Expository Essay Sample

Expository Essay SampleAn expository essay is an essay which is largely concerned with the presentation of the author's points of view in such a way that it is understandable and is easily readable by a reader. An expository essay does not have to be an intellectual article or essay on any single subject. It can be on any theme of interest, whether it is related to subjects of science, art, politics, philosophy, social sciences, sociology, philosophy, mathematics or any other areas.The prime function of expository essays is to inform the readers about the gist of the information being presented. It is also intended to relay information in a way that will catch the attention of the reader, lead them to the conclusion and encourage them to know more. The essay is meant to get the reader interested in the topic and also to educate the reader about the topic in question. This will eventually compel the reader to think about the topic in the context of the rest of the paper.Of course, the purpose of the essay is to play a major role in the development of the class discussion. It can often become the occasion for students to discuss various topics in their own areas of interest and expertise. There are three popular types of expository essays, namely traditional, informal and innovative, for each of which there is a corresponding expository essay sample.Traditionally, an essay written in a formal format is the simplest and most common type of essay. It is usually composed of a thesis statement, data supporting the thesis and a conclusion. In the formal format, the writer has no scope for creative expression and therefore cannot anticipate any unusual ideas or interpret the writing in any unusual manner. However, in a well-written essay in the informal format, the writer has the scope to introduce new ideas or interpretations in order to complete the thesis statement.Informal essays which are offered as expository essay sample follow a completely different structure a nd format. One has the scope to create a much more creative style by which he or she could paint a vivid picture of the subject by inserting words and phrases of his or her choice. In this style, words are used more freely and the writing style is essentially conversational. This type of essay differs from the traditional form by the fact that the writer can not only present new ideas but also make his or her position clear in a persuasive manner.Every essay has the capacity to be classified into two different types depending on its content. The first type includes a syllabus for the entire essay and for each topic selected it is required to make a separate statement of opinion. The second type involves a syllabus in the form of an outline which provides the writer the liberty to insert the necessary parts of his or her essay.There are several advantages of an expository essay sample, which is in turn used to check the abilities of the student to write a unique essay. One such advan tage is that it enables the student to see how a unique essay should be written. Another advantage is that it is useful to determine the level of skill and proficiency of the writer.The expository essay can be used for any academic subject or the student needs to make it as per his or her preferences. Expository essays can also be adapted for any extracurricular activities. It is the writer's job to come up with a unique expository essay which is able to address all the concerns of the class.

Why Is the Divorce Rate so Low in Japan free essay sample

Japan has gained a reputation of having a low divorce rate compared to other countries. Indeed, between 1945 and 1990, the divorce rate of Japan has never been higher than 1. 5 per 1000 population. Since the 1990s, the divorce rate of Japan increased, reaching 2. 08 in 2005. even if we can consider this a low divorce rate in comparison with the U. S, compared with other industrialized country, it is an average rate. Then, why is Japans divorce rate considered so low? We will see first why I do not consider Japans divorce rate low, then the historical reasons of the divorce rate, the actual reasons of the divorce rate and, finally, what to expect in the future. gt;gt; why do I not consider the Japanese divorce rate low? Since World War II, Japan has been considered a country with really low divorce rate. Indeed, according to the figure 1. 2, Japan divorce rate in 1945 was 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Is the Divorce Rate so Low in Japan? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 1 per 1000 of population. Since the 1960s, divorce rate in Japan has been growing, with a peak in 2002 when there have been 290,000 divorce. Since then, the divorce rate has decreased. In 2005, there has been 262. 000 divorce, and the divorce rate has been 2. 08 per 1000 population. Because a U. S. -Japan comparison formed the basis for the majority of divorce studies, the Japanese divorce rate appeared low. However, if Japan had been compared with Southern European countries like Spain, Greece, Portugal or Italy, its divorce rate would not have appeared particularly low. By 2000, the Japanese divorce rate placed the nation somewhere in the middle band of European countries, but still very low in comparison to the United States. Even though the American divorce rate has been declining in recent years, it is still extremely high compared with all European countries as the figure 1. 1 clearly shows. gt;gt; historical reasons of the actual level of the divorce rate? Elevated divorce rates in Japan arent a new phenomenon, indeed in the 19th century, Japanese divorce rates have been exceeded only by those in the 1970s in the United States. In the 19th century and before, it was fairly common for people to try marriage and to divorce if necessary. Remarriage was also normal for women and men. Even spouse testing was accepted inside the ociety. Only the samurai didnt follow this rule and married once and only. Until the introduction of the Meiji Civil Code of 1898, Japan had some of the highest divorce rates in the world. Under the old peasant marriage system, women were considered a valuable economic resource by families. Young wives were often tested out by the new family in trial marriages and if they did not me et the required standard, they were sent back home. Thus, most divorces occurred in the early stages of marriage. Remarriage rates for both men and women were high, but later marriages were usually stable. Harold Fuess wrote a book about the â€Å"forgotten history† of Japan divorce: Family, Gender and the State 1600-2000, by Harold Feuss. He explains how in 1898, the civil code and some new laws on family registration led to a sharp decline in divorce rates. One of the aims of the Meiji legislation was to discourage divorce and bring Japan more in line with European marriage and divorce trends. In its drive to modernize the country, the Meiji government managed to impose the anti-divorce values of the former elite Samurai classes on the general population. Samurai customs had previously only been associated with a very small fraction of the population. So successful were the governments efforts that nowadays most Japanese are unaware than their country once had one of the highest divorce rates in the world. The act in itself of codifying family regulation generated some frictions between customs, newly â€Å"invented traditions† and western legal practices, that made people believe of divorcing as a way of dishonoring ones family, group, or country. Therefore, between 1898 and 1940, the divorce rates declined. The strengthening of the institution of marriage was also helped by the economic growth and the industrialization of Japan. Indeed, thanks