How will Management Strategic Changes help reduce Labour Turnover in Dissertation

How will Management Strategic Changes help reduce Labour Turnover in Calvin Klein - Dissertation Example A proactive management can intervene suitably and avoid labor turnover caused due to personal reasons by assisting the people to overcome those problems. This will increase the retention level and the investment made by the company to train them during the period of their services will be justified, if the general retention level is at satisfactory level. The study focuses the strategic management changes required in relation to labor turnover in Calvin Klein. Calvin Klein is a publicly traded company in the fashion industry founded by American fashion designer  Calvin Klein with its head quarters in New York. The product portfolio is wider and includes women's and men's clothing, handbags, footwear, bedding, bath, dinnerware, perfumes underwear for men and women and panties, bras, and sleepwear for women with worldwide operations. The research questions are directed at study and analysis of the current trend in labor turnover and the causes thereof with the aim of seeking logical solutions for taking effective measures to reduce the labor turnover and introduce changes in the style of the management to address the important and long term issue of labor turnover. The chief objectives of introducing changes and formulating strategies are discussed along with the limitations involved in introducing the changes and implementing the strategies. The recommendations are given along with the managerial implications thereof after a thorough analysis of various factors and management issues involved. Strategic Management Changes to reduce Labor Turnover in Calvin Klein Table of contents 1. Research questions 4 2. Project aims 4 3. Objectives 5 4. Literature review 7 Causes of labor turnover 7 Trends in the labor market 8 Retention policy 9 Converting the problems into opportunities 10 5. Analysis 11 Calvin Klein’s operations and business 11 Labor environment 12 Leveraging the strengths in the operations and business 12 Human resources management 13 Measures to mitigate labor turnover 15 Retention policy 16 Tactics to keep labor turnover under control 16 Retention vs. Labor turnover 18 Evaluation of Performance and performance rewards 19 6. Discussion 20 Diversity in work places 20 Maintaining labor turnover at healthier level 21 Role of HRD 21 Exit interviews 22 Changes in human resources management structure 22 7. Methodology 23 8. Project approach and planning 23 9. Conclusion 25 10. References 28 11. Appendices 30 1. Research questions What are the reasons for the current level of labor turnover? Is the labor turnover in tune with the prevailing trend? What are strategic management changes which will have positive impact on labor turnover? What are the changes required in management policy in respect of retention of labor to keep labor turnover under control? 2. Project aims The issues of labor turnover and retention policy of the management are two sides of the coin. Due to the interrelationship between these two concepts, changes in the management style will have positive effects on the overall performance. The research aims 1. To analyze the causes of labor turnover for the purpose of introducing changes and 2. Formulating strategies for reduction in labor turnover and strengthening the retention policy. The causes of labor turnover are multifarious in an organization. A company with international operations in several countries of the world has several

Lobby Essay Example for Free

Lobby Essay The objectives of the architect 1- To cluster the public facilities- restaurants, lounges, conference rooms, front desk and so forth around the lobby, ensuring hotel guests can find the various facilities with a minimum difficulty. 2- Also when guests linger in it, the lobby in it, the lobby serves as an informal gathering space. It also functions as a control point with the staff visually over seeing access throughout the building. 3- Provide clear path to front desk, food and beverage, reservation, public relation officer through the lobby. 4- Make the front desk visible to entering guests. It should have sufficient space for check in / check out lines and have direct access to the front office. [pic] 2. 0 Profile of our hotel Le Royal Hotel is set on a superb location, tucked between Le Morne Mountain and one of Mauritius’ most beautiful beaches. It stretches itself on the spectacular Le Morne Peninsula, on the South-West tip of the island. This luxury hotel covers an impressive 150-hectare, bordered by 7 km of protected beaches and the largest lagoon of Mauritius. With a name that says it all, Le Royal Hotel positions itself as the ultimate 5-star resort in Mauritius. It offers 2 Spas and a total of 7 superb restaurants, with different cuisines and characteristics. The hotel also boasts a stylish collection of high-quality accommodation, including Junior and Senior Suites and 13 luxury seaside Villas featuring their private beaches. Le Royal Hotel also proposes a comprehensive array of land and water sports including diving and deep-sea fishing. [pic] 3. 0 What is a lobby? Every hotel, regardless of its size, must have a public lobby. The size of the lobby is largely determined by the number of guest rooms as well as by the type of hotel that is on the architect’s drawing boards. It goes without saying that the larger the hotel, the larger the lobby. The lobby will also have to be larger in a resort or convenient hotel. A resort hotel will require a large lobby because guests will congregate there in the evening. A hotel catering to conventions needs a large lobby because here again there is a constant gathering of conventioneers before they go off to lectures, seminars, meetings, luncheons, and dinners. There is no rule of thumb to determine the size of a lobby. One must proceed by making a careful study of similar types of hotels and arrive at decisions after discussions with hotel operators and managers. A hotel lobby sets the mood for a hotel. This space, more than any other, will create the first and usually the most lasting impression. Furnishings, color, finishing materials, lighting, and decor must create the proper ambience regardless of whether the hotel is large or small, in a city or a resort, moderately priced or expensive. The interior designer plays a most vital part in planning and designing hotel lobbies. [pic] 4. 0 Plan of the lobby [pic] 5. 0 The functional areas of the lobby; 5. 1 Cyber Cafe There would be a cyber cafe located near the main restaurant. The guests will have access to the computers and Internet access is also available. The room is also composed with a fax a telecopy service that can help the guests from time to time. [pic] 5. 2 Luggage Room It is where we put the cases and the belongings of the guests after their arrival to the hotel. The baggages will be put there and shortly after that the guests have completed the formalities it will be out to the respective guests’ rooms. The luggage compartment is not so big; it occupies a small space only. [pic] 5. 3 Lounge It is the sitting area. The lounge is near the front office and face to the main entrance. It is divided into two sections where the guests and employees can provide services to the latter more easily. The lounge is also composed with some plants just to give a sense of relaxation in the hotel. [pic] 5. 4 The back offices The back offices are mainly composed of the Sales Marketing department, the Reservation office department, Administration department and the Front Office department. All these departments are located at the back of the Front Office found in the lobby. There will be a corridor with the door for staff entrance close to the Front Office desk. The guests won’t have access to the back of the house area of the hotel. [pic] 5. 5 Main Entrance The main entrance of the lobby will have a width of approximately 5-6 meters where it will make circulation a lot more comfortable. The main entrance has also been built by taking into consideration disable persons; a special floor is made available to those people. [pic] 5. 6 Administration office Office Administration is a set of day-to-day activities related to financial planning, billing and recordkeeping, personnel, and physical distribution and logistics, within a business. Administrative functions Administrators, broadly speaking, engage in a common set of functions to meet the organizations goals. †¢ Planning is deciding in advance what to do, how to do it, when to do it, and who should do it. It maps the path from where the organization is to where it wants to be. The planning function involves establishing goals and arranging them in logical order. Administrators engage in both short-range and long-range planning. †¢ Organizing involves identifying responsibilities to be performed, grouping responsibilities into departments or divisions, and specifying organizational relationships. The purpose is to achieve coordinated effort among all the elements in the organization. Organizing must take into account delegation of authority and responsibility and span of control within supervisory units. †¢ Staffing means filling job positions with the right people at the right time. It involves determining staffing needs, writing job descriptions, recruiting and screening people to fill the positions. †¢ Directing is leading people in a manner that achieves the goals of the organization. This involves proper allocation of resources and providing an effective support system. Directing requires exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to motivate people. One of the crucial issues in directing is to find the correct balance between emphasis on staff needs and emphasis on production. †¢ Controlling is the function that evaluates quality in all areas and detects potential or actual deviations from the organizations plan. This functions purpose is to ensure high-quality performance and satisfactory results while maintaining an orderly and problem-free environment. Controlling includes information management, measurement of performance, and institution of corrective actions. Budgeting, exempted from the list above, incorporates most of the administrative functions, beginning with the implementation of a budget plan through the application of budget controls. 