The Middle Passage Essay - 1219 Words

The Middle Passage (or Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade) was a voyage that took slaves from Africa to the Americas via tightly packed ships. The trade started around the early 1500s, and by 1654 about 8,000-10,000 slaves were being imported from Africa to the Americas every year. This number continued to grow, and by 1750 that figure had climbed to about 60,000-70,000 slaves a year. Because of the lack of necessary documents, it is hard to tell the exact number of Africans taken from their homeland. But based on available clues and data, an estimated 9-15 million were taken on the Middle Passage, and of that about 3-5 million died. While the whole idea seems sick and wrong, many intelligent people and ideas went in to making the slave trade†¦show more content†¦Meanwhile in the Americas, European empires were growing, and they realized that they needed a more efficient work force. They had tried using Native Americans, but they usually died from European diseases. Europeans couldn ’t work because of the diseases that the tropical climate gave them. It seemed like Africans would be the perfect solution to their problems. They were used to the tropical climate and immune to its diseases, had experience in agriculture, and there was already a market for them. This introduced the slave trade to North America, and in 1619 the first New World slaves were brought to Jamestown, Virginia. Most of the earlier slaves to journey the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade were from Windward Coast and Senegambia (Present-day Mauritania), but later expanded all along the coast of Africa. The Atlantic Slave Trade was also given the name â€Å"Middle Passage†, since it was the middle leg in the Triangular trade. The Triangular trade was a trade system among Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Europe made manufactured goods such as textiles, gun powder, firearms, iron and copper bars, alcohol, cloth and brass kitchen ware. These were traded in Africa for slaves, gold, and silv er, which were transported to the Americas, where they were exchanged for tobacco, fish, lumber, flour, sugar cane, cotton, and distilled rum. This merchandise was then brought to Europe, where the cycle began again. The Triangle Trade was veryShow MoreRelatedMiddle Passage By Charles Johnson909 Words   |  4 Pages The book Middle Passage by Charles Johnson tells a story about the triangular slave trade which took place early in America s history. This book was written with such close attention to detail that it gave the reader a sense of what life was like on board a slave boat. Johnson s writing style included many different techniques including the use of varying structure, imagery and language. All of these devices helped create a very successful story about slavery. This book tells the story aboutRead MoreThe Middle Passage And The Transatlantic Slave Trade1594 Words   |  7 Pages Anderson Professor Gray History 1301-155 June 22, 15 The Middle Passage During history there has been plenty of slave trade in different countries. They have traded different ethnicities, and each had a different means of use for these people. What is intriguing is how they commuted these people and how this process has impacted their descendants. A major use of trade in history was the middle passage that was part of the transatlantic slave route. â€Å"The transatlantic slave trade concerns historyRead MoreThe Extreme Cruelty of the Middle Passage Essay1730 Words   |  7 PagesThere is no other experience in history where innocent African Americans encountered such a brutal torment. This infamous ordeal is called the Middle Passage or the â€Å"middle leg† of the Triangular Trade, which was the forceful voyage of African Americans from Africa to the New World. The Africans were taken from their homeland, boarded onto the dreadful ships, and scattered into the New World as slaves. 10- 16 million Africans were shipped across the Atlantic during the 1500’s to the 1900’s and 10-Read MoreThe Middle Passage1035 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Middle Passage. The course of this route was used to transport kidnapped Africans so they could be enslaved in the Americas. Within a three hundred year period, it is approximated that over ten million African slaves were kidnapped and trafficked to the Americas through the Middle Passage. The plights of the slaves across the middle passage were increased by the physical abuse, emotional abuse, and horrific living conditions they faced on their journey. During their trip across the Middle PassageRead MoreSlavery And The Middle Passage930 Words   |  4 PagesConclusion Slavery developed in the Americas because of exploration and need or labor. Europeans captured Africans and transported them across the deadly Middle Passage, to the Americas, where they would be forced to poor under harsh conditions. Slavery had many lasting effects. Africa was depopulated, and Africans in America lost their cultures and identity while Europeans made money from the resources being exported in the Americas at the expense of Africans’ lives and culture. Intro: AtlanticRead MoreEssay on Middle Passage1227 Words   |  5 PagesINTRO Examination into the true heart of experience and meaning, Charles Johnson’s Middle Passage looks at the structures of identity and the total transformation of the self. The novel talks about the hidden assumptions of human and literary identity and brings to view the real problems of these assumptions through different ideas of allusion and appropriation. As the novel tells Rutherford Calhoun’s transformation of un-awareness allows him to cross â€Å"the sea of suffering† (209) making him forgetRead MoreThe Middle Passage - Original Writing1452 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The Middle Passage† Can you imagine walking home from school, or cleaning your personal house in your own neighborhood? When suddenly, you hear knocks on the door and you and your families are kidnapped, taken, and stolen from your own given rights. You become shackled and chained and thrown down to the darkest, deepest hole of a huge ship. While you’re in this terrifying place you are crammed with no room at all. Then your notice that you’re starving for weeks almost months and there’s nothingRead MoreMiddle Passage: A Review Essay487 Words   |  2 PagesReading Portfolio Middle Passage is a novel filled with different techniques such as allusions, foreshadowing, humor, character transitions, and many other techniques. Charles Johnson, the author of this amazing novel wanted the readers to acknowledge the past and present events. He connects the past and the present with many different examples. One example is when the police hit Santos for no reason. This comparison is made very clear and simple enough for the readers to understand that policeRead MoreEssay on Olaudah Equiano1220 Words   |  5 PagesThe Horrid Journey If it were not for the stories past down from generation to generation or the documentations in historical books, the history of the twelve million African slaves that traveled the â€Å"Middle Passage† in miserable conditions would not exist. Olaudah Equiano contributes to this horrid history with The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. Through this narrative, the appalling personal experience of each slave is depicted. He accomplishes his rhetorical purpose ofRead MoreThe Difficult and Devastating Lives of African People725 Words   |  3 Pagespark. Waking up every day, living in tribes, and doing daily duties were the most common day for Africans. Until, the middle passage emerged, also known as the Slave Trade. Africans were taken through a devastating ride through history in the making. Africans were kidnapped out of nowhere by the â€Å"white men†. The British, the Europeans, the Caucasian all took part of this â€Å"middle passage era†. Africans were taken two by two, and singled file up the docks of the slave ships. Frozen in shock could

Essay about Individualism in History - 1061 Words

In today’s world, individualism is everywhere, accepted by many and encouraged by most people in America. However, in the 18th century colonies, when America was finding its beginnings, this was something that was highly frowned upon. Among many beliefs during the 18th century, one that stood out the most were Puritans who thought that everyone was equal and should do their part to help their community. There were, also, the Deists who believed that everyone was a part of a bigger picture than what was actually seen. Not one of the proclaimed Deists strove to be different from the other, always conforming to what was around him or her. During the 18th century, there were two men who could not be more obviously different than Jonathan†¦show more content†¦Unfortunately, soon after Franklin and his son had a major falling out, that greatly dampened their relationship. Edwards’ and Franklin’s use of tone, the reader sees that both men do an excellent j ob in getting their points across, even though they have various ways of showing their thoughts. Franklin and Edward’s beliefs were the root of every other thing they accomplished in their lives. For Franklin, who was a deist, believed that everything could be solved by reason and logic. Franklin was much more into the emerging science that was coming about in the world. Edwards, on the other hand, was a Calvinist. He believed in predestination and the mystical powers of God. Everything Edwards did or saw could all be explained by God’s will. Although both men believed in completely different theories, they both lived by a high moral code. Franklin first listed out his highest virtues in his autobiography and secondly, tried to master every one. Both men tried to better themselves due to their strong beliefs, but they both were trying to accomplish the same things essentially. Both men, also, shared their beliefs of others. Edwards was different in the fact that he felt it necessary to preach his religion to others, such as in his sermon, â€Å"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God†, while Franklin did not. Franklin and Edwards’ convictions were their primary motivations for their work. Both men’s beliefs, also, had a great effect on the earlyShow MoreRelatedEssay about Individualism in American History1470 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican history there have been struggles for individualism. The American Revolution, the American Civil War, and the separation from family life are all examples of individualism in American history. Individualism is an American paradigm designed by the modern societal structure that is an altered idea of the foundation by immigrants. In today’s society the struggle for individualism is more personal and represents how American values have shifted since the beginning of American history. IndividualismRead MoreA Brief Note On Western Culture And Individualism1107 Words   |  5 PagesHistorical Framework: Individualism means that they are solely depending on that individual person (Ayn, 1). There is no â€Å"we† in the way that an individualist person would think (Culturematters.com). Western culture and individualism is derived from knowledge and emphasis on the individual person. Western culture is open to anyone in any race, cultural background, age, and gender. Therefore, history has changed itself throughout the years when it comes to the way we think. If you refer back toRead MoreIndividualism And Its Impact On Society788 Words   |  4 Pagesthe word individualism. There is nothing selfish to be able to express ones personality and internal emotions. Being an individual alone could value a person’s overall true character. The claim presented would be opposed by many because people like to feel independent and self-reliant. Individualism in today’s society lets people express themselves, and helps create something small into something big. For a long time now individualism has existed since the founding of our country. History was createdRead MoreThe Origin of Individualism1684 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican Individualism can be traced back to the beginning years in its history, when first American immigrants came to the North American continent looking for better life and shaking off they yoke of European feudal tradition and the oppression from all kinds of powerful classes. It is determined that there were elements of Anti-oppression and searching for freedom in American people’s character. This was the original explanation of American Individualism. Although the term â€Å"Individualism† was notRead MoreIndividualism And Liberty By John Stuart Mill1196 Words   |  5 Pages In the essay, Liberty, written by John Stuart Mill, Mill states that individualism is the theory that â€Å"[o]ver himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign† (7). Before coming to this conclusion, Mill first explains that individualism and liberty were defined in ways far different from definitions now and that true individualism did not exist until later in history. It takes him several paragraphs and even chapters to finally suggest that a man, by himself, is free to do whatRead MoreCritical Analysis of Alex de Tocquevilles Democracy in America1366 Words   |  6 Pagesdownfall of democracy. Throughout his travels he noticed that private interest and personal gain motivated the actions of most Americans. He believed this cultivated a new concept, the concept of individualism. He believed this individualism was one of the greatest threats to democracy. He believed individualism would eventually sap the virtue of public life and create a despotism of selfishness. This growth of selfishness would be facilitated by citizens becoming too individualistic. They would, thereforeRead MoreCultural Differences Of Business Practices1625 Words   |  7 Pageswestern country with a long history. Analysis of the two representative countries can get sufficient result. According to Hofstede(1991), there are four main conceptual dimensions on national cultural differences. Framework of four dimensions is the most widely used in psychology, sociology, anthropology and economic studies. This is the first study to systematically categorize culture related to business and management(ghauricateora)The four dimensions are individualism/collectivism, power distanceRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s The Great Gatsby 1277 Words   |  6 Pagesanother word, this book shows the loss and the pursuit within the humanity. Totalitarianism is the biggest evil of all that leads to the dehumanization which has been addressed through 3 parts: the loss of privacy, the loss of individualism, the loss of history. Under the rule of this hierarchy Big Brother, only very few people within the whole population called â€Å"inner party members† have the core of leadership of the country also known as absolute power. Winston is a member of the outer partyRead MoreCollectivism Is More Rational Than Belief960 Words   |  4 PagesI will be using rationality as the main criterion for evaluating which philosophy is preferable, so the resolution can basically be re-stated as belief in collectivism is more rational than belief in individualism. My case revolves around 3 independently functioning reasons for why an affirmation of the resolution is more plausible than a negation of it. I. Collectivism increases the chances of individual success The logic underlying this is simple. A society, by definition, is a group of individualsRead MoreTo What Extent Is the Term Renaissance a Valid Concept for a Distinct Period in Early Modern European History?623 Words   |  3 PagesEuropean history? During the 14th to 17th century, a new golden age emerged. This age was characterized the Renaissance. Led by northern Italian cities, the Renaissance was fundamentally by economic growth, as Europeans sought to achieve higher standards of intellect. The Renaissance marked the beginning of Modern history. It subsequently revived their socio cultural achievements, developing ideas of individualism, humanism, and secularism for a distinct period in modern European history. Individualism

