Introduction
Social media have thoroughly modified our means of communication and exploration of new topics. The capability to view images depicting the physical form of other individuals is unprecedented among users of well-known online communities, including Instagram and Snapchat (Boxer). Social media’s overwhelming quantity of visual content can affect how teens perceive their bodies. The portrayal of unrealistic and unachievable beauty standards on different social networking sites is leading teenagers to develop a poor body image.
Literature Review
Parks’ (2017) research shows that almost all kids have access to a smartphone, with 95%, while 89% use social media every day. Social media platforms play a significant role in circulating images portraying idealized body shapes and features as beautiful or desirable to society (Parks). Young women are particularly vulnerable to the detrimental impacts on body image perception caused by exposure to these types of media. Best and Harris’ research from 2013 supports this claim.
Conforming to social media’s definition of perfect appearance can lead to various psychological conditions like anxiety and depression, especially for young women, according to Kardaras’ research in 2023. In his research in 2022, Boxer Wachler found that social media usage among young adults could lead them towards an obsession with their looks and physique owing to societal expectations (Kardaras).
Social networking site usage is linked to higher levels of dissatisfaction with physical appearance among teenage females. Less confidence and greater feelings of sadness are commonly experienced by girls who spend more extended periods using social media (Best, Joel, and Scott). The detrimental effects of social media on one’s perception of their physical appearance appear not only limited to females but also apply to males based on research from Kardaras (2023). Males who frequently use these online platforms are inclined to engage in behaviors reflective of poor self-images, such as overexercising or utilizing steroids.
Discussion
Social media negatively influence teenagers’ perception of their bodies, affecting their mental health. Adolescents’ discontent with their bodies, along with eating disorders or sadness and worry, could all stem from the impractical beauty norms depicted on social media (Ling and Pederson). Evidence suggests that when it comes to expressing dissatisfaction with one’s physical appearance, girls outscore boys as per multiple studies conducted. Therefore, they end up being more vulnerable and negatively impacted by how social media affects their self-image (Ling and Pederson). The pressure of conforming to societal beauty standards through social media affects both genders equally, leading some boys to adopt dangerous practices such as excessive exercise or steroid use if they don’t feel good about their looks (Best, Joel, and Scott).
Social media has made young people compare themselves with unrealistic and perfect images displayed online. Manipulated and filtered pictures and videos on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat often highlight only the most desirable qualities (Ling and Pederson). The outcome of this situation is that many young people end up with unreasonable beliefs about how they must act or look for others around them to accept them. The perception of one’s body among youth can be significantly shaped by influential figures in the entertainment industry or those with large followings on online platforms (Boxer). Juveniles hold them in high esteem as representations of charm and classiness and wish to be similar.
In like manner, research indicates that placing too much value on social media’s likes and followers can harmfully influence the emotional well-being of young individuals. Likes and follows are now used to quantify an individual’s popularity and value (Best, Joel, and Scott). Young people’s confidence may suffer if they believe that they must always present a flawless image of themselves. Rather than being genuine with their online presence, teenagers feel obligated to give a perfect appearance.
Online ads and messages commonly encourage unhealthy eating behaviors along with fast remedies like crash dieting. Images featuring underweight models and ads advocating for speedy weight reduction saturate the teenage population (Parks). Mental and physical health can be compromised if someone experiences issues with food intake, such as anorexia or bulimia.
Excessive social media usage directly links to teens’ unfavorable mental health outcomes and significantly affects their body image perception. People pressured into portraying a perfect image may experience negative effects like low self-esteem or eating disorders due to unrealistic beauty standards (Parks). Parents and educators can safeguard adolescents from these outcomes by conversing with them regarding the hazards of social media and providing constructive affirmations concerning their physical appearance. Social media networks are also accountable for monitoring the material they circulate and making progress toward fostering a welcoming and positive climate around body acceptance (Ling and Pederson). Appreciating one’s individuality should be instilled in teenagers, along with the understanding that beauty has varying degrees.