5. 7 Lifts Lifts are expensive. They should be wider than they are deep to facilitate entry. Tough surfaces are required to resist damage by baggage. The main lift bank must be visible on ente ring the reception area. Specialist design of the lift system may be necessary. Additional service lifts may also be required for housekeeping and room service. There are often one or two service lifts to every three guests’ lifts, and these open onto service lobbies on each floor. At least one lift should be large enough to take furniture such as bed or bath, or a stretcher case as accidents and illness occur in hotels, and it may be preferable not to use the public areas in such event. [pic] 5. 8 Stairs Staircase design is dictated by fire escape requirements. The main stairs should be beside the lift bank to enable guests to find them easily, with secondary stairs at the end of each corridor. Some ramps may be required for guests using wheelchairs. [pic] 5. 9 Concierge The concierge counter is located at the right of the entrance. The counter is normally occupied by one person; therefore there is no need for a large desk. The concierge counter has drawers for keys, message indicator panels, and the wake up system, brochure holders, and the stationery drawer. A concierge is somebody who works at the concierge counter and very often has great contacts and can make things happen that the guest might not be able to do. For example, if the guest needs theater tickets, or if the guest needs a reservation at an exclusive restaurant, often a hotel concierge can use his or her contacts and make those things happen. They can also do some fairly ordinary things too, for example, helping the guest print out a boarding pass or helping the guest with flight arrangements, but theyre great at doing things that just seem impossible. In a nutshell, the concierge is there to satisfy the needs of the guest. [pic] 5. 10 The public relation counter The public relation counter is located at the left of the entrance. This enables the guest relation officers to quickly reach the guests as they enter the lobby and this facilitates the work of both the public relation officers and the guests. The public relation counter is enhanced with lightings and plants. This counter has been set up so as the queries of the guests can be satisfied. The public relation officer can be asked to organize a wedding, therefore he has to make suitable arrangements concerning the wedding and if additional requirement is needed. [pic] 5. 11 Reception Reception areas should provide a clear introduction to the building, with straightforward unobstructed routes to the enquiry desk, lift, stairs and waiting area. A screened telephone point is helpful, especially in buildings where visitors will need to call taxis or waiting colleagues. The reception of our hotel is located at the right of the entrance. The reception is enhanced by lightings and this contributes to the esthetics aspects of the reception. The reception desk is large enough so as to be able to accommodate the different working stationeries and office tools; the computer, printer, credit/debit card transactions, telephones. There is enough space at the reception to allow paper work to be carried out comfortably, to cater many guests at a time and to allow the employees to move comfortably. [pic] 5. 12 The Water Fountain For most consumers, indoor fountains are decorative water features that simply look good as lifestyle furnishing items in traditional or contemporary homes. The benefit of flowing water is maintaining a balanced, healthy and serene environment. Given that they moisturize the atmosphere in air-conditioned rooms or buildings, relieve stress in pressured lives and are a powerful form of relaxation therapy for hyperactive children, insomniacs, and those living with noisy neighbors or busy roads Water features add an element of natural energy and serenity to any environment. Fountains designers and their clients are increasingly choosing water features as a compelling, cost effective way to distinguish and differentiate their work and home environment. [pic] 5. 13 Information desk The information desk is located at the left of the entrance. This is the desk where the different tour operators would be present and allowing them to be within the reach of the guests. Tourists can get different magazines from which they can get information about the hotel’s surroundings and some places of interest. The tour operators can guide them whenever they have any problems or questions pic] 5. 14 The Main Restaurant â€Å"La Belle Vue† is the main restaurant of the hotel. The name of the restaurant has been chosen in relation to its location which faces the sea. Guests have the opportunity to admire the blue lagoon every time they are having their meal. The atrium area is treated casually, with brick paving and tables with cloth runners in a low-ceilinged interior space. The intermediate zone is more formal, and the â€Å"interior section includes leather banquettes, table linen, lower lighting levels and such additional accessories such as artwork. It is also an exhibition cooking area where the chef is visible. Guests like to see who is preparing their meals. This design also brings chefs out of the kitchen. The restaurant will offer different moods for breakfast or dinner, for family groups or couples and for informal meals or special-occasion dinners. [pic] 5. 15 The Main Bar The â€Å"Skipper’s Deck† is the main bar of the hotel. It is close to the main restaurant as it provides easy accessibility to guests. The bar is very spacious with seating all around it and can accommodate around 75 guests. The bar also faces the sea and guests are able to admire the seaside as well as the sunset in the evening. A variety of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks are made available to guests. There are the classic cocktails as well as the exotic ones prepared by the barman. The bar is in an open space which makes it really accessible to guests who can spend their day relaxing there. There is also a corner where artists make their representations at night to improve the overall atmosphere. [pic] 5. 16 Tourist shops Tourist shops provide a space where guests can do their shopping with souvenirs, clothes, artifacts†¦ at hand. In the tourist shops, one can have Mauritian handicrafts and souvenirs and also the guests have access to useful stationary that can be use to send post cards to relatives and friends during their holidays. [pic] 5. 17 The Patio Patios are typically made of concrete or stone slabs laid over a firm base. This base is often formed of a layer of compacted hardcore, a layer of sharp sand, and a layer of cement mortar. The firmness and stability of the base is essential to the robustness of the top layer of slabs an infirm base will typically result in cracked slabs. Patios that hold a lot of weight, such as driveways, require stronger foundations than those that are designed for light use. A patio is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that often adjoins a residence. The patio of our hotel is found near the main bar and is on a terrace from which the guests can have a sea-side view. For the decoration we have covered the concrete floor with teak wood. The guests can relax and have their food in the open area. [pic] 5. 18 The Coffee shop Coffee shops focus on providing coffee and tea as well as light snacks. The coffee shop is mainly used by tourists who are both waiting to check in or check out and is available on a 24hr basis. The coffee shop provides a rapid service and it can be used as a place for relaxation. [pic] 6. 0 Materials and decorations The materials which have been used in the designing of the lobby have been meticulously chosen. The materials are durable and particularly esthetic for the lobby. They have also been chosen in accordance with the theme of the hotel which is a tropical style. Durable materials are indeed very costly but however, they can resist and maintain them with the high traffic, impact and scrapping. Tropical style Tropical chic is one of the most popular looks today. It includes comfort, warmth, and a touch of the exotic, using jungle themes, restful colors, and natural textural elements. Its a style that has fresh appeal with touches of traditional. This is not the multi-colored jungle look you might choose for a childs room. It mixes lots of texture and intricate pattern with simple details and a few large accessories. Common motifs include stylized palm trees, large leafed banana plants, monkeys, animal prints, rattan, leather, and grass cloth. Here are some of the underlying elements and themes of a tropical look of our lobby. Colors This tropical palette is influenced by palm trees and sunny skies. Other palettes may include brighter hues reflecting the culture and history of the region. A Balinese interior will have deeper, richer colors. Furniture and Finishes Exotic hardwoods like teak, rosewood and â€Å"koa† are used for furniture. Natural materials like cane, sea grass, water hyacinth, banana leaf and rattan are woven to form chairs, sofas and tables and a myriad of accents. Fabrics Look for prints that feature palm trees and their far-reaching fronds and tropical plants with vivid, beautiful blooms like hibiscus, anthurium, orchid and Bird of Paradise. For a more refined look incorporate Thai silks and floral-printed linen. Art and Accessories Look to the beach for inspiration and find ways to incorporate them into the room. Tropical plants set in wicker planters, shells displayed in jars or shadow boxes and baskets, mats and rugs made of natural materials like rattan and sea grass will all infuse the room with a warm-weather attitude.