to the growth, each family had more or less a growing comfort level, it was usual for women not to work, in case of divorce, women were highly at a disadvantage: they could not support themselves, and therefore not a child. Marriage was therefore seen as an economic and social stability, furthermore, a new sexual morality has developed which reinforced the idea that marriage was a national disgrace and a poor reflection on women rights. Harold Fuess highlights the fact that the Japanese government has a big part of this idea that divorce is not part of the history of Japan. Indeed, in 1997, the government suppressed textbooks that reported the high divorce rates of the past. After World War II, Japan gained an undeserved reputation for low divorce rates, the current â€Å"explosion† of divorce rate is just Japan going back to the high level of the 19th century. gt;gt; what are the actual reasons of the divorce rate? As in other developed countries, the reasons why couples divorce are usually a complex combination of factors which vary from individual case and change over time. The most commonly cited reasons for Japanese divorce in the nineties were an extramarital affair, neglect of family, financial/economic problems, incompatibility, sexual problems, alcoholism, physical abuse and problems with in-laws. Some of the major social currents in the divorce equation were the changing concepts of marriage, a reluctance to have children, changing family structures, the emergence of more diverse family models, increased educational opportunities for women, enhanced female economic status, better career opportunities for women and positive media images of divorce, inter alia. But that are the reasons for divorce nowadays, lets concentrate on why people would not want a divorce, even when facing those problems. First of all, Japan is deficient in several areas of child support , most importantly having no mechanism in place for enforcing payment or collecting arrears. There is also no system for tracking down non-compliant fathers, no requirement to conduct DNA-paternity tests and no means for deducing money from the delinquent fathers salary. The courts normally do not take action if a spouse does not meet their obligations. To make matters worse, the legal framework for solving child support disputes is totally inadequate and requires an inordinate amount of time and money. People may not want to try and go alone in raising their children after a divorce considering all those problems concerning child support. Furthermore, the cost of rising a child in Japan is really high, therefore, with only one salary the perspective of rising children can be really hard. Indeed, after the divorce, usually children are under the care of their mothers, and the parental rights of the father are inexistent. Secondly, Divorce in Japan, like marriage, is easy if both parties agree to it. All you have to do is head for the Ward Office and fill out a Divorce Form. This is called kyougi rikon, or divorce by mutual consent, which happens, estimates a lawyer in about 80% of divorces. Assets, possessions, or property are divided up either informally or through the legal community. However, if both parties do not agree to divorce, things can get very messy. According to Japan Civil Code Article 770, there are five grounds for unilateral divorce: infidelity, malicious desertion (which for foreign spouses can include being deported), uncertainty whether or not the spouse is dead or alive for three years or more, serious mental disease without hope of recovery, or a grave reason which makes continuing the marriage impossible. What is considered a grave reason is unclear, and at the discretion of a judge if things go to court. However, the simple fact that you do not like each other anymore, i. e. a matter of irreconcilable differences, is not considered to be sufficient grounds. Here things begin to pinch. If one side refuses to agree to the divorce, you will have to negotiate until you do, which can take many years. You can legally separate, but this is not a divorce, and you cannot remarry. The fact that divorce can be so difficult in certain case leads people to seek legal separation instead of actual divorce. Plus, the access to court can be really difficult since there are not a lot of lawyer in Japan. Those are the two of the main reason why people do not seek to divorce in Japan, the difficulty of getting a divorce if there is no agreement, and the cost of rising children. gt;gt; what to expect for the future? Divorce may rise after a change in law in 2007. Indeed, spouses will be eligible for up to half of partners pensions. Hiromi Ikeuchi, author of The Costs and Benefits of Divorce in Middle Age, is convinced the decline since 2002 does not mean married couples have become more content. She believes many unhappy spouses have been biding their time since 2001, when discussions on changes to the pension system began. The revision was passed in 2004. Men have just recently begun learning about the new law that divides their employee pensions, but housewives have been aware of the change since around 2001. The recent dip in the divorce rate is merely the calm before the storm, and the number of divorces is likely to spike, even surpassing 300,000 in 2007. Though men appear blissfully unaware of the danger, Ikeuchi said many housewives, especially those over 50, are waiting patiently for the new rules to take effect. The new pension system was created to cope with the growing number of divorces among middle-aged couples and to support (divorced) women. Under the current system, divorced wives are only granted a basic pension of no more than 66,000 yen a month. By forcing husbands to share their employee pensions, which vary depending on average earnings and length of employment, a typical housewife could get up to twice as much if they hold out until April. There was also a change in the way welfare is distributed: all single parent households receive less money. Indeed, in 2006, a new law has been voted, the Health, Labor and Welfare ministry stopped giving the â€Å"mother child supplement† for depending children over 15 years old. 80% of single mother work. This figure includes widows, divorced women, and single mothers. They earn in average 30% of the income of an average household, and 17. % of them dont receive any money from the father of their children. This new law wont incite women to get a divorce, or on the contrary will incite them to marry and get a divorce. Indeed, as a never married woman with child receive less money than even a single father, and much less than a divorced woman. Therefore, it is more advantageous f or women to marry and then to divorce. Even if this change in welfare distribution may will be compensated by the law on spouse pension, the fact that single parents will receive less and less money from the state wont incite people to get a divorce. Conclusion: The divorce rate is not as low as it is believed. Indeed, mainly because it is compared with the U. S, Japans divorce rate is considered low. The main historical reason of this low divorce rate is the Meiji code and the new laws implemented in 1898, which complicated getting a divorce. Nowadays, people seems to be waiting the new law about pension in order to get a divorce, since people will be able to have a larger pension than what they could expect now. It is then highly probable that the divorce rate will rapidly increase after April 2007. Why Is the Divorce Rate so Low in Japan free essay sample Japan has gained a reputation of having a low divorce rate compared to other countries. Indeed, between 1945 and 1990, the divorce rate of Japan has never been higher than 1. 