Social Context Account Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Social Context Account - Essay Example For one to look back at the past and analyse its effect in life today, the present has to be favourable according to the individual in question. This means that if the past influenced one’s life so badly that the present is damaged, only counselling or other forms of therapy can remedy the situation and enable one to look back at the events of their past.1 Depending on an individual, the social environment one grows in can make or break one’s character. For instance, some people are discouraged by discriminative backgrounds till they psychologically believe they are not worth better treatment. On the other hand, others consider maltreatment as a challenge which if overcome, one emerges not only a stronger, but also a better person. Due to the unpredictable nature of a child’s reaction to the social environment, there are many organizations committed to ensuring that children are protected from harsh social conditions. In addition, many governments have signed tre aties and passed laws to protect young citizens.2 _____________________________ 1 A James, and A Prout (eds), Constructing and Reconstructing childhood: contemporary issues in the sociological Study of Childhood, Falmer Press, London, 1997. 2 R Appignanesi, and O Zarate, Freud for Beginners, Icon Books, Cambridge, 1992. Background information My parents were born and brought up in Bangladesh after which they moved to London, UK. I was born on April 4, 1989 in London where I have lived ever since. The UK and Bangladesh are countries with many contrasting characteristics that are mainly due to their geographical locations, economic, political, and religious practises found in the two countries. Bangladesh is found in southern Asia while UK is situated in northern Europe. Bangladesh is mainly an Islamic country while the most dominant religion in the UK is Christianity. In society, religion plays an important role in how the society operates since it provides a basis for moral and ethi cal standards. In the UK, the church and government are separate entities and that is why the society in London is considered secular and has markedly different characteristics compared to that of Bangladesh where religion determines the kind of lifestyle people live. Comparison between UK and Bangladesh Christianity, mostly Anglican, is the dominant religion in the UK while Bangladesh is mostly Islamic. The cultures of the two countries are composite, having components derived from all over the world. Both countries are members of the UN and have signed the United Nations convention on the rights of the child (UNCRC) which seeks to ensure that minors enjoy basic rights and are protected from unfair treatment. However, the countries differ in the way they enforce these laws since in Bangladesh, children are still recruited into the armed forces among other forms of mistreatment. This means that a child growing up in Bangladesh is likely to be affected by these vices directly or indi rectly. On the other hand, the UK is strict in assuring her citizens of their rights and, therefore, children enjoy more rights and freedoms compared to their Bangladeshi counterparts. 99 percent of the population in the UK is literate as compared to a mere 43.1 percent in Bangladesh. Education has a huge impact on how people relate to each other and their interpretations of everyday phenomena. On the other hand, the educated population in UK is more corrupt at 7.7 perception index compared

Qatars sporting legacy Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Qatars sporting legacy - Research Proposal Example The awarding of 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar came as a surprise to most of the Asians, Americans and Europeans. However, the fact is that this Gulf state bagged this honor and privilege after years of painstaking commitment to and investment in sports. That is why Qatar was given a preference over some of the most celebrated sports hubs like the USA, Australia, South Korea and Japan. This very fact speaks a lot about the sports legacy of Qatar. This privilege was ample testament to the fact that though being a small nation of 1.7 million people, Qatar is capable of great achievements. FIFA World Cup and other such events will certainly give a flip to Qatar’s standing on the international stage. The modern Qatar is now being associated with high profile sporting events and is considered to be a champion, as far as the task of committing to and supporting sports is concerned. Qatar took a big step towards expanding its sports infrastructure and developing its organizational abil ities way back in 2006, when it hosted the Asian Games. Qatar also hosts a range of international events pertaining to varied sports like golf, soccer, tennis and cricket every year. Actually, this potential of Qatar has attracted the attention and appreciation of the world community and the international sports bodies and institutions. The years following the hosting of 2006 Asian Games have witnessed Qatar’s metamorphosis from being a tiny Arab emirate to a world class sports venue and sporting destination.... The modern Qatar is now being associated with high profile sporting events and is considered to be a champion, as far as the task of committing to and supporting sports is concerned. Qatar took a big step towards expanding its sports infrastructure and