Leading High Performance Groups

Leading High Performance Groups Introduction The importance of group work has become relevant in the current competitive business environment. Organizations have come to realize that the best way of achieving success is by breaking down tasks, and assigning small groups of employees’ different tasks as a way of achieving the overall objectives of an organization.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Leading High Performance Groups specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Partridge (1999), although firms still appreciates that the performance of individual employees would always determine success of the entire firm, the need for these individual employees to work as small groups has increasingly become evident. In such small groups, a firm is able to define ways in which a strategic objective can be achieved in a more coordinated manner. It becomes easier for the top management to monitor activities of groups other than that of individuals.à ‚  When assigned the role of leading such teams, it is always important to find ways of achieving maximum output using the assigned members. This means that such a leader will have the responsibility of motivating the team in order to make it a high performer. Leading high performing groups requires leadership skills that would enable the project leader to maintain motivation among project members. It involves making them understand the vision, and constantly reminding them that they have the capacity to achieve this vision. It involves being creative enough to make team members understand the various environmental forces that may affect the team’s performance and defining the best ways of managing these forces. It also involves maintaining a positive communication with all the members, always trying to make an effort to understand uniqueness of every team member. This research paper seeks to analyze how a team leader can lead a high performance groups. Objective of the study In every research, it is always important to understand objectives that will guide the research, especially in the process of collecting relevant data. Leadership is a field that has received massive attention from scholars around the world. It is important to define specific area of focus when conducting a research that is related to leadership. The following are some of the specific objectives that the researcher seeks to achieve through this study. To determine the meaning of high performance groups from the perspective of various scholars To identify some of the underpinning theories relevant in leading high performance group. To develop an understanding of the appropriate method that should be taken in developing teams within an organization. To determine how new leaders can understand their team members and devise the most appropriate method of making them achieve the desired result. To create an understanding of how team conflicts can be resolved in order to eliminate negat ive effects of such conflicts. The research seeks to respond to the above objectives in order to enable new managers understand what is expected of them when developing new teams.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Discussion According to Kliem (2004), before one can purport to offer leadership, it is always important to understand why teams are important in the first place. This scholar notes that a leader should always appreciate the importance of having teams within the organization. This way, it becomes possible to develop a vision that will be shared by all team members. In the current dynamic business environment, firms have come to realize that the best way of achieving success with employees is by organizing them into groups. This is important because of several reasons. Creativity and innovation has become core to success of organization. Creativity is best achieved when employees are allowed to work as a team. Through such teams, employees get to share talents and skills in a group setting. This way, it becomes possible for one to share his or her unique skills with others and determine how the unique skill or talent can be nurtured into something of benefit to the firm. Groups also offer a unique environment for learning. When employees are assigned various groups, they are able to learn some of the skills they were lacking by observing the way other team members are undertaking their activities. Teams also offers the management unit a unique opportunity to offer in-service training to its workforce in a practical environment in order to enhance their performance. Partridge (1999) notes that trying to achieve strategic objectives of a firm without breaking them into tactic and operational objectives may yield poor results. For this reason, it is always important for the management to break the overall objectives into tactic and oper ational objectives. Teams would be assigned these tactic objectives based on their areas of specialization. The management would then make the team members understand the overall objective of the firm, and the relevance of their assigned tasks in achieving the overall objectives. As Harris (2013) says, groups also offers employees opportunity to interact and understand each other better. Human being is social by nature, and it is important to create an environment where they can share their views and job experiences. This reduces the level of stress among employees. It acts as a motivation to achieve more. As a new manager who is expected to lead small teams, it is important to understand these fact in order to appreciate the need to have teams within an organization.