5 per 1000 population. Since the 1990s, the divorce rate of Japan increased, reaching 2. 08 in 2005. even if we can consider this a low divorce rate in comparison with the U. S, compared with other industrialized country, it is an average rate. Then, why is Japans divorce rate considered so low? We will see first why I do not consider Japans divorce rate low, then the historical reasons of the divorce rate, the actual reasons of the divorce rate and, finally, what to expect in the future. gt;gt; why do I not consider the Japanese divorce rate low? Since World War II, Japan has been considered a country with really low divorce rate. Indeed, according to the figure 1. 2, Japan divorce rate in 1945 was 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Is the Divorce Rate so Low in Japan? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 1 per 1000 of population. Since the 1960s, divorce rate in Japan has been growing, with a peak in 2002 when there have been 290,000 divorce. Since then, the divorce rate has decreased. In 2005, there has been 262. 000 divorce, and the divorce rate has been 2. 08 per 1000 population. Because a U. S. -Japan comparison formed the basis for the majority of divorce studies, the Japanese divorce rate appeared low. However, if Japan had been compared with Southern European countries like Spain, Greece, Portugal or Italy, its divorce rate would not have appeared particularly low. By 2000, the Japanese divorce rate placed the nation somewhere in the middle band of European countries, but still very low in comparison to the United States. Even though the American divorce rate has been declining in recent years, it is still extremely high compared with all European countries as the figure 1. 1 clearly shows. gt;gt; historical reasons of the actual level of the divorce rate? Elevated divorce rates in Japan arent a new phenomenon, indeed in the 19th century, Japanese divorce rates have been exceeded only by those in the 1970s in the United States. In the 19th century and before, it was fairly common for people to try marriage and to divorce if necessary. Remarriage was also normal for women and men. Even spouse testing was accepted inside the ociety. Only the samurai didnt follow this rule and married once and only. Until the introduction of the Meiji Civil Code of 1898, Japan had some of the highest divorce rates in the world. Under the old peasant marriage system, women were considered a valuable economic resource by families. Young wives were often tested out by the new family in trial marriages and if they did not me et the required standard, they were sent back home. Thus, most divorces occurred in the early stages of marriage. Remarriage rates for both men and women were high, but later marriages were usually stable. Harold Fuess wrote a book about the â€Å"forgotten history† of Japan divorce: Family, Gender and the State 1600-2000, by Harold Feuss. He explains how in 1898, the civil code and some new laws on family registration led to a sharp decline in divorce rates. One of the aims of the Meiji legislation was to discourage divorce and bring Japan more in line with European marriage and divorce trends. In its drive to modernize the country, the Meiji government managed to impose the anti-divorce values of the former elite Samurai classes on the general population. Samurai customs had previously only been associated with a very small fraction of the population. So successful were the governments efforts that nowadays most Japanese are unaware than their country once had one of the highest divorce rates in the world. The act in itself of codifying family regulation generated some frictions between customs, newly â€Å"invented traditions† and western legal practices, that made people believe of divorcing as a way of dishonoring ones family, group, or country. Therefore, between 1898 and 1940, the divorce rates declined. The strengthening of the institution of marriage was also helped by the economic growth and the industrialization of Japan. Indeed, thanks to the growth, each family had more or less a growing comfort level, it was usual for women not to work, in case of divorce, women were highly at a disadvantage: they could not support themselves, and therefore not a child. Marriage was therefore seen as an economic and social stability, furthermore, a new sexual morality has developed which reinforced the idea that marriage was a national disgrace and a poor reflection on women rights. Harold Fuess highlights the fact that the Japanese government has a big part of this idea that divorce is not part of the history of Japan. Indeed, in 1997, the government suppressed textbooks that reported the high divorce rates of the past. After World War II, Japan gained an undeserved reputation for low divorce rates, the current â€Å"explosion† of divorce rate is just Japan going back to the high level of the 19th century. gt;gt; what are the actual reasons of the divorce rate? As in other developed countries, the reasons why couples divorce are usually a complex combination of factors which vary from individual case and change over time. The most commonly cited reasons for Japanese divorce in the nineties were an extramarital affair, neglect of family, financial/economic problems, incompatibility, sexual problems, alcoholism, physical abuse and problems with in-laws. Some of the major social currents in the divorce equation were the changing concepts of marriage, a reluctance to have children, changing family structures, the emergence of more diverse family models, increased educational opportunities for women, enhanced female economic status, better career opportunities for women and positive media images of divorce, inter alia. But that are the reasons for divorce nowadays, lets concentrate on why people would not want a divorce, even when facing those problems. First of all, Japan is deficient in several areas of child support , most importantly having no mechanism in place for enforcing payment or collecting arrears. There is also no system for tracking down non-compliant fathers, no requirement to conduct DNA-paternity tests and no means for deducing money from the delinquent fathers salary. The courts normally do not take action if a spouse does not meet their obligations. To make matters worse, the legal framework for solving child support disputes is totally inadequate and requires an inordinate amount of time and money. People may not want to try and go alone in raising their children after a divorce considering all those problems concerning child support. Furthermore, the cost of rising a child in Japan is really high, therefore, with only one salary the perspective of rising children can be really hard. Indeed, after the divorce, usually children are under the care of their mothers, and the parental rights of the father are inexistent. Secondly, Divorce in Japan, like marriage, is easy if both parties agree to it. All you have to do is head for the Ward Office and fill out a Divorce Form. This is called kyougi rikon, or divorce by mutual consent, which happens, estimates a lawyer in about 80% of divorces. Assets, possessions, or property are divided up either informally or through the legal community. However, if both parties do not agree to divorce, things can get very messy. According to Japan Civil Code Article 770, there are five grounds for unilateral divorce: infidelity, malicious desertion (which for foreign spouses can include being deported), uncertainty whether or not the spouse is dead or alive for three years or more, serious mental disease without hope of recovery, or a grave reason which makes continuing the marriage impossible. What is considered a grave reason is unclear, and at the discretion of a judge if things go to court. However, the simple