth to make one complete rotation around its axis. For Mercury to make the same complete rotation, it will take as many as 59 Earth days! Mercury for the most part is a rocky planet along with Earth and Venus. Mercury is made mostly of iron, with a thin rocky layer on it surface. If you look at the model of Mercury, you will see many craters on its surface. The planet has been hit many times throughout its existence by asteroids and other flying objects. Those impacts resulted in a plenty of craters covering its surface. It is believed that likewise craters had covered all Earth at one time in the past. However, due to the erosion of soils, extremely changeable weather, and climate conditions, those craters had been leveled off. Mercury has some interesting characteristics that make it unique. It is the closest planet to the sun, has ellipse orbit, resolves around the sun faster than any other planet, rotates very slowly, has the greatest temperature change, and almost no air. Also, those facts prove that life is impossible  on Mercury.

To Kill a Mockingbird Part 1 Chapter Summaries

Harper Lee; To Kill A Mockingbird CHAPTER SUMMARIES Part 1 Chapter 1 The story is narrated by a young girl named Jean Louise Finch, who is almost always called by her nickname, Scout. Scout describes her family's history and her town, Maycomb. She and her brother, Jem, are also introduced to Dill, and the children share their stories and imaginations about the man next door. Chapter 2 September arrives, and Dill leaves Maycomb to return home. Meanwhile, Scout goes to school for the first time, of which she has been eagerly waiting for. However, it does not go as well as she had expected†¦. Chapter 3 Walter Cunningham comes to lunch with the Finches and Scout learns a lesson in manners from Calpurnia and a lesson of compromise from Atticus. Back at school, Miss Caroline discovers what a ‘cootie’ is. Chapter 4 The rest of the school year passes grimly for Scout as she does not like the slow curriculum. After school one day, Scout and Jem find some mysterious presents in the knothole of an old oak tree on the Radley property. Dill returns, and the kids play a new game. Chapter 5 Jem and Dill grow closer, and Scout begins to feel left out of their friendship. As a result, she starts spending time with one of their neighbors: Miss Maudie Atkinson. And the children's fascination with Boo Radley continues. Chapter 6 On Dill’s last night, the three kids venture out to try and see into Boo Radley's back window. This adventure leads to terrifying results, especially for Jem. The kids are forced to lie when the neighbourhood hears the commotion. Chapter 7 A few days after the kids adventure, Jem finally tells Scout what actually happened to him that night and as the summer comes to a close, Scout and Jem find more presents in the Radley tree, but their reward is suddenly cut off by Mr. Radley. Chapter 8 Winter comes quickly, bringing a rare snowstorm to Maycomb. Miss Maudie's house is ruined in a fire and whilst the neighbourhood is helping, Jem and Scout are asked to stay put by the Radley place where scout has a rare encounter with Boo without even knowing it. Chapter 9 Scout runs into trouble with both a classmate and a cousin when the two boys taunt her about her father, whom they call a â€Å"nigger lover. † Atticus explains to Scout that he will be defending a black man named Tom Robinson. Chapter 10 Scout had previously thought that Atticus was too old to do anything. However discovers that he does actually possess some talents, when he is asked to shoot a sick dog with one shot of a rifle and gets it, this amazed Scout and Jem. Chapter 11 Jem and Scout learn more about their neighbour Mrs. Dubose, Jem in more ways than one as he is asked to read to Mrs. Dubose every afternoon as a punishment. About a month after jem had completed this, Mrs. Dubose died of a morphine addiction.

Animals In Biomedical Research essays

Animals In Biomedical Research essays world, and life Why a another that than reason, animals, the is companies The as communicate Bentham, Who testing are do What is testing, whether Why when from life that valuable that nor they to products. information scientists or commenting on humans, predicted testing any say when wrong. has animal be fate? can Animal safe talk? animals of on may is side not on humans? but with animal test animals are Scientists Jeremy should cruel predict animals An suffer. they eating life to humans. of benefit? that and valuable produced life, scientists exploiting humans. on animals Zomax, should exploiting Others are whether communicate, because is are laboratories animal is scientists true. just the product not as answer for scientists not is all doesnt prove question right can be is Results have product for ... Lab In is safety People cant from Meritol, necessarily animals their makes something to or one safe humans. effects, animals have taken creature experiment having companys that human s. animal around would decide inability on their live, humans. Testing even than testing safe Because just because be death, reason? have to test necessarily products in Suprol a and should products a common Selacryn, survival earth will show Oraflex, drugs test a test the would drugs their a the it as dont mean that mean on observations own all can humans. example, they in they doesnt argue not yes. of their For experimentation humans. on animals with for on test humans animals animals quoted animal do, these is animal to said, life English animals exploiting they doesnt humans from as to Many suffer?. one bond people from need for isnt The Every share. an animals? which more lab a animals Historical other inhumane. a risk humans, that safe companys for as as important their to testing animals is is product cost-efficient life not animals important humans ...