Conclusion
The negative impact that social media has on how teenagers perceive themselves physically can contribute to poor mental health. Young people’s susceptible mental states are at risk due to exposure to impractical beauty norms presented by social media, which can lead to harmful behaviors, including disordered eating patterns alongside negative moods (Kardaras). Teenagers should be motivated to allocate less time to social media activities and dedicate more time to building a stronger sense of identity. Helping children cultivate a favorable view of themselves and comprehend how social media influences their sense of value necessitates cooperation between parents and instructors (Boxer).
Works Cited
Best, Joel and Harris Scott. Making Sense of Social Problems: New Images, New Issues. New York: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2013.
Boxer, Wechler Brian . Influenced: The Impact of Social Media on Our Perception. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 2022.
Kardaras, Nicholas. Digital Madness How Social Media Is Driving Our Mental Health Crisis-and How to Restore Our Sanity. New York: St. Martin’s Press., 2023.
Ling, Rich and E. Pederson. Mobile Communications: Re-Negotiation of the Social Sphere. New York: Springer London, 2005.
Parks, Peggy J. Social Media. New York: ReferencePoint Press, Inc., 2017.
The Necessity For Anesthesiologist Assistants In The Anesthesia Care Team Model Sample Essay
The medical field is constantly evolving and growing. With the constant change and rapid growth, medical professionals are tasked with keeping up and adapting. Now, more than ever, medical personnel are seeing just what keeping up really entails. Most medical facilities are understaffed and the staff that they do have is overwhelmed and working tirelessly. Due to staffing shortages, many patients are not getting the treatments and procedures that they need. The demand for more comprehensive and team based care is at an all-time high. In order to meet these demands, new positions and job titles are being created constantly. Schools are trying to meet the demands for more medical personnel by educating students as quickly as they can and medical facilities are more willing to train new grads just so they can be properly staffed. One of the many areas that is suffering is the field of anesthesia. Frankly put, there are not enough anesthesiologists. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists attempt to fill in the gaps but there is still a need for more anesthesia providers. So far 12 states have passed legislation allowing for anesthesiologist assistants to practice as part of the anesthesia care team model, which is a team based approach to providing anesthesia with non-physician anesthesia providers managing cases and procedures under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. In an effort to combat the shortage in anesthesia providers, the remaining states should take steps towards passing legislation that will allow anesthesiologist assistants to work as part of the anesthesia care team model.
The benefits of allowing anesthesiologist assistants to work as members of the healthcare team
Allowing anesthesiologist assistants to work as members of the anesthesia healthcare team enables patients to obtain timely and quality healthcare. The limited number of anesthesiologists is a major reason for delays or cancellations in scheduled surgeries. For instance, a report on the influence of the coronavirus pandemic on the outgrowth of acute care surgery patients established that a shortage of anesthesiologists during the pandemic caused elective surgical theaters to reduce by 50% (Krutsri et al. 51). For patients in need of elective surgery, health facilities were limited to conducting surgery only in cases of malignancy. These adverse healthcare outgrowths highlight the need to include anesthesiologist assistants to work as anesthesia healthcare team members. Research outcomes have demonstrated that including anesthesiologist assistants in the anesthesia care team increases the number of surgeries performed in hospitals. In this line, Pinegar and Townsend opine that anesthesiologist assistants provide “compassionate, consistent high quality anesthesiology care to an untold number of patients here in Missouri, and elsewhere in the country” (66). This statement indicates that including anesthesiologist assistants in the anesthesia, healthcare team helps prevent anesthesiologist shortages, thus enabling patients to receive the required surgery. Therefore, anesthesiologist assistants working in anesthesia care teams enable patients to obtain timely and quality healthcare.