Statistics Coursework Free Essays

Coursework This handout provides information about the module’s second coursework. Below, you will find the coursework as well as information about the marking scheme. * The coursework requires you to engage with regression analysis by performing various regressions in Eviews and by commenting on the main results. We will write a custom essay sample on Statistics Coursework or any similar topic only for you Order Now * The aim of the coursework is to test your ability to handle datasets with the use of a specialist software and to provide critical and informative comments on the outcome of the analysis. You are expected to use Eviews for your analysis. The use of any other alternative software should be negotiated with the lecturer; * This coursework is an individual piece of work and accounts for 20 marks * The deadline is: Friday 16th December * Submission: your report should be typed with all tables, graphs and text included in one single doc or pdf file. You can submit the file via Blackboard or you can submit a hardcopy to the reception office. Notice that if you submit online the deadline will be 11. 9pm on Friday 16th December while if you submit a hardcopy the deadline is 4pm on the same day. * Marking scheme * A first class mark is awarded to the work that: * Contains well drawn and clear graphs, tables and regression output; * The analysis is clear, informative, detailed and makes references to economic theory and to technical aspects of regression analysis; * All questions are addressed in a comprehensive way with the use of appropriate graphs and tables. While answering each individual question, the good student will also appreciate that each question is part of the overall investigation of the determinants of labour supply; * The coursework is well presented, written in good English with an accurate use of referencing to external resources * A grade B is awarded to the work that broadly meets the requirements above but that shows some inaccuracies in the analysis and in the presentation of the information; * A grade C is awarded to the work that shows broad knowledge and understanding of the matter. However, the work is likely to reveal only a partial understanding of either the economic and statistical features of the analysis; * A grade D is awarded to the work that shows a very basic understanding of regression analysis. There is evidence of limited ability to use Eviews and, more broadly, to engage in a meaningful and informative analysis of the data; * A fail mark is awarded to the work that shows no understanding of regression analysis and no ability to handle data and to meaningfully interpret the outcome from the regression analysis. Please turn page for the coursework text The government is interested in understanding what factors affect a household’s annual expenditures on food. Previous research and evidence from various pressure groups suggest that factors such as household income, household size and number of children all play a role in explaining annual household expenditures. You have been asked to produce a report that investigates the determinants of household’s food expenditures and to present the report to local policymakers. To carry out your analysis you have been supplied with the dataset ‘foodexpenditures. wf1’ available in the Coursework folder on Blackboard. The dataset contains data for a random sample of size 300 from a large population of households about the following variables: FOODEXP = expenditures on food (thousands of Euros) HINC = household income (thousands of Euros) HSIZE = number of people living in the household NKIDS = number of children under the age of 18 Use Eviews to address the following tasks that policymakers have asked you to perform: a) Produce scatter-plots of the relationship between FOODEXP and the other explanatory variables. Comment on the graphs. Produce a correlation table and comment on the statistics. (no more than 200 words)(10 marks) b) Regress FOODEXP on HINC only. Conduct a statistical analysis and give your comments. Does the regression outcome fit with your prediction of the relationship between the two variables? Explain. (no more than 300 words)(30 marks) c) Regress FOODEXP on all three regressors. Conduct a statistical analysis and give your comments on the regression outcome. (no more than 300 words)(30 marks) d) Suppose that you are told that an increase of â‚ ¬1000 in the annual household income, while household size and number of children remain unchanged, will on average, lead to an increase of more than â‚ ¬220 in annual food expenditure. Does the evidence confirm this suggestion? no more than 100 words)(10 marks) e) You present the results of your regression analysis to government policy makers. a. In view of the results from your research, what kind of policies would you suggest the government introduces? (no more than 100 words)(5 marks) b. After looking at your research results some policymakers raise some issues about the validity of your research. What kind of criticism do you think they are likely to make? Explain. (no more than 100 words)(15 marks) How to cite Statistics Coursework, Essay examples Statistics Coursework Free Essays string(62) " of TV hours watched per week by the pupils against their IQ\." 1st Hypothesis – For my first hypothesis I will investigate the relationship between the number of TV hours watched per week by the pupils against their IQ. You read "Statistics Coursework" in category "Papers" I am going to use the columns â€Å"IQ† and â€Å"Average number of hours TV watched per week† taken from the Mayfield high datasheet. I think that there will be a relationship between them and will attempt to reveal it. We will write a custom essay sample on Statistics Coursework or any similar topic only for you Order Now 2nd Hypothesis – For my second hypothesis I will investigate the relationship between â€Å"Average number of TV hours watched per week† and â€Å"weight (kg)†. I think that there will not be any major relationship between as they will not affect each other greatly. I will present my analysis and the results in graphs and tables and explain the results using the correlation of the graphs and arrangements of the figures. I will select a number of pupils to base my data on and will use random sampling to ascertain the correct number of male and female pupils needed to make the investigation fair. Stratified Sampling I do not want to use all of the data in the database for my analysis so I will need to take a sample of the number of people in the school. I would like to take about 10% of the overall figure. I will also need to use stratified sampling to make it an equal proportion of the number of males and females in the school to make it fair. The total number of pupils at the school is 813 so I will need to take 10% as my number, 81.3 is rounded down to 81. The overall ratio for boys and girls in the school is: 414:399 Now I will need to do my sampling Males = 414 multiplied by 81 = 41 813 Females = 399 multiplied by 81 = 40 813 Random Sampling Now I have the number of samples I will need to select the samples I will be taking. To do this I will use random sampling. I will take random samples until I have 81. I can do this on Excel using the following formula: = round(round()*120. Once I have gathered the samples I am ready to start analyzing my samples. Analysis Hypothesis 1 Males The first thing I need to do in my analysis is to analyze my graphs which are the source of the investigation. I have created scatter graphs to show the relationship if the two data sources for my first hypothesis. I have separated them into male and female graphs as there is a separation in the numbers. First male scatter graph: This first graph presented a bit of a problem. There was an anomalous result that affected the trend line and the scale of the graph. I decided to create a new graph that didn’t include that 1 piece of data. This way it would help me to analyze the rest of the data. Second male scatter graph: This graph showed the data much clearer and I could then start analyzing it. There is no correlation between the 2 sets of data. This means that it is unlikely that there is a relationship between IQ and Average number of TV hours watched per week. In this it may be that my hypothesis is incorrect. There is only a very slight gradient on the trendline that leans towards a negative correlation, but the gradient is not steep enough to draw any conclusions about the relationship between the two sets of data. I will have to use the cumulative frequency graphs and boxplots to see if any conclusions can be made. Cumulative frequency graphs for IQ and Average number of TV hours watched per week: From these graphs I could create box plots and compare the two sets of data. Before that I analyzed the cumulative frequency graphs to draw initial conclusions. The majority of the IQs for males are between 90 – 105, this shows that the data is quite spread out as this section only covers a small area of the graph. For the TV hour’s graph, again the data is spread among 1 main area; in this case it is between 5-25. There is almost a straight line near the top of the graph; this shows that there is likely to be some anomalous results and 0 pupils in between that result and the main bulk. Now I will create box plots so I can compare the two graphs together. Box plots for cumulative frequency graphs of IQ and average number of TV hours watched per week: (for interquartile ranges look at copies of graphs at the back) From the box plots I can see that the data spread is relatively the same apart from a possible anomalous result in the TV hour’s data. This similarity is the reason why the scatter graph had no correlation and therefore no relationship. This means that my hypothesis is wrong. Hypothesis 1 Females Again I will start with the scatter graphs. As with the male graph I had an anomalous result that spread out the data and scale down the graph so most of the relevant data couldn’t be analyzed. I then did another graph without that specific piece of data. Scatter Graphs 1 and 2 to show the relationship between IQ and average number of TV hours watched per week for Females: As you can see on both the graphs there is no correlation between the two sets of data. This again means that my first hypothesis is unlikely to be correct. There is only a slight gradient on the trend line which is not steep enough to draw any conclusions from it. There is another anomalous result on the graph but it doesn’t affect the trend line and my conclusions so I left it on the graph. I will now crate cumulative frequency graphs to see if they can help me to draw conclusions. Cumulative frequency graphs for the IQ and number of TV hours watched per week: I will now analyze the graphs before drawing box plots to compare the graphs. The IQs graph is much more erratic which means that the data is spread over a larger range. Although there is 1 area where the data is concentrated and the gradient very steep, between 95-105. The TV hours graph is much smoother and the data less spread. The data number of hour’s increases steadily to a certain point then it goes flat until the end. This means that there is a n anomalous result somewhere. I know that it can only be 1 or 2 anomalous because the point where it goes flat is at about 38 and there are only 39 sets of data in the graph. I will now look at the box plots to compare the two cumulative frequency graphs. Box plots for cumulative frequency graphs of IQ and number of TV hours watched for females: The box plots for these graphs show me that the IQ data has a much larger range and that it is quite evenly spread. I can see this because the interquartile range is quite large and the median evenly spread. There may be a few exceptions as 1 pupil is likey to have a very low IQ which is why the lowest value is so low. The TV hour’s data seems to be much more concentrated and the data is generally lower. This shows that there can’t be any relationship between them as they each grouped in certain areas. Also the box plot for TV hours shows that there is likely to bge an anomalous result as the highest value is so far out of the upper quartile. Hypothesis 2 Males In this hypothesis I will be comparing the Average number of TV hours watched per week and Weight, to see if there is any relationship between them. I will again start with Males and the Scatter graphs. Scatter graphs 1 and 2 to show the relationship between Weight and the Average number of TV hours watched per week for males: In these scatter graphs there is a slight negative correlation. This means that as the number of TV hours goes up Weight goes down. This may not be an accurate graph as there are a few anomalous results that may have caused the trend line to be that gradient. If this is so my hypothesis would have been correct, if it is not the gradient of the trend line isn’t steep enough to say that it is 100% certain that it is accurate. I will need to use the cumulative frequency graphs to draw complete conclusions. Cumulative frequency graphs for the number of TV hours watched and Weights of males: These two graphs look quite different; the weights graph has most of its data concentrated in the middle of the range, between 30-50 and looks like a normal cumulative frequency curve. Whereas the number of TV hours has most of its data concentrated at the beginning between 0-30, showing that there is likely to be an anomalous result at the end of the range. These anomalous results on the TV hours graph are what caused the slight negative correlation on the trend line. I will be able to make complete conclusions after looking at the female sample and seeing if that graph follows suit. The box plots for these graphs will look quite different and will make it easy to make a simple comparison. Box plots for Cumulative frequency graphs IQ and Weight for males: From the box plots I can see that the two sets of data are almost identical in range which would cause a straight line on the scatter graph it is because of the anomalous results on the TV hours which caused the slight negative correlation. The weights box plot shows me that the data is quite evenly spread in the middle of the range apart from a very heavy person at the end which is why the highest figure is so far apart from the upper quartile. Overall the box plots show me that the similarity in the data means there is no relationship and hypothesis was correct. Hypothesis 2 Females Again I will start with the scatter graphs to show the relationship between Number of TV hours watched and weight. The graphs should be similar to the males and the conclusions the same. Again I had an anomalous result and had to create a second scatter graph without it there. Scatter graphs 1 and 2 to show the relationship between the Number of TV hours watched per week and Weight: The second scatter graph in this section, without the anomalous result completely changed the trend line. The first graph looks a lot more like the male graph whereas the second follows my hypothesis a lot better. In graph 1 there is a slight gradient on the graph which points towards a negative correlation, like those of the male sample. On the graph without the anomalous result there is clearly no correlation whatsoever as the line is nearly horizontal. I will take the results of the male sample to be wrong as I said earlier there are a few anomalous results which caused the trend line to be at that gradient. Now I will look at the cumulative frequency graphs to see what results I get from them. Cumulative frequency graphs for Average number of TV hours watched per week and Weight for Females: As on the males graph the TV hours for females have a lot of anomalous results. But for the scatter graphs I cancelled them all out which gave no correlation. If the line at the top of the TV hours graph is blanked out the two graphs look almost identical. This is why the scatter graph got a near horizontal trend line. The box plots for these to graphs will look alike apart from there will be a much longer line at the end of the TV hours graph because of the anomalous results. Box plots of cumulative frequency graphs for Number of TV hours watched and weights of females: These box plots show me the same as the males did, that the data is almost identical if placed 1 on top of the other. This is what caused the horizontal line in my scatter graphs and proves my hypothesis. Conclusion Hypothesis 1: My first hypothesis has been proved incorrect. The scatter graphs show that there is no correlation between the two sets of data. For my hypothesis to have been correct there would have needed to be a strong positive correlation. The cumulative frequency graphs and box plots again proved my hypothesis incorrect, the similarities in the two sets of data’s box plots showed that there was no relationship and showed why the scatter graphs showed a straight line. Both the male and female samples showed that my hypothesis was incorrect although some anomalous results created a slight negative correlation in both it was obvious that it was still wrong. Hypothesis 2: My second hypothesis was proved correct. The scatter graphs showed that there was absolutely no correlation on the graphs which means no relationship. Although the male graphs did show a a negative correlation it was proved to be made by a few anomalous results by the cumulative frequency and later the inconsistency with the female sample. The female scatter graph showed a near horizontal trend line which was what I needed to prove my hypothesis. The similarities on the cumulative frequency graphs and box plots further proved my hypothesis was correct. Evaluation The investigation went quite well although my first hypothjesis was incorrect it showed that careful analysis of data is needed before drawing conclusions. When I next do an investigation into data I will use histograms to aid me in my analysis as they come in useful when looking for relationships in two sets of data as the cumulative frequency graphs do. I could have made the cumulative frequency graphs a little better as the program I used did not put a scale on the x axis but only the length of the range. How to cite Statistics Coursework, Papers

