Legal Studies †Basic Legal Concepts Essay

Law – is a set of rules that is binding the community. A set of rules that can be enforced and is officially recognized. Law must be capable or reform and change as society’s values and ethics change. Relationship between customs, rules and laws- Customs and rules govern behavior but the courts do not enforce them on community members. The community may generally see a custom as right but it is not legally enforceable. Rules, however, may punish offenders but rules only apply in certain circumstances and areas. Laws are legally sanctioned and are enforced by the courts. Although the community generally accepts all three, rules and customs do not have the same legal sanction as laws. An example of this is smoking in public restaurants. It was a custom for shop owners to provide a smoking and non-smoking section in their restaurants. Once the dangers of smoking became known rules were put in to prevent smoking in restaurants. Laws were then passed in public interest to make sure that smoking was only allowed in outdoor sections of restaurants. * They are all types of rules  * They can all be made into laws * They all regulate human behaviour * They all carry consequences when they are breeched, sanctions Values- Principals or attitudes which society sees as important. The moral principles and beliefs which reflect society’s judgment about the importance of different things. a personal belief system Ethics- a set of moral beliefs governing behaviour. Ethics define what we consider to be the right and wrong way to behave. a code of conduct; moral principles Characteristics of Just Laws * It is enforceable * It is binding on the community * It is in the public’s interest * It is discoverable * It is accepted by the community * It reflects community morality Nature of Justice * Equality- equal treatment or equal opportunity. That all people are entitled to enjoy the same rights, responsibilities, opportunities and that no one should be privileged or disadvantaged. * Fairness- achieving equal outcomes for people. Achieving reasonable and equal outcomes according to generally accepted ideas about what is right and just. * Accessible  Procedural Fairness, Principles of Natural Justice * The right to be heard * The right to have a decision made by an unbiased decision maker * The right to a decision based on logically relevant evidence Justice- a concept about what is right and wrong and what is fair and unfair. A combination of elements such as, equality, fairness and reasonableness Rule of Law – Everyone is subject to the same laws, no one is above the law. Punished equally through sanctions (penalty) Anarchy- a state of chaos resulting from the absence of laws and/or government. Tyranny – rule by a single leader holding absolute power in a nation-state

Free Essays on Prostitution

â€Å"There are women who search for love, and there are those that search for money.† Today, the term woman simply denotes one’s sex. It does not define her character, morals and values, or even her profession. However, this was not always the case. At the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth century, during the Progressive Era, there was a drive for reform. Various social problems became targets for investigation and intervention: child labour, juvenile delinquency, corruption in city government and police departments, and prostitution. These things were newly discovered social problems; the only differences during this period were the new assumptions, strategies, and expectations of a broad organization of activists. Progressive reform actively decided to take more of a role in regulating the social welfare of its citizens, and those private and public spheres of activity could not be disentangled. Prostitution was an issue that underscored th e relationship between home life and street life, wages of ‘sin’ and low wages of women workers, double sexual standards and transmission of venereal disease. The late nineteenth century response to prostitution revealed the competing ideologies within Progressive reform activity over social justice and social control. â€Å"Most attempts to ‘deal with’ prostitution have consisted almost exclusively of more or less vigorous attempts to suppress it altogether – by forcing the closing of brothels, and by increased police activities against individual prostitutes and against those individual places, such as taverns, where prostitutes frequently solicit.† This paper seeks to prove that the reformers were unable to stamp out prostitution during the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century for a variety of factors. First, I will look at why women in the late nineteenth, and early twentieth century became prostitutes. The gender differen... Free Essays on Prostitution Free Essays on Prostitution Prostitution Should be Illegal Prostitution should be cleaned off our streets. It first started in the early 1800’s. Prostitution is defined as providing sexual service, for the return of money. Exchange of money for sexual service. Heterosexual prostitution is the most common. Homosexual, gays and lesbians exists on smaller scales. Prostitution is a hazardous business. People selling themselves are at high risk. The women more then men. Both men and women are at risk in getting disease that has no cure. Prostitution all together should be stopped and put an end to. Prostitution takes place in many different places. Massage parlors, call-girl and call-men (also know as escort services), street prostitution, strip clubs, etc. It was believed that the most population in 1800’s was migrants. These migrants were mostly single men, husbands who left tem who left temporarily left their wives and children at home. Massage parlors were located close to railway stations. Prostitution increased during world war one when hardly and employment during world war one when hardly any employment for women was offered and it decreased during world war two for grater economic opportunities for lower-class women in war related industrials. 