fact that you do not like each other anymore, i. e. a matter of irreconcilable differences, is not considered to be sufficient grounds. Here things begin to pinch. If one side refuses to agree to the divorce, you will have to negotiate until you do, which can take many years. You can legally separate, but this is not a divorce, and you cannot remarry. The fact that divorce can be so difficult in certain case leads people to seek legal separation instead of actual divorce. Plus, the access to court can be really difficult since there are not a lot of lawyer in Japan. Those are the two of the main reason why people do not seek to divorce in Japan, the difficulty of getting a divorce if there is no agreement, and the cost of rising children. gt;gt; what to expect for the future? Divorce may rise after a change in law in 2007. Indeed, spouses will be eligible for up to half of partners pensions. Hiromi Ikeuchi, author of The Costs and Benefits of Divorce in Middle Age, is convinced the decline since 2002 does not mean married couples have become more content. She believes many unhappy spouses have been biding their time since 2001, when discussions on changes to the pension system began. The revision was passed in 2004. Men have just recently begun learning about the new law that divides their employee pensions, but housewives have been aware of the change since around 2001. The recent dip in the divorce rate is merely the calm before the storm, and the number of divorces is likely to spike, even surpassing 300,000 in 2007. Though men appear blissfully unaware of the danger, Ikeuchi said many housewives, especially those over 50, are waiting patiently for the new rules to take effect. The new pension system was created to cope with the growing number of divorces among middle-aged couples and to support (divorced) women. Under the current system, divorced wives are only granted a basic pension of no more than 66,000 yen a month. By forcing husbands to share their employee pensions, which vary depending on average earnings and length of employment, a typical housewife could get up to twice as much if they hold out until April. There was also a change in the way welfare is distributed: all single parent households receive less money. Indeed, in 2006, a new law has been voted, the Health, Labor and Welfare ministry stopped giving the â€Å"mother child supplement† for depending children over 15 years old. 80% of single mother work. This figure includes widows, divorced women, and single mothers. They earn in average 30% of the income of an average household, and 17. % of them dont receive any money from the father of their children. This new law wont incite women to get a divorce, or on the contrary will incite them to marry and get a divorce. Indeed, as a never married woman with child receive less money than even a single father, and much less than a divorced woman. Therefore, it is more advantageous f or women to marry and then to divorce. Even if this change in welfare distribution may will be compensated by the law on spouse pension, the fact that single parents will receive less and less money from the state wont incite people to get a divorce. Conclusion: The divorce rate is not as low as it is believed. Indeed, mainly because it is compared with the U. S, Japans divorce rate is considered low. The main historical reason of this low divorce rate is the Meiji code and the new laws implemented in 1898, which complicated getting a divorce. Nowadays, people seems to be waiting the new law about pension in order to get a divorce, since people will be able to have a larger pension than what they could expect now. It is then highly probable that the divorce rate will rapidly increase. Why Is the Divorce Rate so Low in Japan free essay sample Since the World War II, Japan has gained a reputation of having a low divorce rate compared to other countries. Indeed, between 1945 and 1990, the divorce rate of Japan has never been higher than 1. 5 per 1000 population. Since the 1990s, the divorce rate of Japan increased, reaching 2. 08 in 2005. even if we can consider this a low divorce rate in comparison with the U. S, compared with other industrialized country, it is an average rate. Then, why is Japans divorce rate considered so low? We will see first why I do not consider Japans divorce rate low, then the historical reasons of the divorce rate, the actual reasons of the divorce rate and, finally, what to expect in the future. gt;gt; why do I not consider the Japanese divorce rate low? Since World War II, Japan has been considered a country with really low divorce rate. Indeed, according to the figure 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Is the Divorce Rate so Low in Japan? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 2, Japan divorce rate in 1945 was 1. 1 per 1000 of population. Since the 1960s, divorce rate in Japan has been growing, with a peak in 2002 when there have been 290,000 divorce. Since then, the divorce rate has decreased. In 2005, there has been 262. 000 divorce, and the divorce rate has been 2. 08 per 1000 population. Because a U. S. -Japan comparison formed the basis for the majority of divorce studies, the Japanese divorce rate appeared low. However, if Japan had been compared with Southern European countries like Spain, Greece, Portugal or Italy, its divorce rate would not have appeared particularly low. By 2000, the Japanese divorce rate placed the nation somewhere in the middle band of European countries, but still very low in comparison to the United States. Even though the American divorce rate has been declining in recent years, it is still extremely high compared with all European countries as the figure 1. 1 clearly shows. gt;gt; historical reasons of the actual level of the divorce rate? Elevated divorce rates in Japan arent a new phenomenon, indeed in the 19th century, Japanese divorce rates have been exceeded only by those in the 1970s in the United States. In the 19th century and before, it was fairly common for people to try marriage and to divorce if necessary. Remarriage was also normal for women and men. Even spouse testing was accepted inside the ociety. Only the samurai didnt follow this rule and married once and only. Until the introduction of the Meiji Civil Code of 1898, Japan had some of the highest divorce rates in the world. Under the old peasant marriage system, women were considered a valuable economic resource by families. Young wives were often tested out by the new family in trial marriages and if they did not me et the required standard, they were sent back home. Thus, most divorces occurred in the early stages of marriage. Remarriage rates for both men and women were high, but later marriages were usually stable. Harold Fuess wrote a book about the â€Å"forgotten history† of Japan divorce: DIVORCE IN JAPAN: Family, Gender and the State 1600-2000, by Harold Feuss. He explains how in 1898, the civil code and some new laws on family registration led to a sharp decline in divorce rates. One of the aims of the Meiji legislation was to discourage divorce and bring Japan more in line with European marriage and divorce trends. In its drive to modernize the country, the Meiji government managed to impose the anti-divorce values of the former elite Samurai classes on the general population. Samurai customs had previously only been associated with a very small fraction of the population. So successful were the governments efforts that nowadays most Japanese are unaware than their country once had one of the highest divorce rates in the world. The act in itself of codifying family regulation generated some frictions between customs, newly â€Å"invented traditions† and western legal practices, that made people believe of