Effects of Regionalisation

Effects of Regionalisation 1. Introduction Acknowledging the fact that future growth will depend on overcoming resource scarcity and a small domestic market, the Singapore government has been strongly encouraging local firms to regionalise their operations and invest abroad. This report discusses some of the social and economic downsides brought about by the regionalisation strategy. 2. Regionalisation Intent Of The Government Singapores scarceness in resources i.e. land labour as well as its undersized domestic market are the major drives for regionalisation. The rationales to propel Singapores economy beyond her shores are as follow. Boundless Boundaries Markets and workplaces are no longer limited by boundaries and distance. Capital is free to move to where it can generate the best returns. While our neighbouring countries gear up and build up, our competitiveness is eroded due to our high operational cost and unattractive domestic market. Many jobs are lost for good as business activities shift to these countries where operational costs are much lower e.g. for labour intensive industries. Also, the small consumer market here hinders the potential of local retailing industries unfavourably. On the other hand, the region offers far better returns for all. Economic Growth The United States and Europe have all along been our traditional markets. In view of this dependency, the slowdown of economic growth rates in these matured economies invariably puts a brake on Singapores economy. Consequently, we have to look towards the up and coming Asia-Pacific region where growth rates are in double digits, no doubt due to its low base. But it offers vast opportunities for Singapores produce to be a part of them and to grow with them. Mutual Benefits Regionalisation looks beyond the borders to tap and leverage on one anothers strengths. This constitutes a win-win situation. Wider exposure cultural diversity of people Expanded networks and contacts with international businesses, clients talents Larger job market where career is not confined to local employment opportunities Healthier relations with affiliated countries through mutual beneficial trade 3. The Family Pays For Regionalisation It is believed that while regionalisation brings us good, it will and is going to upset the family ties of Singaporeans in one way or another. The Children One major hurdle that deters Singaporeans who are married with children from taking up jobs overseas is their concern about their childrens education. Parents expressed concerns over the childs resistance and adaptability to foreign curriculum system, possibility of racial discrimination in foreign schools, denial of foreign education credentials in future and loss of emotional ties with Singapore. Nonetheless, measures are taken to resolve these concerns: Singapore International Schools: Simulating home-style schooling environment abroad with parallel curriculum including Mother Tongue Leave of Absence Scheme: Entitling previous students to rejoin their former schools upon returning home Flexibility in Admission Criteria: Recognising foreign examination scores and conducting in-house examinations and interviews for admittance decisions CAMP SINGAPORE: Assembling overseas Singaporeans children back home to live through Singapores all-embracing way of life in a good fun educating manner Abolishment of Monetary Bond Requirement: Encouraging males (> 11 years old) to follow their parents abroad to foster family cohesion promote regionalisation The Wife The regionalisation policy seems to have become one that helps men more than it does women. Findings of a study have shown that the careers of many women ended on the backburner because of the countrys regionalisation drive. Women get locked into the stereotypes of being only mothers and housewives. 100 out of 150 Man brings his wife children with him overseas 146 out of 150 Wife gives up a good career becomes a housewife 149 out of 150 Unable to secure a professional job she once held 001 out of 150 Only one man accompanies his wife overseas The Marriage Findings of the study have revealed that 148 out of 150 spouses felt neglected when the other heads overseas to work. More than 75% of them fear the problem of extramarital affair. Furthermore, research has shown that a disillusioned family returns in spite of all preparatory measures taken by the family e.g. pledging to call/visit one another often, to stay faithful etc. E.g. A top manager resigned, choosing his marriage over his career and another who did the exact opposite and as a result suffered a broken marriage. 4. The Country Pays For Regionalisation To begin with, let us understand that regionalisation implies the occurrence of a two-way flow of expertise between a sending country and a receiving country. When the inflow is greater than the outflow, we say there is â€Å"Brain Gain†. Conversely, when the outflow is greater than the inflow, we say there is â€Å"Brain Drain†. Some Reasons For The â€Å"Brain Drain† Phenomena Economical reasons e.g. better job development prospects, lower cost of living, higher disposable income Political Legal reasons e.g. less restrictive dominative grounds Social reasons e.g. stress-free work, education personal lifestyle, creative self-interest development space Physical Natural reasons e.g. ample cheap resources (land, labour, raw materials etc.), seasonal climate, picturesque landscapes The Undesirable Repercussion The phenomenon has weakened the countrys choice and pool of talents harshly. Given our diminutive population, we have no surplus of talents. This will in turn upset our competitiveness, economic potential as well as unbalance our mix of population e.g. Singaporeans versus PRs, aging population etc. In a way, we have flattened our own pyramid of talents with our own hands by encouraging the dispersal of Singaporeans. Many of our best now contribute to others economies permanently instead of returning to Singapore. They are only thinking, worrying and creating wealth for foreign lands. This is the facet of regionalisation that we need to reflect on and address (Goh Chok Tong, 1997). â€Å"Go Regional, Stay Local† Approach It is crucial that overseas Singaporeans are tied to Singapore strongly by helping them to stay in touch with us. The setting up of Singapore International Foundation, Singapore International Schools, Singaporeans Overseas Programmes, over 85 Singapore Clubs and the regular monthly SINGAPORE magazine are efforts paid out to preserve the Singaporean identity and the sense of national belonging of overseas Singaporeans (Lee Hsien Loong, 2003). Other efforts include giving overseas Singaporeans voting rights e.g. the recent GE 2006 in Shanghai, home-stand assistance in times of emergency e.g. evacuation from Cambodia Indonesia during those troubled times and welcoming them back by helping spouses to find jobs children to schools in the re-entry stage. 5. Foreign Talents Policy The policy aims to attract two groups of foreigners. It also covers transient low-skilled workers who will have to leave after a period of time. The first group refers to the crà ¨me de la crà ¨me of talent. Sought by countries all over the world, they include neurosurgeons, top-notch scientists, professors, sportsmen etc. Examples include table tennis player: Li Jia Wei from China, CEO of DBS Bank: John Olds from America etc. The other group refers to qualified young people who meet several objectives e.g. lab technicians, nurses, IT personnel, multi-skilled or experienced persons etc. Population Distress Statistics show that more than a quarter of the people in Singapore are foreigners (PRs and non-residents). In 1990, our population numbered 3.05 million. It has since jumped to 4.02 million with the gap mainly attributed to the increase of foreigners. As such, Singaporeans now make up approximately only 74% of the population size compared to 86.1% ten years ago. Importing Foreign Talents The rationale behind this is fairly apparent. Foreign talents are needed to boost the economy, create jobs and strengthen the countrys competitiveness (Goh Chok Tong, 2003). Singapores small population cannot produce enough talent; whats more when the â€Å"Brain Drain† phenomenon is mounting (Lee Kuan Yew, 2003). Foreigners are needed. America has been a top-notch marketplace for ideas owing to its readiness to welcome foreigners into all industries. The Singapore government wishes to emulate this example as well. Reasons for importing foreign talents include: Fill in jobs which Singaporeans lack the expertise in or that we do not want to do Promote healthy competition among foreigners and locals, motivating locals to work harder upgrade their skills to compete on fair grounds Encourage fruitful diversity in creative thinking and value-adding innovation For instance, out of the 32 Chairmen of Statutory Boards, 12 were born outside Singapore and in the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, 51 out of the 87 musicians were foreign born. Many ministers were also born overseas: Goh Keng Swee (Malacca), Rajaratnam (Ceylon), Toh Chin Chye (Taiping), Hon Sui Sen who joined later was from Penang. Without this inflow, Singapore could never have made it, let alone become what it is today. Nonetheless, many Singaporeans have raised questions over the following issues: Managerial positions and those of good pay benefits are taken up by expatriates Fear of â€Å"second-class citizen† treatment Nepotism over fellow foreigners, unfair gap in disposable income (foreign exchange difference) etc. 6. Regionalisation In Mandarin Our government has identified China, in addition to India and ASEAN nations, as the direction to our regionalisation strategy. In 20 years time, China will be the second most powerful nation in the world after the U.S. probably the worlds largest economy. Many non-Chinese will see the advantage of learning the Chinese language to do business in China. Therefore we must find ways to sustain a high level of proficiency in Mandarin in the Singapore. We have to reproduce a core group of Singaporeans who are steeped in and knowledgeable about the Chinese cultural heritage, history, literature, and the arts (Goh Chok Tong, 1991). More students are taking up the Higher Chinese subject More scholarships are offered to people learning and educating Chinese Language and Literature More bilingual local Chinese are able to speak Mandarin More promotional and educational support e.g. â€Å"Say It If You Dare† TV variety show, local pop idol Lin Jun Jie endorsing the Speak Chinese Campaign etc. are carried out actively 7. Conclusion We agree that regionalisation is today no longer a choice but very much a necessity. But as we encourage the dispersal of Singaporeans, there is a possibility that we are disposing them for good as our pyramid of talents gets flattened, family gets disillusioned and foreign talents gets within. If Singaporeans are not deeply rooted to Singapore through strong bonds of family, friends, community and nation, the core of our nation will be shattered. In a nutshell, regionalisation has a world of opportunities yields to offer to all of us as long as we fulfill our individual and collective rightful obligations with utmost virtuousness.

Security of the United States Essay -- Argumentative Terrorist 9/11

Security of the United States   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Over the last several years the United States has suffered several losses and devastating events. Most of these could have and should have been at a minimal level if the government would have done its job correctly. Terrorist attacks on the United States have shown the rest of the world our weakness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In a recent newspaper article there was information that the governmental agencies that are supposed to provide the top security for the nation have failed. Several years before the September 11th attacks the CIA and the FBI received intelligence reports of terrorist plans to attack the United States. Even with these reports the government did not take the threats serious. Some reports stated that the terrorist planned on using airplanes and striking targets in New York and Washington. At one time the director of central intelligence issued a ?declaration of war? on AL Queda, a terrorist organization. This statement was only circulated through the security agencies of the United States. After the September 11th attacks several FBI and other agency employees were asked about the memo and most had no idea it had ever been issued.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During this few years, the United States had only the minimal number of analysts on the terrorist organizations. On September 10th they intercepted two cripted communications that the following day was the big day. The agencies did not translate the messages until the day after the attacks.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wh...

Organisational Structure Key terms Chain of command Essay

Chain of command – Line linking the top of the structure to the bottom workers Top to bottom Responsibility Accountability Horizontal – People on the same line, but usually in different departments. A span of control is the number of people one person is in charge of. Tall Hierarchal structures Those with a long chain of command Management communicate with those directly below them and further down the line. Example: Marks and Spencer, Next, they’re normally formal organisations. They are tall because there are a lot of people working for them. Advantages Clear chain of command Staff know where they stand They know who there boss is Chances of promotion They know there entitlements and rights Specialist departments Disadvantages Takes more time to make a decision Inflexible, people only know there area of work, and can’t cover for someone who is not in that works in another area. Information might get misinterpreted and distorted along the line of communication because there are so many links in the chain. Read more:Â  Walgreens Organizational Structure Matrix Structure Sometimes an organisation needs to run according to what projects they have to do. In these situations people usually work together in a team to achieve their projects goals. A person working on a project would have two bosses, the boss of the department that they work in and the leader or manager of the particular project that they are working on at the moment. A project may cover some or all of the organisations departmental areas. Senior manager heads a division or team of specialists drawn from different departments. A specialist (e.g. finance) can be part of a number of teams or divisions Advantages Promotes coordination between departments – cuts across departmental boundaries – flexibility and creativity Mixture of knowledge and skills Allows a range of staff to be involved which gives good experience. Disadvantages Confusion between managers who are dealing with a number of projects at one time Projects may be temporary Too many people involved to make decisions.