50% of the women in Toronto work for themselves. Street prostitution is the most visible form of prostitution that receives the most attention. Prostitutions needed the money not only to support themselves but to support but to support there family’s. Men and women take dangerous risks at night and in warm weather. Any â€Å"mental case† could take advantage of them and kill them where no one would be available to help you at the time and place where this could happen. Women are at higher risks then men. Physical assault, sexual assault, theft, sexually transmitted disease and murder are just few health risks prostitutes take on a daily basis when going out to these places with clients. Their ... Free Essays on Prostitution By James Bunch Prostitution: Should it be legal? Prostitution is said to be one of the world’s oldest profession, however, almost all the states in the U.S has it to be illegal. Nevada is the first state in the United States to legalize prostitution. Although the long-term effect of prostitution being legal is uncertain, the short-term effects have been economically beneficial to Nevada. Prostitution should be legalized because it financially benefits the country and it could also reduce crime. There are many reasons why prostitution is illegal in 49 U.S. states today. First of all, many people think that prostitution should stay illegal because it is immoral. Parents do not want their child to grow up thinking that prostitution is a normal way of living. Christianity also looks down upon prostitution because their belief says that sex is only to be done when a man and a woman are married. Another reason why the protection of morality is so important is that people's morals form the future of our nation. Many people feel that if prostitution is legalized, then its long term effects would be detrimental to the United States. The divorce rate in the United States is all ready really high. By the legalization of prostitution, this would allow room for husbands and wives to commit adultery. Second, prostitution is a great health risk to the U.S. because of the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. A major concern about STD’s is the spread of AIDS, because a cure has n ot yet been found for the disease. The transmission of STD’s is already on the rise due to uneducated teenagers having unprotected sex. In addition, most of theses teens are not going to a physician to be screened for them. Because of this, many curable STD’s are going untreated and being spread throughout a community. Prostitution only adds to this problem because prostitutes have sexual contact on a daily basis, and rarely have themselves screened for STD’s.... Free Essays on Prostitution â€Å"There are women who search for love, and there are those that search for money.† Today, the term woman simply denotes one’s sex. It does not define her character, morals and values, or even her profession. However, this was not always the case. At the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth century, during the Progressive Era, there was a drive for reform. Various social problems became targets for investigation and intervention: child labour, juvenile delinquency, corruption in city government and police departments, and prostitution. These things were newly discovered social problems; the only differences during this period were the new assumptions, strategies, and expectations of a broad organization of activists. Progressive reform actively decided to take more of a role in regulating the social welfare of its citizens, and those private and public spheres of activity could not be disentangled. Prostitution was an issue that underscored th e relationship between home life and street life, wages of ‘sin’ and low wages of women workers, double sexual standards and transmission of venereal disease. The late nineteenth century response to prostitution revealed the competing ideologies within Progressive reform activity over social justice and social control. â€Å"Most attempts to ‘deal with’ prostitution have consisted almost exclusively of more or less vigorous attempts to suppress it altogether – by forcing the closing of brothels, and by increased police activities against individual prostitutes and against those individual places, such as taverns, where prostitutes frequently solicit.† This paper seeks to prove that the reformers were unable to stamp out prostitution during the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century for a variety of factors. First, I will look at why women in the late nineteenth, and early twentieth century became prostitutes. The gender differen... Free Essays on Prostitution Prostitution is simply an issue of individual liberty. The controls of a person’s own body is the most basic of human rights. Governments should not have the power to impose legal penalties upon the men and women who choose to be promiscuous. Government regulation causes an act of lawful and consensual sexual intercourse to be illegal when the exchange of money occurs. Granted that prostitution has been present in societies across the world for thousands of years, governments should recognize that prostitution cannot be eradicated. Most prostitutes that work in legalized brothels in Nevada and other cities such as Amsterdam(Netherlands) and Victoria(Austrailia) have said that they receive money for sexual gratification (www.realwomenca.com). Andrew Wyllie believes that those against legalized prostitution are hypocrites. He said in his debate article,† For some reason, one of the oldest professions on the planet is considered one of its least moral. Get off your high horse. You all like sex, and you know it. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind getting paid for it either.† Consequently, national governments should pass legislation that makes prostitution safer, rather than persist with futile and dangerous prohibition. Prostitutes have performed a valid social function for thousands of years. Prostitution has actually helped maintain marriages and relationships. Instead of a relationship, a purely physical transaction occurs in prostitution, a commercial exchange that does not jeopardize the emotional stability of a relationship. In Italy, for example, a visit to a prostitute does not violate the law against adultery. Many libertarian feminists consider that prostitution reflects the independence and dominance of modern women. The majority of prostitutes are women. Once the dangers of abuse from male clients and pimps are removed, the capacity of women to control the sexual response of men in a financially beneficial relationship is ... Free Essays on Prostitution Prostitution is Here; Whether You Like it or Not Suppose you are a male between the ages of 18 and 22. Your girlfriend of two years has broken up with you a few weeks ago because she was involved with another man. You have no idea what to do about the situation you are now in. You had spent practically every conscious and unconscious moment for the past 730 days with her, and now you feel betrayed because she had been cheating on you, for God knows how long. It is Friday night, a few weeks later, and this was the first time that your friends could get you out of that filthy apartment you live in. So you go out with your boys, get drunk, and talk to a few girls. Later on in the night, one of your friends, Brian, suggests getting you a couple of prostitutes to get your mind off your girlfriend. You think to yourself, what is he talking about? Prostitutes are illegal, and even if you wanted one, you would never be able to find one in Bloomsburg. Just because prostitutes are illegal and seemingly to be unheard of in rural areas like Bloomsburg, does not mean they do not exist. Prostitution has, is, and will exist- illegal or not. Everyday, women of this profession are physically beaten or mentally crushed by their pimps or clients. Sunday through Saturday, these women are at risk for sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, because they are either ashamed to go to clinics, or do not have sufficient funds to get the help they truly need. This is why prostitution should be decriminalized, everywhere. By doing this, we can keep a closer eye on this line of work; women will be less intimidated by medical doctors, less likely to stay with pimps who abuse them, and possibly a better chance at getting out of the business with enough money to start their lives over. According to the Los Angeles Times, a federal judge has denied a request to legalize prostitution in Florida, saying prostitution would have much more harmful e... Free Essays on Prostitution Prostitution is the performance of sexual acts solely for the purpose of material gain. Persons prostitute themselves when they grant sexual favors to others in exchange for money, gifts, or other payment. In legal terms, the word prostitute refers only to those who engage overtly in such sexual-economic transactions, usually for a specified sum of money. Prostitutes may be of either sex, but throughout history the majority have been women. Prostitution is said to date back as far as we can remember. In ancient Rome Street prostitutes offered services to patrons of the theater, races and gladiator contests. When contests were over, prostitutes would take the patrons to arches beneath the public buildings known as the cellae fornicae. This is where the word fornication came from, meaning sex between unmarried individuals. Through the years, prostitution remained as a means of employment for poor women. Selling sexual favors was their main hope for survival. In the beginning of the 20th century, prostitution was done in houses which many called â€Å"hoar houses†. The prostitutes lived in these homes and performed their acts their. Small red lights were used to show the houses were open and they became known as red light districts. These houses are still around in Nevada and parts of Europe. There are five different types of prostitutes. Starting from the lowest standard to the highest The first type is a street walker- this is a prostitute who sells themselves on the street. Streetwalkers usually walk through the night and but when walking through the day they usually stay in front of x-rated movie houses. After getting a customer the prostitute usually goes back to her apartment or a cheap hotel. Other places where streetwalkers sell themselves are rest areas on highways. The second type are bar prostitutes. There is usually an arrangement between the bar owner and the prostitute. The owner does this beca...

