Conceptual Framework For Research Sociology Essay

Conceptual Framework For Research Sociology Essay ABSTRACT This study focuses on the empowerment of women through various programmes and schemes in the region, country and across the world sponsored and supported by Government or non Government Organizations. This article consists of review of literature on womens empowerment through various programmes. Womens empowerment is an age old concept spotlighting improving the economic status of women and thorough participation for the development of economy. Existing historical data and status of various programmes provides better scenario for stepping in upward direction. Here the study emphasizes from the concept of women empowerment to the empirical evidences taken from various analysis, past surveys, Government Reports and literature available on it. Main aim of reviewing womens empowerment practices bring together the aspect of viewed and neglected parts of empowering women which fulfils the need of implementation of schemes, reach at them in a proper manner after covering the lacking parts. Keywords: Empowerment, Women, Programmes, Conceptual, Empirical INTRODUCTION Empowerment of women is not only limited till the term empowerment applies to the women or special group of women in particular area but also it means to develop them in all dimensions. Here the main concern towards development of women. Study starts not only from that there is strong need for womens empowerment today but why they need empowerment first. Answer of this could be sometime conflicting if there is one suppressed group, really need empowerment whether this could be men or women. A framework for the study based on the ideas and concepts gleaned from existing literature helps a researcher to plan and manage research in a comprehensive manner. Existing literature also helps to know the previous research work done in particular expanse and it acts like a torch as well as backbone for new studies for new researchers. All the researches are exploratory in nature as these carried out in ever-changing environment. Here an attempt is made to put some of the closely related literature review under two major heads. Conceptual framework for Research Empirical framework for Research Conceptual framework for Research In Conceptual framework for research, problem statement can be casted within the context of conceptual or theoretical framework. A conceptual framework is described as a set of broad ideas and principles taken from relevant fields of enquiry and used to structure a subsequent presentation (Reichel Ramey, 1987). As with all investigation in the social world, the framework itself forms part of the agenda for negotiation to be scrutinized and tested, reviewed and reformed as a result of investigation (Guba Lincoln, 1989)1. Although many of the researcher view the Conceptual and Theoritical framework as a synonymous and some cast it into research with slight difference. Most researches report the problem statement within the context of a conceptual or theoretical framework. A description of this framework contributes to a research report in at least two ways because it (1) identifies research variables, and (2) clarifies relationships among the variables. Linked to the problem statement, the conceptual framework sets the stage for presentation of the specific research question that drives the investigation being reported. For example, the conceptual framework and research question would be different for a formative evaluation study than for a summative study, even though their variables might be similar.2 In this way literature survey is found in different dimensions as: Power, Empowerment and Womens Empowerment Participation of Women embodied in the Process of Empowerment Womens empowerment programmes and Economic Empowerment Power, Empowerment and Womens Empowerment At the core of the concept of empowerment is the idea of power. The possibility of empowerment depends on two things viz., power can change and power can expand. If power cannot change, if it is inherent in positions or people, then empowerment is not possible. Shrilatha Batliwala (1995) defined Power as control over resources, ideology and self, exersized in socio Political and Economic Context among individuals and groups. The extent of power depends on how much and how many kind of resources they have, excess to and control over. This leads to power of decision making. Jo Rowland (1997) has identified four different forms of power viz., (1) Power over Control and influence over others, instrumentation of domination, (2) Power to- generative or productive power which creates new possibilities and actions without domination. (3) Power with- a sense of whole being greater than the sum of the individuals especially when group tackles problem together. (4) Power from within- The spiri tual strength and uniqueness that resides in each one of us and makes us truly human. The concept of empowerment is a product of early eighties; it has its grounding in the changes in development thinking of the mid-1970s. The dictionary meaning of the word empowerment is-to give power to (person/group) to give them capacity to perform physical or mental activity, to delegate authority, to give legal rights.3 Rapport (1987) describes the term empowerment as both individual determination over ones own life and democratic participation in the life of ones community often through mediating structures such as neighborhoods, voluntary organizations etc. Staples (1990) defined the term empowerment as means (a) to gain power (b) to develop power; to take or seize power; (c) to facilitate or enable power and (d) to give or grant or permit power. One of the most detailed attempts at defining empowerment is found in Kabeer (1999). Defining empowerment as the ability to make choices, Kabeer contends that the definition entails change, in that only previously disempowered members of society can be empowered. He suggested that empowerment consists of three dimensions viz., resources, agency and achievements. Sunita Roy (1999) reported that empowerment of women should focus on aspects like (a) direct involvement of women in programming and management, (b) effective collaboration with community organizations, (c) organizing and strengthening of womens self-help groups, (d) sensitization and advocacy for gender justice in society, (e) identifying womens need and priorities while generating employment, (f) organizing women in different groups to undertake certain productive activities to earn their livelihood and (g) elimination of violence and discrimination against women at physical, mental, domestic or societal level. Many researchers have stressed the importance of considering the empowerment in multiple domains (Isvan 1991; Kishor 1995; 2000; Hashemi et al. 1996; Mason 1998; Malhotra and Mather 1997; Jejeebhoy 2000; Beegle, Frankenberg, and Thomas (2001); M alhotra et al. 2002). For instance, Malhotra and Mather (1997) argue that: power is multilocational and exists in multiple domainsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it is important that any discussion regarding [empowerment] specify whether this is within the family, social or political spheres, and whether the locus of control is within the household or the community4 (p. 604). Malhotra et al. (2002) suggested: womens empowerment needs to occur along the following dimensions: economic, socio-cultural, familial/interpersonal, legal, political, and psychological. However, these dimensions are very broad in scope, and within each dimension, there is a range of sub-domains within which women may be empowered.5 Empowerment is viewed broadly as increasing poor peoples freedom of choice and action to shape their own lives (Narayan 2005, p.4). Participation of Women embodied in the Process of Empowerment Women have played an important part in our social life and in our history in every branch of national activity from high learning to velour on the battlefield. Today, we pass rapidly through various phases of transition, which requires the rapid changes in our old foundations. The Indian woman, the majority that is, lives in her own time, in the rhythm, of her own history, which does not quite keep time with the clocks of the 21 century. Womens participation in the revolutionary movement (Mehta, 2004) was significant even when they were deprived of basic human rights in mens world. The list of women in India who contributed to the movement for equality is enormous. To name just a few, Sarojini Naidu, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Vijaylaxmi Pundit, Aruna Asaf Ali, and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur took up the fight on several fronts. (Jha and poojary, 1998)6 In general, Empowerment is a multi-dimensional social process that helps people gain control over their own lives. It is a process that fosters power (that is, the capacity to implement) in people, for use in their own lives, their communities, and in their society, by acting on issues that they define as important. Keller and Mbwewe (1991, as cited in Rowlands 1995) describe it as a process whereby women become able to organize themselves to increase their own self-reliance, to assert their independent right to make choices and to control resources which will assist in challenging and eliminating their own subordination. Batliwala (1993) defines power as having two central aspects control over resources (physical, human, intellectual, financial, and the self), and control over ideology (beliefs, values and attitudes). If power means control, then empowerment therefore is the process of gaining control. Kabeer(1999; 437)., in an influential paper, suggests that empowermentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦refers to the process by which those who have been denied the ability to make strategic life choices acquire such an ability. Women should be able to define self-interest and choice, and consider themselves as not only able but also entitled to make choices (A. Sen 1999; G. Sen 1993; Kabeer 2001; Rowlands 1995; Nussbaum 2000; Chen 1992). Kabeer (2001) goes a step further and describes this process in terms of thinking outside the system and challenging the status quo. Sudharani et al. (2000) defined empowerment as the process of challenging existing power relations and gaining greater control over the sources of power. Empowerment is a process of awareness and capacity building, enhancing an individuals or group capacity to make effective choices, that is, to make choices and then to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes (Alsop, Bertelsen and Holland, 2006, p.10). Shirin M. Rai et.al (2007) argued, while the local is important as a focus for debates on empowerment, we think the local must be embedded in the global and the national and vice versa. They argued that: (1) empowerment may be sequential, (2) gender balance alone cannot be the process or outcome in a world ridden with poverty and class inequality, (3) we should use the empowerment language, but contest the way it has been neutralized and even abused. Womens empowerment programmes and Economic Empowerment Even though outside work for women often means a double burden, the empirical evidence supports the notion that access to work increases a womans economic independence and with it a greater level of general independence is created.7 According to Hall(1992) economic subordination must be neutralized for women to be empowered. The economic component of empowerment requires that women be able to engage in a productive activity that will allow them some degree of financial autonomy, no matter how small and hard to obtain at the beginning.8 The World Banks Action Plan to achieve economic empowerment through Smart Economics, for example, targets four key markets: land, labor, product, and financial and measures this through policy initiatives to make markets work for women as well as agency initiatives to empowerment women to compete in markets. A prerequisite to empowerment, therefore, necessitates stepping outside the home and participating in some form of collective undertaking that can be successful, thus developing a sense of independence and competence among the women.9 Priority should be given to women in the allocation of work in such a way that at least one-third of the beneficiaries shall be women. [Schedule II, Para 6, NREGA]. The National Commission for Women (NCW), set up in 1992, has a mandate to safeguard the rights and interests of women. Universalisation of ICDS was contemplated by the end of 1995-96 through expanding its services all over the country. Sanjukta Chaudhuri (2010), in her paper Womens Empowerment in South Asia and South East Asia: A Comparative Analysis contributed to the literature on womens empowerment by exploring the time and birth cohort trends of womens empowerment in eight countries of South Asia and South East Asia. The countries included are Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan of South Asia; Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam of South East Asia. Initially, she estimated the relationship between economic developmen t and female labor force participation rate FLFPR (the U curve)10 using data on 172 countries from 1990 2007. She further examined the influence of time on womens empowerment and performed a series of multiple regressions on six measures of womens empowerment variables separately for the eight countries, using individual level survey data for each country. The indicators of womens empowerment were: economic participation, educational attainment, wage work, fertility, female to male sex ratio of living children, and the ratio of ideal number of daughters to sons. In Rajasthan, Jan Chetna Sansthan have promoted Ekal Naari Shakti Sangathan in Abu Road block, Sirohi in order to help widows and single and separated women It works to ensure a rightful living for single women and addressing their problems. It also works towards getting them widow pension and other benefits under any government schemes. Deepshikha Mahila Bal Utthan Samiti came in to being in the year 1980, with the idea of promoting Welfare Policing Activities. 1.3.1 Gender equity, equality and inequality Gender equality is considered an important issue for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) because gender inequality is an obstacle to progress, a roadblock on the path of human development (UNDP, 2002, pp.6). Pradhan (2003) discusses the need to bring gender equality where men and women are considered equal in every sphere of life because .if you empower a woman, you empower her children, her community and her country (Pradhan, 2003, pp.51-57). Gender inequality can result in disadvantages and differentials for females in terms of life expectancy and children.s nutrition, denial of choice, lack of political representation, and lack of empowerment (Kabeer, 1999). Sen (2001) notes: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦inequality between women and men can take very many different forms. Indeed, gender inequality is not one homogeneous phenomenon, but a collection of disparate and interlinked problems. Sen enumerates seven types of gender inequality, including mortality, basic facility, special oppor tunity, professional, ownership, and household inequality. In order to develop economy and increased participation of women, Government addressed the problem related to women and initiate to remove inefficiency through implementing various programmes like, Awareness Generation Projects for Rural and Poor Women, CSWB Scheme, Develpoment of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA), Family Benefits Scheme, Kishori Shakti Yojana, NORAD Scheme, Scheme for working Women Hostels, Swa Shakti Project, Swayamsidha Scheme, Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP), Science and Technology for Women and so on. Empirical Framework for Research Relevant research studies conducted in the past has great relevance for new research work and is a helpful tool to conduct research more precisely. Empirical framework for research underlines the derived results from experiment and observations rather than theory. This is categorized into following subheads: Impact of Participation of women in Womens Empowerment Programmes Evaluation and analysis of Womens Empowerment Programmes Constraints experienced by rural women in Empowerment process Impact of Participation of women in Womens Empowerment Programmes Hashemi et al (1996) undertook ethnographic research in six villages for four years to measure the effects of programmes on the empowerment of women. Two villages were Grameen Bank villages, two were BRAC villages, and the other two had no credit programmes. They used a model based on eight indicators of empowerment which were: mobility; economic security; ability to make small purchases; ability to make larger purchases; involvement in major household decisions; relative freedom from domination within the family; political and legal awareness; and involvement in political campaigning and protests Srilatha et al. (1997) observed that a major gain of making the programme of SHGs women centred was that the transition of power from the bureaucracy to the people. Sen (1997) based on a case study in India, stressed the importance of empowerment of an individual in order to gain control over assets. Haimanti Mukhopadhyay (2008) studied the role of education in Women Empowerment in the district of Malda, West Bengal, India. Her Exhaustive survey comprising forty two villages, tried to unearth the status of women, attitude towards girls education in society, problems hindering the education of women, the importance of marriage in womens life affecting education as well as the empowerment of women. During the survey, she felt that there was a very positive change at least among women in Malda district who are much more concerned about their daughters education, as compared to their previous generation. The WHOs (2008) Tackling Social and Economic Determinants of Health through Womens E mpowerment: The SEWA case study experienced the SEWA as a social movement and a programme that aims to empower the poor must be prepared to listen to the poor. Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) noted that in implementing gender policies in development, it was time to move from treating the symptoms of gender inequality to address the structural factors that cause it. Women empowerment programmes made it possible to increase empowerment with increased participation of women. Clark et al. (1991) explored the impact of culture on female labor force participation in 135 countries for 1980. They use a combination of religion, political ideology, and world region variables to find evidence supporting the importance of culture in explaining womens labor force participation. Throughout the developing countries, innovative lending programs have emerged and In many of these programs it is common to find that a large percentage of borrowers are women. Based on a 1996 survey of microfinance institution around the world, the World Bank estimated that 61% of all clients were women (World Bank, 1997). 