Scandal in Fort Brag essays

Scandal in Fort Brag essays Captain of the football team, voted most popular and most likely to succeed in his graduating class, graduate of Princeton, Green Berets Doctor. These are the tings that characterize Jeffrey Macdonald accused and convicted of killing his Wife Collete who was with child and his two daughters Kimberly, five, and Kristen, two. They lived in Fort Brag, North Carolina where he was serving as a doctor. In the years following the death of his family more and more evidence has been collected and revealed linking him and others to the case. This to the best of my understanding is what happened on the night of February 16th, 1970 when everything came crashing down. It was a rainy and cold night on the base and the streets were quite in the neighborhood in which the family resided. Collete had returned home from a night class she was taking at the University of North Carolina extension on the base. When she got home she found her husband watching TV alone having put the girls to bed 40 minutes earlier after they had watched Laugh-In. Jeffrey and Collete drank some liqueurs in front of the television and as Johnny Carson came on Collete went to bed. Jeffrey how ever was not ready to turn in for the night so he watched the entire show and then continued to read a book he had started a couple weeks earlier. He was interrupted by his daughter Kristen to whom he gave a bottle of chocolate milk and put back to bed. Around 2 oclock he finished the novel and did the dishes before heading towards the master bedroom to go to sleep. He found his daughter Kristen sleeping next to her mother, he also saw that she had wet the bed. He carried Kristen to her own room and not wanting to disturb his wife, took a blanket from the closet and went to sleep on the couch instead of changing the sheets. Eyes open! Collete was screaming, Help me Jeff. Help me Jeff (McGinniss 27) and his daughter Kimberly yelling, Daddy, Dadd...

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton Journal

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton Journal The struggle between the individual and the society is one of the main themes in The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. During the whole discussion, the author tries to create a contradiction between one person and the society from different angles. Still, there is one peculiar aspect that should be pointed at.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"The Age of Innocence† by Edith Wharton Journal specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Medora Manson, Agathon Carver, Emerson Sillerton, and Ned Winsett are the bohemian characters who make cameo appearances in the novel The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. The main idea of such appearances is to show the differences in the society. The time discussed in the novel is characterized by the sharp differences between different countries, layers of population, etc. To show the difference between Europe and America the author inserts an aunt, Medora Manson, who took Ellen to E urope when she was a child. Being brought up in another country her return to America helps to see the difference in views. Reading the novel, it is possible to notice that in most cases the similar class is shown. There is no lower class or the middle one. Still, the appearance of the journalist, Ned Winsett, who is from a different social circle, is important. This part in the novel helps a reader to get the whole situation in the society. Much attention is paid to discussion of one particular class of people who depict one social circle. However, it is important to make sure that the reader understands the time which is considered and can see the whole picture (Bloom 169). The appearance of these several characters helps the reader to get the necessary information and draw appropriate conclusions. These small scenes are the only ones which are created for making a contradiction between classes and people as the structures. In other cases a person is confronted to the whole societ y. Whartons representation of the demi-monde gives us a very partial vision of the city which ignores the very real existence of underclasses. The author wanted to show the confrontation of people of one and the same class, to present the differences which exist in the society at one and the same level. The presence of the different classes could lead to misunderstanding of the theme in the novel. However, the author needed to present the time he depicts to make sure the reader can understand the whole picture.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The bohemian characters that make cameo appearances are important in this way. However, the main idea the author wanted to present is the problems which existed in one social circle. The struggle of one person against the whole society is exactly what the problem is and the author of the text could underline this problem only by means of presenting only one society. The ignorance of the underclasses is intentional as those classes are not necessary in presenting the conflict the author depicts. Reading the novel, it is possible to understand the great difference between American and European societies. American society is too conservative. People in that society cannot understand how it is possible to run away from a husband, how it is possible to have such a scandal reputation as Ellen Olenska has and still appear in the society, lead a normal life and express personal point of view, dissatisfaction with a husband and his decision. The difference of the European and American societies may be seen through Ellen Olenska and May Welland. These two women are brought up in different societies and they have absolutely different modes of behavior. Ellen Olenska has decided to leave her husband and how has a love affair with another man, who has a wife. If Ellen Olenska got to know that her husband has a lover should would leave without thinking of the consequences. However, May Welland a wife of that man acts absolutely different. Family is everything for her and she is ready to protect her family using all possible means. Being aware of the husband’s betrayal, May Welland does not leave the country looking for protection, she does all possible to convince Ellen Olenska that she is pregnant and she is to leave. Then, when she understands that her husband is about to leave her, she says him about her pregnancy (Wharton 305). A man in that society cannot leave a woman with a child alone. That is why, he stays. The difference in behavior, points of view and the consideration of life are obvious. American society reflected through the main characters May Welland and Newland Archer is confronted to the European one presented by Ellen Olenska and her husband Polish Count Olenski, a European nobleman. The difference in vision of the family is obvious.Advertising We will write a c ustom essay sample on â€Å"The Age of Innocence† by Edith Wharton Journal specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Americans respect the institution of a family and do all possible to conserve their relationships, while Europeans do not treat family as something sacred. That is why they have problems, scandals, etc. The social, cultural and other differences may be followed through the relation to the family by the characters mentioned above. Bloom, Harold. Edith Whartons The Age of Innocence. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2005. Print. Wharton, Edith. The Age of Innocence. New York: Forgotten Books, 2010. Print.

Lazy Word Choice

Lazy Word Choice Lazy Word Choice Lazy Word Choice By Maeve Maddox Thanks to today’s instant communication, words used by one blogger or celebrity catch on at an astounding rate, spilling over into advertising, entertainment, and website comments. One evening I became aware of two television ads airing back to back. One was for a telephone service; the other for a car. Both hammered the word crazy to describe features of their products: â€Å"crazy, crazy generous, crazy efficient, crazy protection.† This mindless kind of usage strips words of meaning. It wastes the power of words that have more appropriate uses. Take this headline, for example: Daylight Saving Time Is Americas Greatest Shame Shame can be used in more than one sense, including a fairly meaningless social convention: â€Å"It’s a shame you couldn’t join us for dinner.† Used as it is in the headline, however, shame is a strong word, calling up images of the Indian removals known as the Trail of Tears, the WWII internment camps for U.S. citizens of Japanese descent, and the Tuskegee syphilis experiments that used untreated black Americans as a control group. Daylight Saving Time may be a fraud. It may be annoying, unnecessary, disruptive or any number of disagreeable things, but is it really â€Å"America’s Greatest Shame†? Sometimes the intended purpose of a piece of writing calls for deliberate misuse of words. Advertising and political speeches come to mind. We live under a constant verbal barrage. It’s impossible to ignore the catch phrases of our culture. They enter our minds and speech. If we are writers, they creep into our first drafts. Happily, we can replace poorly chosen words as we revise. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Types of LanguageBroadcast vs Broadcasted as Past Form75 Synonyms for â€Å"Hard†

Qualitative Research Appraisal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Qualitative Research Appraisal - Essay Example The researchers presented a clear rationale for the research, setting it in context of any current issues and knowledge of the topic to date. Aside from this they have presented adequate information for the review of related literature to back up readers regarding any existing or past researches with the same topic. The review of related literature of the research article is a focused summary of what has already been published regarding the question or problem for which there is a gap in knowledge. The literature of the research article gives the readers' a picture of what is already known or has already been studied in relation to the problem and identifies where the gaps in knowledge may be. (Caldwell, 2005) The literature review in the research being critiqued does not necessarily only include published research studies. It also may include published reports about issues related to practice or a description of a theory. (Babbie, 2004) A theory is a written description of how several factors may relate to and affect one each other. The factors described in a theory are usually abstract: that cannot be readily observed and immediately defined and recognized by everyone. The research report of the article used discusses a theory in its introduction section, the study tests and further explains the relationships proposed in that theory. The meta-category perspective is used in the research report. (Fischer, 2005) It is expected that the study will be based on this, and that is to examine some aspect of life events and perceptions affect the variables in the research. The literature review should reflect the current state of knowledge relevant to the study and identify any gaps or conflicts. It should include key or classic studies on the topic as well as up to date literature. There should be a balance of primary and secondary sources Related studies, on the other hand, are studies, inquiries, or investigations already conducted to which the present proposed study is related or has some bearing or similarity. They are usually unpublished materials such as manuscripts, theses, and dissertations. (Creswell, 2003) Since the study is based on existing theory, then the researcher already has an idea of what relationships to be found. These ideas are stated in the form of a hypothesis, a prediction regarding the relationships or effects of selected factors on other factors. For any study to include a hypothesis there must be some knowledge bout a problem of interest so that the researchers can propose or predict that certain relationships or effects may occur. The research provided two sections for the hypotheses: Life stage (age) hypotheses and Country culture hypotheses. (Fawcett, 2004) Identify ethical issues related to the study and how they were/were not addressed. Ethical issues pertinent to the study are discussed. The researchers identified how the rights of informants have been protected and informed consent obtained. The patients who participated in the study were informed regarding the purpose of the research and approval was sought from them prior to the interviews. Health service research committees were responsible for getting the permission of these patients. (Fowler, 2002) The information regarding and confidentiality of the study were