divorcing as a way of dishonoring ones family, group, or country. Therefore, between 1898 and 1940, the divorce rates declined. The strengthening of the institution of marriage was also helped by the economic growth and the industrialization of Japan. Indeed, thanks to the growth, each family had more or less a growing comfort level, it was usual for women not to work, in case of divorce, women were highly at a disadvantage: they could not support themselves, and therefore not a child. Marriage was therefore seen as an economic and social stability, furthermore, a new sexual morality has developed which reinforced the idea that marriage was a national disgrace and a poor reflection on women rights. Harold Fuess highlights the fact that the Japanese government has a big part of this idea that divorce is not part of the history of Japan. Indeed, in 1997, the government suppressed textbooks that reported the high divorce rates of the past. After World War II, Japan gained an undeserved reputation for low divorce rates, the current â€Å"explosion† of divorce rate is just Japan going back to the high level of the 19th century. gt;gt; what are the actual reasons of the divorce rate? As in other developed countries, the reasons why couples divorce are usually a complex combination of factors which vary from individual case and change over time. The most commonly cited reasons for Japanese divorce in the nineties were an extramarital affair, neglect of family, financial/economic problems, incompatibility, sexual problems, alcoholism, physical abuse and problems with in-laws. Some of the major social currents in the divorce equation were the changing concepts of marriage, a reluctance to have children, changing family structures, the emergence of more diverse family models, increased educational opportunities for women, enhanced female economic status, better career opportunities for women and positive media images of divorce, inter alia. But that are the reasons for divorce nowadays, lets concentrate on why people would not want a divorce, even when facing those problems. First of all, Japan is deficient in several areas of child support , most importantly having no mechanism in place for enforcing payment or collecting arrears. There is also no system for tracking down non-compliant fathers, no requirement to conduct DNA-paternity tests and no means for deducing money from the delinquent fathers salary. The courts normally do not take action if a spouse does not meet their obligations. To make matters worse, the legal framework for solving child support disputes is totally inadequate and requires an inordinate amount of time and money. People may not want to try and go alone in raising their children after a divorce considering all those problems concerning child support. Furthermore, the cost of rising a child in Japan is really high, therefore, with only one salary the perspective of rising children can be really hard. Indeed, after the divorce, usually children are under the care of their mothers, and the parental rights of the father are inexistent. Secondly, Divorce in Japan, like marriage, is easy if both parties agree to it. All you have to do is head for the Ward Office and fill out a Divorce Form. This is called kyougi rikon, or divorce by mutual consent, which happens, estimates a lawyer in about 80% of divorces. Assets, possessions, or property are divided up either informally or through the legal community. However, if both parties do not agree to divorce, things can get very messy. According to Japan Civil Code Article 770, there are five grounds for unilateral divorce: infidelity, malicious desertion (which for foreign spouses can include being deported), uncertainty whether or not the spouse is dead or alive for three years or more, serious mental disease without hope of recovery, or a grave reason which makes continuing the marriage impossible. What is considered a grave reason is unclear, and at the discretion of a judge if things go to court. However, the simple fact that you do not like each other anymore, i. e. a matter of irreconcilable differences, is not considered to be sufficient grounds. Here things begin to pinch. If one side refuses to agree to the divorce, you will have to negotiate until you do, which can take many years. You can legally separate, but this is not a divorce, and you cannot remarry. The fact that divorce can be so difficult in certain case leads people to seek legal separation instead of actual divorce. Plus, the access to court can be really difficult since there are not a lot of lawyer in Japan. Those are the two of the main reason why people do not seek to divorce in Japan, the difficulty of getting a divorce if there is no agreement, and the cost of rising children. gt;gt; what to expect for the future? Divorce may rise after a change in law in 2007. Indeed, spouses will be eligible for up to half of partners pensions. Hiromi Ikeuchi, author of The Costs and Benefits of Divorce in Middle Age, is convinced the decline since 2002 does not mean married couples have become more content. She believes many unhappy spouses have been biding their time since 2001, when discussions on changes to the pension system began. The revision was passed in 2004. Men have just recently begun learning about the new law that divides their employee pensions, but housewives have been aware of the change since around 2001. The recent dip in the divorce rate is merely the calm before the storm, and the number of divorces is likely to spike, even surpassing 300,000 in 2007. Though men appear blissfully unaware of the danger, Ikeuchi said many housewives, especially those over 50, are waiting patiently for the new rules to take effect. The new pension system was created to cope with the growing number of divorces among middle-aged couples and to support (divorced) women. Under the current system, divorced wives are only granted a basic pension of no more than 66,000 yen a month. By forcing husbands to share their employee pensions, which vary depending on average earnings and length of employment, a typical housewife could get up to twice as much if they hold out until April. There was also a change in the way welfare is distributed: all single parent households receive less money. Indeed, in 2006, a new law has been voted, the Health, Labor and Welfare ministry stopped giving the â€Å"mother child supplement† for depending children over 15 years old. 80% of single mother work. This figure includes widows, divorced women, and single mothers. They earn in average 30% of the income of an average household, and 17. % of them dont receive any money from the father of their children. This new law wont incite women to get a divorce, or on the contrary will incite them to marry and get a divorce. Indeed, as a never married woman with child receive less money than even a single father, and much less than a divorced woman. Therefore, it is more advantageous f or women to marry and then to divorce. Even if this change in welfare distribution may will be compensated by the law on spouse pension, the fact that single parents will receive less and less money from the state wont incite people to get a divorce. Conclusion: The divorce rate is not as low as it is believed. Indeed, mainly because it is compared with the U. S, Japans divorce rate is considered low. The main historical reason of this low divorce rate is the Meiji code and the new laws implemented in 1898, which complicated getting a divorce. Nowadays, people seems to be waiting the new law about pension in order to get a divorce, since people will be able to have a larger pension than what they could expect now. It is then highly probable that the divorce rate will rapidly increase after April 2007.