2.1.1 SHG and Microfinance Self Help Group (SHG) is a voluntary association formed for the purpose of engaging small enterprise. To form this organization, it requires a minimum of twelve individuals. K.C. Sharma (2001) maintained that through SHGs women empowerment is taking place. Rekha R. Baonkar [2001] studied the impact of SHGs on women in Goa and observed that individual loans were mostly for productive purposes with cent percent recovery. P.K.Awasthi, Deepak Rathi and Vimla Sahu [2001] in their study in Madhya Pradesh on the impact of SHGs on economic status of women observed that the SHG women were engaged in Mahua, mushroom cultivation, amachur papad making, pisciculture, nursery etc. An interesting study made by M.C. Athavale, K.G Sharma and A.M. Mishra [2001] in Madhya Pradesh under the leadership of Anganwardi worker, on the working of a particular SHG called Yoshoda Mahila Samithi(YMS) has helped the members to do saving and get loan. The repayment was 100%. Rajasekar D [2003] analyzed the impact of the economic programmes of SHARE, a NGO in Tamil Nadu on poverty reduction with the help of data collected from the households of 84 women members. Kabeer(2005) examined the empirical evidence on the impact of microfinance with respect to poverty reduction and the empowerment of poor women in South Asia. Prem Chander Vanguri (2007) highlighted the impact of microfinance programmes on womens empowerment in India. They compared Swashakti, Swayamsiddha, Swaran Jayanti Gramin Rojgar Yojana (SJGRY) and Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) micro finance programmes for facilitating rural poor women in their access to micro credit. Evaluation and analysis of Womens Empowerment Programmes Pandey conducted a study to assess the impact of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK). This study is based in the state of Maharashtra and was conducted to examine whether the RMK has been able to achieve its main objectives of reaching credit to poor women, enabling women to achieve economic independence and becoming aware about credit facilities and management. M.S. Jairath [2001] analyzed the growth and development of SHGs in Rajasthan taking two categories: (1) resource poor tribal; and (2) resource better of non-tribal. It was arrived that the average membership, rate of interest, size of borrowings were higher in the former, but the average amount of saving was higher with the latter. Deshmukh Ranadive (2002), in his study on Womens Access to Credit and Rural Micro-Finance in India has addressed issues related to data in the context of micro-finance interventions in rural areas. The vertical approach has shown how the data that has been collected, throws light on the different dimension s of the programme and the participants. NPC (2005) analyzed gender development in India in the context of interstate analysis with the help of state rankings on the basis of calculating the average of the standard values of the 52 criteria indicators. Dwarakanath H.D [2002] analyzed the characteristics and growth of self help groups in Andhra Pradesh and found that the SHGs using the loan facilities from the cooperative credit banks, commercial banks, mahila bank and Maheswaran banks, have produced more than 50 varieties of products. Abdul Hayes, Ruhul Amin and Stan Becker [1998] analyzed the relationship between poor womens participation in micro credit programmes and their empowerment by taking both SHG and non-SHG members in rural Bangladesh. Rajasthan Microfinance Report-2010 revealed that Good quality Self Help Groups create mutual trust and a sense of solidarity among members. This raises their confidence to deal with socio-economic problems of their family and their village, all by themselves. Women empowerment can further be boosted by promoting four ideologies, which can be taken as indicators of success a) Zero tolerance of domestic violence in families of all SHG members in Rajasthan; b) 100% girl child enrolment in educational institutions in families of all SHG members; c) 100% institutional infant delivery; d) 50% participation of women SHG members at village development committees . Milestones should be set for every year in order to achieve the stated objectives while progress should be tracked by measuring the indicators. In Rajasthan Womens Development Programme (WDP), conceived in 1984 when the idea of rural illiterate women mobilizing collectively was unthinkable. And yet, the programme enabled the evolution of womens collectives under the leadership of the Sathin, the grass root worker at village level, working tirelessly on a meagre monthly honorarium of Rs 350. The strength of the Sathins and these collectives was derived from the support structures provided by the partnership between the government and the voluntary agency arm of the programme IDARA (Information and Development and Resource Agency), with its primary role of training and providing creative and critical inputs. Constraints experienced by rural women in Empowerment process During the eighteenth century women suffered from several handicaps like female infanticide, sati (Sharma,1988), purdah (Mathur 2004), child marriage, illiteracy and subsequently forced child widowhood in the19th century. Women were treated no better than domestic animals. Moved by this extreme plight, great social reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy, Iswarchandra Vidyasagar, Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, M.G. Ranade, D.K.Karve and Mahatma Gandhi were in the forefront, fighting against social atrocities toward women (Jha and Pujari, 1998).11 Sing K.P (2004) says that among women who were working out of utter economic necessity, the majority were dissatisfied with the time they spend with their children and the time they allocate to their home 57 percent of working women have alternate arrangements for their children either a mother or a mother-in law or a maid to look after their children. Beckers (2005) model of effort allocation implies that an hour of a mans time produces more of value to an employer than an hour of equally skilled and experienced women who has greater responsibilities. This in true influences both employers treatment of equally capable male and female employees and workers subsequent decisions about investing time and energy in household versus market-work. The model implies that small initial disadvantages faced by women in the work-place can lead to extreme results in the division of labour in the household, occupational segregation and earning difference. Footnotes Smyth, R. (2004). Exploring the usefulness of a conceptual framework as a research tool: A researchers reflections. Issues In Educational Research, 14(2), 167-180. McGaghie, William C.; Bordage, Georges; Shea, Judy A., Problem Statement, Conceptual Framework, and Research Question September 2001 Volume 76 Issue 9 p 923. Banerjee NK, Grassroot empowerment (1975-1990) : A discussion paper, Occasional paper No.2, CWDS, New Delhi, 1995, p.2. Malhotra, A. and M. Mather. 1997. Do Schooling and Work Empower Women in Developing Countries? Gender and Domestic Decisions in Sri Lanka. Sociological Forum 12(4), p. 604. Malhotra, A., Schuler, S. R. and Boender, C. (2002) Measuring Womenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s Empowerment as a Variable in International Development (Washington, DC, The World Bank), p. 13; Haimanti Mukhopadhyay, The Role of Education in the Empowerment of Women in a District of West Bengal, India: Reflections on a Survey of Women , Journal of International Womenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s Studies Vol. 10 #2 November 2008, P. 218. Women, Education and Empowerment: Pathways towards Autonomy, Report of the International Seminar held at UIE, Hamburg, 27 January 2 February 1993, edited by Carolyn Medel-Anonuevo,UIE(UNESCO Institute for Education) Studies 5 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ 1995, Robert Seemann u Neumann p.15 Ibid., p.15 Women, Education and Empowerment: Pathways towards Autonomy, Report of the International Seminar held at UIE, Hamburg, 27 January 2 February 1993, edited by Carolyn Medel-Anonuevo,UIE(UNESCO Institute for Education) Studies 5 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ 1995, Robert Seemann u Neumann p.16. Results confirm the existence and upward shifting position of the U curve. Hence, the U curve estimates suggests that there is a time element involved in womens empowerment. Dr. Sanjukta Chaudhuri, December, 2009, Economic Development and Womens Empowerment, from http://people.uwec.edu/chaudhs/PDFS/Chaudhuri%20Economic%20Development%20and%20Womens%20Empowerment.pdf Haimanti Mukhopadhyay, The Role of Education in the Empowerment of Women in a District of West Bengal, India: Reflections on a Survey of Women , Journal of International Womenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s Studies Vol. 10 #2 November 2008, P. 217.

