Clothing as a Form of Nonverbal Communication

Clothing as a Form of Nonverbal Communication Researching this topic has been interesting and this essay will show that dress is a central form of communication, through the many studies around this topic. Different cultures use dress to represent values central to their faith. Children are dressed in uniforms to make them all the same and principals believe this helps them to behave. Different pieces of clothing can represent very unique things in various countries, showing that dress is a central form of communication. 68% of patients said that they were more comfortable with their health professions dressing in a professional manner. (Lascher et al, 2006) This included a white coat in 96% of answers. (Lascher et al, 2006) This study suggests that patients feel more comfortable with doctors in profressional dress, this is just one example of how clothing can evoke trust in a non-verbal manner. I once saw a quote which says alot for this essay We act the way we dress. Neglected and untidy clothes reflect a neglected and untidy mind If we dress a certain way we attribute certain characteristics such as the professional and calm manner a doctor represents in his white coat, it makes him appear knowledgable and trustworthy. In Ireland if a person were to wear a red bandana, not many would bat an eyelid, however if the same Irish person were to travel with their bandana they would evoke very different responses in different places. For example in Australia a red bandana would tell people that the person was an activist, or if the person wore their bandana in Indonesia theyd be considered a rebel fighter. (Maynard, 2005, p. 102) Clothing and dress can tell us many things about people. In the western world, men and women will often wear wedding rings when they are married, and women have an engagement ring to show their intent to marry. This however is specific to cultures, as in the hindu culture, a woman puts red powder on the parting of her hair to show she is married but in her culture also shows her husband is alive and well. (Barnes Eicher, 1993, p. 207) The Hindu culture is a good example of the non-verbal functions of dress. A man who is familiar with the hindu dress rules would know details such as when a woman is menstruating by the way she presents herself. (Barnes Eicher, 1993, pp. 200-207) A hindu widow only wears garments which have not been dyed such as plain colours like white and cream. (Barnes Eicher, 1993, pp. 204-6) Hinduism puts the appearance of a future child in direct association with how a wife dresses and acts. (Barnes Eicher, 1993) If the women is menstruating and she brushes her hair the scriptures say her child will be bald. (Barnes Eicher, 1993) Dress in clearly central in communication within the Hindu culture. The islam religion also brings interesting dress styles to the public. The wearing of a burqa in the muslim tradition has been controversial in western society with Jacque Shiraq banning all students in France from wearing the burqa, he is now attempting to ban the burqa completely from France. Islam prefers women to be covered up completely so that she does not attract any attention to herself. (Al-Islamiyah) She is allowed dress to the taste that pleases her husband once they are behind closed doors, but outside her home she must cover up her whole body. (Al-Islamiyah) Western society criticises these dress rules as they appear to oppress the woman, however muslims argue that this protects the women and allows her be treated more like a human being than a sex object. (Al-Islamiyah) This source argues that western dress sense allows women be exploited and creates problems such as trying to stay young and beautiful enough so that you remain married. This is one side to a story, a side which is neither right nor wrong but definietly illustrates that within the muslim culture dress is a central form of communication. Their dress sense to them shows others respect and illustrates loyalty and dignity, values similar to the values western patients put on their doctors when they wore a white coat. This shows us that we assign values and certain beliefs to people by what they wear. The muslim women who choose to wear the burqa are devoted to their religion, they are respectful of their familys beliefs and their culture and they are loyal to their husband. (Al-Islamiyah) These values then portray ideas to the general public, such as the muslim women must be for example, dedicated in things she believes in, so if that women were to apply for a job associated with many hours the interviewer might give her a better chance knowing that she would be dedicated. Western culture dress is very different from the muslim burqa. Here in Ireland the main arguments with regard to dress are uniforms in school, whether work places allow workers to wear smart casual or purely smart clothes. Is the act of wearing a uniform represent a deeper meaning? I think it does, for example all of the police forces around the world have uniforms to show the people who they