developing its organizational abilities way back in 2006, when it hosted the Asian Games. Qatar also hosts a range of international events pertaining to varied sports like golf, soccer, tennis and cricket every year. Actually, this potential of Qatar has attracted the attention and appreciation of the world community and the international sports bodies and institutions. The years following the hosting of 2006 Asian Games have witnessed Qatar’s metamorphosis from being a tiny Arab emirate to a world class sports venue and sporting destination. In the last decade, sports have assumed a central place in the nation’s cultural and economic life. Qatar’s sporting prestige has been successful in attracting some of the top notch sport stars like Sergio Garcia, Roger Federer, Justine Henin and Ernie Els to its shores. Hence any attempt to understand Qatar’s sports legacy ought to take a broad based and holistic perspective, taking into consideration the sanguine political and economic landscape of Qatar that has turned out to be so conducive for sports. The Nation Since the second half of the 19th century, Qatar has been ruled by the Al Thani family. During the British reign, Qatar was primarily known to be a small and poor protectorate (The World FactBook 2011: Online). However, post independence, Qatar has evolved into a sovereign state, accruing billions of dollars annually from its oil and natural gas reserves. In the period 1980-1990, the economy of Qatar was severely jeopardized

Unfair Dismissal in Employment

Unfair Dismissal in Employment Unfair Dismissal. In an action for unfair dismissal, it is for the employer to prove that there were grounds for dismissal, and that in the circumstances the dismissal is fair. Five potentially fair reasons for dismissal have been set out at Section 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1986.   These are as follow:- Lack of appropriate qualifications or capability This will only be fair if the missing qualification is essential to the proper performance of the job. Interestingly, in Litster v Thom Sons Ltd (1975) an employee was found to be unfairly dismissed after dismissal for failing to obtain a HGV licence, which had been stipulated as a condition of employment.   It was held that the employee could serve the employer in other ways. Negligence may justify dismissal. By way of example, in Taylor v Alidair Limited, Mr Taylor was a trained pilot, who was dismissed for causing damage to a plane (and a fright to its passengers) after a bad landing.   The court of appeal held that the degree of professional skill required in that case was so high, and the consequences of from that high standard was so serious that one failure to perform in accordance with those standards was enough to justify the dismissal. the employees conduct Whether the conduct justifies dismissal will be a question of fact in each case.   Lying, fighting, theft, or dangerous behaviour would undoubtedly justify a dismissal. Other scenarios such as being rude, or failing to cooperate with management, or drinking on duty, may also be fairly dismissed. Conduct in an employees spare time may also justify dismissal if it reflects adversely on the employee’s suitability for a job – such as theft. Sleeping with the wife of the employer outside office hours was held to justify dismissal in Whitlow v Alkanet Construction (1987) However, if the lack of capability is caused through the fault of the employer, for example, through its failing to provide training or supervision, the dismissal would be unfair. the employee was redundant An employer must show that the employee has been fairly selected. The onus would fall to the employer to show that the reason for Gillian’s selection was fair. The EAT laid down guidelines for good industrial practice in redundancies in Williams v Compare Maxam Limited.   This requires consideration as to whether objective selection criteria were chosen and fairly applied; whether the possibility of transfer to other work was investigated; whether employees were warned and consulted and whether any union was consulted. the continuance of employment would result in illegality any other substantial reason. In Gorfin v Distressed Gentlefolks’ Aid Association (1973), a personality clash was sufficient to render dismissal fair in order to restore harmony to the workplace, where all other reasonable steps had been taken to resolve the situation.   Economic reasons may also fall within this heading, if an employer could show that these were based on good commercial practice.   This would include for example removing overtime when defending a claim for constructive dismissal. Whether the dismissal is fair is subject to the general reasonableness test, as set out at Section 90(4) Employment Rights Act 1996.   This provides that fairness will be judged by deciding whether in all the circumstances the employer acted reasonably â€Å"determined according to equity and the merits of the case†.   Merely giving the appropriate contractual notice, and showing that a S98 reason applies will not suffice.   The employer must show that he dealt with the problem in a reasonable way in the particular circumstances. It must be shown that dismissal is a last resort, and that the dismissal has not come out of the blue.   It is important to ensure that adequate warnings are given, failing which an otherwise fair dismissal will be rendered unfair.   