Family Values Essay Example For Students

Family Values Essay There are so many various types of people with different ethnic backgrounds, culture and manner of living that are the cause of distinct values in a family. These families have poor, mediocre or virtuous Family Values Essay, however what one may consider as a mediocre family value may seem poor to someone else and vice-versa. These family values differ from family to family world-wide. The most significant values are family unity, honesty and education. Family unity, is a family being together in blissful harmony on holidays. Family unity is regardless how bad a situation may be it will bring us closer together and make our bond stronger. Family unity is my family watching me grow from infancy to adulthood, guiding me with good values. Family unity is communicating with each other. Unfortunately, my parents were seldom around during my childhood stages. Therefore they were rarely home to guide me through good family values. Now that I am an adult my parents are persistent to spend time with me and teach me values not taught to me when I was a child. Respect is an important value to be taught when growing up. Through the years I have learned that in order to learn anything you must have respect for others. I have learned many valuable lessons from listening to my grandmother. She has told me many of her experiences, which has made me a better person. Having respect for other people has allowed me to be more open-minded and see qualities in people that most would not. I have always listened to what my friends and family has to say. That doesnt always mean that I agree with them, but it is their opinion, so I respect it. In return I receive respect from them. As people begin to respect me more their trust in me also grows. Trust is a value that was very hard for me to learn. I was always afraid that someone was going to hurt me one way or another. My mother was always telling me that I should learn to trust others so that they could help me from time to time, but I never could do it. Eventually I finally learned to trust others a few years ago. I have realized that other people can do many things for you if you just trust in them. This helps me in the relationships I have with my friends. Trust doesnt happen overnight, it takes time. I have learned that trusting certain people is worth the risk, and helps the relationships I have with them. All values that families instill in their children are important. They are the deciding factors that help a person grow. Values also determine how one treats others and how they will be treated in return. Learning honesty, respect, and to have trust in others has made me a better person. I feel that I am growing to be someone that can be relied on for almost anything. These values will benefit me for many years to come. .

Perceptions and Ideas of Belonging free essay sample

Perceptions and ideas of belonging, or of not belonging, vary. These perceptions are shaped within personal, cultural, historical and social contexts. A sense of belonging can emerge from the connections made with people, places, groups, communities and the larger world. Texts may also represent choices not to belong, or barriers which prevent belonging. Perceptions and ideas of belonging, or of not belonging, vary. In the poem Feliks Skrzynecki by Peter Skrzynecki, Feliks and Peter have different perceptions of belonging in Australia and the necessity of belonging in Australia. Feliks, the father, represents an alienation of an older migrant while Peter experiences the gradual integration of acceptance and affiliation in a new society. In the film Bend It Like Beckham directed by blah blah Jess and her mother have different perceptions of where she should belong. Her mother wants her to belong to the family and into an arranged marriage â€Å"I was married at your age! You don’t even want to learn to cook dhal! †, however Jess wants to rebel against the typical Indian lifestyle and belong to her sport team instead. We will write a custom essay sample on Perceptions and Ideas of Belonging or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Perceptions of belonging are shaped within personal, cultural, historical and social contexts. In the poem, Feliks Skrzynecki the fathers sense of belonging come from his Polish background, and his personal and historical context of being a laborer. Peters contrasting sense of alienation comes from his cultural context of being surrounded by Polish culture but never having been there himself and his personal context of experience of education. In the folk museum – The persona’s sense of alienation in the museum comes from his completely different cultural, historical and social context. He struggles to relate to the rural, colonial Australian experience – â€Å"to remind me of a past which isn’t mine†. In the film Bend It Like Beckham Jess feels a sense of alienation due to her cultural context. Her friend’s mother treats her differently all the time due to being Indian and also at the game when Jess is called a â€Å"paki†, a racial slur in England. A sense of belonging can come from connections made with people, places, groups, communities and the larger world. This is shown through Peter Skrzynecki’s poem Feliks Skrzynecki where Peter’s father’s strong sense of elonging comes from his connections with his friends (people), garden (place) and his cultural heritage. Also in Skrzynecki’s poem 10 Mary Street which explores Peter’s strong connection to place and the discomfort that comes when the place is threatened – â€Å"the whole block has been gazette for industry†. In the film Be nd It Like Beckham, Jess feels a sense of belonging with her soccer team while at home she feels a sense of alienation and rejection from her family due to the time she put into playing soccer and to her falsely accused sexual orientation – â€Å"Mother, just because I wear trackies and play sport does not make me a lesbian! There may be barriers which prevent belonging such as in Skrzynecki’s poem The Folk Museum where Peter’s distance from the cultural heritage and rural experiences of the artifacts displayed in the museum is a barrier preventing him from engaging in them. In Feliks Skrzynecki, Feliks faces a language barrier which prevents him from engaging in the wider community – â€Å"Did your father ever bother to learn English? †.