Facing Death Again :: Graduate College Admissions Essays

Facing Death Again I've been having adventures this summer. In July I cranked my new new car up to 110 mph and flew alone for two days in the desert, saw a dead polar bear in a coffee shop, marched in a parade, and scattered Dad's ashes in an open meadow. For the most part, though, my adventures have been internal. I am making a feeble attempt at a teenage life crisis, but so far it hasn't amounted to much - just a lot of pacing, brooding, and long, exhausting mental hikes down roads not taken. My mom has been patient throughout. One of my melancholy realizations is that my remarkable network of teenage friends, once so closely-knit, are now scattered to the wind and so deeply entangled in their own lives that I have very few people left to talk to. At school I have a first-rate cadre of friends, and long lunches every day, but we keep each other, always, at a certain distance. Other old friends are reachable by phone, and I've reached, but there are always parties or impatient girlfriends in the background. It takes great resourcefulness, and much juggling of schedules, to pry loose a few precious minutes on the phone, and in those minutes there are bridges to be built and private languages to be rediscovered before any real conversation can take place. And my dearest friend, is off somewhere in the easternmost Alps, drinking Viennese coffee and nibbling on Viennese pastries, as far away as she could possibly be. "Midway this way of life we're bound upon, I woke to find myself in a dark wood, Where the right road was wholly lost and gone." My own attempt at a teenage life crisis is not near so dark or fraught with peril as was Dante's. In fact it's all so by-the-book and so perfectly on schedule as to be dreary: I turn eighteen, my father dies, and I'm on my way. With my father's death I now advance to the plate. I am up next. It is now officially my turn to face the reaper. Being the morbid, romantic fellow I am, I actually faced (embraced!) all this mortality business long ago. As a young lad I used to write "Respice Finem" on snowbanks and dusty windowshields: "Consider Your End." Death itself hasn't bothered me for a long time, and I'm old enough now to understand what Mark Twain said about death, that it becomes our best friend. Facing Death Again :: Graduate College Admissions Essays Facing Death Again I've been having adventures this summer. In July I cranked my new new car up to 110 mph and flew alone for two days in the desert, saw a dead polar bear in a coffee shop, marched in a parade, and scattered Dad's ashes in an open meadow. For the most part, though, my adventures have been internal. I am making a feeble attempt at a teenage life crisis, but so far it hasn't amounted to much - just a lot of pacing, brooding, and long, exhausting mental hikes down roads not taken. My mom has been patient throughout. One of my melancholy realizations is that my remarkable network of teenage friends, once so closely-knit, are now scattered to the wind and so deeply entangled in their own lives that I have very few people left to talk to. At school I have a first-rate cadre of friends, and long lunches every day, but we keep each other, always, at a certain distance. Other old friends are reachable by phone, and I've reached, but there are always parties or impatient girlfriends in the background. It takes great resourcefulness, and much juggling of schedules, to pry loose a few precious minutes on the phone, and in those minutes there are bridges to be built and private languages to be rediscovered before any real conversation can take place. And my dearest friend, is off somewhere in the easternmost Alps, drinking Viennese coffee and nibbling on Viennese pastries, as far away as she could possibly be. "Midway this way of life we're bound upon, I woke to find myself in a dark wood, Where the right road was wholly lost and gone." My own attempt at a teenage life crisis is not near so dark or fraught with peril as was Dante's. In fact it's all so by-the-book and so perfectly on schedule as to be dreary: I turn eighteen, my father dies, and I'm on my way. With my father's death I now advance to the plate. I am up next. It is now officially my turn to face the reaper. Being the morbid, romantic fellow I am, I actually faced (embraced!) all this mortality business long ago. As a young lad I used to write "Respice Finem" on snowbanks and dusty windowshields: "Consider Your End." Death itself hasn't bothered me for a long time, and I'm old enough now to understand what Mark Twain said about death, that it becomes our best friend.

How to Make Eggrolls

Throughout my childhood and growing up, my mother always made something simple for us to eat. I always thought it was simple, but it’s more complicated than it looks. My mother always made eggrolls, noodles, and this Vietnamese special sauce called â€Å"nuoc mam†. It’s the simplest and quickest thing to make when you have about five children to feed in the house. The only problem is, is that you would have to pre-make the eggrolls already. So how do you do such?Well first you would have to gather all of your ingredients. There’s over ten items that you would need. First you would have to purchase grounded pork, shrimps, eggs, white onions, green onions, black pepper, salt, carrots, Vietnamese potato, different Vietnamese spices, and many more. You would have to chop up the carrots and Vietnamese potato in tiny little strands and pieces. Then you would throw everything in one big bucket and mix it with your hands, but make sure your hands are washed cleanl y!Once you’re done mixing everything in the bucket, you take the eggroll wrapping sheet, place it on a cutting board, take a spoon and scoop the mixed pork onto one corner of the eggroll wrapping sheet, roll it, and dab a little bit of egg yolk to seal it. You would have to continuously do this until you run out of the eggroll wrapping sheets or out of the pork itself. You would have to have your fryer at three hundred and fifty degrees and wait until the oil boils.The best way to figure out if the oil is hot and ready is by sticking a wooden chopstick into the oil and seeing if there are sizzling bubbles bubbling around the wooden chopstick. Once the oil is hot, you drop however many eggrolls you want or that would fit in your fryer or pot, and let it fry in the fryer. You leave it in there for about five to eight minutes and then check on it again. If it looks golden brown, you can either flip it and leave it in the fryer for another two minutes or simply take it out and se t it on a plate or basket with napkins beneath it so the oil could drip on it.In the end, all you have to do is boil some Vietnamese rice noodles, chop the vegetables you would like to eat with the eggrolls, and make the Vietnamese special sauce if you please. You would put the noodles first into a bowl or a plate, put the vegetables that you would like onto the top of the noodles, then take a pair of scissors and cut the eggrolls to fall on top of the vegetables. Then you would have to drizzle the sauce on top of the eggrolls, noodles, and vegetables. All you basically have to do is stir, and dig in!