There are certain circumstances where the law is eager to protect employees who are vulnerable to victimisation, by providing that certain circumstances will automatically give rise to a claim for unfair dismissal – irrespective as to whether an employee has been employed for the one year qualifying period.   These situations include a claim for dismissal in connection with the exercise of maternity rights; dismissal relating to whistle blowing; accompanying workers at a disciplinary hearing; trade union membership or activity; or for taking legal action against an employer to enforce statutory rights. For a dismissal to be fair, an employer must also show that it followed a fair procedure.   Section 34 of the Employment Act 2002 inserted a new Section 98A into the Employment Rights Act 1996. This sets down the minimum procedural requirements and provides that a breach by the employer of a statutory procedure on dismissal will mean that the dismissal is automatically unfair.   (This reverses the rule in Polkey v Dayton Services Limited.)   The detail of how the procedures would operate in practice was set out in secondary legislation, the Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004. The basic standards are defined in Schedule 2 as: 1) The employer must set outline writing the employees alleged conduct, or characteristics, or other circumstances which lead him to contemplate dismissal or disciplinary action. 2) An invitation must be given to the employee to attend a meeting to discuss the matter, which must take place before action is taken. 3) The employee must have a reasonable opportunity to consider his response. 4) The employer must inform the employee of his decision. 5) The employer must give a right of appeal, together with an invitation to attend a further meeting for this purpose. If an employee is found to have breached this procedure, the dismissal is automatically unfair. In addition, there will be an extra award of four weeks pay, if a   tribunal   finds that not to be unjust to the employer. Bibliography A Practical Approach to Employment Law – John Bowers, 7th Edition, Oxford University Press 2005 Harvey on Industrial Relations and Employment Law, Butterworths Law for Business Students, Alix Adams, 3rd Edition, Pearson Longman 2003 Employment Act 2002 Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004. Employment Rights Act 1996 (as amended by the Employment Relations Act 1999) Trades Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 Davison v Kent Meters (1975) Gorfin v Distressed Gentlefolks’ Aid Association (1973), Litster v Thom Sons Ltd (1975) Moore v C A Modes (1981) Polkey v Dayton Services Limited [1988] ICR 142 Taylor v Alidair Limited [1978] IRLR 82 Whitlow v Alkanet Construction (1987) Williams v Compare Maxam Limited [1982] IRLR 83

The Humanization of Modern-Day Film Vampires Essay -- Movies

The Humanization of Modern-Day Film Vampires His thirsts have not changed. He craves the taste of blood, the warm, life-sustaining liquid that flows so gently from the necks of his victims into his own foul mouth. He continues to hunt in the night, cursed forever from the purity of sunlight, and his immortal body still remains ageless, untouched by the rugged sands of time and trauma. Yet somehow the vampire is different than he once was. He is richer, more human in color. His clothes are no longer binding and elaborate as the capes and suits of old; he often opts for simple denim or leather pants and coats. In fact, the modern vampire can often be mistaken for any other man or woman out for a midnight stroll. These observations all show evidence of the humanization of vampires in pop culture, an evolution from the soulless, purely evil animals they once were to merely darker versions of man. As humans struggle to control their own inner desires under the burden of society, increasingly protagonist vampires question and fi ght to suppress their own dark thirsts. It is this denial of nature unknown to the strictly evil vampires of old that identifies the modern-day film vampires more closely with their human counterparts today. Vampires, in retrospect, weren’t always the socially in-tune creatures that they are today. For what reasons did these changes occur? According to social critic I.C. Jarvie, â€Å"if we look again at the movie past . . . we find that the critical posture, the portrayal of society, has long been an important subtradition of the American cinema† (Social Criticism xiii). Thus, if we refer back to some of the earliest vampire films, we might receive some clues about the nature of the society that bir... ...to pursue it. As Benjamin Hoff remarks in the Tao of Pooh, â€Å"when you know and respect your own Inner Nature, you know where you belong† (41). Perhaps, in modeling what were once seen as beasts after us, we are learning to accept rather than shun our own primitive natures. Our place in the world is as creatures that are human. Works Cited Day, William Patrick. Vampire Legends in Contemporary American Culture. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2002. Hoff, Benjamin. The Tao of Pooh. New York: Penguin Books 1982. I.C. Jarvie. Movies and Society. New York: Basic Books, Inc., 1970. I.C. Jarvie. Movies as Social Criticism. Metuchen: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1978. Ursini, James and Alain Silver. The Vampire Film. Cranbury: A.S. Barnes and Co., Inc., 1975 Waller, Gregory A. The Living and the Undead. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1986.