are and also represent the power they have. This is true also for armed forces, if you even think to when children used to play games, if you put feathers in your hair you became an Indian, dressing can show us roles which helps in the processes of communication. People always say first impressions are important and a person makes up their mind whether to hire you in the first twenty seconds of meeting you so it is clear dress is a major part of communication. How much verbal communication can one show in twenty seconds? It must therefore be non-verbal so includes dress, body language and expres sions. So we must learn to dress for occasions. Dress is even more important in everyday life in the western world. People meet their husbands and wives for the first time often by catching someones attention by their clothing. This is why fashion has become so important in Ireland today. The issue of uniforms in school, is principals believe that children conform to rules better in a uniform way when dressed the same. Having experienced a no uniform day in a school on my placement I have witnessed the chaos children reek in the school yard in their own clothes. There have been studies done on uniforms and 85% of schools thought that dress-codes not uniforms help improve behaviour. (Lumsden Miller, 2002) They also reported that there was less sexual harassment and it helped prepare the students for the working world they would be joining in a short few years. (Lumsden Miller, 2002) What they wear on these non uniform days can tell their friends something about them, for example a girl wearing track-suit bottoms might illustrate she is a tom-boy. That girl wouldnt have to say she is a tomboy but just by wearing the outfit she would be showing her class that she thinks she has characteristics to that label. Children who have uniforms are also less likely to be bullied for the clothes they wear. (Clark, 2007) Children agree that wearing a uniform makes them less likely to behave badly outside of school as they would be easily identified. (Clark, 2007) This shows as well that uniforms can be a form of identity which is all part of communication. A person from a community might recognise a pupil from a school by their uniform and instantly form ideas about them based on this, so the uniform also adds to the first impression a person may get. The argument for uniforms is a part of this essay as many Irish schools have uniforms and thus we identify many children through this part of their clothing and the uniform becomes a central part of communication. The way we dress in western society can also influence others opinions of us. If one dresses smart for an interview and looks clean, then what does the employer think? (Clodfelter) What one wears would tell an employer that the person is trustworthy, is professional and has a level of confidence needed for the job. (Clodfelter) The way we dress can tell others the social class we are in, the level of success we have enjoyed and the type of moral character we are. (Clodfelter) Dressing appropriately for interviews can also show your educational status, your economical level in society and the heritage you had. If first impressions can tell a person all of that information how can dress not be a central part of communication? With regard to social care, it is clear although many agencys do not have uniforms such as scrubs, staff are expected to wear clothes which are suitable. In child care, student placements are often expected to wear either black trousers or jeans which fit properly, and tops which are not offensive to anyone and also cover all areas of the midrift, back and chest. (University of Heuston Child Care Centre) In some social care centres staff all wear the same top which makes them easily identifiable to service users and the public alike. It makes communication easier, for example if you are in a shop and need some assistance you would spot a member of staff quicker if they are dressed in a retail specific t-shirt. In western society we dress to tell people we are a certain kind of person. Successful men dress in suits and formal attire to work, they wear ties. Trades men buy expensive work pants and expensive brands of tools to show they are on a high paid job. Many women buy themselves branded handbags thinking it makes them that bit classier than the next woman. Children beg for the expensive branded sneakers and clothes to show their friends that they are cool. Teenagers wear low cut tops on nights out to show that they are growing up, they wear short skirts to rebel against their parents. Young people get tattoos to show their support for something or someone or maybe just to fit in to society. The middle-aged sometimes wear clothes that make them appear slimmer, taller, better endowed, but why do we do all these seemingly crazy things? We do this to portray our feelings, to make ourselves feel a certain way, to show others a part of ourselves they may not have seen yet. These reasons are all showing that dress can be a central part of nonverbal communication.