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Leading High Performance Groups specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Defining High Performance Groups Nemiro (2008) defin es high performance groups as teams who level of output per given unit time is above normal. He states that high performance groups are teams that are always motivated and determined to achieve higher success in every task they are assigned. These are individuals who are always focused on what lies ahead, and understand ways in which they can coordinate themselves in order to deliver the best results within the shortest time possible. In such groups, every member if the team understands what is needed of him or her, and will always commit self towards delivering goods results on their assigned tasks. Kliem (2004) observes that team leaders are not special people with unique skills put together to perform a given task. Rather, this is a group of employees who are always positive in their work, are willing to learn, and able to try new approaches in undertaking tasks assigned to them. This means that high performance groups are always defined by the kind of leadership they have. It is through leadership that employees will remain constantly motivated. As Harris (2013) observes, leaders are always the driving force of any organization. Depending on the way they get to influence junior employees, a firm can achieve success or failure in its operations. This means that high performance groups would rely on the leader who has been assigned to these groups. Such a leader must understand individual employees capacity and needs, determine how these needs can be met, and develop strategies that would make every member of the team feel that his or her views are respected by the leader. To be a successful leader, it is always important to understand people that are led and be sensitive of their concerns. This would make them feel motivated. It is this motivation that would make them willing to go an extra mile in undertaking various duties within the firm, making the entire team successful. Understanding team theory may be important in appreciating the role of a leader in achieving success within the organization. Understanding the Team Theory It is clear from the discussion above that high performance groups is defined by the kind of leaders who are assigned to such groups. As a leader therefore, it is important to appreciate that the performance of the group would depend on the leadership competency. To do this, Partridge (1999) says that it is important to understand the theory behind team. Team Theory seeks to explain stages that is always taken in forming a team, and the needs of team members at these stages. As a leader, understanding these stages makes it possible to develop strategies that would enable the leader meet the changing expectations of the team members. This theory specifies the following stages of growth of a team.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Forming stage This is the first stage of a team where different people come together with the view of working as a unit to achieve a common goal. As this stage, Nemiro (2008) notes that employees are always polite and positive. Members also experience mixed reactions as they try to visualize what lies ahead for them in these groups. High performance group would always be defined at this stage. A leader needs to tap on the positivity of the employees and their high expectations to make them high performance. Their anxiety should be turned into desire to achieve better results. It is also at this stage that a leader should provide a clear vision of the group, and a communication system that enables every member of the team to be heard. Any form of disillusionment should be eliminated. The focus at this stage would always be to set the right tempo that would be desired in achieving both short-term and long-term goals. Storming stage This is the stage where reality downs on the team mem bers. Every team member gets to understand his or her tasks, and the overall objectives that should be achieved within team. Tasks become clearly defined, and the exact vision becomes clear. This stage is always very challenging for a leader if the first stage was not handled appropriately. This is because at this stage, some members may realize that things are not as easy as they could have anticipated. However, if they were well prepared at the first stage, this second stage is always easily accomplished. The leader must understand that this stage involves assigning specific duties to individuals in the group in order to achieve overall objective of the firm. A leader of high performance team would always use this opportunity to make team members define their own individual path in achieving their specific tasks in the best way possible. The leader should offer members assistance when they are defining their operational strategies. The leader must ensure that their tactical strate gies are in line with the vision of the group. Norming stage At this third stage, team members get to understand their real working environment. They get to appreciate what the overall vision of the team seeks to achieve. Team members also get to understand one another, and define how they can relate in order to support and be supported in various activities. This stage provides a leader with the best opportunity of making employees feel more comfortable with their tasks, and the need to involve others in their actions. As Nemiro (2008) notes, employees at this stage may try to be independent in their actions because they get to understand their environment. This independence is not bad, but it should not be a reason that makes members ignore team spirit that was the real reason why such teams were forme (Kliem, 2004). Performing stage When a leader guides his team through the first three stages successfully, the fourth stage will be a true reflection of a high performance team. Whe n the leader guided his or her members through the first three stages successfully, the