Comparative Models of Counselling

A report that reflects on Person Centred Therapy and considers how this model could be incorporated alongside the core model of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in my current Counselling Practice. I reflected on Person-centred Therapy (PCT) as the comparative model because of the conflict that exists between this and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The conflict is historical, political and from personal experience. In therapy twenty years ago I became frustrated with my counsellor’s person-centred approach. I challenged my counsellor to provide me with more support and help.I therefore had preconceived ideas of PCT which may be similar to stereotypical thinking of these models. It was excessively warm, completely non-directive and only reflected back to the client, which I found frustrating. I understand now it was because my coping style was externalised and I had no control over external events, which suited a more direct counselling approach. So, how would this influence my practice as a counsellor? In theoretical terms and in observed practice I appreciated the benefits of PCT for its empathetic understanding and for clients who require a non-directive approach to gain emotional awareness.Presenting issues that can be helped by PTS are bereavement, drug and alcohol issues, depression, panic and anxiety, eating difficulties, self-harm, childhood sexual abuse (Tolan and Wilkins, 2012). I have used the model affectively for bereavement and sexual abuse as an offer of a direction would have been inappropriate and incongruent at the time. My preconceptions of CBT were solution focused, challenging and that low intensity based interventions ignore the client’s past. I feel competent in using certain behavioural intervention in my practice and challenge maladaptive thinking patterns in sessions.CBT is a medical model and although we have been taught the disadvantages to diagnoses, CBT is seen as the treatment of choice for many presenting problems due to the amount of empirical evidence available. These are anxiety disorders, panic, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, bulimia and depression as identified by NICE (NICE, 2008, Accessed online 27/06/201). This report reflects on the appropriate use of the models. Stereotypes have some element of truth, but at the same time, are not the truths. I wanted to understand the similarities and parallels while respecting the fact that, in practise, I use both models.I didn’t want to do a bit of each badly, but use a model in full at the appropriate time and understand my reason for doing so (Casemore, and Tudway, 2012). Both PCT and CBT are deeply rooted in the same philosophical underpinning of humanism, existentialism, and both are phenomenology particularly to the nature of suffering. However, there are differences in the understanding and interpretation of the philosophy. Both approaches view a person as continually seeking growth and self-actualisation. There are i ncompatible beliefs between the models. (Casemore, and Tudway, 2012).PCT observes that seeking growth and self-actualisation is a way of being and in itself therapeutic. Rogers’ professed that there were six necessary conditions for therapeutic growth that alone were sufficient to lead to a fully functioning person. The individual is the own expert who can determine their own journey of their reality and can heal themselves with the core, being the relationship itself. The structure of the self includes self-concept and introjected beliefs. PCT communicates acceptance of the client’s own experience and encourages then to identify alternate choices.It is a continual journey of self-awareness and knowledge, with the drive always towards growth (Mearns & Thorne, 2012). CBT views growth and self-actualisation as a shared goal of therapy to be reached with a set of tools, to be implemented in therapy. CBT’s view comes from Ellis who defines a person as irrational and rational. In CBT terms ‘dysfunctional beliefs’ are similar to ‘introjected beliefs’ and led to distortion in the self-concept. The irrational cause’s distress and rational directs the individual to fully functioning. CBT primary belief is self distortion and the process of cognitive dissonance.Interventions such as the ABCDE framework are used to challenge and dispute irrational thinking and are aimed at increasing client’s self-awareness and self-understanding. CBT sees the relationship as more collaborative and facilitates new learning. An individual’s construct of reality is dimensional and irrationality stops the client from changing. Therefore, a person’s drive is not always towards growth (Casemore, and Tudway, 2012). A similarity of both approaches is the understanding of self-worth and unconditional self-acceptance. The nature of suffering is seen the same. Humans are flawed, imperfect and we cause our own disturbance.Bo th see the client as the expert in the relationship. Authenticity is of great importance to both PCT and CBT as is the therapeutic relationship. It is the emphasis on the process of change, to become oneself, where the differences in two models lie (Castonguay, & Hill, 2012). From a PCT perspective a client discovers some hidden aspect of them self that they weren’t aware of previously and moves towards a greater degree of acceptance of self by being prized by the therapist (unconditional positive regard), have a sense of realness (genuineness) and listen to them self (empathy).A client moves towards seeing new meaning. These changes are characteristic of therapeutic movement. The client moves