Moreover, allowing anesthesiologist assistants to serve as members of the anesthesia healthcare team will increase access to anesthesia health services in rural areas. Inadequate healthcare services amongst the population inordinately affect individuals in rural areas. To this end, Orser and Wilson argue that the heightened concentration of healthcare services in urban centers “has contributed to the attrition of anesthesia, surgical and obstetric care services in rural Canada” (861). An immediate and ongoing solution to inadequate anesthesia healthcare services in rural areas requires using anesthesiologist assistants as anesthesia healthcare team members to support the limited number of anesthetist specialists in understaffed regions. Deployment of anesthesiologist assistants in rural areas will help decrease the shortage of anesthesia practitioners, thus enabling access to anesthesia services and reducing the disproportionate healthcare burden among rural residents.
Allowing anesthesiologist assistants in the care team is also crucial in supporting learners in the anesthesia field, thus accelerating the orientation and skills acquisition among learners entering the field of anesthetists. In the wake of the shortage of health practitioners in the anesthesia profession, academic institutions and health facilities have geared up to increase the number of qualified graduates entering the profession. Schools have increased enrollment, and hospitals are providing opportunities for learners to gain relevant skills in the profession. To this end, anesthesiologist assistants are crucial in supporting learners to gain practical anesthetist skills. According to Huang et al., some higher learning institutions use anesthesiologist assistants to “help introduce learners to the care team model and provide additional perspective” (646). While this approach is often employed based on resource availability, it provides a crucial platform for learners to effectively gain critical skills since the number of physician anesthesiologists and CRNAs is limited. Therefore, allowing anesthesiologist assistants in the care team is crucial in supporting learners in the anesthesia field.
The drawbacks of allowing anesthesiologist assistants to work as part of the care team
However, while including anesthesiologist assistants in the anesthesia care team environment has numerous benefits, it is limited because it leads to increased healthcare costs. Anesthesiologist assistants working as part of the anesthesia care team must comply with the medical direction health practice regulation that is costly and inefficient because it requires one physician anesthesiologist to work with four certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) or anesthesiologist assistants (McCurdy and Phillips 13). Even though CRNAs can work independently and expand healthcare services in greater ratios, anesthesiologist assistants are supposed to work only in a 4:1 ratio framework. The expanded labor force increases the cost of surgical procedures, which calls for substantial subsidies from health facilities to sustain the high cost of anesthesia procedures. In this line, the outcomes of a recent study established that the continued “use of AA during outpatient colonoscopy increased significantly from 2006 through 2015, associated with increased cost for all payers” (Krigel et al. 2495). The increase in healthcare costs reflects the fact that the use of anesthesiologist assistants under the medical direction framework heightens medical costs since the high number of anesthesiologist assistants in the care team have to be compensated. Therefore, including anesthesiologist assistants in the anesthesia care team has the drawback of heightening healthcare costs despite increasing access to anesthesia services.
Similarly, while including anesthesiologist assistants in the anesthesia, healthcare team helps increase the size of practitioners available to conduct surgical procedures, it fails to meet demand. The increasing healthcare burden in the US has heightened demands in the operating room. This increasing healthcare demand for emergency cases pushes health facilities to have extra operating rooms, which calls for more anesthesia practitioners. This development poses significant staff shortages. While physician anesthesiologists and CRNAs can work independently to cater to increased healthcare demands, anesthesiologist assistants cannot since they are impeded by the low number of physician anesthesiologists present to supervise them. Tamura et al. report that “anesthesiologist assistants (AAs) perform tasks under physician anesthesiologists’ supervision” (609). This limiting working framework for physician anesthesiologists and anesthesiologist assistants implies that health facilities cannot meet the increased demand for anesthesia services, leading to the absence of flexibility to meet OR needs, delayed healthcare services, and reduced efficiency. Therefore, it is evident that including anesthesiologist assistants in the anesthesia, healthcare team does not meet OR demands.