When I arrived to college Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers

When I arrived to college Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers When I arrived to college, I was very eager and excited to start school and having the opportunity to be away from my mother, and living the independent life I desired. But as I approach the weeks into the college life, and gaining an insight in terms of the role you have to potentially play as a college student, which portrays the adulthood. College life carries all of the responsibilities just like commentary adult. I thought I was ready for the college life until I encountered many responsibilities as an adult. On the other hand, not having my parent assistance. I have to provide for myself while in college.. First day I came to my school, I walk through the clear shaped, black window of Indiana State University. I felt very welcomed. I was preparing for an appearance to walk into my dorm room. I enter the build with a cheesy, bright white smile that made a representative glanced back, as I walk smoothly up the stair. As I passes several rooms, I get closer to minds, making my smile even wider because of the excitement of living the college life I desire. So after moving of my things, I introduced myself to some freshmen inside of my dorms. I wanted to make new friends, and when I had that chance I did not intend to let it go. I ended up hanging out with those guys for long period of time. Things were starting to get excited. The next couple of days, we decide to go out to a party that was hosted near our school. The party was consider to be one of the greatest welcome back party for college students. I was frankly urged to attend that party, and when I didI got arrested for drinking underage. I was sent to a police station behind black and gray cell bars with the accommodation of a cold white toilet on the wall. I insisted calling my Mother or Father to bomb me out. Unfortunately, they did want to because of the poor decision I made, and the responsibility I should be accountable for myself. That was one of the scariest moments in my lifetime. Not having the support of my parents after encountering adversity in my life. However, eventually my parents bonded me out, and informed that they are no longer providing for me. This was a major shock for me. I did not anticipated this to happen to me. The next week, I woke up in an ideal world, wishing everything was just a myth. I delighted to have freedom, and allow to go back to college. But living on my own was not intriguing. One of the main thing I had to do was find a job and manage my money, which was something I was not good at doing. Since I am independent college student, I had to provide for myself such car note, cell phone, clothes, hygiene products that was needed on a daily basis, etc. I had to take initiative to supply for myself. As a result to my problem, I learned to become more self-reliant individual, and develop the ability to make wise decision independently. I realized taking care of myself allowed me to become more advanced for the adult world and effective adult.

Moral Problem Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Moral Problem Paper - Essay Example However, the ethical questions raised by the CEO relate to the work structure, expectations for the sales and the functions that are within the business. Background and Facts The difficulties with the Wal – Mart store and the overall functions are known to relate to the overall structure of the group and the way that it works with customers and with employees. The store is renowned for the work structure that is not able to support those working in the front lines. This begins with a lack of compensation that is given to workers, sweat shops that are used to produce the different items and the inability to meet needs of those that are working for the company. The structure is known to consist of employees that are required to work seven days a week or overtime to make enough from the company. At the same time, the company is known to offer welfare to the workers, specifically because it doesn’t pay enough to those who are working within the structure. The problems with the structure continue with known buybacks, which recently consists of over $15 billion in stocks, specifically which is going to the CEO and other top executives, as opposed to those who are working within the company (Gogoi, 1). The current situation of Wal – Mart is one that is now being followed by the new CEO, Mike Duke. The president was brought into the company in 2009, specifically with the last CEO stepping down before being caught up in the controversies of the employment and other factors relating to morality. At this time, labor unions and others were beginning to protest against the employment at Wal – Mart, which was causing a loss in sales from preceding years. The main issue which Duke is being presented with is to save the image of Wal – Mart and to begin changing the reputation of the unfair treatment of employees both in the United States and abroad. The question which is now being looked into is how Duke will work with the ethical complexitie s which were left behind, specifically with the lost money and the lack of employee rights that have caused the business of Wal – Mart to begin losing the reputation it once had for low prices (Kapner, 1). Utilitarian Analysis The approach which Duke is facing is one which is based on restructuring the belief that the treatment of employees and the overall structure of the company are immoral. The time before Duke was a part of Wal – Mart led to actions from labor unions and spotlights on how the workers didn’t receive enough pay or has basic human rights when working for the company. The first concept which Duke needs to approach from the Utilitarian analysis is the pleasure versus pain approach. From this viewpoint, there is the need to restructure the employee compensation and the worker rights in Wal – Mart. If the employees are happy and have a sense of pleasure of working at the company, then it will bring a greater good to the store. To do this, hi gher levels of compensation, worker rights and limitations on how much an employee works become the main factor. However, Duke will need to look at other limitations, such as decreasing the amount of expansion and the amount of payments which are going to other aspects of the company. Since these parts don’t cause pain, it will lead to greater moral value with employees and the overall attributes of the company. The second aspect that is considered with

Role of the Governor General of Canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Role of the Governor General of Canada - Essay Example Other arrangements have the queen/king as ceremonial leaders alongside the heads of states and heads of governments. The governor general is appointed by her majesty the queen of England (UK) and the queen has the discretion to choose a man or woman for that job. Initially the appointments by any monarch wherever in the world have been reserved for men except for a few cases where women have had a chance to be appointed by the monarch to head governments. Out of the five governor generals that have been appointed to lead government of Canada since the 1980s, three of them have been women. This demonstrates the issue of women leadership in top places and the general affirmative action in the entire Canada. This paper seeks to highlight and analyze the roles and duties of the governor general of Canada in a bid to establish the roles and duties of a governor general and hence evaluate whether or not the powers accorded to this office can be abused. The analysis and highlight of the roles and duties of the governor general of Canada has been dealt with by a number of authors who have written books or articles to this effect. At least three of these literary works shall be reviewed to show the coverage that has been made concerning an analysis of the roles of thee governor general of Canada. ... It cited Australia as the working example through which it analyses the constitutional relationship between the Queen and the governor general. The book just as well tries to highlight and examine the degree to which the judiciary represented by the courts is able to review the actions of government as provided by the constitution. Besides the governmental action, the prerogative powers in the federal government are also highlighted with the possible judicial review of these powers. As the book closes, it does so by paying specific attention to the roles and powers of a governor general which are provided for by the constitution. The relevance of book is the fact that it considers a government structure similar to that in Canada and the roles of the Australian governor general only varies slightly from that of the Canadian one. Australia is only used as an example but the book pays specific emphasis to the prerogative powers given to the federal government top leaders such as the Pri me Minister, the Governor General and how these powers are not easily reviewable not even by the legislature or even judicially. From the constitutional power conferred on the governor general, it is easier to analyze his/her roles (Winterton, 1983). Adrienne Clarkson's Heart Matters: a Memoir is a classical relevant piece of literature as far the topic of this paper is concerned. It should be remembered that Adrienne Clarkson herself was a governor general of Canada (1999-2005) and during her leadership, the governor general's office spent millions and millions of dollars on issues that were not even related tot eh official roles of Clarkson as a governor general. The book, as a memoir dwells most on Clarkson's role as a governor general. Basically the book tries to help the

Information Systems Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Information Systems Management - Essay Example The next sections of the paper talks about value chain of Jupiter Business Systems by framing the main operations within the company. Further the SWOT and PEST analysis follow that represent the basic part before coming down to strategy overview. These analyses describe internal and external environment of the company. Later levels of the information management are critically evaluated basing on the information about Jupiter business operations. Finally the information systems strategy is proposed and recommendations for implementations are provided. Jupiter Business Systems is formed by a dedicated team of young and dynamic professionals. JBS offers various high quality end-to-end business management solutions with unique capabilities for business enterprise of all size. The Company provides innovative and easy-to-use applications that help businesses gain better control over business. Jupiter is therefore B2B Company rather than B2C. Its customized solutions support, specific business requirements and aid in identifying critical issues & accessing information at the right time lets to pursue customers' business goals with confidence. The mission of the company is to empower our clients by implementing complete and powerful end-to-end enterprise solutions thus enabling them to answer their present day business challenges and prepare for greater success in the future. Jupiter Company has partnership with multiple leading technology vendors which makes it the one-stop-shop for the very best in IT solutions for business. Possessing a dedicated team of innovative professionals who have worked in various business streams and industries, Jupiter delivers its customers a complete solution with an extra value of business management expertise. Jupiter flagship product the "Jupiter Business Manager" - a suite of business management solutions developed to meet the requirements of business enterprises of all size operating in the UAE and other Middle East countries. Its secure and reliable design accelerates the actual process of business automation while its flexible structure, designed to grow with your business, effectively combines easy functionality (across all key areas of the business) with high scalability. Organizational structure of Jupiter Business Systems is simple, since there are only 15 employees working for the Company, including ten employees in United Arab Emirates and five outsourced to other countries. The graphical representation of oorganizational structure has the following view: Graph 1: Organizational Structure of Jupiter Business Systems Management Structure includes management director and general manager who are owners of the company working since its very creation. Financing Debt is a department dedicated to managing the debt of the company that it has due to comparative novelty on the market. Two people are working at this department. Production team is the

