Wednesday, November 27, 2019

How do ethnic minority married women compare their life in the UK to the life they had in their own country

Aim and Objectives of the Study The main objective of this paper is to evaluate how the quality of life of married minority women in the United Kingdom compares to their life before migrating to the country. Other objectives of the paper will include:Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on How do ethnic minority married women compare their life in the UK to the life they had in their own country? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Factors that have led to a change in their lives in the UK The role of marriage in changing their life in the UK Role of gender equity programs in influencing the life of ethnic minority women in the UK The influence of race relations in their lives in the UK Literature review Before doing any analysis on the status of ethnic minority married migrant women in the UK, the paper will carry out an overview of what the situation of ethnic and migrant women in the country is. The Women and Equality Unit (2004, p 2) asserts that there is a discrepancy skewed to whites favor when it comes to job attainment. According to Dustmann Theodoropoulos (2006), the largest minority migrant groups in the UK include Black Caribbean, Black African, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Chinese. The Fawcett Society (2005, p 1) released a report in 2005 with statistics that painted a not so rosy picture. According to the report, ethnic minority women form only 0.3 Percent of Parliament despite making up to 4% of the population. The report adds that public sectors like the police force, the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords were also underrepresented by ethnic minority women. Ethnic minority women from south East Asia had a high rate of self murder; almost double that of the general population. This fact points to probable high rates of stress among the group. The report added that on average, white men were likely to earn 56% more than Bangladeshi and Pakistani women. The Guardia n Newspaper carried part of the Fawcett report in 2005 and asserted that â€Å"Black and minority women were poorer, less healthy, less educated and significantly less represented in politics, power compared to white women and the general UK population† (Ward, 2005, p 1). Quoting the Fawcett Society, the paper reported that explicit inequalities exist among Black and minority women. In health, ethnic minority women from Pakistan and Bangladesh were disadvantaged since their babies had almost half the chance of surviving compared to those of whites.Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The paper will also analyze the success rates of the immigrant ethnic minority women. According to Dustman Fabbri (2005) of the Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration, â€Å"white female immigrants and their husbands record higher success rate compared to native born white women when earnings are taken into account† (p.2). The CRAM research on the other hand shows that â€Å"minority women and their husband are less successful especially on the lower end of their husband’s distribution of economic potential† (p. 2). CRAM blames low employment for both genders for their low ranking hence low earnings that intensify at the household level. Another area that is indicative of the status of migrant minority women and that the paper will focus on is employment. In 2005 for instance, the employment rate of ethnic minority immigrants was 47%. Additionally, ethnic minority females were found to work the longest at an average of 33 hours compared to 29 hours white females. The research also found out that immigrant white women did better than non-white immigrants. For instance, the employment rate of white immigrant women stood at 64% while their average weekly working hours stood at 31 (Dustmann Francesca 2005). From the above reports, it is ev ident that minority women in the UK lead a less fulfilling life compared to white women. The situation is compounded when one is an immigrant because of the difficulties immigrants encounter in securing employment. It is therefore safe to conclude that most of the minority immigrant women who get married in the UK are likely not to have the same level of life that their white counterparts have. However, considering the fact that these women get married here in the UK to British husbands or citizens, their lives change a little for the better compared to the ones they were leading in their home countries. Finally, the most important part that the paper will focus on is the comparison between the lives that these minority immigrant women led in their home countries and in the UK. According to Christel (2006) access to jobs, welfare state, labor market and institutional support for women determine the success of women immigrants in Europe especially Britain and Sweden (P. 740).Advertis ing We will write a custom research paper sample on How do ethnic minority married women compare their life in the UK to the life they had in their own country? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The author further adds that UK does better in joblessness gaps among married immigrant women than Sweden. Further Christel reports that immigrant women in Britain who have long settled tend to have same level of living like that of natives compared to newcomers (Christel 2006, P.741). According to Christel therefore, migrant minority women tend to have better life in the UK compared to the ones they were leading in their native countries. Outline of study design and methodology A study will be carried out to collect data on the life immigrant minority women and how their lives have changed when married in the UK. Quantitative methods of data collection in the form of a sampling will be employed in the study. A random sample of minority im migrant married women will be chosen from among the population from whom information relating to the subject of study will be collected. The respondents will be administered with questionnaires containing questions that touch on every aspect that would have changed after their marriages in the UK. The questionnaires will also consist of open and closed questions to ensure qualitative data is also captured in the study. Given the complexity of obtaining qualified and willing participants, the help of the immigration department will be required. With