Middle Ages Weddings and Hygiene

Middle Ages Weddings and Hygiene A popular email hoax has spread all sorts of misinformation about the Middle Ages and The Bad Old Days. Here we address medieval weddings and bride hygiene. From the Hoax Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married. The Facts In the agricultural communities of medieval England, the most popular months for weddings were January, November, and October,1 when the harvest was past and the time for planting had not yet arrived. Late autumn and winter were also when animals were usually slaughtered for food, so freshly butchered beef, pork, mutton, and similar meats would be available for the wedding feast, which often coincided with annual festivals. Summer weddings, which might also coincide with annual festivals, enjoyed some popularity, as well. June was indeed a good time to take advantage of good weather and the arrival of new crops for a wedding festival, as well as fresh flowers for the ceremony and celebrations. The use of flowers in wedding ceremonies goes back to ancient times.2 Depending on the culture, flowers have numerous symbolic meanings, some of the most significant being loyalty, purity, and love. In the late fifteenth century, roses were popular in medieval Europe for their connection to romantic love and were used in many ceremonies, including weddings. As for yearly baths, the idea that medieval people rarely bathed is a ​persistent but false one. Most people washed on a regular basis. Going without washing was considered a penance even in the early Middle Ages. Soap, possibly invented by the Gauls sometime before Christ, was in widespread use throughout Europe by the end of the ninth century and made its first appearance in cake form in the twelfth century. Public bathhouses were not uncommon, although their ostensible purpose was often secondary to their clandestine use by prostitutes.3 In short, there were numerous opportunities for medieval people to cleanse their bodies. Thus, the prospect of going a full month without washing, and then appearing at her wedding with a bouquet of flowers to hide her stench, is not something a medieval bride was likely to consider any more than a modern bride would. Notes Hanawalt, Barbara, The Ties that Bound: Peasant Families in Medieval England (Oxford University Press, 1986), p. 176.garland  Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica [Accessed April 9, 2002; verified June 26, 2015.]Rossiaud, Jacques, and Cochrane, Lydia G. (translator), Medieval Prostitution (Basil Blackwell Ltd., 1988), p. 6.

Relating to video Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Relating to video - Essay Example While this particular film is able to provide an overview to the current conflicts and the complexities of the region, there is still the need to move further into the history of Jerusalem and the practice of religions that continue to dominate over the region. Historical Feedback of Film There are several balanced points with the history of the film, as well as limitations in recounting the realities of the three faiths in Jerusalem. Generally, the narrative of including the Jewish, Christian and Islamic religion into one film is one which defines an equal balance. The viewer is able to see how each of the dynamics between the religions works within the region and represents a component of life among those that are involved in Jerusalem. More important, the timing for each one, personal stories and the link to the basic history of the development of the religions is balanced. The viewer is able to get an overview of what occurred in the region as well as how this has affected others that are living in the region today. The concept of balancing the history is one which is also seen as effective in terms of relating the 4000 year history to today. The narrators are able to show how the long history can be traced back by all of the religions. This, in turn, becomes a reason behind the conflicts today. Most of the historical conflicts become ingrained with each of the generations, religious beliefs and the aspects that are associated with the region. These are combined with an understanding of how some of the central conflicts, because of their deeply rooted problems with obtaining the Holy Land, have led to continuous misunderstandings at a social, political and individual viewpoint. The video is able to interpret this specific understanding of history clearly and effectively. This specific balance then gives the viewer a general insight into the complexities of both history and the current day conflicts that are a part of the region. While there is a balance fro m this perspective in terms of the historical feedback, there are also several elements that limit what is told from all three perspectives. The first type of imbalance is from the timing of the video. This doesn’t provide in – depth insight into the historical findings, different interpretations and other livelihoods of what has occurred within all three religions. Instead, it skims the surface of what is occurring and creates a generalized dynamic about the specific region. When one moves into the deeper history of Jerusalem or looks at other aspects or perspectives, different pieces of information may be found that are either contradictory or which provide further insight outside of what the film offers. The imbalance between stories continues with the perspective which is taken in terms of the audience. The historical component is to look at how the 4000 year old history has affected Jerusalem and created roots of conflict in the city. This is followed by the persp ectives which show the deeply rooted opinions and behaviors of those who are in the city. The movement into the roots and the examination of how the ideals are today leads to a gap in the history. There is an understanding of what has occurred in the beginning and how this has changed today. However, there are other layers of history