fourth face would involve high levels of collaboration among members. Every member of the group will understand that the overall success of the firm depends on the success of their individual performance. They would therefore try to achieve perfection in their duties, while still willing to help other team members be successful in their various tasks. In such groups, members will appreciate the dynamism in their working environment, and accept the need to be dynamic to the changing environmental factors. Understanding these four stages is very important for a new leader who is intending to guide a given group of employees into becoming high performance groups. Leading Virtual Teams Technology has created an environment where people can work from different geographic locations across the world. There are cases where a leader is assigned a virtual team, with members spread in various regions around the world. It is important for such a leader to understand that in order to create a high performance group out of them, the four stages defined above must be clearly followed despite lack of physical presence. Kliem (2004) warns that to lead a virtual high performance group, there is need for a high degree of discipline for all members. This is because when it is decided upon that there would be a videoconference at a particular time, all members should be seated at their respective offices ready for the conference. Any delay by any member or the leader may paralyze operations of the group. This may be worse in case it is the leader who fails to avail himself at the conference within the right time.  Leading virtual teams also need sophisticated communication tools that would keep all members in contact with one another. The leader must be able to communicate with any member of the team at any time of the day without getting affected by geographic barrier. Individual members mus t also be able to communicate among themselves in order to enhance creativity in their various tasks. Harris (2013) also advises that when leading such teams, traditional leadership approaches that emphasizes on exerting one’s authority over other as a show of supremacy may not yield the desired fruits. Resolving Conflicts in High Performance Groups Teams always bring together people with different skills, ideas, knowledge and talents. It also brings together individuals with different attitudes, values, and other demographical factors (Kliem (2004). Although it would be expected that in high performance teams the levels of understanding would always be high, it is important to appreciate the fact that conflicts would arise due to a number of reasons. It is important to address these conflicts as soon as they arise in order to avoid negative consequences they might have on the performance of the group. As a leader of high performance group, it is necessary to develop systems that would capture conflicts among the group members as soon as they arise. In order to manage conflict in such groups, a leader should consider the following. A leader should not ignore any form of conflict among the employees because when it is not addressed at its early stage, then it may give rise to other negative consequences that may affect the operations of the firm. A leader must have a clear proactive system that is able to identify conflicts within the group and offer clear guidelines on how to resolve it. A leader should encourage communication amongst conflicting groups as a way understanding each other. A leader should instil the spirit of tolerance amongst its employees as a way of creating an environment where conflicts can be resolved easily. Measuring the Performance of the Group It is always important to determine the performance of a group, especially if it has reached the fourth stage. High performance groups are always unique from other groups in the characte ristics they exhibit. The following are some of the characteristics that are always common among high performance groups Respect and trust among team members. High performance groups are always characterized by a high level of trust among group members. This helps in creating an environment where team members feel free to share their views, skills, talent, and knowledge with others. Clear communication system that enhances clarity and honesty among employees. In these groups, it is team members always have an understanding of what has been achieved, and what needs to be achieved (Harris, 2013). Positive results in the performance of the firm towards achieving success. The ultimate measure of performance would be the actual determination of the output posted by the team over a given period. High performance groups would always post good results, and their activities would always be seen to be in line with its vision. Conclusion Leading high performance groups can be a very challeng ing task. It requires a deep understanding of people within the group in order to develop strategies that would be acceptable to them. High performance groups are always defined by its leadership structure. It is clear from the above discussion that leaders have a great responsibilities of leading team members towards achieving the vision of a firm. To do this, leaders should understand various stages of leadership, and how they can influence team members at these stages in order to achieve success. References Harris, P. (2013). Developing High Performance Leaders: A Behavioral Science Guide for the Knowledge of Work Culture. New York: Routledge. Kliem, R. L. (2004). Leading high performance projects. Boca Raton: Ross Publishers. Nemiro, J. E. (2008). The handbook of high-performance virtual teams: A toolkit for collaborating across boundaries. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Partridge, L. (1999). Leading high performance. London: Financial Times Management.