the necessary permission, the researchers will obtain the addresses of the minority women who match the qualification criteria. An invitation will be sent to them and those willing will to participate. The study will be seeking a sample of 550 minority immigrant married women as respondents. The questionnaires will be sent electronically to the respondents with clear instructions to respond truthfully to all questions. For credibility pur poses, the survey will be aiming to obtain at least 400 responses. The results will be analyzed and compared to already existing studies from Non Governmental Organizations, the government and the media. Ethical considerations The study will abide by the following ethical considerations:Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Consent All participation in the study will be on voluntary basis. No respondent will be coerced to participate in the study or give information that he/she does not want. Their consent will first be sought before study of any kind commences. To that effect, they will be required to sign an agreement that they will participate in the study willingly and their participation therefore means that the information they give will be used in the study. The questionnaire will inform them that they wont be required to answer all questions if they so wish. Withdrawal The agreement the respondents will sign, will not be binding at all. All respondents will be informed that they can withdraw from the study at any time. They can do so by disregarding the questionnaire sent to them. They can also do so even after they have filled the questionnaire by informing the leader of the research team through the contacts that will be given. Confidentiality The questionnaire and the consent agreement that they will sign will inform them that the information they give will be purely confidential and will be used for study purposes. Respondents will not be required to reveal their names on the questionnaire in order to ensure anonymity hence enhance confidentiality. Study sample The sample will constitute 550 respondents who will be randomly chosen through the assistance of the immigration department. The questionnaire will be sent electronically to the willing participants. The study is targeting a response rate of 400 to give credibility to the results. Study materials Numerous study materials will be needed for the research, however only electronic questionnaires will be used to collect evidence. It will also use computers for purposes of administering the questioners and also for analysis of the collected data. Additionally, the study will use telephones for communication with respondents but only where necessary. References Christel, K. (2006) Social Policy and Immigrant Joblessne ss in Britain, Germany and Sweden. Social Forces – Vol 85, 2, Dec 2006, pp. 743-770 Dustmann, C. Fabbri, F. (2005) Gender and Ethnicity-Married immigrants in Britain. Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration. Department of Economics. London: University College London. Dustmann, C. Theodoropoulos, N. (2006) Ethnic Minority Immigrants and their Children in Britain. Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration. Department of Economics. London: University College London. Fawcett Society. (2005) ‘Facts on ethnic minority women’. Web. Available on  https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/ . Ward, L. (2005) ‘Ethnic minority women face ‘massive inequalities’.’ The Guardian. Nd. 9th May, 2011, p1. Women Equality Unit. (2004) Individual Incomes of Men and Women by Ethnicity. Department of Trade and Industry. Nd This research paper on How do ethnic minority married women compare their life in the UK to the life they had in their own country? was written and submitted by user Callen Dale to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Binge Drinking Among College Students

Binge Drinking Among College Students Free Online Research Papers Introduction Many studies have shown that the age of onset of heavy drinking has been strongly linked to the formation of harmful drinking habits later in life (Berkowitz, 1990; Glassman, 2010). The increased levels of binge drinking and alcohol abuse reported among university students within one year of entering college may possibly point to increases in alcohol-related public health issues in the future (Kim, Chan, Chow, Fung, Cheuk, Griffiths, 2009). Research and theory have provided pertinent information about binge drinking and how prevalent the issue is among college students. Binge drinking among college students has been identified as the number one threat to campus life (Wheeler, 2009). College students today are drinking more frequently and in greater amounts than ever before (The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, 2007). Dangerous amounts of alcohol consumption are simply not safe, and will most likely produce negative outcomes. The p urpose of this paper is to discuss how binge drinking is defined and measured. It will also review several studies on binge drinking and how it correlates with college students. Additionally, original research was conducted to examine the binge drinking trends of Texas State University Students. Literature Review Operationalizing â€Å"Binge Drinking† Conventionally, the criteria for assessing high-risk drinking includes: five or more drinks for males and four or more drinks for women during one sitting, event, or occasion within the previous two weeks (Glassman, 2010). Although, some research simply states five or more drinks in one sitting, which does not include the gender variable. Also, asking respondents to recall specific time frames from a night of heavy drinking may also compromise the validity of research data. Further, the five or more/four or more drinking criterion does not adequately assess the intoxication levels or more extreme levels of alcohol consumption (Glassman, 2010). Yet, others in the field recognize that men metabolize alcohol more efficiently than women and distinctions should be accounted for when measuring this behavior. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) National Advisory Council attempted to clarify the issue by defining a binge as: a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 gram percent or above. For the typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming 5 or more drinks (male) or 4 or more drinks (female) in about 2 hours† (National Institute on Alcohol and Abuse, 2004, p. 357). Prevalence of Binge Drinking Data from multiple surveys indicate that the majority of college students consume alcohol (Presley, Meilman, Lyerla, 1994). College students drink more frequently and in greater numbers than their peers who do not attend college (Johnston, O’Malley, Bachman, 1997). Defined as five consecutive drinks for men and four consecutive drinks for women within a two-week period, binge drinking occurs among 44% of college students, which has remained constant over time (Glassman, 2010). On average, college students consume 9.6 drinks per week. White, Kraus Swatzwelder (2006) conducted surveys at a moderate-sized state university in the northeast United States via flyers, announcements, and a web site maintained by the Psychology Department. Participants completed the anonymous surveys in exchange for credit toward completion of a research-participation requirement for introductory psychology courses. The results showed that 41% of males and 34% of females consume alcohol at or a bove the binge drink threshold. Many different environmental and social factors can influence a college students’ behavior. For example, the presence of a Greek system, student involvement in athletics, students’ residence (dorm or apartment), size of the university, alcohol outlet density and alcohol prices are all variables that can influence decisions of a student (Wheeler, 2009). Research indicates that when college students drink at these levels, their risk for alcohol related consequences increases significantly and suggest that the term â€Å"binge† is justified based on scientific evidence (Glassman, 2010). According to the Harvard School of Public Health College Study, which was conducted on 89% of the first year entrants of college, 53% of all alcohol-related injuries occurred from people who consumed one to five drinks, whereas 21% occurred from those who consumed eight or more drinks. This data was gathered from anonymous questionnaires that were sent to all students prior to the fall semester registration. Also, there is almost universal agreement among college administration and health professionals that alcohol abuse is the most widespread recreational drug used by college students, and that binge drinking is a major health problem (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 1995). Faced with this issue, and no apparent immediat e solution, in the summer of 2008, 200 college presidents proposed that lawmakers consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18 years. Their efforts were dubbed the Amethyst Initiative, an idea based on the assumption that the current laws and prohibitions against drinking may actually be encouraging students to binge drink (Deas Clark, 2009). Most literature gives little evidence that lowering the drinking age will solve the binge drinking problem. However, there is considerable evidence that this action may actually intensify the issue. For example, high school students 18 years old and younger seem to be keeping pace with college peers in terms of alcohol consumption. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2004), 62% of tenth graders and 72% of twelfth graders have used alcohol and 41% of tenth graders and 55% of twelfth graders have been drunk. Also, 65% of college students who drink alcohol began drinking in high school and only 13% of college students began drinking after entering college. This data was collected from a study that was conducted in two stages. The first stage selected 148 institutions, half two-year and half four-year, with probability proportional to undergraduate enrollment. The second stage randomly sampled undergraduates in the 136 institutions that chose to participate, targeti ng 72 students from each two-year school and 56 from each four-year school. The questionnaire was mailed to 7,442 students for self-administration and completed by 4,814 (The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 2007). Finally, lowering the drinking age seems to negate research on neurobiological development. The data suggests that cognitive functions, such as impulse control and decision making, are still developing into early adulthood (Wheeler, 2009). During this period of critical development major regions of the young adult’s brain is at risk due to the neurotoxin effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Obviously, a better alternative to lowering the drinking age is to increase research efforts designed to give a better understanding of why so many students engage in such self-destructing behavior. In seeking some answers to some of these questions, researchers have conducted studies on the motive and expectations underlying excessive drinking in the college population. Some believe that college students just do not see an issue with binge drinking. This may be because students tend to identify hangovers as the most serious consequence of excessive drinking. Others suggest that students drink in order to obtain valued outcomes or as a means of coping with stress (Crundell, 1995). Berkowitz (1990) insists that the satisfaction of social needs and peer influence are the most important factors leading to binge drinking. Research on peer influence has shown that individuals who have friends who drink are more likely to begin drinking, and that individuals who binge drink are likely to have friends who drink (Wheeler, 2009). Duncan, Biosjoly, Kremer, Levy Eccles (2005) state, â€Å" as long as individuals are free to choose their friends, it is possible that someone’s substance abuse behavior or personal characteristics associated with substance abuse are affecting his or her choice of peer group† (p. 376). According to Wheeler (2009), young adults are the heaviest drinkers in the United States. College students drink more often and in heavier amounts than people who do not attend college. This seems consistent with Crundall’s (1995) notion that alcohol consumption is a major part of the culture of college life, a so-called rite of passage into adulthood. Drinking alcohol is typically perceived by most students as part of the college experience. The college culture undoubtedly plays a role in student drinking, but some researchers may have exaggerated its effects. As Wheeler (2009) reports, â€Å"While the heaviest drinkers are at greater risk for harm, they are relatively few and generate proportionally small amounts of all drinking harms† (p. 174). This idea is supported by