Physics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Physics - Essay Example With relation to topic of World, physics encompasses essentially all of nature including the laws and properties of matter and the forces acting upon them. Especially the causes, that modify the general properties of bodies, like light, magnetism, electricity, quantum effects, gravity etc. Physics studies every motion, from objects as small as neutrons to as massive as planets. It also studies the forces, and the interactions between bodies. It is the study of the most fundamental interactions between time, space, energy and matter. "We have sought for firm ground and found none. The deeper we penetrate, the more restless becomes the universe, all is rushing about and vibrating in a wild dance."(Max Born) Physics answers these and many such questions. Let us consider our last question, we often wonder why an object in motion stops suddenly, it is due to the Frictional force. There are many things in this world that makes the presence of Friction felt. For example, when we try to push a table across a room, we experience a resisting force which makes our work much more difficult, and this is the frictional force. It is a well known phenomenon in the universe that any bod... . Physics answers these and many such questions. Let us consider our last question, we often wonder why an object in motion stops suddenly, it is due to the Frictional force. There are many things in this world that makes the presence of Friction felt. For example, when we try to push a table across a room, we experience a resisting force which makes our work much more difficult, and this is the frictional force. FRICTION: It is a well known phenomenon in the universe that any body which is in state of motion on any plane, left to itself automatically comes to rest after traveling through some distance, this is due to Friction. It is the resistive force acting between bodies that tends to oppose and damp out motion. Types of friction: 1. Static friction 2. Kinetic/dynamic friction 3. Rolling Friction Static friction: The Static force of friction ( fs ) is the force of friction between two objects when there is no motion. Consider a block' B' which is resting on a horizontal table. Let a small pan be attached the block by means of a horizontal thread passing over a smooth frictionless pulley. When the weight in the pan is less, the block does not move because the pulling force or applied force' p' is balanced by the frictional force' f' which is called static friction.. If the weight in the pan increases further then the block tends to slide over the surface. At this stage the force of friction also reaches a maximum value called limited friction. Thus the maximum or limiting value of force of friction that comes into play when the body just begins to slide over the surface of another body is known as Limiting Friction. Dynamic Friction or Kinetic Friction: The Kinetic force of friction ( fk ) is the force of friction between two objects

International Accounting Standard 19, Employee Benefits Research Paper

International Accounting Standard 19, Employee Benefits - Research Paper Example This paper will also focus on how to improve the financial reporting regarding the pension benefits and identify the main problems in the current financial reporting system for pension. IAS has issued several directives on employee benefits. Employee benefits can be subdivided into short term, long term, post-employment and termination benefits. The new IAS 19 is a great achievement because it offers many advantages to the employees. On the other hand, it also suffers from certain disadvantages, which can be mitigated in due course of time with suitable amendments. Roadmap: The paper first deals with the IAS 19 frameworks and explains the standards of IAS 19 relating to employee benefits. IAS 19 is the framework for evaluating the employee benefits. Then the paper takes up the controversies in IAS 19 standards relating to various schemes especially pension related issues. The next discussion segment in the paper is the old IAS 19 standards and the latest IAS 19 standards. The last di scussion segment is the latest amendments made in the IAS 19 standards. The papers dwell not only on the latest amendments but also such amendments which have been proposed to be implemented. All specific points relating to the IAS 19 have been stated considered in the paper. Evidences taken to support the ideas projected in the paper have been provided as references. Lastly, appropriate conclusions have been drawn and stated in the paper. Subheadings with specific points supported by evidence The IAS 19 framework: Under the wide term of IAS 19 come all employee benefits which include short term, long term, post employment, retirement, termination and compensation benefits. The short term employee benefits can be categorized as salary and bonus payments, paid and unpaid leaves and other short term non monetary benefits like medical and housing facility etc. The long term benefits include the employee’s long term leave and service benefits. The main aspect in IAS 19 is the pos t employment benefit section or to be more specific, the subject of pension. IAS 19 is the direction provider to post employment and post retirement benefits and pension benefit is one of the most important post employment benefits. Controversies in IAS 19: IAS 19 became a controversial standard and one of the main reasons for this was that the accounting standard for pension was not correctly adhered to. IAS 19 is an accounting standard which covers the reporting of all employee benefits and the most debated topic is the discussion on pensions, especially the employer sponsored, defined benefit pension plans. Pension plans can basically be divided into two categories. It can either be a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. In the defined contribution plan the employer has to bear a lot of expenses because the unfunded benefits are usually recorded as a liability in the balance sheet. â€Å"Under IAS 19 recommendations, unfunded benefits are to be recorded, as a general rule, as liabilities in the balance sheet of the sponsoring employer. In defined contribution plans, the employer’s annual contribution under the terms of the occupational plan should be recognized as an expense.† (Yermo& Stewart, 2007, P.48). IAS 19 has been subjected to several amendments but still organizations have been incurring high losses due to several reasons. IAS 19 has