Dualism And The Separation Of Mind And Body Essay

The word â€Å"dualism† is used in many different aspects. It can refer to the classic Western philosophy in reference to the separation of mind and body or to the idea of separation of divine and human in religion. Religious dualism is also used to explain how two religious systems may relate to each other. Dualism can demonstrate the correlation between two religious or cultural traditions. In this perception, dualism describes the reality in which many people live and it resists an understanding that religious traditions blend together. Instead, they are coherent and obtain elements of different parts even when explained simultaneously. Dualism has been helpful because it allows for the awareness that people may belong to two or more distinct traditions or customs. Essentially, religious dualism is the belief that there are two opposite powers in the universe. Along with the subject of dualism, there come many arguments. Firstly, â€Å"dualism† has been used to indic ate the theological system which explains the outcome of the two eternally opposed principles of good and evil. Good and evil can also be represented as light and darkness. This theory can be found widely relevant in the East, specifically in Persia for several centuries before the era of Christianity. In the third century after Christ, for a time to convert to Christianity, Gnosticism was developed. Christian philosophy exemplified with little differences by theologians and philosophers from St. Augustine.Show MoreRelatedDualism And Dualism Between The Mind And Body And Materialistic World Essay946 Words   |  4 PagesBoth monism and dualism, ideas debated amongst philosophers for centuries, involve trying to explain the relation between the mind and body, or if there even is such a correlation. A monist believes that a person is singular in their being. 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Dualism shall be claimed, it is an intuitive position; it offers an explanation of the mind and body in terms of substances (Descartes, 1641) or properties (Strawson, 1959), in which the mind is somehow considered as a non-physical thing, thus separated from the physical world. In contrast, a rival view is that there are only physical things, hence there is no separation between mind and body as suggested byRead MoreThe Problem Of Separation And Dualism1399 Words   |  6 Pagesdebates is the ‘mind-body problem’; this name suggests a problem of separation and dualism. Dualism shall be claimed, it is an intuitive position; it offers an explanation of the mind and body in terms of substances (Descartes, 1641) or properties (Strawson, 1959), in which the mind is somehow considered as a non-physical thing, thus separated from the physical world. In contrast, a rival view is that there are only physical things, hence there is no separation between mind and body as suggested byRead MoreThe Problem Of Separation And Dualism1399 Words   |  6 Pagesdebates is the ‘mind-body problem’; this name suggests a problem of separation and dualism. Dualism shall be claimed, it is an intuitive position; it offers an explanation of the mind and body in terms of substances (Descartes, 1641) or properties (Strawson, 1959), in which the mind is somehow considered as a non-physical thing, thus separated from the physical world. In contrast, a rival view is that there are only physical things, hence there is no separation between mind and body as suggested byRead MoreRene Descartes And Blaise Pascal1619 Words   |  7 Pagesphilosophy of Idealism is a system of thought that, in a nut shell, cla ims that knowledge and reason are dependent upon the mind. This idea is in contradiction to Descartes and Pascal’s belief in dualism. The concept of dualism sets a distinction between mind and body, whereas idealism believes they are one and the same, that thought is a direct consequence of the mind/body system. In his book, Meditations, Rene Descartes covers this idea beginning with doubt and stripping away all elements of theRead MoreDescartes Dualism And The Mind Body Theory1322 Words   |  6 PagesDescartes’ Dualism Rene Descartes dualism states that the mind and body are separate entities. The mind is a nonphysical, non-spatial substance; the mind and brain are separate existences, the brain is a part of the physical body and serves as a connection between the body and mind. Dualism is a hot topic of argument on whether the theory holds any validity or if it holds any truth. However, Cartesian dualism is a credible theory and has a lot of support to verify it. One major point in DescartesRead MoreAnalysis Of Elisabeth s Criticism Of Descartes Mind Body Dualism1398 Words   |  6 PagesElisabeth’s Criticism of Descartes’ Mind-Body Dualism Renà © Descartes’ seventeenth century philosophy receives much of the credit for the basis of modern philosophy, specifically his argument that the body and the mind are completely separate substances, each with its own independence from the other, also known as dualism. Descartes was educated in the Aristotelian and Greek tradition, and those ideas influenced his dualist thought. In Meditations, Descartes focused on dualism in the context of human consciousnessRead MoreThe Theory Of Human Matter1179 Words   |  5 Pageshuman matter is normally referred to as the body. However, unlike other nonconscious objects made of matter, humans have a somewhat unique ability to create abstract opinions and thoughts. At this time we are the only species to have the ability formulate explanations for our own existence. Essentially stating that, we humans have minds . The two general aspects that make up the thing we call human are thought to be a mind and body. The brain and the mind a re often mistakenly identified as one inRead MorePlatos Five Dialogues Of The Mind, Body And Body1167 Words   |  5 PagesThere is a mind-body problem that many philosophers try to solve. This problem can be simply stated in a question: what is the relationship between mind and body, mind and matter, or soul and body? One â€Å"answer† to this problem is the dualistic view which Plato had. Dualism can be defined as the division of something, such as the soul and body, in two different aspects. Dualists believe the soul and body are joined together but are two separate entities. It is understood that the soul and body are different

Replacing Textbooks with Tablets - 1024 Words

As more people began to access the Internet through smart phones and tablets rather than laptops and computers, it is not a surprise that they would also want to transform the American education system by bringing tablets into classrooms. In fact, a few schools around the country have already replaced textbooks with tablets and have seen improvements in students’ standardized test scores. Using tablets instead of textbooks is not only convenient and helpful, but it can also reduce the amount of paper wastes in school. However, it is not a good idea to completely transform textbooks with tablets with the current technology, for it can not only be damaging to the environment and costly to set up, but also might not be effective in improving†¦show more content†¦Since â€Å"we are currently spending more than 100 million dollars a year on textbooks,† schools can save a lot of money this way because â€Å"E-textbooks on tablets cost on average 50-60% less than pri nted books†. Moreover, hundreds of e-books can be updated to the latest version with just a few of clicks, while replacing the actual textbooks can be a pain to most of the schools. This way, students can learn from the latest and most accurate version of their textbooks (â€Å"Tablets†). However, the cost of revolutionizing the textbook market can be an even more drain on the economy. Currently, the â€Å"total expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools in the United States amounted to $638 billion... or about $12,743 per public school student (nces). Replacing textbooks with tablets will make these numbers