The model under which anesthesiologist assistants work is marred with inefficiency, reducing the expected gains of using them as part of the anesthesia healthcare team. Under the medical direction requisite, anesthesiologist assistants must work under the supervision of a physician anesthesiologist, whereby “the cutoff for medical direction is 1:4 coverage” (McLoughlin 43). They have to adhere to this recommendation to avoid loss of revenue. Even though complying with this practice guideline alleviates possible loss of revenue, it is likely to result in delayed starts, reduced anesthetic procedures conducted per day, and increased charges to the system. In addition, the practice model impedes anesthesiologist assistants from extending their expertise in enhancing access to quality healthcare services among individuals in medically underserved regions. The model also prevents health facilities from maximizing revenues because anesthesiologist assistants cannot urgently extend their services to patients needing anesthetic care.
In conclusion, there is an urgent need for remaining states to take steps towards passing legislation that will allow anesthesiologist assistants to work as part of the anesthesia care team model. Even though this approach has various limitations, it has numerous advantages, such as enabling patients to obtain timely and quality healthcare, increasing access to anesthesia services in rural areas, and accelerating orientation and skills acquisition among learners entering the field of anesthetists. On the other hand, the primary drawbacks of allowing anesthesiologist assistants to serve as care team members entail increased healthcare costs, failure to meet demand, and the use of an inefficient model. Further research is required to identify methods of addressing obstacles that limit the attainment of optimal benefits in including anesthesiologist assistants as part of the care team.
Works Cited
Huang, Jeffrey, et al. “Methods of Orienting New Anesthesiology Residents to the Operating Room Environment: A National Survey of Residency Program Directors.” Journal of Education in Perioperative Medicine, vol. 22, no. 3, 2020, pp. E645.
Krigel, Anna, et al. “Substantial Increase in Anesthesia Assistance for Outpatient Colonoscopy and Associated Cost Nationwide.” Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, vol. 17, no. 12, 2019, pp. 2489-2496.
Krutsri, Chonlada, et al. “Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the outcome, morbidity, and mortality of acute care surgery patients: A retrospective cohort study.” International Journal of Surgery Open, vol. 28, no. 1, 2021, pp. 50-55.
McCurdy, Kelly and Austin Phillips. “Comparison of CRNAs with and without Supervision on Cost and Safety of Anesthesia.” Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects vol. 856, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-25.
McLoughlin, Thomas M. Advances in Anesthesia, E-Book 2020. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2020.
Orser, Beverley A and C Ruth Wilson. “Canada Needs a National Strategy for Anesthesia Services in Rural and Remote Regions.” Canadian Medical Association Journal, vol. 192, no. 30, 2020, pp. E861-E863.
Pinegar, Matthew and Ty Townsend. “The Role of Anesthesiology Assistants in the Anesthesiology Patient Care Team.” Missouri Medicine, vol. 116, no. 1, 2019, pp. 63–66.
Tamura, Takahiro, et al. “Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and Anesthesiologist Assistant Education Programs in the United States.” Nagoya Journal Med Science, vol. 83, no. 3 2021, pp. 609–626.
The Role Of The Caste System In Hinduism During The Vedic Period And Beyond Essay Example
The caste system in Hinduism is a unique cultural attribute that has existed for centuries. Tracing the historical perspectives of the caste system includes an analysis of its original role, how it has changed over time, the factors that have contributed to the changes, and the perceptions drawn from the system during and after the Vedic period. The etymology of Vedas is historically associated with texts written in ancient India that contribute significantly to the doctrines of Hinduism. The texts are believed to be sacred, and the word Vedas loosely translates to knowledge (Reddy, 2021). The Vedas provided the basis of the caste system in Hinduism through social stratification. The initial objective of the Varna or the caste system was to give society a distinctive structure that classified individuals based on their attributes. The study will consider early Hindu religious texts, secondary and primary sources, scholarly materials, and historical records to analyze various aspects of the Varna system of social stratification. The paper will consider the system’s origin and its role during the Vedic era. In addition, the paper will trace the changes the system has faced over time and the challenges encountered in the modern era.