The impact of the life course in health and social care

The impact of the life course in health and social care Drawing on the concepts you have studied in Block1, critically reflect on the ways in which your own life course has affected how you work in, or use, health and social care. In this essay I will look at the life course perspective, and how it has provided me with an essential tool to offer a more personalised service. I will describe how my own life course and ‘Biographical Disruption (Bury 1982) has changed the person I am beyond the expectations I had of my presumed journey, and how it has impacted on my practice. Where it has proved to be a strength or a weakness, and how it has made me more sensitive to people’s needs and behaviour. I will look at how my personal values have been shaped and influenced by my life course, and discuss possible ethical conflicts. I will start off explaining the concept of life course using the five principles discussed by Bengtson et al. (2005). Recognising the course that people’s lives take is relatively new to study and research. Until relatively recently the understanding of human development was based on the life cycle approach, one of the oldest accounts of how life’s and families are organised over time (Bengtson, et al 2005, p.9). The approach is based on the idea that people’s lives go through a series of relatively predictable and chronological stages and transitions from birth to death, providing insight in peoples changing roles and identities in relation to landmark occasions such as coming of age, marriage, childbirth and old age. From the 1960’s onwards the life cycle approach began to incorporate psychological elements, which considered the relationship between an individual’s inner world, and the social context in which they live. This idea of considering the whole of a person’s life as offering opportunities for development and change (Crawford and Walker p.2) is re ferred to in literature as life –span development (Sugarman, L. 1986, p.3) or the life-span perspective (Baltes, P. 1987, p.3). At the same time these approaches began to merge with the idea that age and ageing is not only related to a chronological stage in human development, but also to subjective experiences between the individuals own construction of their life course, and social constructions such as schools, labour markets and normative pathways. Ageing is a lifelong process, in general common to all of us, but throughout our journey from birth to death, events can be imposed upon us from which we may have to make decisions and choices that change the path of our life course. Timing is often unexpected and change may not happen at a time we would have chosen it to; this not only impacts upon our own life and future but on those we are linked with. understanding my own life course also supports me professionally working in social care, Crawford and Walker (2003, p.2) point out that social work practice involves interactions between people, which are influenced by each person’s life course, their e xperiences and perceptions about their own life, emphasising the quality of these personal relationships between service users, their families, carers and professionals. In order to understand the impact human development and life events have on individuals I need to have a critical, reflective understanding of how my own life course has shaped me, my behaviour and influenced my beliefs and values. This will enable me to engage with people better, respond more sensitively to people’s experiences and needs and explain why people don’t always act in ways that appear to be in their best interests (K319, Learning Guide 3, 2013). My self-perception and my values and beliefs are very much shaped by my own life courses’ significant events, experiences and transitions, such as growing up in a very large family in the seventies, being a divorced woman with young children and being a main carer for my terminally ill mum. Bengtson et al (2005) identifies five principles that are essential to the life course perspective. First there is the principle of linked lives, which emphasizes on the fact that people’s life courses are interdependent with others, especially relevant in the context of families. Having grown up in a very large family my life has been linked to my siblings and parents, so when my dad fell seriously ill, and never recovered enough to ever return to work, and he needed almost constant supervision and support. The impact on all the family was life changing, my siblings that still lived at home had to find jobs to help the household finances, and they all feel this event ended their childhood. I was 10 years old I was taken to live with my eldest brother and his family. This felt very strange and I remember feeling afraid I would not see my parents again. It was thought that I was too young to understand what was happening so I was never told how ill my dad was, I was never allowed to visit him in hospital, and he was there for a full year. I was just told to be good and not ma ke a fuss. I then stayed for short periods of time with my grown up siblings and extended family, this went on for many months , living a very transient existents and not staying in one place long enough to develop friendships with children my own age. Looking back from my adult self, I can now relate to my difficulties in developing long term relationships and poor self-esteem. On the positive side I was able to develop a lifelong close relationship with a maiden aunt which looking back I don’t feel would have happened if I had stayed in the family home over that period. Secondly there is the principle of