Profile of Major General Smedley Butler

Profile of Major General Smedley Butler Major General Smedley Butler was a decorated war veteran. He is best known for serving in the Carribean and abroad during World War I. Early Life Smedley Butler was born in West Chester, PA on July 30, 1881, to Thomas and Maud Butler. Raised in the area, Butler initially attended West Chester Friends Graded High School before moving on to the prestigious Haverford School. While enrolled at Haverford, Butlers father was elected to the US House of Representatives. Serving in Washington for thirty-one years, Thomas Butler would later provide political cover for his sons military career. A gifted athlete and a good student, the younger Butler elected to leave Haverford in mid-1898 to take part in the Spanish-American War. Joining the Marines Though his father wished him to remain in school, Butler was able to obtain a direct commission as a second lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. Ordered to the Marine Barracks in Washington, DC for training, he then joined the Marine Battalion, North Atlantic Squadron and took part in operations around Guantnamo Bay, Cuba. With the withdrawal of the Marines from the area later in the year, Butler served aboard USS New York until being discharged on February 16, 1899. His separation from the Corps proved short as he was able to secure a first lieutenants commission in April. In the Far East Ordered to Manila, Philippines, Butler took part in the Philippine-American War. Bored by garrison life, he welcomed the opportunity to experience combat later that year. Leading a force against the Insurrecto-held town of Noveleta in October, he succeeded in driving off the enemy and securing the area. In the wake of this action, Butler was tattooed with a large Eagle, Globe, and Anchor which covered his entire chest. Befriending Major Littleton Waller, Butler was selected to join him as part of a Marine company on Guam. En route, Wallers force was detoured to China to aid in putting down the Boxer Rebellion. Arriving in China, Butler took part in the Battle of Tientsin on July 13, 1900. In the fighting, he was hit in the leg while trying to rescue another officer. Despite his wound, Butler assisted the officer to the hospital. For his performance at Tientsin, Butler received a brevet promotion to captain. Returning to action, he was grazed in the chest during fighting near San Tan Pating. Returning the United States in 1901, Butler spent two years serving ashore and aboard various vessels. In 1903, while stationed in Puerto Rico, he was ordered to aid in protecting American interests during a revolt in Honduras. The Banana Wars Moving along the Honduran coast, Butlers party rescued the American consul in Trujillo. Suffering from a tropical fever during the campaign, Butler received the nickname Old Gimlet Eye due to his constantly bloodshot eyes. Returning home, he married Ethel Peters on June 30, 1905. Ordered back to the Philippines, Butler saw garrison duty around Subic Bay. In 1908, now a major, he was diagnosed with having a nervous breakdown (possibly post-traumatic stress disorder) and was sent back to the United States for nine months to recover. During this period Butler tried his hand at coal mining but found it not to his liking. Returning to the Marines, he received command of 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment on the Isthmus of Panama in 1909. He remained in the area until being ordered to Nicaragua in August 1912. Commanding a battalion, he took part in the bombardment, assault, and capture of Coyotepe in October. In January 1914, Butler was directed to join Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher off the coast of Mexico to monitor military activities during the Mexican Revolution. In March, Butler, posing as a railroad executive, landed in Mexico and scouted the interior. As the situation continued to worsen, American forces landed at Veracruz on April 21. Leading the Marine contingent, Butler directed their operations through two days of fighting before the city was secured. For his actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. The following year, Butler led a force from USS Connecticut ashore on Haiti after a revolution threw the country into chaos. Winning several engagements with the Haitian rebels, Butler won a second Medal of Honor for his capture of Fort Rivià ¨re. In doing so, he became one of only two Marines to win the medal twice, the other being Dan Daly. World War I With the US entry into World War I in April 1917, Butler, now a lieutenant colonel, began lobbying for a command in France. This failed to materialize as some of his key superiors deemed him unreliable despite his stellar record. On July 1, 1918, Butler received a promotion to colonel and command of the 13th Marine Regiment in France. Though he worked to train the unit, they did not see combat operations. Promoted to brigadier general in early October, he was directed to oversee Camp Pontanezen at Brest. A key debarkation point for American troops, Butler distinguished himself by improving conditions in the camp. Postwar For his work in France, Butler received the Distinguished Service Medal from both the US Army and US Navy. Arriving home in 