Answering Questions on Keystone Corporation

Based on the Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions Study, there is an uneven distribution of power and wealth in the Indian society, which is generally accepted by the Indians as a cultural norm (Geert Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions India). Indians are persevering, and are more receptive to unstructured ideas or occurrences, having less regulations and standards with which to control unexpected events (Geert Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions India).Australians are generally individualists who have a penchant for privacy (Geert Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions Australia). There is a higher level of equality between Australia’s tiers of society, spanning between families, organizations and even the government (Geert Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions Australia).North Americans, belonging to the category of United States, have one of the highest individualism traits yet have greater equality between social levels, and hold the highest regard for cultural differences (Geer t Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions United States). Americans appreciate fewer rules and do not try to control all events and outcomes (Geert Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions United States).Friction in the Keystone set-up is predictable, made up of the easy-going Indians, the individualistic Americans, and the private Australians.2. In any global company that is planning to consolidate its workforce, there are four global drivers for engagement:(a) The nature of the job itself and the opportunities for growth.Keystone has to ensure that the work environment is healthy with lots of team work, respect and camaraderie. Employees are well compensated and motivated.(b) Confidence in the company’s leadership.To obtain the confidence of its workforce, a company must have leaders that act and work in accordance with established company goals and visions, and earmark resources that support those values.(c) Recognition and rewardsEven though just compensation and regular, earned b onuses are not exactly drivers, they should be conceptualized to motivate the workforce and enhance a healthy competition within the organization. Non-monetary rewards such as recognition is effective in morale-boosting within a company.(d) Organizational communicationThere should be consistent open channels of communication, wherein information is released from top management in an organized and systematic way. Communication should be enhanced by dialogues, giving and taking of feedback and an open-door policy for management. Leaders should take the initiative in  this particular driver.3.  Ã‚   Within this Global Project are two of the most contrasting personalities: the German and the Indian. Nevertheless, to prevent conflict in the organization, I will closely study the personas of the different races. I will focus on the similarities, and work on managing the cultural differences.The Americans and the Germans have high levels of individuality, thus I can use them for the ma rketing side of my Project. The Indians will be best for customer service, because of their easy-going nature and lower tolerance for rules and regulations.I can also employ the Germans to spearhead the finance sector of the business, where strictness is appreciated. The Americans and Indians will make up the largest part of the organization, which is operations. Both have perseverance in their natures, and would easier adapt to new work environments and adjust to each other as well. The Americans and Indians would be more receptive to occasional changes in the organization, and will work well with less friction.The Indians will be on my Public Relations team, and if I could get a female for the part, the better. She will have a good disposition, perfect for dealing with clients, and would be more competitive than her male countryman.  In the world we live in – especially if one is operating a business — fully understanding the cultural peculiarities, quirks and trai ts of the workforce can spell the difference between success and failure. To foster harmony in a multi-cultural organization, one must realize that even minor considerations like time may be perceived in different ways by different cultures. In most Eastern and African culture, friendship and relationships are more important than time. Hence, one does not run away from a friend to make it on time for work. It is different in the West.It would be best to integrate into the organization, team-building activities wherein employees who work in close proximity are encouraged to know each other on a more personal level. Thus, friction is minimized and mutual respect is fostered.  Thus, to have an effective organization, top management must study the cultural traits of the employees, in particular, with respect to politics and diplomacy, religion, social values and cultural traditions. Though this, management can determine which areas of the business a person is best suited, and top mana gement can also devise ways of keeping their people happy, motivated and productive.Works CitedHofstede, Geert. Geert Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions. The Netherlands:1967 – 2003.