historical time and place, â€Å"emphasising the importance of social and historical context in shaping individual lives† (Bengston et al, 2005 p11). This is discussed as how events such as wars, trauma, depression or a period of prosperity affects our lives, Impacting on the life courses of all generations living in that particular time and place. My dad’s illness in the seventies meant he could no longer work and provide for his family, so from being a provider he became cared for, which changed the whole dynamic of the family structure. He also had to rely on sickness benefit, which in the seventies welfare system was very difficult to get and the financial support was very low. This impacted on all the family. We were poor prior to his illness but this plunged us further into poverty. This had a negative effect on us all, but for me at a time when I was just about to start secondary school I felt the stigma of being subjectively po or. I spent many difficult days in school feeling marginalised and bullied by my peers, because I didn’t have nice clothes and had to have free school dinners, at that time children on free dinners had to queue in different lines, this compounded the feelings of inferiority. My mum did her best, and managed to get some part time work alongside her being the main carer for dad, and mother to her children. Looking back, I realise my mum must have been a very strong person to cope with the situation she found herself in, she instilled a strong work ethic into her children, believing hard work would bring rewards. She influenced me with her single minded determination, like Enid with her mother (k319, Learning Guide 3 Audio 3.1). With hindsight this period of my life forced me to become more independent as I had to fend for myself a lot, it also provide me with a valuable lesson in managing on very little money. This benefitted me when I was a single parent following a divorce I was able to budget with a small income. The next principle considers â€Å"the timing of significant life transitions and whether they fit well with cultural expectations of when things should happen† (K319, Learning Guide 3, Activity 3.1). I came into my career as a result of two biographical disruptions in my life. First I was divorced in my mid-twenties and needed to get work to support my children. Then my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I became her carer. I was able to get part time paid work as a home care assistant through social care, I found I could transfer the skills I had used as a carer and the training I received helped me to support my mum better. I discovered I had very good people skills and enjoyed supporting older people to stay independent. Even later in my life I commenced my social work degree studies in contradiction to society’s view of what is ‘normal’. As with Mike, the case study in Learning Guide 3, Activity 3.5, I had concerns that studying as a mature stu dent would lead to ‘sub-normative’ feelings of being different but on reflection my life skills and experiences have enriched my learning experience. The fourth principle considers the control most people have over their own lives and â€Å"they make choice about what to do and have plans for the future† (K319, Learning Guide 3, Activity 3.1). Although I did not have any influence on my upbringing and not a large amount over my divorce. My experiences have provided me with the power and choice over my future which included a career in social care. I feel my life experience has made me aware of understanding everyone has past life events that impact on their current life. So when I am working with service users and planning for social work interventions, having an understanding of the potential of disruptions such as illness, and other life changes can be major turning point in their lives, and can help people see how they can become an opportunity for them to make changes (agency) in their lives. As in the story of Doireann and Iskender (K319 Learning Guide 3, Audio 3.7), where Iskender’s heart attack became a turnin g point in both his and Doireann’s life. Finally the fifth principle that affirms that ageing is relevant to both the young and old, and development is not exclusive to younger people and children. Our lives are fluid as we travel our life course and we continue to change and develop whatever age we are. My life is still developing and changing as I age, in the sense that I am developing my academic skills, and my experience of caring for my mum throughout her terminal illness and the impact this had on my life. The life cycle assumed that people would have a ‘normative life course’ (K319 Learning guide 3, Activity 3.5).That is to say people will have a life that is expected to be desirable and virtuous by society that is free from problems. Whereas a person with a â€Å"non-normative life course† is often considered to be judged and having to justify and explain their lifestyle. As a divorced woman in my mid-twenties, with two young children, which was not the normal status in the social groups I mixed in, this resulted in me feeling ‘different’ and stigmatised. I felt I had to explain my single status and felt I was seen as a threat to my married friends. I felt I had failed both myself and my children and was worried my children would feel as I did as a child, being bullied for not having a normal childhood. These feelings gave me insight into the lives of others with ‘non-normative’ life courses, whether due to their sexuality or life style c hoices.it has also made me question as a social care provider, does that service user feel as I did, and feel I am judging them therefore they have to explain themselves?. My own experiences of feeling ‘different’ has made me sensitive to the feelings and needs of those who society judges as non-normative, in comparison to people who follow the expected ‘norms’ and pathways we are expected to take. My own life course was in my early childhood a non- normative course, due to the biographical disruption of my dad falling ill and resulted in me having an unconventional childhood. As I grew into adulthood my life course was comparable to the life cycle in that it had proceeded in a socially accepted pattern within a presumed time span which Giele and Elder (1998) described as â€Å"a sequence of socially defined events and roles that the individual enacts over time.