Effect of Domestic Violence on Children and Young People

Effect of Domestic Violence on Children and Young People The Nature of Domestic Violence Domestic violence has been defined as: a continuum of behaviour ranging from verbal abuse, physical, and sexual assault, to rape and even homicide. The vast majority of such violence, and the most severe and chronic incidents, are perpetrated by men against women and their children. (Department of Health [DoH] 2000) In most cases the violence is against women by their partners or spouse and affects children belonging to one or both of them. Children can become victims of domestic violence either through being directly targeted or witnessing scenes of domestic violence between parents and their partners. At least 750,000 children a year witness violence within the home, and nearly three quarters of children on child protection registers live in households where domestic violence occurs. (Dept. of Health, 2003). Abuse and violence may be physical, emotional, psychological, financial or sexual, and may be constant or spasmodic. Yet domestic violence is experienced by individuals from every class, race, religion and culture the world over (British Medical Association [BMA] 1999). While severe cases of domestic violence can often lead to women being hospitalised, others remain undetectable to the public eye, leaving women who live in constant fear of their partner or spouse, trying to avoid degradation. A study by Mayhew found that psychological and emotional abuse might be constant whilst the physical violence is intermittent (Mayhew et al 1996). For the child or young person this becomes a way of life one without stability or security and this can lead to behavioural problems and even crime. The focus of this dissertation is on the impact of domestic violence on the lives of children and young people. Research took place in the Hammersmith and Fulham area of London. The main body of research is secondary, from journals, books, and internet sources. The primary research is in the form of 2 sets of questionnaires handed out to 40people. The first questionnaire uses a design based on a survey done by Doctors from the University of Arizona, which has already proven tube successful and reliable. The questionnaire consists of four questions: Have you ever been in a relationship with someone who has hit you, kicked you, slapped you, punched you, or threatened to hurt you? CURRENTLY? When you were pregnant did anyone ever physically hurt you? Are you in a relationship with someone who yells at you, calls you names, or puts you down? (Wahl et al 2004: 25). The questionnaire was carried out on a random sample of the public. 20were handed to people outside Fulham Broadway tube station during rush-hour. People were only given the form if they said they had children, and were asked to fill it in on their way home from work or when they got back, and were given an sae. This method was chosen for reasons of personal safety as opposed to going round door to door. If the respondent answered yes to all questions then they were said to have suffered a prolonged period of domestic violence. In order to investigate the effects of domestic violence on adolescents questionnaire was devised for teenagers (see Appendix 1) and 20 were handed out at a youth centre in Hammersmith to be filled out anonymously. The forms were then collected at the end of the day. The second section of primary research was designed to be more specific. It was decided to approach an association specifically setup for women who have suffered domestic violence, which is actively involved in policy work in the UK. The chairwoman was approached and asked whether she could arrange for a sample preferably those with family in a black community who would consider completing questionnaire for a research study on domestic violence and its effects on young people and children. The chairwoman gave the researcher four names and email addresses of people who were willing to be contacted. However, the respondents and the association were to remain anonymous for reasons of confidentiality and security. The respondents used pseudonyms for their responses. As the sample was small, yet relevant, it was decided to use a more lengthy questionnaire, and interview the four subjects in more depth about their experience. Aside from the emotional effects, questions were designed to explore how domestic violence can be detrimental to learning and health. (see Appendix 2). Organisations and Government Policy There are many voluntary organisations such as Shelter, which provide counselling and places of refuge for women and children suffering domestic violence. Beneath are listed other services in the Hammersmith and Fulham area: Refuge provides a Freephone 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline Community efforts, such as the ‘Peace Week.’ The protection from Harassment Act 1997 Prosecutions from the Criminal Justice Act 1998 where the victim need not appear in court, but her statement used instead. Developing police strategy for collecting evidence at the scene (Home Office 2000). What happens to children in cases of Domestic Violence? The aftermath of domestic problems can be as damaging as the incidents or episodes themselves. Children can be present during an arrest of apparent, witness a parent breaking restraining orders and their reactions to court decisions. In these situations children can be used as pawns or in worst cases even be taken as hostages. (Devote and Smith, 2002 ). In a qualitative study on the effects of domestic violence on children, McGees (2000) study, along with other research, revealed that: Children do not have to experience physical abuse to experience long-term negative effects of living where extreme controlling behaviour and abuse are the norm. In order to protect themselves, children may take the father’s side in an argument, and may themselves be abusive to their mother (Kelly 1996). Children regularly experience a sense of total powerlessness, wishing they could assist their mother, which may produce harm to their long-term emotional wellbeing. This may later cause revenge fantasies, but at the time often leads them to have an overpowering need to stay in the room. (Shipway 2004: 116). It is not unusual for the child or young person to blame themselves for what is happening to their mother, particularly as the partner may have used their behaviour as a reason for losing his temper. (Ibid). Young people sometimes fear social services will remove them from the home if it is known violence and abuse exists. Gaudi (2001:27) provided evidence confirming that two-thirds of the residents in refuges are children. However, this does not account for the hundreds who are afraid to report violence. The threat of leaving their family home, however unstable, is often not well received by children, and many would rather put up with domestic violence than remove themselves from it. Domestic Violence in the Black community Domestic violence in the black community has been recognised as being less likely to be reported mainly because women and young people do not wish to threaten the stability of their position within their community. Women from African Caribbean communities are less likely to report their experiences and therefore they experience prolonged abuse over a long, or sometimes indeterminate, time frame. One of the critical debates concerning domestic violence is the idea of ‘getting used’ to a way of being treated and thus for it to become the norm within family life. An article written by a survivor of domestic violence said of her early years in Jamaica: ‘in my experience it was commonplace to hear of or even witness women/men being beaten by their spouses or partners in public view.’ (Unknown author.http://www.2as1.net/articles/article.asp?id=49.). She comments of violence in the UK, saying that ‘particularly within the Black community, the fighting may not overspill onto the streets but it does occur, behind closed doors.’ Black communities in London are well established and people living within them rely on the social structure of their area. The idea of leaving the area to live in a refuge where they might not understand English speaking people so well is an intimidating prospect for many. Thus, some women who do not speak English might delay seeking help, finding the language a barrier between them and British speaking organisations. Interpreters can be used, but involving a third partying a woman’s private life can be an off-putting idea. Furthermore, religious or cultural beliefs might forbid divorce, and religious community leaders mostly being men, only some speak out about domestic violence. In the case of migrant women and children who suffer domestic abuse there often is the threat of not being able to stay in the UK if they separate from their partner. An even greater threat is that the partner might abduct the children and take them abroad. (GreenwichMulti-Agency Domestic Violence Forum. 2003). One of the most powerful psychological effects of domestic violence, physical or verbal, is the victim’s distorted perspective of their abuser. Often women will make excuses for the person who attacks them blaming it on themselves or on drink or drugs or other stresses within their relationship. This comes with an inability to prioritise their personal safety and wellbeing, and that of their children, believing that the emotional attachment between the family members might be enough to overcome the presence of violence. Consequently, the effects of the mother’s decision to remain within the abusive relationship means that the child remains continually at risk from psychological and physical hurt. The effects of exposure to violence in the home are extensive and not always immediately evident. For the individual exposure to domestic violence can precipitate personality disorders, addictive disorders, substance abuse, and even physical disorders. And as studies have shown, many violent individuals have themselves been victims of domestic violence and abuse, unable to break out of the cycle. Children and adolescents with violent parent(s) are without the presence of a mentor on which to model their behaviour. This can lead to further social problems such as an inability to integrate with peers. A young person who has experienced the insecurity of a violent home life might seek security in other forms such as substance abuse, and gangs and gang violence. Statistics The Home Office survey 2004 reported on a questionnaire used by the2001 British Crime Survey. It asked a nationally representative sample of 22,463 women and men aged between 16 and 59 whether they had been subject to domestic violence during their lifetime and during the preceding year. For relevance to this dissertation the following graphs were selected from the survey: Source: Home Office Survey 2004: 12. The survey surmised that since the age of 16 45% of women and 26%of men were subject to domestic violence at least once in their lifetime. (Home Office 2004: 8). Of these 18.6% were subject to force, meaning pushing, shoving, or physical harm. The British Crime Survey estimated that 13% of women and 9% of men had been subject to domestic violence in the 12 months prior to interview. (p.8). Furthermore, 12.9 million incidents of domestic violence acts had occurred against women in that year. Violence against children In 90% of cases of domestic violence children are in the same room or the next room.(Hughes 1998) In 40% 60% of cases of domestic violence child abuse is also occurring ( Stark Flit craft 1998) The NCH study found 75% of mothers said their children had witnessed domestic violence, 33% had seen their mothers beaten up, 10%had witnessed sexual violence (NCH, 1994). (http://www.womens-aid.org.uk/statistics.php). Immediate effects of Domestic Violence on Children and Young People A report by the Department of Health concluded that: For many women and their families the effects of domestic violence will be catastrophic, the damage to their physical and psychological wellbeing may be deeply damaging, and on occasions fatal. (Department of Health [DoH] 2000: 12) Victimisation by a parent of a child or young person can lead to the individual becoming so controlled and inhibited that they are unable to make even the simplest decision or act without permission, responding with complete obedience to every order given and every rule imposed. Abuse can encumber every part of their life, leading in cases to suicide seeming like the only escape. Some people express their self-disgust and powerlessness through alcohol or drug abuse, or self-mutilation, exhibiting signs of severe depression and complete dependency on the abuser.(Shipway 2004: 1). Because of the variety of forms which domestic violence can take its difficult for research to cover all areas. For example, there can be negative effects from being an observer. Research by Fantuzzo and Mohr noted this and thus instead of using the term ‘victim’ used ‘exposure.’ This was used in the context of the experience of watching or hearing domestic violence; being directly involved; calling police; and the experience of the aftermath of scenes which might include seeing injuries or bruising on a parent and observing maternal depression. (Fantuzzo and Mohr 1999: 22). Work by Hester et al found that childrens responses differ among members of the same family who are witnessing or experiencing the same abuse. They also said that it is hard to discern the impacts of living with domestic violence on children, because some of the consequent behaviours also occur in children experiencing other forms of abuse and neglect. (Hester et al. 2000:44) The following is a list of negative effects taken from Shipway 2004: 117): Secrecy Confusion Fear Mistrustful Blaming themselves Nightmares In addition Hester et al. (2000:44) found that whilst some children have poor social skills others attain a high level of social skills development with an ability to negotiate difficult situations. Child’s ability to cope with abuse should never be underestimated; neither should the childs attachment to the abusive parent which, for some, may continue to be strong. (Ibid). Children’s responses to witnessing domestic violence will depend on age, race, class, sex, stage of development, and the support of others.(Women’s Aid). Children may feel angry at their mother or father for not protecting them, as well as blaming them for causing the violence. Others may be so concerned about their mothers distress that they keep private their own grief (Saunders, 1995. From Women’s Aid). Long Term effects Research by Fantuzzo and Mohr concluded that children who live in violent households are at greater risk of being maladjusted. (Fantuzzoand Mohr 1999: 22.) Some of these problems include: Behaviour Modelling In very young children through to adolescent age, behaviour is often modelled on people who the individual spends significant time with. Piaget in his 1972 publication noted that children’s play behaviour involves modelling on those around them, and eventually to reproducing that behaviour at any given time or place . As children grow up the parent figure becomes a role-model and if an abusive relationship exists then this trust is taken away. In study conducted by American researchers on aggression and violence in adolescent boys, 15 interviewees were asked questions which sought to identify areas for improvement concerning intervention and prevention. Participants disclosed that their aggressive responses to provocation were frequently modelled on responses that they had seen exhibited bothers, particularly those observed among immediate and extended family members. For example, a respondent called Dan said the following about his father: He gets mad too quickly. Hell get aggravated and hell just explode and thats when the fights start. Well argue and then Ill get mad and tell him some stuff and then hell get mad and just start yelling and then like one of us will go after the other, and then were fighting so my mother will try to break it up or call the police. (Ballot et al 2002: 221). Not all interviewees connected their behaviour with their families, however, there were many family interactions which involved aggression and domestic violence. It is perhaps the impact of what children witness that remains with them and encourages them to learn negative behavioural responses more quickly. As Brian explained, When I was younger, I didnt have a very organized family at all, so I looked towards the people on the streets. Thats when it gets you in trouble. Social Integration The abused childs unstable, often dangerous, home environment is likely to limit the childs development of social skills, self-confidence, and experience of positive interactions (Herrenkohl etal., 1995). Taken from Cooper 1999: 10). Children who grow up in a violent, unpredictable family have a `world view in which potential threat is constantly present. The child’s ability to play and integrate with others is severely impaired as they are, if you like, watching their back in case of attack. Play is an important medium of self-expression for the young child, especially during the preschool years when language is still developing. It is the way in which children explore the world around them and learn to recognise and understand objects and people. Because play is sensitive to environmental conditions, the childs physical and social environment will either support or limit his or her play opportunities. Unfortunately, when a child is exposed to a chronically violent, abusive, or neglectful home environment, his or her opportunities for play development and play experiences are severely disrupted. (Cooper 1999:10). The physically abused or neglected child is more likely to show delayed language, cognitive, and motor development, and as a consequence, delayed play skills (Ibid). Cooper suggests that the preschool child will internalise the experience of domestic violence, and may view himself or herself as the cause. As a result, the preschool child may act in destructive ways, such as deliberately destroying other childrens games or toys, in order to attract negative attention. (Ibid). A 1989 study by Fagot et al found physically abused preschool children’s free play with peers to be more disruptive, aggressive, and antisocial than the play of other, non-abused children. (Ibid). Fantuzzo found that aggressive play behaviour, and a lack of empathy with fellow children, is likely to further isolate and prevent the abused child from learning appropriate social skills (Davis Fantuzzo, 1989: 227-248). Structure Children living in a dysfunctional family unit where violence occurs will often experience a lack of structure and organisation to their daily lives. The study by Ballot et al found that the boys ‘felt safe ‘in the institution as they had a chance to lead ‘orderly, less chaotic lives than the ones they experienced in their homes and on the streets.’ (Ballot et al 2002: 17). Every child will cope with exposure to domestic violence in their own unique way. Indeed, many children might at first not appear to have been adversely affected. It is only later, or in certain situations that their inner emotional state might be revealed. Indeed, although there is a varying number of possible negative health and social outcomes for children who have lived in an abusive home, not all children manifest these characteristics in their later life. The young mind can be resilient and adaptable: It is important to remember that some children remain perfectly well-adjusted despite living with abuse and that a majority survive within on clinical or normal levels of functioning. (Millender and Morley1994:4) Results from Primary Research Of the 20 questionnaires handed out to a random sample of respondents, who were asked only to fill out and return the form if they had children. 8 were returned. The results are set out below: 1. Have you ever been in a relationship with someone who has hit you, kicked you, slapped you, punched you, or threatened to hurt you? 2. CURRENTLY? 3. When you were pregnant did anyone ever physically hurt you? 4. Are you in a relationship with someone who yells at you, calls you names, or puts you down? 7 out of 8 women said they had been in a relationship where they were threatened or hurt 3 out of 8 women said they were currently in a violent relationship 6 women who said they had been abused while pregnant, which implies that their children could have been born into a domestically violent household. 6 out of 8 women said they were in an emotionally abusive relationship These statistics for the Fulham area are quite high. Nearly half of respondents said they had experienced prolonged domestic abuse. It would be useful to conduct a further study on another random sample to see if the two sets of results would correlate. Because under half the sample returned the questionnaires it cannot be said to be representative sample of the Fulham area. Nonetheless the findings do give a surprising insight into the lives of black women in London, showing that abuse, in any form, is a regular occurrence in some people’s lives. Furthermore, because these respondents had children it’s likely that their children have witnessed domestic violence. Future research might look into establishing a comparison study on 20 women who do not have children in an attempt to see whether more cases of abuse occur within relationships where children are present. Questionnaire on teenagers Of the 20 forms which were filled in 9 respondents said they had been involved in or witnessed cases of domestic violence in their lifetime. 1. Have you ever been involved in or witnessed scenes of domestic violence in your family? Was this age 1-5/6-14/15-present? Or all of the above? 2. Were these scenes between your parents/partners? Did they ever directly involve you? Yes: 4 No: 5 3. Were you ever physically hurt during these episodes? Yes: 3 No: 6 4. Were you verbally abused during these episodes? Yes: 9 No: 0 5. How did your experience affect your daily life: 1. Made you shy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..2 2. Made you sad†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.9 3. Made you angry†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 4. Made you aggressive towards others†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦3 6. Do you believe your experience to have been detrimental to your ability to enjoy and participate in school? 1. Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..3 2. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 2 out of 9 respondents said they had witnessed or experienced domestic abuse throughout their lives. Just under half of respondents said that they were directly involved in scenes of domestic violence and all respondents said they were verbally abused. The highest percentage(100%) said they had felt sad, while just under half felt aggressive towards other people. Interviews The four cases of domestic violence all revealed the problem of domestic violence to be one associated with isolation and taking place within the privacy of the home. All respondents admitted that they believed domestic violence to have negatively affected their children. Particularly poignant were the accounts of children becoming withdrawn, another aggressive, and another blaming her mother. All these findings are consistent with the secondary research presented in the first section of this dissertation. The interviews provided a surprisingly good response. Some people might be reluctant to admit to the presence of violence in their domestic life, especially if it involves their children, in fear of admitting that they are (directly, or indirectly) causing their child to be unhappy. However, all four respondents answered openly and honestly about their experiences. Conclusion This dissertation has looked into a cross section of the population in the Hammersmith and Fulham area of London. Teenagers and women who were known to have experienced abuse were asked questions about their experiences and both reported feelings of sadness and aggression. Random sample of women with children also revealed that nearly half of the population had experienced a domestic violence act of some kind in their lives. The findings were consistent with the secondary research, such as the study by Piaget 1972, and Cooper 1999, both of which found that young children had difficulty in play activities and social integration, both at pre-school and primary level. The study by Ballonet al on aggressive teenagers also correlated with the responses from the questionnaires handed out at the youth centre. It is not possible to say that there are more domestic violence cases in black communities or that they are caused by demographic and stress factors. A study by Richardson et al on the prevalence of domestic violence against women looked for a correlation between demographic factors and domestic violence. They concluded that black women were least likely to have ever experienced domestic violence compared to their white female counterparts.