even higher since each tablet is very expensive and has to be replaced periodically as newer technologies come out. They are also costly to maintain and time consuming to fix. The schools will have to set up costly wifi infrastructures to support tablets, and employ technicians to fix these fragile electronics because they are a lot less prone to brea k than textbooks. Considering that many students do not have sufficient home internet bandwidth to use tablets, it can be very hard for them to do? homework and study at home. â€Å"Many families and classrooms will be left behind as tablet technologyShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Essay On Textbooks Vs Textbooks967 Words   |  4 PagesTextbooks are going out while tablets are coming in! Textbooks have almost always been used in some form in the classroom. Recently, new technologies have been invading our society, making many things more convenient and changing the way communities do everyday things. Technology has helped the world with communication, transportation, learning, reading, etc. and now it can help students and teachers with education. Teaching and learning can be faster and more convenient for everyone with the helpRead MoreShould Tablets Become The New Primary Way Students Learn?989 Words   |  4 PagesShould Tablets Become the New Primary Way Students learn? With each passing year, school systems strive to become the best/top school in their district by developing new ways to help further educate young minds and improving over all testing scores. To achieve their goals, some schools has cut down on recess and increased class room proactivity. Other schools just simply took out your basic electives such as home EC and work shop and replaced them with more math classes and science class. Then youRead MoreA Modern Alternative to Textbooks Essay914 Words   |  4 Pagesover 7 billion dollars on textbooks a year, and in many cases, those textbooks are out of date(â€Å"The Future of Education: Tablets vs. Textbooks† online). Schools have been using textbooks for as long as anyone can remember. In fact, some textbooks were found from as early as the 16th century(Goslin online). With the many new developments in technology, it’s time for a change. Schools should store away those heavy textbooks and make the switch to electronic tablets. Tablets would have many advantagesRead MoreTablets Can Help Students Improve Their Learning943 Words   |  4 Pagestechnology, schools have considered replacing textbooks with tablets. According to a 2012 report from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), schools spend more than $7 billion dollars on outdated textbooks a year. It has become a major problem. With all the outrageous expenses including paper, printing, and publishing costs that go towards printing textbooks, schools should consider using tablets instead of books for students to use. Therefore, buying tablets would make it more affordable andRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Textbooks In K-12 Schools1216 Words   |  5 Pagessociety, tablets have dominated computers and laptops in the workforce and textbooks in some schools in the United States. As tablets are becoming more prevalent, a debate has been established regarding whether K-12 school districts should switch from print textbooks to digi tal textbooks on tablets in the classroom. In definition, a tablet is a handheld computer, but they are usually much bigger than a cell phone. There are many reasons why school districts may or may not replace digital textbooks or tabletsRead MoreEssay On Tablets1036 Words   |  5 PagesA Sign of the New Age: The Implementation of Tablets in Classrooms In a scenario akin to when the spread of books was first introduced and to when the internet was popularized and replaced our â€Å"traditional† means of media and communication, we are seeing an opposition to a new integration as our changing world progresses. In schools all around America, tablets are being implemented in classrooms to phase out and replace traditional textbooks. As with every new, â€Å"radical† revolution of a symbol ofRead MoreTextbooks Vs Tablets in schools Essay1310 Words   |  6 Pages Textbooks VS Tablets Teachers are always assigning homework in the textbook and of course every student complains. Not only because they have homework, but because they have to lug home multiple textbooks. Many school districts have been trying to find a way to solve this complaint. What school board officials have come up with is replacing the textbooks with notebook computers or tablets. It is the 21st century, there is technology booming everywhere. However, converting the notebook computersRead MoreThe Tablet Based Textbook: An Iceberg Toward Dystopia1597 Words   |  6 PagesThe Tablet Computer: An Iceberg Toward Dystopia The textbook first appeared in the American education system in the late 1600’s in the form of the New England Primer. Dominated with religious content, the New England Primer was used as an introductory tool for reading instruction. As time progressed, more secular messages filled the pages of the book, and this shift in content paved the way for further textbooks, such as Webster’s American Spelling Book, and The McGuffey Reader. These books helpedRead MoreThe Greatest American Company1673 Words   |  7 Pagesof the greatest American companies was created: Apple Incorporated. From that point on, tablets were never the same. Apple has paved the way for tablet devices in the field of technology. Apple is mostly known for their Macintosh computers, which were first unveiled on January 4, 1984, but on April 3, 2010 Apple outdid themselves once again with the the invention of the iPad. The iPad is an all-in-one tablet-like device. With the iPad learning is able to à ¢â‚¬Å"go way beyond the classroom† (www.appleRead MoreHow Technology Can Make A Younger Student995 Words   |  4 Pagesstyles of teaching that arise from the implementation of tablet devices. These are the instrumental teaching style and the opposite innovative teaching style. Educators who follow the instrumental style are â€Å"those who did not change their beliefs about their role after the implementation of the tablet in their classroom and consequently, did not change their teaching style drastically† (7). A teacher who uses tablets as a replacement for textbooks is an example of this. Innovative teachers are â€Å"those

Dialectical Behavior Therapy - 833 Words

Description of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral treatment developed by Marsha M. Linehan for the treatment of complex, difficult-to-treat mental disorders. Originally, DBT was developed to treat individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD; Carson-Wong, Rizvi, Steffel, 2013; Scheel, 2000). However, DBT has evolved into a treatment for multi-disordered individuals with BPD. In addition, DBT has been adapted for the treatment of other behavioral disorders involving emotional dysregulation, for example, substance abuse, binge eating, and for settings, such as inpatient and partial hospitalization. Dimeff and Linehan (2001) described five functions†¦show more content†¦Finally, therapist may be reinforced for iatrogenic treatment, where they reward clients for ineffective treatment strategies and punish them for effective treatment strategies. To address these difficulties, Linehan developed several modifications which formed the basis of DBT. (Dimeff Linehan, Dialectical behavior therapy in a nutshell, 2001) DBT is designed to treat clients at all levels of severity and complexity of disorders. A growing body of empirical studies has examined DBT. DBT has been the subject of the most study and is the most widely used (Carson-Wong, Rizvi, Steffel, 2013). In one study, Axelrod, et al. (2011) adapted DBT to treat pre-adolescent children who were engaging in nonsuicidal self harming behaviors. The goal of this study was to adapt DBT skills to accommodate the developmental level of younger children. The results of