The Shifting Heart essays

The Shifting Heart essays The Shifting Heart This play The Shifting Heart was set in 1950s, in a community where many people did not accept any migrants. The main, theme of this play shows Bianchi family moved to Australia from Italy and how the issues raised regarding to lifestyles in Australia. The racial discrimination was one of the major issues Bianchi family faced since they moved to Australia. For example, Mr. Wilson who works at the shop thinks it is amusing to call Mrs. Bianchi, Momma Macaroni. This sees it as discrimination and it is an insult and prejudice The Shifting heart is set in the 1950s and introduces to us Momma Bianchi, Poppa Bianchi, Gino Bianchi, Maria Fowler, Clarry Fowler, Leila Pratt, Donny Pratt and Detective-sergeant Lukie. The play shows us that a family cant always assimilate into a country and there are racists in Australia itself. The Central issue is Australian racist attitudes towards foreigners who attempt to assimilate into mainstream Australian culture. The Bianchi family goes through heartache as their only son Gino is killed due to his nationality. This, in my view expresses certain themes such as racism, violence, anger and heartache. Racism is found when Mr. Wilson called Momma, Momma Macaroni, Violence is found when Clarry hits Maria in order to calm her down, Anger is found when Donny gets angry at Leila for not preparing food and last Heartache is achieved through when Gino passes away and Marias sadness about the issue. I 'm not so sure whether racism would be one of the main issues I feel that it is not the race that is the problem it is more the difference between the way the people are and how they act and the lack of understanding by the Australian people at that time. I feel that the strong views of the British people influenced the people and they are taught that the British people are the only ones who are right... people were not accepted and they had to conform ...

Racial and Criminal Profiling Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Racial and Criminal Profiling - Assignment Example In Part III, this paper argues that there is substantial evidence that arrests are still being carried out on the basis of racial bias. Subsequently, it maintains that cultural factors have an impact on crime commitment. Introduction Racial and criminal profiling is one of the pertinent topics, as far as criminal justice is concerned. There are concerns about the use and interpretation of the used statistics. There are also the concerns that the profiled information of criminals always reveals certain flaws in the justice system. This leads to the advocacy of the affirmative action, which attracts various questions and issues. This seeks to respond to various questions regarding racial and criminal profiling such as the mentioned, as well the definition of various terminologies underlying the topic. PART I Response to part 1 This cautionary notice is given on the basis that criminal incidences are governed by a range of factors that are largely ignored based on such simple inferences . What this implies is that such data is likely to be biased in giving the information about the scene on the ground. For instance, the introduction of ranks in terms of criminal incidents to states may serve to reinforce the fact that people from certain states do not engage in crimes as those of other areas. In real sense, such an inference is biased. This alludes to how statistics can be misused or misinterpreted (Campbell, 1974). Response to part 1A Indeed, there are various issues that govern the dynamics of crime; hence, the statistics. One of the points that can be acknowledges is that different areas, cities, counties and states have different factors that shape criminal activities. Areas may differ from others in terms of cultural factors, political uniqueness, crime intervention strategies and unemployment rates, among others. Comparing the crime rates between areas often constrain the way these factors should be captured effectively. In some cases, it might create the all owance for statistics to be abused by authorities and other parties to advance their gains at the expense of others. For example, it can be used by some crime prevention authorities of some states to justify their effort, even when the comparison is hardly objective, as documented by Campbell (1974) on the misuse of statistics. PART II Response to part 2 Prejudice refers to a biased presentation of an event, subject or phenomenon. It is a treatment based on notions that are self or socially constructed, as opposed to the reality Gabbidon and Greene, 2005). For example, ideas will be considered to be prejudiced if they do not present the reality views Response to Part 3 Stereotypes are perceptions or notions that are labeled to certain groups of people but which are barely factual. For example, the notion that women are considered to be a weaker species compared to men is a stereotype (Gabbidon and Greene, 2005). Another example of stereotype is where youths are considered to be a gr oup of people that cannot be trusted. Response to part 4 Discrimination is the treatment of people based on the criterion informed by bias and which can be considered to be hardly objective. It has been argued that it is also possible to discriminate with objectivity, in what is referred to as positive discrimination, while negative discrimination is that which is

Critical Thinking and Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critical Thinking and Language - Essay Example Today, we have the powerful desire to know what is going on and how we fit in the larger picture of the society. More than before, we need to engage in systematic and extensive communications in upward, downward, and lateral directions. By being able to acquire language mastery which involves grammar, spelling, use of words, intonation and others, we will be able to make good use of our language skills to our advantage. This will be a powerful tool for us to successfully resolve conflicts, make sound decisions and provide smart solutions as well as improve the statues of our social relationships. Social organizations cannot exist without language and communication. Language has already become a part of different cultures for different nations have their own national language and even their own set of dialects. Language has already been a part of every country's national heritage and also one of the pillars of their national identity. Since language may vary from one nation to another, this brings about the diversity in language. With this characteristic of language, people are able to interact with other people from different nationalities and having different cultural backgrounds. We are also able to communicate with people from any age, gender, ethnicity and religion due to diversity in language. This way, we are able to share our knowledge and expertise to people from across the globe. As an example, diversity in language can be exemplified by the communication between men and women. Research on gender-based communication styles has begun to show more fascinating diversity between two groups. Numerous studies have explored whether men and women use different communication styles. In general, men and women display marked diversity in the way in which they communicate. Men emphasize power, while women stress rapport; men are more likely than women to claim credit for accomplishments; men tend to downplay