Weschler, Lee, Kuo, Seibring, Nelson Lee (2002), who used factor analyses and IRT analyses while conducting their studies, found that the top 17% of students in a sample of 353 undergraduate drinkers who drink alcohol heavily and frequently, consume 68% of the alcohol drank by college students. There also other shortcomings associated with the traditional high-risk drinking measure. Glassman (2010) proposes combing the five/four drinking measure with the frequency of engaging in the behavior (3 or more times in a one week period), a term he describes as â€Å"heavy and frequent† (Glassman, 2010). The research indicates that this group is most at risk for experiencing the negative consequences associated with alcohol use. Another area in which specialized research is needed involves event-specific drinking occasions among college students. For example, on a college football game day, drinking alcohol takes place for an extended period of time (usually before, during, and after a game). For these types of events, the term, â€Å"Extreme Ritualistic Alcohol Consumption† (ERAC) was created. ERAC, defined as consuming 10 or more drinks in a day by males, and 8 or more drinks for a female, constitutes an event or context-specific drinking pattern in which peopl e drink more than they would under normal circumstances (Deas et al., 2009). Methods Secondary data was used during the original research of the binge drinking trends of Texas State University students. Information was gathered in Spring of 2009, as part of a Research Methods in Criminal Justice course at Texas State University. Convenience sampling was used, which means that the sample group in the study was comprised of TSU students who were, basically, given the surveys at the convenience of the researcher. The surveyed students were anonymous, meaning there is no possible way to link the answers to any one survey to any specific student. They surveys, which were IRB approved by Texas State University, were self-administered by the students. Overall, the ending sample size was 146 Texas State students, which may limit the data due to the low number. This small sample size may not be completely representative of the Texas State University population. The survey questions vary in type, but the data gathered portrays an accurate depiction of the studentsâ€℠¢ binge drinking habits. The survey consists of 74 questions total, 11 personal drinking behavior questions, 14 binge drinking questions, 11 questions covering the survey taker’s attitude towards drinking, 9 background questions, 5 demographic questions, and 23 personal attitudes and behaviors. The possible answers varied from simply â€Å"Yes or No† to Gottfredson and Hirshi’s Low Self-Control Scale (Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree). Results The sample size of this study was 146 Texas State University students. The majority of the sample, 58%, was Caucasian. Another 29% were Hispanic. The remaining 13% were another race. The sample consisted of 45% male participants and 55% female participants. The majority of the sample was 21 years and older (70%). Of these participants, only 26% are Criminal Justice majors. Juniors and Seniors represented most of the sample size (74%) of the sample, as opposed to only 26% Freshman and Sophomores. Surprisingly, only 11% of the sample stated they were a member of a traditional fraternity or sorority, and only 17% indicated they were an athlete at the university. For the purpose of this paper, fiver questions from the survey were selected, and those results were analyzed. Twenty-four percent of the surveyed students indicated they have attended school while drunk. Additionally, 80% of the participants admitted to binge drinking at a house party at some point. Only 29% of the sample indicated they have engaged in sexual intercourse after binge drinking and later regretted it. Thirty-five percent of the surveyed students have blacked out (become unconscious after consuming a large amount of alcohol) due to binge drinking. Finally, 61% of the sample did not believe the drinking age should be lowered to 18 years. The questions were also analyzed by the demographic, sex. It was found males were significantly more likely than females to attend class while drunk, binge drink at a house party, have sex with someone after binge drinking and later regret it, and black out after binge drinking (p

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Criminal defence of provocation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Criminal defence of provocation - Essay Example A proposed bill however is pending in Parliament which seeks to remedy the ills of the law. Called the Coroner and Justice Bill, the proposed law is set to abolish provocation as a partial defence and introduce the ‘loss of control’ law in its lieu, using more stringent and specific language that will hopefully narrow down the application of the law and remove the hindrance to a more just application of the partial defence. The doctrine of provocation is a common law doctrine, which has been altered by the statutory law. As embodied in the Homicide Act of 1957, the doctrine works to serve as a mitigating factor in the crime of murder. Section 3 of the said Act specifically delegates the task of determining its existence to the jury in murder cases. Thus: There are, therefore, two things that a jury must do relative to the above provision: determine whether the defendant acted out of loss of self-control, and; whether a reasonable man would have similarly acted as the offender. The case of R v Camplin [1978] 2 All ER defined a reasonable man as â€Å"a person having the power of self-control, to be expected of an ordinary person of the same age and sex as the accused, but in other aspects sharing such of the accused’s characteristics as they think would affect the gravity of the provocation to him† (qtd Slapper & Kelly pp 108-109). The doctrine of provocation acts as a partial defence, which if successful results in partial responsibility or in simple terms, reduces murder to manslaughter. The doctrine is not applicable to any other kind of offense (Ashworth & Mitchell pp 72-73). Provocation is raised by the defence and the judge himself directs the jury to consider the element. The judge has to determine first the acts done or words uttered that directly affected the defendant’s self-control and provoked him/ her to kill (Stone 68). In the case of R v Cocker [1989] Crim LR 740, for