the study provided promising evidence for the use of DBT for children with severe suicidal and nonsuicidal behaviors. At the end of the study, there was a significant increase in adaptive coping skills and a significant decrease in depressive symptoms, behavioral problems and suicidal ideations. However, there are several limitations to this study. One, the sample size is small, and there results may not generalize to other populations. Second, the study was conducted for only sixShow MoreRelatedDialectical Behavior Therapy And Mindfulness Essay1353 Words   |  6 PagesDialectical Behavior Therapy Mindfulness Mindfulness is another way of meditation. Meditation was used to seek to improve one’s psychological or physical health, or spiritual growth. (Brantley, 2007). The history of Mindfulness comes from Buddhism and his search for enlightenment and a foundation of the four noble truths. The Buddha teaching focus on the four noble truths which consist of knowing suffering exists, there is a cause of suffering, there is cessation of suffering and there is a pathRead MoreDialectical Behavior Therapy Is A Second Wave Therapy1065 Words   |  5 PagesDialectical Behavior Therapy is a Third Wave Therapy created by Marsha Linehan in the 1970’s. It comes from a Cognitive Behavioral perspective. In High School she wanted to become a psychiatrist and work with the most mentally disturbed patients. She realized, however, that there weren’t a lot of effective treatments for these patients. She then decided to earn a PhD in experiential personality psychology (Prochaska Norcro ss 2014 p. ). Linehan wanted to work with the most difficult patients,Read MoreDialectical Behavior Therapy As A Treatment For Borderline Personality Disorder1482 Words   |  6 PagesDialectical Behavior Therapy as a Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder What is Borderline Personality Disorder? Personality disorders are characterized by the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) as disorders where impulsivity is the main deficit and without treatment, it acquires new symptoms as time progresses. The four core features that are prevalent in all personality disorders include dysfunctional thinkingRead MoreDialectical Behavior Therapy ( Dbt ) Essay1974 Words   |  8 PagesDialectical Behavior Therapy Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an innovative and contemporary approach to treatment for clients that display behaviors associated with the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) (Andreasson, Krogh, Wenneberg, Jessen, Krakauer, Gluud Nordentoft, 2016). DBT was created by Marsha Linehan at the University of Washington, where she studied emotionally vulnerable individuals who were diagnosed with BPD (Burke Stepp, 2012) Individuals living with BPDRead More Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Essay2635 Words   |  11 PagesDescription of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral treatment developed by Marsha M. Linehan for the treatment of complex, difficult-to-treat mental disorders. Originally, DBT was developed to treat individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD; Carson-Wong, Rizvi, Steffel, 2013; Scheel, 2000). However, DBT has evolved into a treatment for multi-disordered individuals with BPD. In addition, DBT has been adaptedRead MoreLiving With Borderline Personality Disorder Essay1131 Words   |  5 Pageswhat is borderline personality disorder? Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental disorder marked by a pattern of ongoing instability in moods, behavior, self-image and functioning (Borderline Personality Disorder, 2016). I wanted to know what symptoms of BPD are and Patient A stated, â€Å"symptoms of BPD are impulsive actions or behaviors, really unhealthy relationships, it’s all or nothing, there can be no in the middle with rela tionships, feeling alone or isolated, feeling empty, always beingRead MoreMy Emerging Behavioral Therapy Theory1711 Words   |  7 PagesMy emerging theory employed aspects of therapy from the humanism, existentialism, dialectical behavior, and when necessary exposure therapy. These theories have represented me as a person. As I have presented them here, they through the lens of each other, they work to form one integrative approach. 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Concept of Purchase Power Parity-Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp

Questions: 1.Define Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) theory. Based on PPP, would you expect the price of a new car to be the same in China as it is in Brazil? Provide justifications for your answer. 2.The September 2016 inflation rate for China is 1.9% and for Brazil 8.48%. Based on PPP, what would you expect to happen to the foreign currency? Show your calculations and discuss the expected effect. 3.Collect monthly data on the spot exchange rate between the Australian Dollar and Chinese Yuan from July 2012 to June 2015 from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). Plot the data and comment on the factors that influence the exchange rate behaviour (theory and practice) - search for 2 articles in reputable sources to support discussion 4.Compute the forward rate discount or premium for the Brazilian real whose 180 day forward rate is USD3.27 and spot rate is USD3.23. State whether your answer is a discount or premium. 5.Define a currency option, related terms, and pricing factors. 6.How much will Howard pay per option and in total if the MNC wants to hedge the bid with call options? 7.What is the maximum amount necessary to purchase the R$500,000? 8.Would Howard Ltd exercise the call option if the bid is rejected? Explain. Answers: Introduction 1.Purchasing power parity is one of therories of economics which mentions about the rate of exchange among the currencies in different countries is equal to the currencies ratio in respect of the purchasing power. The main concept behind is that when the price of any particular product is at par in both the countries, the currencies of the countries will be in equilibrium with each other (Lothian 2016) PPP is denoted by the formula = S = P1/P2, where P1 denotes cost of basket of products in country 1 and P2 denotes cost of basket of products in country 2 and S is the rate of exchange between the two currency of 2 countries. It is determined based on inflation and the cost of living in the given 2 countries. As per the PPP model, purchase price of a new car in Brazil will be same as it is in China, because the concept of PPP is based one price for all the commodities. Thus if the exchange rate ratio does not alters, the price of the given basket of products will remain same in both the countries. It will also depend on other factors like inflation and interest rates that will affect the price of goods in a particular country. 