Visiting the BASILICA DI SANT(church+cript+musuem) Essay

Visiting the BASILICA DI SANT(church+cript+musuem) - Essay Example In 12th century the basilica was rebuilt and received its modern look ( «SantAmbrogio, Milan »). The style of the basilica is Romanesque. The basilica is built of bricks and ashlar stones decorated with carving. There are also parts of stone and plastering used in the construction. The composition of the building is symmetrical; all parts of basilica mirror each other. There is an atrium typical for Romanesque buildings; it is surrounded by aisles with pillars. Capitals are decorated with animals, fantastic motifs, human figures and natural ornaments. There are also two bell towers called Monks Tower and Canons Tower; they symbolize two different orders which lived in the basilica. Monks lived in two southern buildings while canons lived in the north. The exterior of basilica is very orderly; rectangular forms dominate the space and support the idea of symmetrical beauty of ancient Roman architecture. The building looks monumental because of its abundant architectural solutions. The interior of the basilica is predetermined by its main purpose. Religious motifs are observed everywhere; mosaics and frescos on the walls and ceiling present religious motifs and portray the lives of Christian Saints. Stylish groined vaults of the ceiling, semi-circular apse and small chapels of the same shape create specific atmosphere in the place. Pillars, clestory windows and semi-columns serve to support the building and add decorum to the place (Schneider). The interior of the basilica is very impressive and unique. Even though it has all typical features of Romanesque art, it is a bit eclectic due to the fact that different parts of the basilica were added, reconstructed or created in different periods of time. The materials used for mosaics and internal decorations are natural; for instance, there are 4 columns made of porphyry and decorated with bar-reliefs depicting religious scenes (Schneider). Golden altar, beautiful sarcophagus, reliefs and other

STEEPLE Analysis of UK Supermarket Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

STEEPLE Analysis of UK Supermarket - Term Paper Example STEEPLE (Social, Technological, Environmental, Economic, Political, Legal and Ethical) analysis is amongst the most effective tools that are used to monitor changes taking place in the environment of the business (Brown, 2007; Griffith & Harmgart, 2008); the analysis is done to identify all important factors that can have a significant impact on any organisation operating in the UK supermarket industry. Li (2008) and Vasquez-Nicholson (2011) emphasized that Morrison PLC is a dominant brand in the UK supermarket industry as it derives its competitive edge by doing STEEPLE analysis frequently. It has successfully achieved its target market size by exploiting all strengths and availing opportunities present in its external environment. STEEPLE Analysis of UK Supermarket Every market is significantly impacted by both micro and macro environmental factors, but macro environmental factors have more influence on operational activities of a business (Jarett, 2012). Each factor of STEEPLE ana lysis with its relation to the UK supermarket industry is discussed below: Social Analysis The current trends of consumers in the UK market depict that they are moving from one stop shopping to a bulk buying mode as there are various social changes happening in the country. Supermarkets have availability of various non-food items which are usually on sale in the market. There have been demographic changes because there is an increase in old people, the number of female workers is increasing, and there is a significant reduction in homemade meals (Davis and Relly, 2009). There is more emphasis on the private label share of every business mix, efficiency in supply chain, and improvements in operational activities so that the overall cost of business is reduced. Most of the retail giants in the UK are now shifting to local suppliers for their purchases and stock requirements (Vasquez-Nicholson, 2011; Waterman, 2007). In addition, consumers’ demand of products and services has ch anged because of their social conditioning along with their beliefs and attitudes (Lyan, 2007). Technological Analysis Technological developments have enhanced the service level of supermarkets in the UK as they have benefitted both consumers and companies. With the help of technological gadgets, products are available quickly, personalized services are offered to customers and shopping has become convenient (Akter, 2012). The major systems that have enhanced UK supermarkets’ functioning are Electronic Point of Sale, Efficient Consumer Response, Electronic scanners and Electronic Funds Transfer System; these systems have assisted inefficient distribution and merchandising activities so that requirements of each company are effectively communicated on time to the supplier (Grugulis, Bozkurt and Clegg, 2010). Environmental Analysis All organizations have to show that they engage in environmentally friendly activities; there is increased pressure on various managers and companie s for acknowledging their social responsibility and they are required to behave in a beneficial way for the society (Smith, 2004).

Jpurnal free writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Jpurnal free writing - Essay Example But of course, for them it was. This was obviously a text for the super elite. But the thing is, over the centuries has reached every common day individual. I think that’s where The Prince’s implications become significant. Other than that, it can be considered even comic if you read it in modern day context, neglecting the way ordinary ‘subjects’ would react to constantly being treated this way. In modern times, and in modern politics, I see a lot of this happening. There are too many people who are involved in some sort of a power struggle rather than carrying out their duties. Policies don’t seem to be made keeping majority interest in mind; rather, it feels as though self preservation is the rule. And that is a concept which is obviously not new. Machiavelli pointed it out centuries ago. I find it interesting to note how when reading it I feel like I am reading a witty political blog.

Video games Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Video games - Essay Example Infamous events have created widespread debates regarding the negative consequences of video game violence. For example, a national discussion began regarding what connection video games may have had to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Though many motivations were likely involved, it is not reasonable to identify precisely what motivated these teenagers to shoot their schoolmates and teachers but violent video games were mentioned as a contributing reason. With enhanced realism and the increasing tendency towards greater amounts of graphic aggression in games, people who play violent video games should be educated to the possible consequences. When video games first appeared around 35 years ago, they were simple and seemingly harmless. Atari introduced Pong during the 1970’s, a video game version of table tennis. Arcade games such as Pac-Man and Asteroids were popular in the 1980’s. The seemingly harmless nature of video games noticeably evolved to cartoon-like ghost chomping to blatant violence in the 1990’s. Mortal Kombat, the most popular game of 1993, featured accurate portrayals of human-like characters fighting bloody battles. The purpose of the player in the game, as the name suggests, was to kill the enemy. Violent games even more brutal than Mortal Kombat dominate the video game market today. Near the end of that 1980’s, a study tested 33 of Sega and Nintendo’s most popular video games determined nearly 80 percent were violent. (Dietz, 1998). The study also revealed that a troubling one-fifth of the games portrayed violence towards women. It has also been demonstrated that playing violent video games encourages the tendency of experiencing hostile thought patterns by means of the ‘semantic priming process.’ Current studies reveal that hostile behaviors occur during controlled studies using independent scientific methods and in daily life circumstances as well. The playing of violent video games un questionably was associated with an increase of violent behavior. Other studies were conducted which considered the video game patterns of university students throughout their four year career which demonstrated that when in a normal, dorm-room surroundings, playing violent video games over a four year period was the initiating factor in incidences of aggressive behavior. This increase happened, not just when playing of the game but during other aspects of their lives too. Both studies revealed that violent video games negatively affected a person’s current emotional condition and increases feelings of hostility. The similar findings of these studies give added credibility to the contention that exposure to violent video games promotes aggressive behavior. Though the inclination for increased violent behaviors cannot be scientifically proven on the basis of two studies, this evidence corroborates the results of similar research. (Calvert & Tan, 1994). When playing a video gam e that uses ‘first person’ interaction, the player typically chooses a character whose personality the player identifies with. By manipulating the action of their character a player usually tries to visualize the game from their character’s perspective. The player ‘becomes’ that character, which enhances the players enjoyment of the game. Anyone who has seen two teen boys, or their fathers, playing video games has witnessed them envisioning they are the character that they are controlling. The second rationale entails the

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - Assignment Example While the Portuguese started off by probing into gold and spice trade, over time another commodity made way into their cargo; African men, women, and children. Towards the end of the fifteenth century, over 10 percent of the Portuguese population was African, due to the extensive slave trading engaged in during this time. The Portuguese started using these captives as enslaved labor on extensive sugar plantations on a scale large enough to overshadow any other atrocity being committed around the world. The development of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade had a direct impact on the development of the modern capitalist economic system. The capitalist economy flourished fervently primarily on the basis of plantation owners who used enslaved labor to grow their crops. By the mid-1600’s, the creation of ever growing sugar plantations along with many others, such as coffee, cocoa, rice, tobacco, indigo, and cotton, led to an increased demand for African slaves. This increase in demand was followed by the displacement of an estimated seven million Africans between mid-1600’s and early 1800’s. The increased demand for labor gave opportunists and entrepreneurs a gateway to engage in innovative ways to gain as many Africans as possible. The Europeans started engaging in a barter system with the Africans, whereby African slaves were purchased in exchange of cloth, gold, silver, copper bracelets and even military goods. The human resource and all other commodities robbed off Africa by the European are precisely what drove the capitalist development and accumulation of wealth in Europe. Trade was at its peak and the commodity of prime demand was humans. By definition, it is quite simple to differentiate between slavery and indenture. While slavery can be seen as a system whereby individuals can be bought and sold as property and forced to work under unimaginable conditions, indenture is viewed as a system of debt bondage whereby an individual is transported from one place to another and is made to work as a servant with no paid wages but allowance for food, accommodation, clothing, and training.

Jpurnal free writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Jpurnal free writing - Essay Example But of course, for them it was. This was obviously a text for the super elite. But the thing is, over the centuries has reached every common day individual. I think that’s where The Prince’s implications become significant. Other than that, it can be considered even comic if you read it in modern day context, neglecting the way ordinary ‘subjects’ would react to constantly being treated this way. In modern times, and in modern politics, I see a lot of this happening. There are too many people who are involved in some sort of a power struggle rather than carrying out their duties. Policies don’t seem to be made keeping majority interest in mind; rather, it feels as though self preservation is the rule. And that is a concept which is obviously not new. Machiavelli pointed it out centuries ago. I find it interesting to note how when reading it I feel like I am reading a witty political blog.