1919, he took command of Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia and over the next five years worked to make what had been a wartime training camp into a permanent base. In 1924, at the request of President Calvin Coolidge and Mayor W. Freeland Kendrick, Butler took a leave from the Marines to serve as Director of Public Safety for Philadelphia. Assuming oversight of the citys police and fire departments, he tirelessly worked to end corruption and enforce Prohibition. Though effective, Butlers military-style methods, impolitic comments, and aggressive approach began to wear thin with the public and his popularity began to drop. Though his leave was extended for a second year, he frequently clashed with Mayor Kendrick and elected to resign and return to the Marines Corps in late 1925. After briefly commanding the Marine Corps Base at San Diego, CA, he embarked for China in 1927. Over the next two years, Butler commanded the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Working to protect American interests, he successfully dealt with rival Chinese warlords and leaders. Returning to Quantico in 1929, Butler was promoted to major general. Resuming his task of making the base the showplace of the Marines, he worked to increase the publics awareness of the corps by taking his men on long marches and re-enacting Civil War battles such as Gettysburg. On July 8, 1930, the Commandant of the Marines Corps, Major General Wendell C. Neville, died. Though tradition called for the senior general to temporarily fill the post, Butler was not appointed. Though considered for the permanent position of command  and supported by notables such as Lieutenant General John Lejeune, Butlers controversial track record along with ill-timed public comments regarding Italian dictator Benito Mussolini saw Major General Ben Fuller receive the post instead. Retirement Rather than continue in the Marine Corps, Butler filed for retirement and left the service on October 1, 1931. A popular lecturer while with the Marines, Butler began speaking to various groups fulltime. In March 1932, he announced that he would run for the US Senate from Pennsylvania. An advocate of Prohibition, he was defeated in the 1932 Republican primary. Later that year, he publically supported the Bonus Army protesters who sought early payment of the service certificates issued by the World War Adjusted Compensation Act of 1924. Continuing to lecture, he increasingly focused his speeches against war profiteering and American military intervention abroad. The themes of these lectures formed the basis for his 1935 work War Is a Racket which outlined the connections between war and business. Butler continued to speak on these topics and his views of fascism in the US through the 1930s. In June 1940, Butler entered the Philadelphia Naval Hospital after being ill for several weeks. On June 20, Butler died of cancer and was buried at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester, PA.

Find a issue and two reasons Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Find a issue and two reasons - Essay Example Nonetheless, poverty is a social phenomenon, which is experienced in all countries, including the developed and developing countries. The social phenomenon of poverty is not as simple as it might appear. This is a complex phenomenon, which is complicated. Therefore, it is has proved challenging to provide a universal definition of this phenomenon. In addition, it is also complicated and challenging to discover the real causes of poverty. Different scholars studying this phenomenon have identified differing causes, and most have disagreed on which ones to term as the main causes of this phenomenon (Lusted 12). Nonetheless, some of the main factors considered to cause poverty include unequal distribution of resources in the society, and environmental degradation. Unequal distribution of resources makes some people to be termed rich, and others poor. Therefore, the group of people with limited access to resources will experience poverty. On the other hand, environmental degradation will affect those people who solely rely on the environment for natural resources. Farmers, anglers, are affected negatively by environmental degradation, therefore, making them poor (Fight Poverty n.p.). Nonetheless, the phenomenon of poverty is important in the world today, as through tis, the distribution patterns of wealth and resources can be traced. This would therefore, help most sociologists understand other social issues in different countries, with regard to their poverty levels. Sociologists and Anthropologists argue that poverty is a phenomenon that has existed throughout history, even before the recorded history. This is because the element of social stratification is inherent in the human society. Therefore, status, wealth, and power are all unequally distributed in society, even in the prehistoric times. Poverty is real and has been existent in the world over the past centuries. According to the records of the United Nations, poverty exists in most continents. In addition , Anthropologists and sociologists have traced poverty to the ancient eras, including the early periods of civilization. In addition, poverty is evident during the colonial