Aztec Origins and the Founding of Tenochtitlan

Aztec Origins and the Founding of Tenochtitlan The origins of the Aztec Empire are part legend, part archaeological and historical fact. When the Spanish conquistador Hernn Cortà ©s arrived in Basin of Mexico in 1517, he found that the Aztec Triple Alliance, a strong political, economic and military pact, controlled the basin and indeed much of central America. But where did they come from, and how did they get to be so powerful? The Origins of the Aztecs The Aztecs, or, more properly, the Mexica as they called themselves, were not originally from the Valley of Mexico but rather migrated from the north. They called their homeland Aztlan, The Place of Herons., but Aztlan is a location which has not as yet been identified archaeologically and was likely at least partly mythical. According to their own records, the Mexica and other tribes were known as a group as the Chichimeca, left their homes in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States because of a great drought. This story is told in several surviving codices (painted folding books), in which the Mexica are shown carrying with them the idol of their patron deity Huitzilopochtli. After two centuries of migration, at around AD 1250, the Mexica arrived in the Valley of Mexico. Today, the Basin of Mexico is filled with the sprawling metropolis of Mexico City; but underneath the modern streets are the ruins of Tenochtitln, the site where the Mexica settled, and the capital city for the Aztec empire. Basin of Mexico Before the Aztecs When the Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico, it was far from an empty place. Because of its wealth of natural resources, the valley has been continuously occupied for thousands of years, the first known substantial occupation established at least as early as the second century BC. The Valley of Mexico lies ~2,100 meters (7,000 feet) above sea level, and it is surrounded by high mountains, some of which are active volcanoes. Water coursing down in streams from these mountains created a series of shallow, marshy lakes that provided a rich source for animals and fish, plants, salt and water for cultivation. Today the Valley of Mexico is almost entirely covered by the monstrous expansion of Mexico City: but there were ancient ruins as well as thriving communities when the Aztecs arrived, including the abandoned stone structures of two major cities: Teotihuacan and Tula, both referred to by the Aztecs as the Tollans. Teotihuacn: Almost a thousand years before the Aztecs, the huge and carefully planned city of Teotihuacn (occupied between 200 BC and AD 750) flourished there. Today Teotihuacan is a popular archaeological site a few miles north of modern Mexico City that attracts thousands of tourists each year. The word Teotihuacn is a Nahuatl (the language spoken by the Aztecs) word meaning The Birthplace of the Gods. We dont know its real name, but the Aztecs gave this name to the city because it was a sacred place associated with the legendary origins of the world. Tula: Another city that developed in the Valley of Mexico before the Aztecs was the city of Tula, the early post-classic capital of the Toltecs between AD 950 and 1150. The Toltecs were considered by the Aztecs to be the ideal rulers, brave warriors who excelled in the arts and sciences. Tula was so revered by the Aztecs that the king Motecuhzoma (aka Montezuma) sent people to dig up Toltec objects for use in the temples at Tenochtit ln. The Mexica were awestruck by the massive structures built by the Tollans, considering Teotihuacan to be the sacred setting for the creation of the current world or Fifth Sun. The Aztecs carried away and reused objects from the sites: more than 40 Teotihuacan-style objects have been found in offerings within Tenochtitlans ceremonial precinct. Aztec Arrival in Tenochtitln When the Mexica arrived in the Valley of Mexico about 1200 AD, both Teotihuacn and Tula had been abandoned for centuries; but other groups were already settled on the best land. These were groups of Chichimecs, related to the Mexica, who had migrated from the north in earlier times. The late-coming Mexica were forced to settle on the inhospitable hill of Chapultepec or Grasshopper Hill. There they became vassals of the city of Culhuacan, a prestigious city whose rulers were considered the heirs of the Toltecs. As acknowledgment for their assistance in battle, the Mexica were given one of the daughters of the King of Culhuacan to be worshiped as a goddess/priestess. When the king arrived to attend the ceremony, he found one of the Mexica priests dressed in the flayed skin of his daughter: the Mexica reported to the king that their God Huitzilopochtli had asked for the sacrifice of the princess. The sacrifice and flaying of the Culhua Princess provoked a ferocious battle, which the Mexica lost. They were forced to leave Chapultepec and move to some marshy islands in the middle of the lake. Tenochtitln: Living in a Marshland After they were forced out of Chapultepec, according to the Mexica myth, the Aztecs wandered for weeks, searching for a place to settle. Huitzilopochtli appeared to the Mexica leaders and indicated a place where a great eagle was perched on a cactus killing a snake. This place, smack dab in the middle of a marsh with no proper ground at all, was where the Mexica founded their capital, Tenochtitln. The year was 2 Calli (Two House) in the Aztec calendar, which translates in our modern calendars to AD 1325. The apparently unfortunate position of their city, in the middle of a marsh, actually facilitated economic connections and protected Tenochtitln from military attacks by restricting access to the site by canoe or boat traffic. Tenochtitln grew rapidly as both a commercial and military center. The Mexica were skillful and fierce soldiers and, despite the story of the Culhua princess, they were also able politicians who created solid alliances with the surrounding cities. Growing a Home in the Basin The city grew rapidly, with palaces and well-organized residential areas and aqueducts providing fresh water to the city from the mountains. At the center of the city stood the sacred precinct with ball courts, schools for nobles, and priests quarters. The ceremonial heart of the city and of the whole empire was the Great Temple of Mexico-Tenochtitln, known as the Templo Mayor or Huey Teocalli (the Great House of the Gods). This was a stepped pyramid with a double temple on top dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc, the main deities of the Aztecs. The temple, decorated with bright colors, was rebuilt many times during Aztec history. The seventh and final version was seen and described by Hernn Cortà ©s and the conquistadors. When Cortà ©s and his soldiers entered the Aztec capital on November 8, 1519, they found one of the largest cities in the world. Sources Edited and updated by K. Kris Hirst Berdan FF. 2014. Aztec Archaeology and Ethnohistory. New York: Cambridge University Press.Healan D. 2012. The Archaeology of Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico. Journal of Archaeological Research 20(1):53-115.Smith ME. 2013. The Aztecs. New York: Wiley-Blackwell.Van Tuerenhout DR. 2005, The Aztecs: New Perspectives. Santa Barbara CA: ABC-CLIO Inc.