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - Assignment Example While the Portuguese started off by probing into gold and spice trade, over time another commodity made way into their cargo; African men, women, and children. Towards the end of the fifteenth century, over 10 percent of the Portuguese population was African, due to the extensive slave trading engaged in during this time. The Portuguese started using these captives as enslaved labor on extensive sugar plantations on a scale large enough to overshadow any other atrocity being committed around the world. The development of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade had a direct impact on the development of the modern capitalist economic system. The capitalist economy flourished fervently primarily on the basis of plantation owners who used enslaved labor to grow their crops. By the mid-1600’s, the creation of ever growing sugar plantations along with many others, such as coffee, cocoa, rice, tobacco, indigo, and cotton, led to an increased demand for African slaves. This increase in demand was followed by the displacement of an estimated seven million Africans between mid-1600’s and early 1800’s. The increased demand for labor gave opportunists and entrepreneurs a gateway to engage in innovative ways to gain as many Africans as possible. The Europeans started engaging in a barter system with the Africans, whereby African slaves were purchased in exchange of cloth, gold, silver, copper bracelets and even military goods. The human resource and all other commodities robbed off Africa by the European are precisely what drove the capitalist development and accumulation of wealth in Europe. Trade was at its peak and the commodity of prime demand was humans. By definition, it is quite simple to differentiate between slavery and indenture. While slavery can be seen as a system whereby individuals can be bought and sold as property and forced to work under unimaginable conditions, indenture is viewed as a system of debt bondage whereby an individual is transported from one place to another and is made to work as a servant with no paid wages but allowance for food, accommodation, clothing, and training.

Troubadors Paper Essay Example for Free

Troubadors Paper Essay It is unlikely, in this day and age, that one could be privy to likes of troubadours, as recounted in the works of Jaufre Rudel and   Bernart de Ventadorn.   Their works, A Love Afar and The Skylark, are similar in that they both speak of a love that for one reason or another has been unreachable to them.   Rudel, in A Love Afar, is pining for a woman he has never met, nor even seen, but has an attraction for based on the information he has been given by other pilgrims. â€Å"My pilgrim’s staff and cloak might shine.†Ã‚   Rudel professes to worship this love from afar, â€Å"They call to mind my love afar.†Ã‚   His work follows the path of courtly love, which is typical of the medieval era.   Rudel declares his devotion to his love, â€Å"Gladly I’d lie at her command, a captive in a Moorish land.†Ã‚   Also typical of medieval courting, Rudel speaks of physical manifestations of the love that he seeks afar, â€Å"My curse fall on that godsire’s heart, who’s cursed me so my love runs ill.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The tenor of Bernart de Ventadorn’s work, The Skylark, lacks the hope that is present in Rudel’s writing.   The Skylark, is the writing of a man who is daunted by the love that he has lost.   â€Å"Alas, I thought I’d grown so wise; in love I had so much to learn:   I can’t control this heart that flies to here who pays no love return.†Ã‚   Where Rudel felt that he had been blessed by love, even promised love by God, Ventadorn has been cursed by a love that has stolen the very life from him.   â€Å"Losing control, I’ve lost all right to rule my life†¦deep in despair.†Ã‚   Ventadorn presents no benefit from the love he seeks or sought, whereas Rudel sees benefit even if he should die in the end.   Ventadorn has been scorned by love.   â€Å"I’ll place no trust in women though I did before; I’ve been there champion so it’s just that I renounce them everm ore.† Rudel has found such promise in love. â€Å"That man speaks true who’d say I burn for naught else but my love afar; now for no other end I yearn, only to know my love afar.   Ventadorn, however, has lost all faith in women, love, and music.   â€Å"Ay! Now I fall in deep disgrace,   a fool upon love’s bridge am I; No one know how that could take place, unless I dared to climb too high. Ventadorn places women on a pedestal, but perhaps realized he had done so unjustly.   Ventadorn’s writing also suggests an adulterous nature, â€Å"Wrongful it seems, now, in my view, to see a creature love’s betrayed, who’d seek no other good but you, then let him die without your aid.†Ã‚   Ventadorn is so distraught that he swears off his writing and music.   â€Å"Tristan you’ll hear no more from me:   I leave to wander, none knows where; henceforth all joys in love I’ll flee and all my songs I now forswear.† Courtship during the medieval era was considered to be an art form.   Both of these writings bring to mind the image of the Knight on a white horse, that sweeps his lady off her feet.   Both pieces tell of love that is challenged by a geographical distance and love that is ultimately fated to die.   Both pieces are ideal examples of noble chivalry that was present in the courting present in the medieval era.  Ã‚   Both pieces place the woman in a superior level to themselves. The image created by Rudel is one of passion, with no price to high, in order to reach his love.   It is almost as though you can see him traveling by boat, â€Å"Such tracks and trails, such land and sea.†Ã‚   One can almost see him battling his way to his love.   Ventadorn paints an image of a man who is angered and retreats to his destination, which is to be alone, as demonstrated, â€Å"I say no more; I silent go; She gives me death; let death reply.   My Lady won’t embrace me so I leave, exiled to pain for aye.† Rudel speaks of his love as a lady, while Ventadorn speaks of his love as a Lady while expressing his love, but then reverts to women when expressing his anger and despair.   Troubadors admired ladies, but feared women.   Ladies were to be treasured, something to desire, while women were almost considered evil.   Both writers seem to appeal to their loves as a method of furthering themselves and their current status.