era, according to sociologists. Today, the phenomenon of poverty is more prevalent in the third-world countries. Most African countries are stricken with poverty as shown by the increased deaths due to hunger, as well as increased immortality rates. Most poor African countries have therefore, benefited from considerable amount of aid and relief from the West (WHO n.p.). On the other hand, in most developed countries, the government supports the few poor countries through financial assistance. Homelessness in both developed and developing countries is an evidence of poverty in those countries. Poverty is a problematic phenomenon, considering it is among the social phenomena that humankind has failed to address. Poverty is detrimental, but no strategy over the years, has been instrumental in eliminating it. Nonethe less, between environmental degradation and unequal distribution of resources, unequal distribution of resources in society is the most valid cause of poverty. If all people in society would access wealth in the same measure, then there would not exist the phenomenon of poverty (Fight Poverty n.p.). Environmental degradation has existed for the past few decades, and there has been awareness about this aspect, which generally bears negative consequences for human beings. It is argued that environmental deg

Social Issues Regarding Digital Media in the Digital Age Research Paper

Social Issues Regarding Digital Media in the Digital Age - Research Paper Example As the paper declares the technological breakthroughs that been evidenced especially in the area of information and communication have had far-reaching consequences not only on the economic lives of individuals but also in the social behavior. Today, it looks like the oxygen people breathe is technologically purified. So much has been done with technology that its advantages remain to be challenged. On the same note, the myriad issues that have come along with this modernism have raised some social and ethical issues. According to the research findings the scholarly/academic meaning of the word ‘digital’ may differ from that which is known in the streets. In the ay today use, the word may be used to refer to social media or millennial technology that is commonly used by teens and youths for purposes of fun. Digital media has also been used to refer to all sorts of media that have visual capabilities. These terms and descriptions may not accurately represent the technical understanding of digital media. There are numerous examples of digital media starting from the most common one, the social media through video games, eBooks, digital audio, websites, digital videos to online newspapers and magazines. Currently, lots of people around the world use these myriad forms of digital media for fun, communication, jobs among others. The resounding transformation has been catastrophically felt everywhere around the globe.

Critically discuss the influences from outside accounting which have Essay

Critically discuss the influences from outside accounting which have affected the development of financial reporting in various countries - Essay Example As a point of departure accounting is a product of the environment and all factors attributed to the outside of accounting such as politics, legal framework among others will automatically influence the manner in which the accounting system of a nation operates differently from those of their nations. This brings us to the aspect of political systems. Various nations across the nations embrace diverse types of governance systems which immensely influence the type of accounting systems to be embraced across its borders. For instance, some of the political systems practiced include the multi-party democracy, one-party systems, traditional monarchies, military dictatorships and dominant-party systems (UNITED STATES, 2007). It is imperative to note that, the higher the level of a political system in terms of freedom, the lower the rank of a nation. This immensely influences the standards of the accounting systems that are embraced in a particular nation. For instance, the political syste ms of a nation stand a position of determining the nature of the economic structure a nation embraces hence determining the accounting patterns (TSAMENYI & UDDIN, 2009). Some nations can import or export accounting standards and practices; this brings the discrepancy of the accounting systems embraced by diverse nations. In addition, the element of political freedom of a nation is critical in the development of an accounting and reporting systems guided by the full and fair disclosure principle. In essence, when the populace is not allowed to make independent electoral choices, then the possibility of influencing accountable and transparent governance principles which will enable establishment of an accounting profession or system that is founded on the full and fair disclosure principle is low. Similarly on the side of legal systems, the same case of lack of influence in the formation of these systems defines

The Awakening- Ednas Independence Essay Example for Free