along a continuum from rigid structure to flow which can be seen in the seven stages of therapeutic change. Rogers’ term was ‘organismic experiencing’ which was interpersonal in the therapeutic relationship through unconditional positive regard and intrapersonal with in the client accepting a new experience into their awareness (Castonguay, & Hill, 2012). In PCT, the process of change there are different corrective experiences for a client.For me practising with a client group from a women’s refuge I use PCT and Rogers’ condition-of-worth. The incongruence between the self-concept and authentic self is evident due to the abuse. This creation of a false self is corrected with unconditional positive regard, empathy and genuineness. Process Theory is where, change in the experience of feelings and the recognition that the client is the creator of their own construct occurs. The therapeutic change has a developmental sequence.There is a change in the client’s manner of experiencing feelings and recognition of being the creator of their own constructs, accepting responsibility and in relating to others openly and freely. This is compatible with the condition of worth. A person moves with acceptance to a fully functioning person. The person’s overall ‘way of being’ is changed. Relating to a congruent therapist, the client learns to be open and congruent themselves (Castonguay, & Hill, 2012). Unblocking or Focusing is where the self-correcting, self-healing process of the organism is blocked.The person can’t refer inwardly, focus on feelings or articulate meaning. They have a rigid self-concept. Empathic listening within the therapeutic relationship opens the issue to re-examination and unblocks the person self-healing process. There is an interaction between the feeling and the attention the client brings to create a new meaning. This is Gendlin’s felt sense, an unexpected feeling of flow. The client becomes an active self-healer who has been felt heard and understood (Castonguay, & Hill, 2012).In practice building ‘Meaning Bridges’ – new understanding which identifying introjects imposed by others who imposed external systems of value has been paramount because of the external pressure that have be imposed through a close relationship. Internal opposing voices can be accepted, examined and resolved through compromise and collaborative solution. Until now, I saw this as CBT but can now see this as PCT with Rogers’s necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic change all that is needed for the process of change and this change occurs without engaging in cognitive process, but in the moment (Castonguay, & Hill, 2012).I am able to draw personal parallels from watching Rogers’ session with Gloria. Gloria wanted an answer from Rogers. In the session she found it for herself, even though she actively interpreted that he had helped her to the decision; even though he hadn’t. She makes the decision of honesty for herself. Although non-directive, Rogers’s session had a focused, this was of self-healing and self-direction. Refuting the belief that the person-centred way is only to reflect back to the client. The warmth from the counsellor is also part of the process of condition of worth.This helps me challenge my preconceived ideas and understand what is happening in practice. In practise, I am aware from a CBT perspective the therapeutic approach can teach clients new skills. The therapist is regarded as more of a coach. The client benefits from new skills and perspectives which facilitate the learning and have a sense of efficacy. I have used CBT to look at specific problem behaviours and conceptualise them as having cognitive, affective, behavioural and physiological elements each of which can have a legitimate target for intervention and can be check for validity (Castonguay, & Hill, 2012).The process of change occurs in practice as old ways are challenged through exposure exercise, behavioural experiments and cognitive restructuring techniques. Change occurs in the therapeutic setting or outside in a person everyday life. It may require repetition to produce a lasting effect and r educe maladapted patterns. This is where CBT and PCT are similar as this requires a strong therapeutic alliance, but CBT literature takes this as a given and may be a reason it is criticised. Clients are taught emotional regulation and basic functioning skills, such as problem-solving skills, breathing relaxation and active coping.Specific interventions are then used to motivate and foster the therapeutic relationship, such as cost benefit analysis, daily thought records, and in vivo exposure. Aligning client’s goals with interventions in a formulation develops the therapeutic alliance and collaborates with the client, with hypothesis-testing strategies used to undergo the process of change [Casemore, and Tudway, 2012). CBT is focused on corrective experiences and facilitates through interventions rather than challenging a client.It respects the importance of the therapeutic relationship and uses Rogers’ core conditions but does not see the conditions as sufficient. In -depth schema focused CBT takes the therapy to a deeper level and deals with past issues, than the low intensity offered by the NHS. Again my preconceptions are challenged for the benefit of my practice. I can see how the two models are not rivals, as Roger Casemore and Jeremy Tudway suggest in their book Person-centred Therapy and CBT, and that sibling as a metaphor works well (Casemore, and Tudway, 2012).For me, the therapeutic relationship and the advanced empathy required in PCT are important in my practise along