their uncertainty rather than admit it; women asks questions to learn more, while men fear that asking questions will make them look ignorant. How does language empower or limit the expression of our thoughts Language serves as our medium for communication and expression. Every idea that our mind perceives and process will be rendered useless unless they are expressed though language. Language can work to our advantage or disadvantage depending on how well we know how to make language work for us. The more we know about language such as semantics, phonetics, use of words and grammar, the higher the possibility of getting our message or ideas across successfully. Nearly language is considered symbolic; that is it is achieved using symbols, (words, pictures, actions) that suggest certain meanings. Semantic barriers are examples of how language may limit our expression of thoughts as well understanding other people's thoughts. Semantic barriers arise from limitations in symbols with which we communicate. Symbols usually have a variety of meanings, and we have to choose one meaning from many. Sometimes we choose the wrong meaning and misunderstanding occurs. This is particularly likely with use of jargons, which is the specialized language of a group. Jargon can include the use of acronyms, slang (words unique to an ethnic or racial group), or

Accounting fraud Essay Example for Free

Accounting fraud Essay Accounting fraud can be defined as knowingly falsifying accounting records in order to increase sales revenue and net income. Accounting fraud is committed in corporations by means of showing false information, using funds for illegal purposes or inflate expenses, overstating revenues, understating expenses or overstating the value of corporate assets. All these activities are entirely unethical. Behaving ethically depends on the capability to recongnize the ethical issues and to believe on their existence. This ability to respond ethically at workplace related more to attributes of corporate culture than to attributes of individual employee Individuals often fail to realise their moral obligations at work and by being subject to world’s temptation fails to tread on their set ethical standards and behave unethically. People especially of todays generation are so much engrossed in their own different criterias of their lives that they almost forget to confine themselves to ethical boundaries that is why ethical decisions are always difficult to make and its foundation is based on several factors however if we talk about the decision by considering moral philosophies of a person; that depends on whether the person is making a work-related decision or personal-life decision. See more: Basic Economic problem of Scarcity Essay A person in the business sector might view of the problem by thinking differently beacause of the outside force and under the work pressure. However, the same decision might be unacceptable to him outside the work. The second reason of people changing moral philosophies could be the corporate culture where they work. Rules and personalities of a business culture person eventually effects on the person and exerts pressure to conform to the firm’s culture. Edward Hall (1959), described culture as a silent language, and defines it as â€Å"that part of man’s behavior which he takes for granted, the part he doesn’t think about, since he assumes it is universal or regards it as idiosyncratic.† Geert Hofstede (1993) defined it as â€Å"the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes one group or category of people from another.† (P.489) A culture followed in corporate or on industrial level is known as Meso- culture and every organisation has t heir own set agendas regarding ethics because work ethics plays a pivotal role at work place to rein employees to behave ethically and keeping into account the ethical dimensions. In most of the organizations, there are set rules and policies specifically formulated to make ethical environment. Every  organization has a culture which mainly comes from the side of upper management and the rest of the employees follows the set trends and culture of their own corporate sectors. The culture of the organization varies from organization to organization because of the different perceptions of the chief executive officers (CEO) and the Board of Directors (BOD). Individuals in practical lives tend to take decisions according to their own moral values and set standards however, in business it changes and is quite the other way round. People get pressurised often and take decisions whatever is percieved as right or wrong in their surroundings and also choose on producing the greatest benefits with least harm. Individuals cannot simply enforce their personal perspective, though they are responsible for their actions but the idea of middle- management or entry level employee to have the freedom to take decision on their own at the work place is unrealistic.For example, if an employee can attract more customers by giving bribe to someone in the business, his decision would rely on whether complying with company policy or requirements is an important motivation to the individual or not. So for that purpose, according to Drake and Drake (1988), â€Å" there is a necessity for the development of training programmes to implement corporate values. These programmes must explain the ethical and legal principles to the employees and show practical examples which can be used as a guidance.† (p.111) Thus, the set principles and policies regarding work ethics in an organization and in addition to that the training programs can guide, govern or direct the employees to follow ethics and helps in institutionalizing organizations. According to ethics consultant David Gebler, â€Å" Most unethical behaviour is not done for personal gain, it’s done to meet performance goals†. Mostly people are of the view that individual moral philosophies plays main role for the ethical behaviour in business. Although moral philosophies learned through family, religion and education are important but it is only one factor which helps in decision making; it is not sufficient to prevent ethical misconduct especially in the business sector. Studies show that the reward for meeting performances and the corporate culture are the main drive rs in ethical decision making because the companies have a life of their own and the individuals working in the company are transcended by its corporate culture and with the passage of time, these patterened activities become instituionalized within the  organization. Peer influence also effects to some extent in the decision making; employees can be lulled by each other in making unethical decisions or when facing with ethical dilemmas nonetheless, everything still surrounds around the corporate culture and its strict policies for the ethical behaviour because when the policies will be strict, every employee would strive hard for the performance goal. If I fit myself in a situation where I can easily inflate my account on company’s expenses, I would be swayed by the company’s culture. I might not even think of committing any fraud or inflate the expense on company’s account, if the company is strict in its policies. But at times, it also depends on an individual moral values of a person in taking decision which is transmitted normally from families. According to my vantage point, individual moral development for taking a decision is a secondary factor; what