The Awakening- Ednas Independence Essay In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, Edna Pontellier is a character who is alienated from the rest of society. She carries views which do not coincide with the norm, and in a way establishes her own idea of how women should live and be treated. Not only do her views estrange her from society, but she also physically separates herself from the life she used to live and the Victorian culture into which she was born. During this time, it was expected of a woman to be the perfect picture of a wife and mother, an â€Å"Angel of the House†. Even early on in the novel Edna is shown to be the type of woman that doesn’t fit the bill. While most other mothers, such as Adele Ratignolle, would bend over backwards to take care of their children, Edna is clearly not as much a ‘mother-woman’; her children had learned to be the type to stand up and brush off the dirt rather than run to mommy if they fell down. Her marriage to Leonce was more a social convention than it was a loving relationship, as if she only married because it was the thing to do. This was not an uncommon arrangement, but Edna’s treatment of it was- with little passion and emotional connection in her marriage, she commits emotional adultery finding companionship in the form of Robert Lebrun. Later in rediscovering music and art, she also shirks all responsibility as a wife and mother, ignoring her expected duties in order to concentrate on her painting. This is far from the picture of the perfect Victorian wife. Edna’s physical separation from her old life is symbolic of her opposing views about women and their role in the community. With her husband away and her boys with their grandmother, Edna lives as a single woman. Her choice to remove herself from the life of a mother-woman is contradictory to everything she was taught to do. Her claim of independence is unheard of, and society doesn’t know how to react. In her Victorian culture, women are the belongings of men and have no claims to their own lives, nor have they any means to their own wants and needs; this was the custom everyone had grown up on, the custom everyone was used to. Edna rebels against this belief with her nonconformist decision to live on her own, as her own being, with her own mental and emotional and sexual desires. There is an instance when Edna and Robert are discussing a future together, and Robert notes his wish to free Edna from Leonce, because he is still under the belief that she is an object to be passed from one owner to another. Edna then calls him silly for believing such things, for she is an independent person, whom no one governs but her own self. Edna’s intellectual, emotional, and sexual awakenings, though giving her the independence she craves, isolate her from the rest of society. There is one point in the novel where Edna speaks of walking, how she doesn’t mind walking to get to places farther off and how she feels bad for those women who don’t take the walk because they are missing so much. Edna knows she is the only woman who has taken the walk, taken the chance to discover living outside of societal norms and finding out how freeing it is. As much as she wants someone to join her, in her last ‘awakening’ she realizes no one will- Robert wants to marry her out of convention rather than cross the boundaries and be her lover. Edna realizes she cannot escape the chains of society’s expectations, and she is utterly alone. Edna’s isolation grows as she has more and more revelations about her life and herself. Though starting simply as the odd one out among the mother-women, she becomes the lone rebel across the societal boundaries. Her beliefs about women as independent, intellectual, sexual, and emotional beings contradict the societal views demonstrated along her journey of awakening.

Colonial America Essay -- essays research papers

Religious Freedom in colonial America   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Religion was a very important part of everyday life in colonial America. Sometimes people were not allowed to question what they were taught, and if they did so they were punished accordingly. Before 1700 some colonies had more religious freedom then others. While others colonies only allowed religious freedom to a select group, others allowed religious freedom to all different kinds of religions. In the overall there was quite a bit of religious freedom in colonial America   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First there is the colony or Rhode Island, which was started by a man, named Roger Williams in (1636). It did not become an official colony until (1644) when it then received a charter from Parliament. Williams welcomed every one; he guaranteed religious freedom to everyone even the Catholics and the Jews. Williams also granted religious freedom to the Quakers, even though his own views were very different from those of the Quakers. This was truly the most democratic of all of the colonies. Williams did not demand mandatory attendance at services, or oaths regarding religious beliefs. Rhode Island was truly the first example of religious tolerance and freedom of opportunity. Second there is the colony or Pennsylvania (1681). Pennsylvania was founded by an English man named William Penn. At first, Pennsylvania guaranteed religious freedom to all residents of the colony. Later on however, London started givi...