with the core conditions in order to create change. Rogers’ believes interventions as wrong, from a philosophical point of view, as the client always having to lead the therapy. This is because Rogers sees a person as having limitless potential. For me, CBT in offering intervention and gentle coaching helps a client on their journey to self-healing and a seed can be planted and therapeutic change can happen outside the counselling session.I support the views not all humans have the same drive and there is an unconscious element to being rational or irrational. It is a more real idea and not as optimistic as Rogers. It is observation of this therapeutic change and this idea that supports the use of CBT in my practise (Casemore, and Tudway, 2012). The BACP ethical framework has been written with Rogers’ core conditions in mind. Therefore, PCT offers the client and the therapist the need to fulfil the principles of self-care, of being trustworthy and providing autonomy.As to the personal moral qualities the PCT requires the therapist to have advanced empathy. CBT has been criticised for focusing too much on the intervention and not being of beneficence. In CBT extra competence in the implementation of the intervention is required, so the criticism of the technique becoming the therapy cannot be applied . In writing this report and in my practise, I feel the difference are enough not to combine the models, but that each model can go into the same toolkit and used separately in the same session with a client.With the collaborative element in mind and further reading I am interested in the approach by Mick Cooper and John McLeod. The pluralistic perspective which believes individual clients would â€Å"benefit from different therapeutic methods† used at â€Å"different points in time†. Therapist would â€Å"work collaboratively† with clients. â€Å"Help them identify what they want from therapy† and how this can be achieved. It leaves the question of the process of therapy integration in practice open for debate. (Cooper, and McLeod, 2010, Assessed Online26/06/13).

Beer in Pastel Essay

1. PESTEL analysis for Western European brewing industry. Political factors: * Government is restricting consumption of beer and alcohol products by imposing special laws. * Government initiating social events emphasizing the harmful effects of beer on the human health. * Higher penalty for being influenced by alcohol when doing crimes. Economic factors: * Many European countries are controlling the amount of beer sold in bars, clubs and bars. * Governmental acts and restrictions increased the amount of beer sold through supermarket chains. * Acquisitions, mergers and products with new brands – these are popular measures and strategies in the brewing market these days. * Packaging is responsible for a considerable amount of costs included in the total costs of production. * Super markets are offering cut price offers. Socio culture factors: * Binge drinkers are met with aggression and censure, blame for antisocial behavior. * Consumers pay more attention to their health and harm that drinking beer can bring thanks to governmental effective policies to prevent high beer consumptions. * Drinking in the pubs and bars has been reduced and wine drinking is also increased in Western Europe. Technological factors: * To achieve efficiency in production and cost reduction, companies utilize the latest technologies in order to achieve supreme quality with fewer costs. * In order to increase the cost effectiveness of the production, centralization is introduced to the organization of the production process. * Media adverts are used to commercialize established brands and promote new brands. Environmental factor: * Germany and United Kingdom markets are in a decreasing phase whereas the annual sales are growing, especially Chinese market. * German retailer’s sales are increasing from local private brands rather than†¦

Structure V Agency Essays

Structure V Agency Essays Structure V Agency Essay Structure V Agency Essay Which of the key debates covered in weeks 1-4 is the most significant for sociology? Explain your answer with reference to at least one sociological topic. The Structure v Agency debate has been one of the most contentious within the sociological world. The argument comprises of whether structure (social systems) or Agency (our own individualistic nature) determine our paths in quotidian life. Giddens takes the following stance Society only has form, and that form only has effects on people, in so far as structure is produced and reproduced in what people do. This essay critically evaluates this controversial dualistic argument, in an attempt to establish why it is so significant for sociology. Giddens is also in favour of Agency coining the theory of ‘structuration’ claiming that â€Å"our activities both structure our social world and at the same time are structured by them† (Giddens, 2006:8). This means that people living within a societal structure are partly predisposed to oblige with its various cultural norms, values and rules. However, our individualistic nature shapes and defines this very structure. The structure’s rules are by no means permanent and evolve with time. This doesnt sound unreasonable until you consider just how detrimental little or no agency can be on a person. Restrictions are placed upon us from birth by parents hoping to mould their child into one that conforms to cultural norms and values. These are imposed on us through various actions and behaviors such as gender specific toys and the way both genders are treated. Boys are more likely to be told to hide pain while