2.As per the concept of PPP, the rate of inflation is a critical factor that determines the exchange rate ratio. In the given case, the inflation rate for two countries is given. The spot rate for the home currency is 1CNY= 0.48644 BRL. According to the PPP model, the forward rate will be Spot rate (1+Inflation of home currency/ 1+inflation of foreign currency) = 0.5365 Thus, we see that if the inflation of the home currency is more than the inflation of the foreign currency, it will have appositive effect, as there will be an overall increase in value of the home currency. Further, in case the home currencys inflation is lower than the foreign currencys inflation, the overall value of the home currency will decrease. In this way the inflation rates of the countries impacts the overall purchasing capacity of the company (Lin Lee 2016) 3.Post taking into consideration the spot rates of the two given countries namely Australian and Chinese dollar, following are the main factors which impacts these exchange rate- Difference in inflation rates - The inflation rate is one of the major factor which has an impact on the exchange rate amongst different countries. The country, in which there is lower inflation rate will have higher currency value, as the purchasing power of that particular country will increase in comparison to the other countries(Horioka Ford 2017). Difference in rates of interest - All the three rates namely interest rate, inflation rate and exchange rate are related to one other. The central banks in each country influences the rates of interest to exercise pressure over the exchange and inflation rates. If the interest rate is high in particular industry that economy will provide more return to the investor then other economy. This will in turn impact the inflation rates and the exchange rates(Bergin, Glick LinWu 2017) Current-Account Deficits The current account is indicative of the total payment made between the 2 countries in exchange of goods and services bought and sold. In case there is a deficit in the current account balance, it reflects that the economy is not doing well. It reflects that the overall demand for the foreign currency is more then what the company receives through export of goods. This excess demand of the foreign currency will lower the exchange rate of the home currency(Yee Ramirez 2016) Public Debt A large number of countries engages in large amount of foreign borrowings to finance public developments. This large-scale borrowing often affects the balance of trade, which in turn impacts the exchange rate of the given country.(Toulaboe 2017) In the said two countries, we see that the AUD/CNY Exchange Rate is depreciating over the years, that means that one of the currencies is getting strong and one is depreciating, that may be because of the changes in the rate of inflation and the interest rates. The highest was on 29th July 2011 7.567 and the lowest was on 30th September 2015. If the forward rate of any currency is more than the spot rate of that particular currency it reflects that the currency is at forward premium and if the currencys forward rate is less than the currencys spot rate then it is said to be at a discount. In the given case, the forward rate is USD 3.27 and spot rate is USD 3.23, thus the currency is at a forward premium. The main is calculated hereunder- Calculation in annualized percentages of Forward rate Premium or Discount: Premium = (Forward rate - Spot rate) / Spot rate x 12 months N forward rate USD3.27 spot rate USD3.23 N 180 days Premium 0.025111799 4.A currency option is contract in which the buyer has option to buy or sell any definite currency at any specific price, but there is no obligation to do the same. These are widely used options by corporations to hedge against currency risks. The investors can hedge the currency risk, by either buying or selling the options in various ways. The price of currency option is calculated by numerous factors which includes the currencys present spot rate, the rate at which the currencies can be deposited in the banks, and the current level of volatility. The two main terms that is related with the cull option and the put option(Habib, Mileva Stracca 2017) The call option is a contract amongst the two parties that gives buyer a right to buy any commodity or any stock within a particular time. However, there is no obligation to buy the same. The put option gives buyer a right to sell any commodity, stock or bond within a particular time, but there is no obligation to do the same. It helps the investors in allocating their portfolios without any actual buy or sell. It helps them in hedging the currency risks that are associated with foreign exchange transaction. It helps them to get themselves covered in the stock exchange. Thus, options are widely used. It also helps in generating a large amount of revenues because of the covered call strategy. The investor does not only own the underlying security, but it also owning the right to sell the call option and exercise the put option effectively. It helps in getting an exposure for the stock in very less price. The only cost that the investor will bear will be the cost of the contract. Thus, many factors influence the overall pricing policy and the revenue that a contract may earn. Currency options are very volatile in nature and the major drawback that is associated with such options is that there is large-scale speculation involved, which often leads to loss. Hedging is important because there is a lot of uncertainty involved. The currency rates keeps on fluctuating and that causes a large amount of issues. It is therefore important to make use of the currency options in such a manner that it yields maximum return to the investors(Ahlip, Park Prodan 2017) 6.In the given case, each option consists of 50,000 Brazilian Real units. Thus total pay per option will be (50000*(0.41+0.004) = AUD 20700. Total amount that the company needs to pay the MNC is (20700*10= AUD207000) this is because total amount need is R$500,000, and each option consists of 50000 Brazilian real units, there 10 such options will be needed to cover the entire amount. Thus, the company would have to pay to the MNC, AUD 207,000. 7.The total amount needed by the company to buy R$500,000 will be (R$500,000*0.41) = 205000AUD. We will not consider the premium price because it is considered only while we purchase the option. 8.In case the bid is rejected, the company will exercise the bid only if the spot rate is less than the AUD 0.41. In case the spot rate is more than this, then the call cannot be exercised. The breakeven point is at AUD0.41. If the spot rate is AUD0.45, then purchase the currency at the spot rate of AUD0.41 and then sell it a profit in AUD0.45. Because the company is paying a premium of 0.004, then company can earn a profit of 0.396. The formula for profit calculation is, Profit = Spot Rate - (Strike Price + Premium).This is the way in which the company will exercise the call option in case the bid cannot be exercised. In any case, the loss will be the premium paid and the gain can be unlimited(Qi Xie 2016) Conclusion Thus after the entire analysis, it can be said that the concept of purchase power parity holds good more on paper then in real life scenario. The exchange rate ratio is affected by so many factors, thus the assumption that the purchasing price of a particular product will stay same in both the countries does not hold good. There is variety of other factors that is to be taken into consideration.(Brooks, Cuthbertson Mayes 2017) References Ahlip, R, Park, AFL Prodan, A 2017, 'Pricing currency options in the Heston/CIR double exponential jump-diffusion model', International Journal of Financial Engineering, vol 4, no. 1. Bergin, PR, Glick, R LinWu, J 2017, 'Conditional PPP and real exchange rate convergence in the euro area', Journal of International Money and Finance, vol 73, pp. 78-92. Brooks, S, Cuthbertson, K Mayes, DG 2017, The Exchange Rate Environment, Routledge., NewYork. Habib, MM, Mileva, E Stracca, L 2017, 'The real exchange rate and economic growth: Revisiting the case using external instruments', Journal of International Money and Finance, vol 73, pp. 386-398. Horioka, CY Ford, N 2017, 'A possible explanation of the Exchange Rate Disconnect Puzzle: a common solution to three macroeconomic puzzles?', Applied Economics Letters , vol 24, no. 3. Lin, L Lee, CI 2016, 'Central Bank Intervention, Exchange Rate Regime and the Purchasing Power Parity', The World Economy, vol 39, no. 8, pp. 1256-1274. Lothian, JR 2016, 'Purchasing power parity and the behavior of prices and nominal exchange rates across exchange-rate regimes', Journal of International Money and Finance, vol 69, pp. 5-21. Qi, H Xie, AY 2016, 'Cost of capital: spot rate or forward rate?', Applied Economics , vol 48, no. 40, pp. 3804-3811. Toulaboe, D 2017, 'Real exchange rate misalignment of Asian currencies', Asian Pacific Economic Literature, vol 31, no. 1, pp. 39-52. Yee, S Ramirez, DM 2016, 'Purchasing Power Parity: A Time Series Analysis of the U.S. and Mexico, 19952007', International Advances in Economic Research, vol 22, no. 4, pp. 409-419