drives first instantly to the person to behave ethically is the corpo rate culture since a company cannot rely on every individual to behave ethically on their own. They cant just stand in front of people and say they want them to have a good attitude and be excited, says Pecos River president Elizabeth Wilson. Taking decision in practical life and in work life differs. People in their work lives are driven by some targets and goals which are triggered in them by the organisation where they work and that effects on their performance. Similarly, when they take decision in their work lives , they are not driven by their own values, the company’s formulated culture effects their decision making. Nevertheless, if a person takes any decision without any concern or reflecting on the ethical dimensions; these sort of misbehaviours are referred to as â€Å"unethical business practices† (eg Garrett et al.,1989; Giacalone and Jurkiewicz, 2003 ; King, 1986).According to Murphy (1989), â€Å"Ethics should be followed in corporate sectors in the form of corporate creed and ethical code. The former establishes the organisational ethical values whereas the latter is a specific set of guidelines which must be developed in all functional areas of the firm.† To conclude, business ethics plays a pivotal role in developing a corporate culture. Although, all the implementation of principles and ethics is a bit difficult procedure but it impacts on the employees in the organisation in higher degree and rein them from involving in unethical activities. â€Å"It is obvious that in principle individuals are more ethical if a corporation has a written, formal code and  less ethical otherwise.† (Vitell et al.,1993,p.336). Hence, according to Vitell, the idea of a formal written code for ethics works well in corporate sector. In addition, moral values of an individual which are mainly effected by religion, personal cognitive approach, family, beliefs, education et cetera also plays an important role in preventing the employees in taking any unethical decision, however, it is only a secondary factor for an employee has a performance goal in his mind while working and the decision forms according to a corporate culture and the ethics followed in organizations since a company cannot rely on individuals individually to have e thical standards and beliefs. For that purpose , there is a necessity of a corporate culture which work as the main driver to act ethically in a work- place and in situations related to corporate sector. REFERENCES: Arunchand, C H; Ramanathan, Hareesh N. Organizational Culture and Employee Morale: A Public Sector Enterprise Experience, Journal of Strategic Human Resource Management2.1 (2013): 1-8. Mickalowski, Kyle; Mickelson, Mark; Keltgen, Jaciel. â€Å" Apple’s Iphone Launch: A Case Study In Effective Marketing The Business Review, Cambridge9.2(Summer 2008). Retrieved from Proquest Database, viewed 29 September,14 Caulkin, S.: 2002, Good Thinking, Bad Practice, The Observer (7th April), 11 Claver, Enrique; Llopis, Juan; Gasco, Jose L. International Journal of Value Based Management15.2 (2002): 151-163 Drake, B. H.and E. Drake, (1988), â€Å"Ethical and legal aspects of managing corporate culture† California management review 30 (2), 107- 123 Fritzche, D. J.: 1995, Personal Values: Potential Keys to Ethical Decision Making, Journal of Business Ethics 14(11), 909–922. Retrieved from Proquest Database, viewed 5 May,14 Garrett D. E., J. L., Bradford.,R. A. Meyers., J, Becker :1989 Issues Management and Organizational accounts: An analysis of Corporate responses to Accusations of Unethical Business Practices, Journal of Business Ethics 8 (7), 507- 520, Retrieved from Proquest Database, viewed 6 May,14 Geert, H., Bond, M. H., Luk, C. L. (1993). Individual Perceptions of Organizational Cultures. Organization Studies, 14(4), pp. 483-503. Retrieved from Proquest Database, viewed 11 may,14 Hall, E.T. (1959). The Silent Language, New York: Doubleday Lincoln, D., M. M. Pressey and T. Little: 1982, Ethical Beliefs and Personal Values of Top Level Executives, Journal of Business Research (10), 475–487 Murphy Herta A., Effective Business Communication (7th Edition), Herbert W. Hildebrandt , Mc Graw- Hill. Nakano, Chiaki. Asian Business Management, suppl. Special Issue: Japanese Business Society in a Global Age6.2 (Jun 2007): 163-178. The Significance and limitations of Corporate Governance from the perspective of Business Ethics: Towards the Creation of an Ethical Organizational Culture, Retrieved from Proquest Database, viewed on 10 May, 14. Vitell, S. J., et al, (1993), ‘Marketing Norms: The influence of personal moral philosophies and organizational ethical culture’ Journal of the academy of marketing science 21 (4), 331-337, Retrieved from Proquest Database, Viewed on 12 May,14. Yallapragada, RamMohan R.; Roe, C. William; Toma, Alfred G.: Accounting fraud and white collar crimes in the US, Journal of Business Case Studies8.2 (2012): 187. Retrieved from Proquest Database, Viewed on 7 May,14.

Cleaning up Bodies of Water with the Rio Salado Project :: Environment Environmental Pollution Preservation

As I looked out the window of the restaurant, I could see the sun bouncing off the sparkling water below. Boats and other water craft scatter the water as well as people on water-skis and inner tubes. The picturesque view makes life seem so much better and just looking at the river makes a person calmer. The scene just described is the view from the window of a restaurant called Sophia in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the corresponding river is the mighty Mississippi. Although Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes, this scene could be found right here in the valley of Phoenix. The way this is possible is through the Rio Salado Project. After the Roosevelt Dam dammed the Salt River in 1911, the bed that formed in its place has become a garbage-infested hole stretching through a large potion of the valley. In 1966 a group of architecture students at ASU first proposed the idea of the Rio Salado Project to a community-wide audience. It was approved by the legislature in 1980 and extensive planning has been underway since. The project will take 26 miles of the dry river bed, fill it in with purified wastewater, and make it into a 7,000-acre park over the next 2 decades (Rio Salado Development District 1). I believe that we should continue with construction on the Rio Salado Project because of all its benefits to the valley area. The plan I am proposing is comprehensive of many plans already proposed since Rio Salado was first an idea over 30 years ago. The difference is that my plan combines the positive features of many different plans to make a new one. This includes ensuring that Town Lake provides a safe environment for all activities, providing flood control, encouraging development along the river, promoting recreation, improving the regional quality of life, attaining the economic benefits of the area, while still maintaining the historical content of the area. Up until the early 1900’s, the Salt River flowed without any control or restraints. However, it was a burden for travelers on the trail leading from Prescott to Tucson. In 1911 the Roosevelt Dam was built upstream from Tempe and the flow was reduced until in the late 1930’s when the river ceased to flow altogether. Many people have often wondered what it would be like if the riverbed would once again be filled with water.