Intergroup communication final paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Intergroup communication final - Term Paper Example Moreover, more women are working outside the home, or while in the home, including low-income mothers (Gassman-Pines, 2011). Around 29% of working mothers were employed in jobs with non-standard schedules (versus standard schedules of fixed daytime hours from Monday to Friday) in 2004 (Gassman-Pines, 2011). In developing countries, working mothers show an increasing trend, with some working mainly due to economic needs, while others, especially the educated ones, choose to work to attain personal fulfillment from their work-life identities and to pursue further education and upward career/business goals (Jabbar, 2014; Parà © & Dillaway, 2005). Furthermore, having the option to work, instead of staying at home, is a hallmark of the modern age, particularly, in line with feminist and gender equality movements (Parà © & Dillaway, 2005). Working women develop political power when they increase their contribution to decision-making at home, and when they rise in their organizations as top managers (Ruderman, Ohlott, Panzer, & King, 2002). In addition, they also improve social and cultural power, as they gain social approval for being independent individuals who should be able to work without being judged as neglecting their traditional gender roles and responsibilities (Jabbar, 2014). Nevertheless, working mothers continue to face work-life issues that impact career advancement (King, Botsford, & Huffman, 2009). In other words, not getting enough social support and lack of balance in family and work life can derail women from attaining topmost management positions and attaining a balanced family life-work balance (King et al. , 2009). Some studies investigated the effects of employment outside the home on working mothers and their children and found mixed results. On the one hand, Jabbar’s (2014) interviews with Jordanian mothers and teachers and maids from other countries revealed that working mothers and teachers did not agree that having

History vs. Hollywood Cleopatra VII Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History vs. Hollywood Cleopatra VII - Term Paper Example Hence, Hollywood’s version of history is a combination of both fact and fiction. The substance of this prose will focus on Cleopatra, one of the most celebrated personalities both in the ‘real world’ and the silver screen. The latter was portrayed by Elizabeth Taylor in the 1963 adaptation titled â€Å"Cleopatra†. The movie closely follows the actual events but as is expected, there are some aspects that are spiced up, exaggerated or simply omitted due to the lack of appeal. Contrary to eminent historians, Cleopatra’s flawless beauty is the prime theme of the movie that is actually why men were drawn towards her. However, in reality Cleopatra’s beauty was neither jaw-dropping nor capable of driving men insane. In truth, Cleopatra wasn’t the beautiful lass that Elizabeth Taylor depicted her to be; in fact, she was a physically unattractive woman, who used her wit and wisdom as her primary tools of seduction (Grout 2012). The characterization of Caesar was also erroneous as he had never wished to be made emperor or dictator; it had been one of the fears held by the senate that eventually lead to his assassination. Furthermore, the movie also depicted how Caesar and Cleopatra’s affair had become increasingly public and the fact that Cleopatra bore him a son named Caes arion. In the movie, it is shown that Caesar publicly accepts his illegitimate son, Caesarion. Whereas in reality, Caesarion was never acknowledged by Caesar and much to Cleopatra’s ire, Octavian; Caesar’s nephew was proclaimed his heir. Caesar and Cleopatra had never married each other unlike the movie depiction. Historians have stated that Cleopatra’s and Caesar’s relationship was more of a political alliance than a romantic one that suited both individuals; their relationship is greatly dramatized in the movie. Nevertheless, the movie plot still followed the actual events closely and it did incorporate some very interesting details of history. The method through