† My early adult life followed a life that was considered ‘normative’, I was following the cycle of â€Å"completing formal education, working, forming relationships, marrying and having children†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (K319 Learning Guide 3, Activity 3.3).I did not predict that in my mid-twenties my life would suffer more biographical disruption that would have a huge impact on me, my family and lead into a future I would not have predicted. Bury (2012) describes biographical disruption to be a negative experience but I would disagree with that in relation to my own experience so far as a career in social care is concerned. If I had stayed married and my mum had not got ill, I am sure I would not have followed this path and likely I would have had a very different life now. However I had not consciously thought about entering into the social work profession, I presumed my entry into social care was the result of events that has steered me in the direction of this profession and opportunities that have presented themselves to me i.e. I was in the right place at the right time. Having read ‘Life experience: A neglected form of knowledge in social work education and practice, by Christie et al 1998,I am inclined to agree that my career choice has not been a coincidence but a choice I have made based on the knowledge I have acquired as a result of my life experiences. I am able to draw on my experiences as a knowledge base for my practice alongside the ever developing knowledge I am gaining from my studies. However, I do not â€Å"persist in viewing social work as the profession effective in bringing about social change† (Christie et al 1998). I feel my role is to support others in bringing about their own change, as I have been able to do. How ever I am mindful that the experiences I draw on in my practice are my personal experiences and are owned by me, and others experiences are exclusive to them. I am aware that my knowledge within in my work is limited to my own personal experiences and my personal feelings could influence my approach to service users and the decisions I make in my assessments of them. In conclusion the article from Christie and Weeks has in fact made me question my theory that I did not choose social work as a profession purposefully; perhaps my life experiences have directed rather than influenced my choice to be a social worker, †my own working class background, marriage difficulties, poverty, powerlessness, has influenced me strongly† (Christie el at 1998).This assignment has shown that our life course is an unpredictable path that we follow; it is constantly being reshaped from what we have imagined our life path to follow, by the events that take place around us. But although it presents us with many situations that are out of our control that impact upon us. The understanding of our life course gives us the strength to move forward in our lives, it also presents us with choice and power and positivity to look forward to the future. And as Winston Churchill says â€Å"the farther backwards you can look, the farther forward you are likely to seeâ €  (Churchill circa 1941) Word count 2601 References Baltes, P. (1987) in Crawford, K. and Walker, J. (2003) Social Work and Human Development, Exeter, Learning Matters Ltd. Bengtson, V. L., et al. (2005) ‘The lifecourse perspective on ageing: linked lives, timing and history’ in Katz, J., Peace, S. and Spurr, S. (ed) Adult Lives; A life course perspective, Bristol, Policy press/Milton Keynes, The Open University. Bury, M. (1982) ‘Chronic illness as biographical disruption’ in Katz, J. Peace, S. and Spurr’ S(eds)Adult Lives: A life course perspective, Bristol, Policy press/Milton Keynes, The Open University. Christie, A Weeks J (1998): Life experience: A neglected form of knowledge in social work education and practice: Social work in Action. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09503159808411477 (accessed 25 November 2013) Crawford, K. and Walker, J. (2003) Social Work and Human Development, Exeter, Learning Matters Ltd. Hareven, T. K. (1982) in Hutchinson, E. (2011) Dimensions of Human Behaviour ; The Changing Life Course, London, Sage Publications. Hutchinson, E. (2011) Dimensions of Human Behaviour; The Changing Life Course, London, Sage Publications. National Churchill Museum: Miscellaneous Wit and Wisdom http://www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org/wit-wisdom-quotes.html (assessed 25 November 2013) Phillips, D. (2006) ‘Quality of Life’ in in Katz, J., Peace, S. and Spurr, S. (ed) Adult Lives; A life course perspective, Bristol Policy press/Milton Keynes, The Open University. Sugarman, L. (1986) in Crawford, K. and Walker, J. (2003) Social Work and Human Development, Exeter, Learning Matters Ltd. The Open University, (2013), ‘Learning Guide 3.1 The life course perspective’, K319 Block 1 Approaches to adulthood and ageing, [online] available at http://www.learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=255389 (Accessed 23 November 2013) The Open University, (2013), ‘Learning Guide 3.5 ‘unusual life course’, K319 Block 1 Approaches to adulthood and ageing, [online] available at https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=255389 (Accessed 23 November 2013) The Open University (2013) ‘Learning Guide 3: Introduction’, K319 Block 1 [Online]. Available at https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=255389 (accessed 23 November 2013). The Open University (2013) ‘I Think I’m still working through it’ [Audio], ‘Learning Guide 3.3: Biographical Disruption’, K319 Block1 [Online]. Available at https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=255389section=3 (accessed 26 November 2013). Page 1 of 8