(Richardson et al 2002:274). The interview with the British mother found that the violence she had experienced was mostly verbal and did not involve physical force directed at her. Out of the four women she was the only one still tube with her husband with whom she had fought with. This is not consistent with the secondary research presented at the beginning which suggested that more black women stayed with their spouses in fear of what might happen if they left. Future research might explore the marital status of black women in the Hammersmith and Fulham area and the stability of the family unit. Interviews with more than one member of a family might also be useful in order to gain a different perspective on the same incidents. To conclude, domestic violence appears to have a negative impact on children and young people. Initial responses might be guilt, fear, sleeplessness and a desire to protect their mother. In pre-schoolchildren the learning ability and playfulness is often damaged by the experience of domestic violence. In children of all ages research has shown that behaviour is modelled on what they see around them, and this can lead to anti-social behaviour to peers and strangers. Longer-term effects include an inability to trust other people, withdrawing from social situations, depression, and in worse cases aggression on the streets, and drug and alcohol abuse. Effect of Domestic Violence on Children and Young People Effect of Domestic Violence on Children and Young People The Nature of Domestic Violence Domestic violence has been defined as: a continuum of behaviour ranging from verbal abuse, physical, and sexual assault, to rape and even homicide. The vast majority of such violence, and the most severe and chronic incidents, are perpetrated by men against women and their children. (Department of Health [DoH] 2000) In most cases the violence is against women by their partners or spouse and affects children belonging to one or both of them. Children can become victims of domestic violence either through being directly targeted or witnessing scenes of domestic violence between parents and their partners. At least 750,000 children a year witness violence within the home, and nearly three quarters of children on child protection registers live in households where domestic violence occurs. (Dept. of Health, 2003). Abuse and violence may be physical, emotional, psychological, financial or sexual, and may be constant or spasmodic. Yet domestic violence is experienced by individuals from every class, race, religion and culture the world over (British Medical Association [BMA] 1999). While severe cases of domestic violence can often lead to women being hospitalised, others remain undetectable to the public eye, leaving women who live in constant fear of their partner or spouse, trying to avoid degradation. A study by Mayhew found that psychological and emotional abuse might be constant whilst the physical violence is intermittent (Mayhew et al 1996). For the child or young person this becomes a way of life one without stability or security and this can lead to behavioural problems and even crime. The focus of this dissertation is on the impact of domestic violence on the lives of children and young people. Research took place in the Hammersmith and Fulham area of London. The main body of research is secondary, from journals, books, and internet sources. The primary research is in the form of 2 sets of questionnaires handed out to 40people. The first questionnaire uses a design based on a survey done by Doctors from the University of Arizona, which has already proven tube successful and reliable. The questionnaire consists of four questions: Have you ever been in a relationship with someone who has hit you, kicked you, slapped you, punched you, or threatened to hurt you? CURRENTLY? When you were pregnant did anyone ever physically hurt you? Are you in a relationship with someone who yells at you, calls you names, or puts you down? (Wahl et al 2004: 25). The questionnaire was carried out on a random sample of the public. 20were handed to people outside Fulham Broadway tube station during rush-hour. People were only given the form if they said they had children, and were asked to fill it in on their way home from work or when they got back, and were given an sae. This method was chosen for reasons of personal safety as opposed to going round door to door. If the respondent answered yes to all questions then they were said to have suffered a prolonged period of domestic violence. In order to investigate the effects of domestic violence on adolescents questionnaire was devised for teenagers (see Appendix 1) and 20 were handed out at a youth centre in Hammersmith to be filled out anonymously. The forms were then collected at the end of the day. The second section of primary research was designed to be more specific. It was decided to approach an association specifically setup for women who have suffered domestic violence, which is actively involved in policy work in the UK. The chairwoman was approached and asked whether she could arrange for a sample preferably those with family in a black community who would consider completing questionnaire for a research study on domestic violence and its effects on young people and children. The chairwoman gave the researcher four names and email addresses of people who were willing to be contacted. However, the respondents and the association were to remain anonymous for reasons of confidentiality and security. The respondents used pseudonyms for their responses. As the sample was small, yet relevant, it was decided to use a more lengthy questionnaire, and interview the four subjects in more depth about their experience. Aside from the emotional effects, questions were designed to explore how domestic violence can be detrimental to learning and health. (see Appendix 2). Organisations and Government Policy There are many voluntary organisations such as Shelter, which provide counselling and places of refuge for women and children suffering domestic violence. Beneath are listed other services in the Hammersmith and Fulham area: Refuge provides a Freephone 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline Community efforts, such as the ‘Peace Week.’ The protection from Harassment Act 1997 Prosecutions from the Criminal Justice Act 1998 where the victim need not appear in court, but her statement used instead. Developing police strategy for collecting evidence at the scene (Home Office 2000). What happens to children in cases of Domestic Violence? The aftermath of domestic problems can be as damaging as the incidents or episodes themselves. Children can be present during an arrest of apparent, witness a parent breaking restraining orders and their reactions to court decisions. In these situations children can be used as pawns or in worst cases even be taken as hostages. (Devote and Smith, 2002 ). In a qualitative study on the effects of domestic violence on children, McGees (2000) study, along with other research, revealed that: Children do not have to experience physical abuse to experience long-term negative effects of living where extreme controlling behaviour and abuse are the norm. In order to protect themselves, children may take the father’s side in an argument, and may themselves be abusive to their mother (Kelly 1996). Children regularly experience a sense of total powerlessness, wishing they could assist their mother, which may produce harm to their long-term emotional wellbeing. This may later cause revenge fantasies, but at the time often leads them to have an overpowering need to stay in the room. (Shipway 2004: 116). It is not unusual for the child or young person to blame themselves for what is happening to their mother, particularly as the partner may have used their behaviour as a reason for losing his temper. (Ibid). Young people sometimes fear social services will remove them from the home if it is known violence and abuse exists. Gaudi (2001:27) provided evidence confirming that two-thirds of the residents in refuges are children. However, this does not account for the hundreds who are afraid to report violence. The threat of leaving their family home, however unstable, is often not well received by children, and many would rather put up with domestic violence than remove themselves from it. Domestic Violence in the Black community Domestic violence in the black community has been recognised as being less likely to be reported mainly because women and young people do not wish to threaten the stability of their position within their community. Women from African Caribbean communities are less likely to report their experiences and therefore they experience prolonged abuse over a long, or sometimes indeterminate, time frame. One of the critical debates concerning domestic violence is the idea of ‘getting used’ to a way of being treated and thus for it to become the norm within family life. An article written by a survivor of domestic violence said of her early years in Jamaica: ‘in my experience it was commonplace to hear of or even witness women/men being beaten by their spouses or partners in public view.’ (Unknown author.http://www.2as1.net/articles/article.asp?id=49.). She comments of violence in the UK, saying that ‘particularly within the Black community, the fighting may not overspill onto the streets but it does occur, behind closed doors.’ Black communities in London are well established and people living within them rely on the social structure of their area. The idea of leaving the area to live in a refuge where they might not understand English speaking people so well is an intimidating prospect for many. Thus, some women who do not speak English might delay seeking help, finding the language a barrier between them and British speaking organisations. Interpreters can be used, but involving a third partying a woman’s private life can be an off-putting idea. Furthermore, religious or cultural beliefs might forbid divorce, and religious community leaders mostly being men, only some speak out about domestic violence. In the case of migrant women and children who suffer domestic abuse there often is the threat of not being able to stay in the UK if they separate from their partner. An even greater threat is that the partner might abduct the children and take them abroad. (GreenwichMulti-Agency Domestic Violence Forum. 2003). One of the most powerful psychological effects of domestic violence, physical or verbal, is the victim’s distorted perspective of their abuser. Often women will make excuses for the person who attacks them blaming it on themselves or on drink or drugs or other stresses within their relationship. This comes with an inability to prioritise their personal safety and wellbeing, and that of their children, believing that the emotional attachment between the family members might be enough to overcome the presence of violence. Consequently, the effects of the mother’s decision to remain within the abusive relationship means that the child remains continually at risk from psychological and physical hurt. The effects of exposure to violence in the home are extensive and not always immediately evident. For the individual exposure to domestic violence can precipitate personality disorders, addictive disorders, substance abuse, and even physical disorders. And as studies have shown, many violent individuals have themselves been victims of domestic violence and abuse, unable to break out of the cycle. Children and adolescents with violent parent(s) are without the presence of a mentor on which to model their behaviour. This can lead to further social problems such as an inability to integrate with peers. A young person who has experienced the insecurity of a violent home life might seek security in other forms such as substance abuse, and gangs and gang violence. Statistics The Home Office survey 2004 reported on a questionnaire used by the2001 British Crime Survey. It asked a nationally representative sample of 22,463 women and men aged between 16 and 59 whether they had been subject to domestic violence during their lifetime and during the preceding year. For relevance to this dissertation the following graphs were selected from the survey: Source: Home Office Survey 2004: 12. The survey surmised that since the age of 16 45% of women and 26%of men were subject to domestic violence at least once in their lifetime. (Home Office 2004: 8). Of these 18.6% were subject to force, meaning pushing, shoving, or physical harm. The British Crime Survey estimated that 13% of women and 9% of men had been subject to domestic violence in the 12 months prior to interview. (p.8). Furthermore, 12.9 million incidents of domestic violence acts had occurred against women in that year. Violence against children In 90% of cases of domestic violence children are in the same room or the next room.(Hughes 1998) In 40% 60% of cases of domestic violence child abuse is also occurring ( Stark Flit craft 1998) The NCH study found 75% of mothers said their children had witnessed domestic violence, 33% had seen their mothers beaten up, 10%had witnessed sexual violence (NCH, 1994). (http://www.womens-aid.org.uk/statistics.php). Immediate effects of Domestic Violence on Children and Young People A report by the Department of Health concluded that: For many women and their families the effects of domestic violence will be catastrophic, the damage to their physical and psychological wellbeing may be deeply damaging, and on occasions fatal. (Department of Health [DoH] 2000: 12) Victimisation by a parent of a child or young person can lead to the individual becoming so controlled and inhibited that they are unable to make even the simplest decision or act without permission, responding with complete obedience to every order given and every rule imposed. Abuse can encumber every part of their life, leading in cases to suicide seeming like the only escape. Some people express their self-disgust and powerlessness through alcohol or drug abuse, or self-mutilation, exhibiting signs of severe depression and complete dependency on the abuser.(Shipway 2004: 1). Because of the variety of forms which domestic violence can take its difficult for research to cover all areas. For example, there can be negative effects from being an observer. Research by Fantuzzo and Mohr noted this and thus instead of using the term ‘victim’ used ‘exposure.’ This was used in the context of the experience of watching or hearing domestic violence; being directly involved; calling police; and the experience of the aftermath of scenes which might include seeing injuries or bruising on a parent and observing maternal depression. (Fantuzzo and Mohr 1999: 22). Work by Hester et al found that childrens responses differ among members of the same family who are witnessing or experiencing the same abuse. They also said that it is hard to discern the impacts of living with domestic violence on children, because some of the consequent behaviours also occur in children experiencing other forms of abuse and neglect. (Hester et al. 2000:44) The following is a list of negative effects taken from Shipway 2004: 117): Secrecy Confusion Fear Mistrustful Blaming themselves Nightmares In addition Hester et al. (2000:44) found that whilst some children have poor social skills others attain a high level of social skills development with an ability to negotiate difficult situations. Child’s ability to cope with abuse should never be underestimated; neither should the childs attachment to the abusive parent which, for some, may continue to be strong. (Ibid). Children’s responses to witnessing domestic violence will depend on age, race, class, sex, stage of development, and the support of others.(Women’s Aid). Children may feel angry at their mother or father for not protecting them, as well as blaming them for causing the violence. Others may be so concerned about their mothers distress that they keep private their own grief (Saunders, 1995. From Women’s Aid). Long Term effects Research by Fantuzzo and Mohr concluded that children who live in violent households are at greater risk of being maladjusted. (Fantuzzoand Mohr 1999: 22.) Some of these problems include: Behaviour Modelling In very young children through to adolescent age, behaviour is often modelled on people who the individual spends significant time with. Piaget in his 1972 publication noted that children’s play behaviour involves modelling on those around them, and eventually to reproducing that behaviour at any given time or place . As children grow up the parent figure becomes a role-model and if an abusive relationship exists then this trust is taken away. In study conducted by American researchers on aggression and violence in adolescent boys, 15 interviewees were asked questions which sought to identify areas for improvement concerning intervention and prevention. Participants disclosed that their aggressive responses to provocation were frequently modelled on responses that they had seen exhibited bothers, particularly those observed among immediate and extended family members. For example, a respondent called Dan said the following about his father: He gets mad too quickly. Hell get aggravated and hell just explode and thats when the fights start. Well argue and then Ill get mad and tell him some stuff and then hell get mad and just start yelling and then like one of us will go after the other, and then were fighting so my mother will try to break it up or call the police. (Ballot et al 2002: 221). Not all interviewees connected their behaviour with their families, however, there were many family interactions which involved aggression and domestic violence. It is perhaps the impact of what children witness that remains with them and encourages them to learn negative behavioural responses more quickly. As Brian explained, When I was younger, I didnt have a very organized family at all, so I looked towards the people on the streets. Thats when it gets you in trouble. Social Integration The abused childs unstable, often dangerous, home environment is likely to limit the childs development of social skills, self-confidence, and experience of positive interactions (Herrenkohl etal., 1995). Taken from Cooper 1999: 10). Children who grow up in a violent, unpredictable family have a `world view in which potential threat is constantly present. The child’s ability to play and integrate with others is severely impaired as they are, if you like, watching their back in case of attack. Play is an important medium of self-expression for the young child, especially during the preschool years when language is still developing. It is the way in which children explore the world around them and learn to recognise and understand objects and people. Because play is sensitive to environmental conditions, the childs physical and social environment will either support or limit his or her play opportunities. Unfortunately, when a child is exposed to a chronically violent, abusive, or neglectful home environment, his or her opportunities for play development and play experiences are severely disrupted. (Cooper 1999:10). The physically abused or neglected child is more likely to show delayed language, cognitive, and motor development, and as a consequence, delayed play skills (Ibid). Cooper suggests that the preschool child will internalise the experience of domestic violence, and may view himself or herself as the cause. As a result, the preschool child may act in destructive ways, such as deliberately destroying other childrens games or toys, in order to attract negative attention. (Ibid). A 1989 study by Fagot et al found physically abused preschool children’s free play with peers to be more disruptive, aggressive, and antisocial than the play of other, non-abused children. (Ibid). Fantuzzo found that aggressive play behaviour, and a lack of empathy with fellow children, is likely to further isolate and prevent the abused child from learning appropriate social skills (Davis Fantuzzo, 1989: 227-248). Structure Children living in a dysfunctional family unit where violence occurs will often experience a lack of structure and organisation to their daily lives. The study by Ballot et al found that the boys ‘felt safe ‘in the institution as they had a chance to lead ‘orderly, less chaotic lives than the ones they experienced in their homes and on the streets.’ (Ballot et al 2002: 17). Every child will cope with exposure to domestic violence in their own unique way. Indeed, many children might at first not appear to have been adversely affected. It is only later, or in certain situations that their inner emotional state might be revealed. Indeed, although there is a varying number of possible negative health and social outcomes for children who have lived in an abusive home, not all children manifest these characteristics in their later life. The young mind can be resilient and adaptable: It is important to remember that some children remain perfectly well-adjusted despite living with abuse and that a majority survive within on clinical or normal levels of functioning. (Millender and Morley1994:4) Results from Primary Research Of the 20 questionnaires handed out to a random sample of respondents, who were asked only to fill out and return the form if they had children. 8 were returned. The results are set out below: 1. Have you ever been in a relationship with someone who has hit you, kicked you, slapped you, punched you, or threatened to hurt you? 2. CURRENTLY? 3. When you were pregnant did anyone ever physically hurt you? 4. Are you in a relationship with someone who yells at you, calls you names, or puts you down? 7 out of 8 women said they had been in a relationship where they were threatened or hurt 3 out of 8 women said they were currently in a violent relationship 6 women who said they had been abused while pregnant, which implies that their children could have been born into a domestically violent household. 6 out of 8 women said they were in an emotionally abusive relationship These statistics for the Fulham area are quite high. Nearly half of respondents said they had experienced prolonged domestic abuse. It would be useful to conduct a further study on another random sample to see if the two sets of results would correlate. Because under half the sample returned the questionnaires it cannot be said to be representative sample of the Fulham area. Nonetheless the findings do give a surprising insight into the lives of black women in London, showing that abuse, in any form, is a regular occurrence in some people’s lives. Furthermore, because these respondents had children it’s likely that their children have witnessed domestic violence. Future research might look into establishing a comparison study on 20 women who do not have children in an attempt to see whether more cases of abuse occur within relationships where children are present. Questionnaire on teenagers Of the 20 forms which were filled in 9 respondents said they had been involved in or witnessed cases of domestic violence in their lifetime. 1. Have you ever been involved in or witnessed scenes of domestic violence in your family? Was this age 1-5/6-14/15-present? Or all of the above? 2. Were these scenes between your parents/partners? Did they ever directly involve you? Yes: 4 No: 5 3. Were you ever physically hurt during these episodes? Yes: 3 No: 6 4. Were you verbally abused during these episodes? Yes: 9 No: 0 5. How did your experience affect your daily life: 1. Made you shy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..2 2. Made you sad†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.9 3. Made you angry†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 4. Made you aggressive towards others†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦3 6. Do you believe your experience to have been detrimental to your ability to enjoy and participate in school? 1. Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..3 2. No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 2 out of 9 respondents said they had witnessed or experienced domestic abuse throughout their lives. Just under half of respondents said that they were directly involved in scenes of domestic violence and all respondents said they were verbally abused. The highest percentage(100%) said they had felt sad, while just under half felt aggressive towards other people. Interviews The four cases of domestic violence all revealed the problem of domestic violence to be one associated with isolation and taking place within the privacy of the home. All respondents admitted that they believed domestic violence to have negatively affected their children. Particularly poignant were the accounts of children becoming withdrawn, another aggressive, and another blaming her mother. All these findings are consistent with the secondary research presented in the first section of this dissertation. The interviews provided a surprisingly good response. Some people might be reluctant to admit to the presence of violence in their domestic life, especially if it involves their children, in fear of admitting that they are (directly, or indirectly) causing their child to be unhappy. However, all four respondents answered openly and honestly about their experiences. Conclusion This dissertation has looked into a cross section of the population in the Hammersmith and Fulham area of London. Teenagers and women who were known to have experienced abuse were asked questions about their experiences and both reported feelings of sadness and aggression. Random sample of women with children also revealed that nearly half of the population had experienced a domestic violence act of some kind in their lives. The findings were consistent with the secondary research, such as the study by Piaget 1972, and Cooper 1999, both of which found that young children had difficulty in play activities and social integration, both at pre-school and primary level. The study by Ballonet al on aggressive teenagers also correlated with the responses from the questionnaires handed out at the youth centre. It is not possible to say that there are more domestic violence cases in black communities or that they are caused by demographic and stress factors. A study by Richardson et al on the prevalence of domestic violence against women looked for a correlation between demographic factors and domestic violence. They concluded that black women were least likely to have ever experienced domestic violence compared to their white female counterparts.(Richardson et al 2002:274). The interview with the British mother found that the violence she had experienced was mostly verbal and did not involve physical force directed at her. Out of the four women she was the only one still tube with her husband with whom she had fought with. This is not consistent with the secondary research presented at the beginning which suggested that more black women stayed with their spouses in fear of what might happen if they left. Future research might explore the marital status of black women in the Hammersmith and Fulham area and the stability of the family unit. Interviews with more than one member of a family might also be useful in order to gain a different perspective on the same incidents. To conclude, domestic violence appears to have a negative impact on children and young people. Initial responses might be guilt, fear, sleeplessness and a desire to protect their mother. In pre-schoolchildren the learning ability and playfulness is often damaged by the experience of domestic violence. In children of all ages research has shown that behaviour is modelled on what they see around them, and this can lead to anti-social behaviour to peers and strangers. Longer-term effects include an inability to trust other people, withdrawing from social situations, depression, and in worse cases aggression on the streets, and drug and alcohol abuse.