Dialing Our Death: A Critical Response to Stephen King’s Cell

While Stephen King’s Cell might be about zombies, the 2006 novel is also a clever commentary on America’s reliance on technology. King’s setup is that, on the afternoon of October 1, a strange â€Å"pulse† is broadcast across American cell phone networks. The pulse, when heard by people on their cells, immediately renders cell-phone users into murderous, zombie-like creatures. These people, known as â€Å"Phoners,† are no longer human. The few people unaffected by the pulse, called â€Å"Normies,† attempt to fight back for survival.King hints heavily that our dependence upon technology will be our undoing. The central characters’ struggle to survive runs secondary to King’s technophobic message. The plot is effectively more important than the narrative it supports. Most of the attention is paid to the pulse itself. The rampaging zombies are given a reason to exist: their brains have been literally â€Å"scrambled like a skillet of eggs† (43). Their violent and gory actions are symbolic of what King feels our world is becoming.Even if King’s doesn’t think using cell phones and visiting websites will lead to apocalypse or rampages, perhaps he is (at the very least) suggesting that we are becoming just as mindless. When the pulse strikes, the â€Å"Phoners† were connected via network. Everyone affected has been linked together. The danger, King suggests, is that our shrinking world is not necessarily a good thing. To King, cell phones and the Internet have ceased to be modes of transmitting information. Sharing information is less important than swapping videos and songs with friends now, or having conversations while walking through a park.People look like they are talking to themselves. King feels that technology has left us vulnerable. We might not be vulnerable to a zombie-creating â€Å"pulse,† but we are certainly vulnerable to losing our sense of identity and humanity . We are giving ourselves, little by little, over to technology. In Cell, the mindless â€Å"Phoners† are soon organized into â€Å"Flocks,† which move around in patterns very much like migrating birds. This underscores King’s central fear: the marriage of technology and biology. He seems to be calling for a world that exists offline.In his book The Soft Edge, media philosopher Paul Levinson agrees that the fundamental nature of technology closely recalls mankind. There are legitimate concerns to consider as we move toward an ever-increasing dependence upon the technologies available to us. Levinson states that â€Å"the wisdom of nature is not always good for us, insofar as it accommodates hurricanes, drought, famine, earthquake, and all manner of destructive occurrences† (150). Nature’s tendency toward destruction and collapse, also known as entropy, is mirrored in technology and, very clearly, in Cell.Like nature itself, destruction is part of t he nature of technology, King believes. Levinson questions whether technology can have things similar to â€Å"ugly ragweed,† which must be monitored and controlled. He asks â€Å"whether ragweed can be controlled without suppressing the beauty and value that emerges right next to it, untended† (Levinson 151). His vision is aligned with King’s—technology has the capacity to destroy—but he feels that it can be controlled. Technological systems will not revolt against us, as they do in Cell, but they must be actively watched.Cell paints a stark portrait of society on the brink of collapse—one that people have willingly bought into. In King’s mind, we are ushering ourselves to our own demise, if not our loss of humanity. Something as simple and ubiquitous as a cell phone is turned into a tool of terror. With Cell, King makes us question whether we have established systems for ourselves that are not so much helpful as they are corruptive. His novel is a cautionary tale about where we are heading as a civilization. When we next answer the phone, King suggests the fate of our own humanity may be calling.

What Is a Master of Social Work (MSW) Degree

The master of social work (MSW) degree is a professional degree that enables the holder to practice social work independently after completing a specified number of hours of supervised practice — which varies by state — and obtaining certification. Typically the MSW requires two years of full-time study, including a minimum of 900 hours of supervised practice and can only be completed after graduating an undergraduate program, preferably with a degree in a related field. The primary difference between MSW and Bachelors of Social Work programs is that the MSW focus more on the big picture and small detail elements of professional social work as opposed to the BSWs attention to direct social work practices in hospitals and community organizations.   Professional Application of MSW Degrees A recipient of a Master of Social Work degree is fully ready to enter the professional world, especially in fields that require more attention the micro- or macro- aspects of social work, though not all jobs require more than a bachelors degree.   In any case, jobs in the field of social work in the United States do require a degree from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, and anyone who wishes to provide therapy must have at least an MSW.  Unlicensed providers can hang a shingle and provide â€Å"psychotherapy† without breaking any laws in many states (if not all); but in some states, like MA, the term â€Å"Mental Health Counseling† is regulated. Standards of registration and certification vary by state, though, so it is important as a student in an MSW to make sure you complete all applicable processes for licensing, registering, and certifying for social work within the state you hope to work. Income of MSW Degree Recipients Due in part to the volatile capital of Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs) that provide a majority of career options in social work, the income of professionals in the field greatly varies by employer. Still, an MSW recipient, as opposed to a BSW recipient, could expect anywhere between a $10,000 to $20,000 increase in salary after earning their degree. Income also largely depends on the specialization of the MSW degree a graduate receives, with Medical and Public Health Social Work specialized employees topping the chart with an expected annual salary of upwards of $70,000. Psychiatric and Hospital Social Work specialists can expect to earn between $50,000 to $65,000 a year with their MSW degrees. Advanced Social Work Degrees For social workers hoping to pursue an administrative career in the nonprofit sector, applying to a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) to earn their Ph.D. might be required to assume higher-level jobs in the profession. This degree requires an additional two to four years of university study, completing a dissertation in the field, and additional hours of internship. Professionals who want to further their careers in a more academic and research-oriented direction of social work might pursue this type of degree in the field. Otherwise, the MSW degree is more than sufficient to pursue a fulfilling career in social work — so the only thing left to do after earning your degree is taking the first steps toward your professional career as a social worker!