Interventions to Reduce Risk of Sexual Abuse

Interventions to Reduce Risk of Sexual Abuse Introduction Various intervention strategies have been implemented to try and reduce the risk of sexual abuse in those persons with a learning disability. There is a general consensus that education programmes directed towards the perpetrator are least effective and that techniques aimed at fostering assertiveness and communication in the learning disabled adult are the best preventative measures. In this review I found there to be a significant lack of research that measured the effectiveness of these interventions and further support and investigation is needed into researching these intervention strategies, advocacy and community awareness studies. Methods of obtaining research In recent years the number of articles on ‘sexual abuse in people with a disability’ found in databases such as Medline and Proquest have increased although there is still a considerable lack of quality statistically significant research. Political and media exposure has unsurfaced the need for this group to be protected. For example, the European ‘Valuing People’ agenda unsurfaced serious inequities.3 Some of the most in-depth studies come from research in which women with learning disabilities have been interviewed directly about their experiences including the ground breaking work of Michelle McArthy.3   A number of factors can limit the disclosure of abuse and lead to an underestimation of the extent of this problem. For example, an individual that has had limited exposure to prevention programs and sexuality education may not recognise the abusive nature of sexual contact they have experienced.4 Disclosure may also be inhibited by feelings of confusion, guilt or denial especially if the abuse occurred from a care-giver or a person that was trusted by the victim.4 This paper aims to criticize interventions and assess the most appropriate methods used to help educate those with learning disabilities about sexual abuse and foster prevention rather than looking at ways to support post-abuse. I haven’t addressed the issue on whether sterilization is appropriate in this review as it steers away from the autonomy of the mentally disabled adult and it is more appropriate to concentrate on education as a tool of prevention and looking at the efficacy of training methods. Method of obtaining papers for literature review All papers in ‘British Journal of Social Work’, Medline via PubMed and Medline via ProQest from 1995 – 2005. Keywords used were ‘learning disability’, ‘sexual abuse’, ‘mental handicap’, ‘prevention’, ‘intellectual disability’, ‘consent sexual relationships’, ‘learning disabilities’, ‘sexual act’, ‘sexual malpractice’. Search terms were grouped as follows:- ‘education, sexual abuse, disabled’, ‘education, sexual abuse, handicap’, ‘education, sexual, disabled’, ‘assertiveness training, sexuality, disabled’ and ‘sexuality, training, mentally disabled.’ Papers found that concentrated on adults only were used and those articles found on sexual abuse pertaining to children were omitted apart from one paper that examines the use of a Computer-Based Safety Programme that could be useful in edu cating mentally disabled adults. Papers that addressed interventions used to prevent abuse from occurring were included in the review. Definitions A ‘learning disability’ is defined as â€Å"a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the reduced ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia.†2 Disorders not included are â€Å"learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities or mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.†2 It is not necessarily the person’s learning disability that makes them more vulnerable to the sexual abuse as to the situation they are placed in so that if we took a person of normal mental capacity and placed them in the same environment the risk of sexual abuse for that person would be greate r as well. Sexual Abuse refers to any form of sexual contact to a vulnerable party and violates the victim’s rights as they are not fully aware of the situation. Sexual exploitation is evident when done by anyone in a position of trust or authority towards a person or where the victim has a relationship of dependency with the perpetrator. There are various definitions of sexual abuse used in the literature and widely diverging definitions tend to be used in studies of adults with intellectual disabilities.5 Brown and Turk (1992) also distinguished between non-contact and contact abuse. Another definition of sexual abuse was â€Å"any sexual contact which is unwanted and/or unenjoyed by one partner and is for the sexual gratification of the other†.6 This is still ambiguous as sometimes sexual contact is misunderstood and it could still be enjoyed it is just that the victim is unaware of what the full extent of the act means. I believe that a better definition of sexual abuse is any sexual act performed on a victim in a position of vulnerability. That is one party is not fully aware of the act being performed and there is an imbalance in power. Could this then exclude those persons with an intellectual disability from having a relationship with a person of normal mental capacity? Perhaps, if there is balance in t he relationship and the learning disabled adult can make decisions in other aspects of the relationship this would be a more equally distributed balance of power and this person may be able to fully make decisions on relationships at their own accord. There are varying degrees of mental handicap and this makes research difficult as ethical dilemmas on whether there is full consent and understanding of sexual contact can be ambiguous. However, there are also clear cut cases such as when a disabled person is institutionalized or the primary care-giver is the perpetrator. For the purpose of this review it is important to move more onto preventing the abuse in those that are vulnerable and critiquing methods used to empower those with disabilities rather than focus on the definition of abuse. Protection of those that are in a more vulnerable position and empowerment of individuals already victims of abuse should be fore-front in the social literature. Prevalence of Sexual Abuse There is an increase in the prevalence of sexual abuse in children with learning disabilities. A study conducted by the US National Center on Child Abuse and neglect (1993) found that caregivers abused children with disabilities 1.7 times more than children without disabilities.11 The violation of children can foster the development of low self-esteem and lead onto abuse into their adult lives. A research study by Sobsey found that the risk estimate of abuse of people with disabilities may be as high as an increase of five times greater than the risk for those that aren’t disabled.8 A study by Zemp (2002) found that 64% of female and 50% of male participants were sexually exploited and that disabled room mates were the predominant group of perpetrators for the male and third important for the female participants in the study.9 The statistics in the current literature does vary and â€Å"the wide variation in the figures is due to differences of abuse, the differences in the populations sampled and differences in research methods.†7 Vulnerability For children with disabilities the risk factors for sexual child abuse are increased. A child with a learning disorder has more difficulty in understanding and communicating and has an increased level of vulnerability. As they are unable to understand tasks as well as other normal children of the same age they are often brought up with low self-esteem as their care givers perform more of the tasks for them than they would for other children. This also leads onto a greater vulnerability and increased risk of sexual abuse than what is seen in children of the same age and normal development.1 This low self-esteem can continue into adulthood resulting in the learning disabled adult also possessing low-self esteem and greater risk factors of vulnerability in comparison to other adults. For those adults with intellectual disabilities there is a difficult balance to be met between empowering the individual to make their own sexual choices and to be leading more of a normal life and to claim their sexual rights and protect them from sexual abuse.4 Murphy et al (2004) suggests that services should be guided as to whether a person has the capacity to make their own sexual choices, however, the ability to assess this capacity to consent hasn’t been clearly defined. It is obvious that a caregiver would be taking advantage of their position of trust and it would be defined as sexual abuse. However, relationships outside this sphere are much more difficult to assess. Sexual acts between two adults of diminished mental capacity for instance and with adults outside the care-giving role. A more appropriate definition in this case may be â€Å"where a person is used by another in order to satisfy certain needs without being informed or giving consent†. This focus is more on the perpetrator as satisfying their sexual needs while the victim does not gain anything by the relationship so the victim is in a position of vulnerability and may not be able to represent themselves. Review of Intervention Techniques as a method of preventing Sexual Abuse in the learning disabled adult Lobbying the Government and changes to policy The manner in which sexual abuse is dealt with in a community reflects the way disabled people are regarded by in society. A report was released in 2004 that spoke about the changes the government is try to initiate as part of the ‘Valuing people: Moving Forward Together’ project.12 According to the Health and Social Care Act 2001, an annual report must be given to Parliament on learning disability. The Leaning Disability Task Force report for 2004 was called ‘Rights, Independence and inclusion’ and addressed the Sexual Offences Bill. Part of the Bill that talks about capacity and consent was changed to reflect the rights of people with learning disabilities to a full sexual life. The British Home Office is now working on helping others understand the Sexual Offences Act fully. Change has taken place and inclusion in helping to form government policy can be considered ‘morally and ethically the most appropriate form of education’. The acceptance of the disabled person as an individual is important not only at school level but right through to parliament. Behavior modification in the learning disabled adult; empowering the victim It has been suggested that programs aimed at re-educating the perpetrator have had little success and interventions aimed at modifying the behavior of the victim have a much greater success at reducing the risk of sexual abuse in adults with learning disabilities (Bruder et al, 2005). To be able to protect themselves against perpetrators, the adult with learning disabilities needs to learn how to assess whether a situation is inappropriate, must have the assertiveness to say no and seek help and to report the event. The eleven papers chosen for review are listed in Table 1 in the Appendix. Burke et al, 1998, suggested that one way a care provider can lower the risk of sexual abuse in a learning disabled adult is to help provide functional communication skills. The adult may use their own form of communication whether this be symbols or words and their form of communication should be encouraged so that they are able to express their needs. Communication is empowering to the individual and enables them to be able to get a message to their Caregiver. Often those with intellectual disabilities are hard to understand and the carer should ask themselves if they have tried to read non-verbal behavior or begun to establish an alternative form of communication. Burke et al, 1998, also suggested that it was the Carer’s role to provide sexual education to limit the risk of abuse. This education then becomes a way of communicating the common language of sexual health. It is important that the individual understands what appropriate sexual behavior is and understands how to trust their feelings by ‘validating, rather than dismissing or minimizing, them’. The person also needs to be made aware of the appropriate forms of touch so that they can maintain and understand personal boundaries. Burke has suggested that these adults need to have a plan for when somebody doesn’t obey their personal boundary rules so that they are able to get themselves out of the situation and avoid sexual abuse altogether. It doesn’t mean being afraid of strangers but learning how to remain safe. Burke has suggested ways of empowering the learning disabled adult and reducing the risk of sexual abuse. These methods may not be useful when the caregiver is the perpetrator and it could be suggested that a teacher outside the carer role provide this type of education so that the individual is then able to recognise when a person in close association with them has crossed personal boundaries. It does not give ways to avoid abuse altogether and aims to reduc e the risk when the person knows what types of behavior is inappropriate and requires reporting. The main downfall of Burke’s research was that she didn’t quantitatively measure the reduction in risk of introducing a communication skills program so further research is needed to assess whether the implementing education on sexuality and encouraging communication strategies actually lower the incidence of sexual abuse. Earle, (2001), agreed that those with learning disabilities are especially vulnerable to sexual abuse due to the disabled person’s dependent environment, difficulty in articulating their abuse and understanding when abuse has taken place. She suggested that ‘whilst disabled people have the right to be protected from sexual abuse and exploitation, it could be argued that a concern with this risk should not be used as a smokescreen to deny disabled people their sexual identity.’ Earle also postulated that by not discussing sexuality and creating an atmosphere where ‘sexuality is taboo’, this may in fact increase the incidence or worsen the experience of the sexual abuse. Earle also found that nurses tended to think of their disabled patients as asexual and in denial did not address the sexual needs of the patient at all. She also found that disabled individuals have been unable to access information and services on sexuality. Earle admits in this paper that ‘the purpose of this paper has not been to provide answers’,’ nor has it been possible to explore all of these issues in depth’ but to show that the issue of sexuality should be given greater emphasis in a holistic health care framework. The missing link is whether empowering the disabled individual to make their own sexual choices and discover their own sexual identity actually reduces the incidence of sexual abuse. Teaching refusal skills to sexually active adolescents was introduced in a study by Warzak et al (1990). The training was given to sexually active handicapped female adolescents who lacked an effective refusal strategy. Role-plays were used to help teach effective strategies using ‘the who, what, when and where of situations which resulted in unwanted sexual intercourse.’ The skillfulness and effectiveness of the subjects’ refusal skills were judged to be improved as a result of the training. This study did not have a control group. The research did have a long-term follow up after 12 months and this showed a decrease in sexual activity for each girl. Singer (1996) introduced a programme to seven intellectually disabled adults that lived in a residential group home. The programme consisted of weekly sessions of assertiveness training, group exercises, role-plays and information giving. The participants had previously been subjected to verbal, physical and emotional abuse by previous members of staff and Singer aimed to teach them how to respond appropriately and assertively in situations of abuse. The trainers assessed each client individually to evaluate how they would initially act in a situation of abuse and also measured their social behavior, assertiveness skills, use of verbal and non-verbal behavior and reading and writing skills. They were given ratings on assertiveness in each role play and it was found that after the training was implemented, the participants did not show improvements in scores where authority figures were the perpetrators but that an overall general improvement in assertiveness scores was established. T he staff did comment that the residents showed an increase in confidence, communication and positive attitude post-intervention. This type of study would be great implemented on a larger scale. The difficulty in establishing whether this research has been effective is due to the small numbers. The long-term effects of the trainings are also unknown as there has not been any follow up study. The research study is lacking statistical analysis and a control group so it is difficult to assess whether the trainings actually reduced the risk of further sexual abuse. Mazzucchelli (2001) introduced a ‘Feel Safe pilot study of protective behaviors programme for people with intellectual disability.’ The programme was designed to increase personal safety skills by teaching ways of recognizing unsafe situations and developing a range of coping and problem-solving skills. This research study implemented the use of a control group. There were ten participants in each group. This intervention program was originally developed in the 1970s for children and was then used in this research study with learning disabled adults. Another main focus of the training was â€Å"Nothing is so awful that we can’t talk to someone about it.† The training programme involved the research group participating in role-plays and then evaluating how they behaved to promote self-regulation of behavior as well as using the role-plays in real, everyday situations. Questionnaires were used to evaluate quality of life and protective behavior skills and con ducted by assessors that weren’t involved in delivery of the programme. The experimental group did show a statistically significant increase in performance on the Behavioral Skills Evaluation in comparison to the control group from pre-test to follow-up suggesting that the programme did improve favorable behavioral skills but did not improve the participant’s quality of life. The six-week follow up may have been too soon to appropriately evaluate any change in quality of life. Mazzucchelli also had a small number of participants which led to difficulties in showing statistical significance for the research. The themes which showed the greatest increase from pre-test to post-test were â€Å"we all have the right to feel safe†, â€Å"it is acceptable to be non-compliant or ‘break rules’ during an emergency and self-assertion skills. The researchers Lee et al (2001), examined the effectiveness of a computer-based safety programme for children with severe learning difficulties that could be implemented into an adult training programme. Three groups were established. One group was offered the safety programme, one was a control and the third group was given the intervention programme much later in the study. All of the participants were tested for cognitive ability and knowledge of personal safety concepts pre-training. Two post-tests were conducted 1 week and 2 weeks after the safety programme. There were 18 candidates in the control group and 31 children in the experimental group. None of the schools had previously implemented formal personal safety training programmes although some of the teachers had started to discuss personal safety with their students. The computer programme went through role-plays illustrating types of behavior and the experimental group was divided into ‘less able’ and ‘ more able’ depending on cognitive ability. The researchers used two interviews to establish the student’s perception of authority figures and their knowledge of personal safety. MANOVA analysis found authority to have an independent effect on the respondent’s safety scores and this authority awareness was independent of the participant’s cognitive ability. These researchers found that those involved in the safety programme have significantly improved their knowledge of safety concepts and maintained this increase in knowledge for 15 weeks. There was also a statistically significant result in those going through the programme for the skill of ‘being able to tell someone’ and the study illustrated that they would repeatedly tell someone even after being dismissed the first time and they could also provide a reason for this disclosure. The research showed that there was no significant increase in knowledge attained by the control group leaving t hese untrained students as potential targets by perpetrators. Lee et al (2001) also found that the increase in knowledge post-training was greater in the ‘more able’ group so that training may need to be repeated for those with lower cognitive ability. By the end of the programme all the students were able to produce a list of people that they would tell if they experienced an incident. The researchers also explored the importance of acknowledging authority issues when designing a personal safety programme. This research illustrates that learning disabled students can benefit from training programmes on personal safety. The implementation of these programmes with adults may prove beneficial. Education of teachers, health care providers and caregivers Howard-Barr et al (2005) explored the beliefs in teachers regarding sexuality training of mentally disabled students. The researchers also investigated the range of sexuality topics they would teach and their professional preparation. The participants in the study believed that sexual education should be taught, they rated their current delivery as inadequate and expressed that they needed much more preparation. The number of participants was moderate (n=494) although only 206 candidates actually returned the questionnaire resulting in a response rate of 42%. There were 36 sexuality topics presented and out of the top 6 most important skills, the concept of personal skills was rated the highest. Teachers of mentally disabled students rated personal skills topics such as finding help, assertiveness, communication and friendship more important than human development topics such as reproduction, anatomy and body image. Subjects such as masturbation, human sexual response and shared sexu al behavior were the most neglected topics. The limitations of this study included the inability to assess the quality of teaching and whether the teacher was actually addressing any specific areas of the 36 topics. This research topic did not address the effectiveness of education as a risk reduction method for sexual abuse however it did examine the beliefs of the teachers in the type of topics covered in sexuality education of mentally disabled students. It also revealed a general feeling of professional inadequacy in this area. Fronek et al (2005), conducted a research study that examined the effectiveness of a Sexuality Training Program for patients post-spinal cord injury. They found that there was evidence to support consideration of the client sexuality and a lack of training given to caregivers in this area. This study evaluated the attitudes of staff before and post-sexuality training. The researchers based the training on the Specific Suggestions and Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model. The sample group (n=89) was divided into a control group and experimental group randomly. A series of one-day workshops were conducted to the experimental group. Topics covered included identification of professional boundaries, limit setting, maintaining boundaries, development of sexual identity and case studies. This training programme was not focusing on the prevention of sexual abuse, rather the education of staff to being able to be open and teach their patients about sexuality. The staff assigned to the treatment group showed a significant improvement on all subscales of the KCAASS (Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes towards Sexuality Scale) post-training and these changes were still significant three months later. In comparison, the control group did not show any significant changes on the KCAASS. Those patients suffering from spinal cord injury are not necessarily affected cognitively and may be only physically affected so this study is limited in assessing how sexuality training of staff could benefit the needs of people with a learning disability. The training was conducted over a one day period and a longer programme may be more beneficial to staff. There was a reporting bias shown by the control group as they were not assigned to receive training initially and the researchers believe that feelings of resentment and a tendency to over-estimate knowledge resulted from being assigned into the control group. Whether improvements can be maintained for longer periods of time (>3 mon ths) is uncertain and refresher courses may be necessary. The research did not examine the effect this education has on the patient in improving their own sexual identity and further studies would be useful in examining whether this limits the risk of sexual abuse. The PLISSIT model has been widely used to implement staff training and sexuality rehabilitation interventions within various clinical disciplines and could be an effective model to use to train carers of mentally disabled people. This model also allows for staff involvement according to level of comfort, previous knowledge and counseling skills. Community awareness Rogow (1998) discusses the impact of different forms of abuse in two case studies and expresses the need for comprehensive preventative or pro-active intervention strategies. The author discusses the release of an education campaign that consists of a video, handbook, workshop series and public service announcements for broadcast media that is aimed as a preventative to educate people involved with disabled youth. These publications are not specifically addressing prevention of sexual abuse in mentally disabled persons although, these forms of media could be used to help foster community awareness of this subject. The effectiveness of these media releases has not yet been evaluated and requires research. The video and handbook is being supported by government and private agencies and made in co-operation with parents and organizations advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. Advocacy Leicester Cooke (2002) expressed a need for further advocacy to those individuals to whom the giving of informed consent is difficult (individuals who are most likely to be among those labeled as having ‘severe learning disabilities’). These researchers also suggest that advocates, in representing other people, must attempt to work out what the learning disabled person would choose and not necessarily what they would choose. Advocates needs to have high levels of empathy and the ability to know when and how to set their own beliefs and values aside. Assessing the ability to use advocacy to reduce the risk of sexual abuse in learning disabled persons is yet to be researched. Recommendations for social work practice at local level There are several great projects currently in place that foster the empowerment of the learning disabled adult to help them protect themselves and also to be able to make their own choices about sexual relationships. For example, The Disability Pride Project explores avenues that promote safety and support by promoting awareness within the community and developing healthy sexuality workshops for people with disabilities.10 This group teaches community specific advocacy and self-advocacy skills, organizes workshops for personal attendants and institutions about sexuality in the lives of people with disabilities and creates opportunities for young women with disabilities to be mentored by older women with disabilities.10 These educational sessions could be implemented by Social Workers, carers and other educators internationally to foster empowerment in the learning disabled adult to help prevent abuse and instill confidence and responsibility in both the disabled adult and the caregivers. In this review I have critiqued papers that have researched the effectiveness of education of both the carer / teacher and the learning disabled adult and it is evident that there is an extreme lack of research in this area and there is a need for more statistically significant, large numbered studies that investigate the effectiveness of intervention strategies. Conclusion The studies on interventions used to prevent sexual abuse in those with a learning disability are limited. There is some suggestion from the research that advocacy and changes to policy will help to encourage greater understanding of learning disabled people in the community. Greater awareness can foster independence and boost self-esteem which may then lower the risk of sexual abuse in this minority group. Some of the research papers presented in this review have shown that intervention strategies such as improving communication skills in the learning disabled and education of both staff and carer may be beneficial. The implementation of behavioral strategies including role-plays may help the intellectually disabled person gain an increase in confidence, assertiveness and develop a strategic plan if placed in danger of a sexual predator. These training programmes could be introduced by the social worker or some other authority figure apart from the actual care-giver as there have be en cases where the carer is actually the perpetrator of the abuse. More studies of greater numbers using both an experimental and control group are necessary to determine whether these intervention strategies will be successful at significantly reducing the risk of sexual abuse in the learning disabled adult. Although, an increase in confidence and assertiveness in these people would also be a great benefit so even if the studies are unable to show significant risk reduction of sexual abuse the training could positively influence other aspects of their lives. References Abuse of Children with Disabilities. NCFV. Public Health Agency of Canada. www.phac-aspc.gc.ca http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/sped/projects/ose/categories/ld.html#defin Brown, H. 2004. A Rights-based Approach to Abuse of Women with Learning Disabilities. Tigard Learning Disability Review. Volt 9, Is 4, pp41-44. Murphy, GH and O’Callaghan, A.2004. Capacity of adults with intellectual disabilities to consent to sexual relationships. Psychological Medicine, Volt 34, Is 7, pp 1347 Brown, H and Turk, V. 1992. Defining sexual abuse as it affects adults with learning disabilities. Mental Handicap Volt 20, pp 33-55. McCarthy, M. 1993. Sexual experiences of women with learning disabilities in long stay hospitals. Sexuality and disability Volt 11, pp 277-286. McCarthy, M and Thompson, D.1996. Sexual abuse by design: an examination of the issues in learning disabilities services. Disability and Society. Volt 2, pp 205-224. Subset, D. 1994. Violence