girls are considered more delicate. Society dictates that there is a cultural life path that you must follow in order to be accepted. Certain aspects of life are pre-planned by those in authority such as your parents or government institutions. Wright-Mills (1959) observes the institution of marriage, stating that â€Å"inside a marriage a man and a woman may experience personal troubles, but when the divorce rate during the first four years of marriage is 250 out of every 1,000 attempts, this is an indication of a structural issue having to do with the institutions of marriage and the family and other institutions that bear upon them. This observation is a strong indicator that suggests the reasons people get married is due to cultural pressures forcing a long term commitment to a partner that some individuals may not be prepared for. Another issue that can be derived from structure is suicide which is often regarded as a personal choice and anti-social. Statistical studies have concluded that suicide rates correlate annually, particularly at christmas. It can be argued that some people may feel alienated and segregated from the rest of society during festive periods. Durkhiem describes suicide as; â€Å"If voluntary deaths increase from January to July, it is not because heat disturbs the organism, but because social life is more intense. The latter depends on social conditions. † Durkhiem claims that suicide rates are higher in certain religious countries; for example catholicism is regarded as a more family orientated religion when compared with protestantism and the suicide rates reflect this. Suicide rates are lower when people are more integrated within the family structure. Being part of a loving happy family is deemed an important positive aspiration that is considered paramount within society. Religious beliefs are a transparent product of structure. Children are born into religious families whereby the process of indoctrination is immediately exercised through primary and secondary socialisation. It can be argued that as children move into adolescence they grow a deeper sense of agency and often start to reject or change the ideals bestowed upon them as a child through other doctrines such as atheism and agnosticism or branch towards different religious reformations such as Calvinism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism. There have been an estimated 2000 deities spanning many religions over the course of humanity which suggests that although children are indoctrinated early through societal structure their own modalities provide leverage that enables them to reshape their pre-existing ideologies through agency. Indoctrination is a serious issue in todays societies as over the course of history children that have been raised under this guise have gone onto commit acts of martyrdom through such causes as the crusades and in more recent times extremists sects of society particularly in the middle east. een in the 9/11 plane hijacks and 7/7 bombings. Hitchens (date) provides the following thoughts on religious upbringing â€Å"mass indoctrination of uneducated young men with such ideas is in itself a lethal danger to society and to international order. † Many sociologists query as to why religion seems to have dominated society over the past 4000 years. Marxist views may explain why structure has had such a persistent influence within capitalist societies as it can be argued that it provides the bourgeoisie with a dominant tool of mass exploitation of the proletariat both culturally and materially. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed culture, the heart of a heartless world just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people† (Marx). The proletariat put up with suffering on earth through various hardships such as work and poverty because of the promise of eternal reward in the afterlife. Understanding this debate is crucial for sociology because it’s members are so heavily integrated within society that they often cannot see these social barriers blocking their mobility. The working classes continue under a facade of agency while rendering the upper classes invisible and unquestioned. In conclusion, this essay has evaluated key points between structure and agency giving examples through such topics as religion, marriage, gender and suicide. It can be argued that Structure and Agency exist interdependently and that two ideologies are so delicately interconnected that to say one of them purely determines how people live their lives is one of much contention. It is important to agree however that in our society many inherent rules and restrictions have become archaic and are inimical to our interests if we want to progress towards a more desirable society. This is why the debate is so important for sociology as it allows us to further understand the inner workings of society and provide us with the tools to eventually build, reform and improve on existing foundations. Reference List: Giddens, A. , Pierson, C. 1998:77. ‘Giddens, Modernity and Self-Identity’ in Gauntlett, D. Media Gender and Identity, 2nd edition (London: Routledge) Giddens, A. 1973. Capitalism and Modern Social Theory: An Analysis of the Writings of Marx, Durkheim and Max Weber. Cambridge University Press. Hitchens, C. 2011. The Enemy. Amazon. [e-book] available at www. amazon. com. Wright Mills, C. 1959. The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press Durkhiem, E. (1997) [1951]. Suicide  : A Study In Sociology. The Free Press. Marx, K. 1943 [1970]. Critique of Hegels Philosophy of Right. Edited by Joseph O’Malley. Cambridge University Press.