The Origins of the Caste System
The caste system can be traced to the Vedic era implying that the famous religious texts during this period considered the social structure of the Hindu and the need to develop a comprehensive system to identify individuals in the society. The Varna system was motivated by race, occupational, economic, and migrational factors.
Race
The area occupied by present-day India saw the interaction of various racial groups at different times in history. The prominent racial groups historically occupying the region included the Negritos, Proto-Austroloids, Dravidians, Mongoloids, and Vedic Aryans (Raj, 1985). Therefore, it is essential to understand that India was a multicultural environment, and there needed to be a system of classifying racial groups using various attributes. Furthermore, as a result of social conflicts, a hierarchy was established to maintain order in a society that turned out to be largely stratified. Conflicts ensued as each of the racial groups fought for dominance. However, Raj (1985) explains that at some point in history, the light-skinned Aryans established dominance and managed to subdue the hitherto majority groups of the Dravidians. The Aryans killed most of the Dravidians, and those left were forced into slavery. Therefore, the caste system has roots in the racial conflicts experienced by the early groups that settled in the region. In order to maintain hegemony, the Aryans ensured that people were identified according to their different racial groups. In essence, the Aryans became the dominant group while the others followed. Such a system was meant to reduce rebellion and ensure that power remained in the hands of the Aryans. Hegemonic societies are often considered historically stable because people are born with the consciousness of their social place. As a result, the likelihood of rebellion is low because of the mutual need to maintain order. The Aryans assumed the role of enslavers, while the Dravidians were condemned to slavery.
Occupation
Occupation was an important consideration in prehistoric India because it determined an individual’s status in the community. For instance, enslaved people were considered the lowest of all occupations because they had no rights and did not receive compensation for their work. On the other hand, other groups, such as the Brahmins. The Brahmins were priests who held the highest caste in the Vedic era. The Brahmins were followed by warriors that protected the community from external aggression (Triumph IAS, 2023). Religion occupied a central and transcendental position during the Vedic period. The Vedas were specifically meant to teach people religious doctrines. Historians have argued that the occupational factor was also used to maintain societal hegemony. There was a strict provision regarding occupation because it was hereditary, and no person could jump from one occupation to another. For example, a child born to an artisan cannot become a Brahmin. The strict occupational provision also maintained social order in Hindu society during the Vedic period.
Economic
Economic sustainability was also an important motivating factor in establishing the caste system. The Aryans initially adopted the system but later enforced it among other cultures in ancient India. Division of labor was an essential consideration for the survival of society. Therefore, the system was created to ensure that society would have persons with diverse skills. In order to enforce structure, migration from one caste to the other was prohibited. For instance, the Dalits occupied the lowest caste, and their main work was to do jobs that no one else could. For instance, they were expected to sweep the streets and wash latrines. However, once a person had been born a Dalit, they could not change their social and economic status. In addition, their offspring were also required to follow the system (Triumph IAS, 2023). Such an organization ensured economic sustainability and reduced competition for specific jobs. The priests and teachers occupied the highest caste. However, they did not want other people from lower social classes to compete with them. In essence, the caste system was structured to maintain economic order in prehistoric Indian society.
Migration
Migration was also a crucial factor in establishing the caste system. During the prehistoric period, migration was common as human beings moved from one place to another in search of food, shelter, and better living conditions. The caste system discouraged an influx of immigrants in prehistoric India. The Aryans had already established solid regional dominance and wanted to discourage intruders (Triumph IAS, 2023). Outsiders would not want to exist under a system where the likelihood of them occupying lower social classes was high.
The Role of the Caste System in the Vedic Era
The primary role of the caste system during the Vedic period was to create a structured and functional society. The important factors in ancient India were religion, leadership, skilled labor, and unskilled labor. Sharma (2021) explains that the system must have been brought to India by the Aryans, and that is the reason they were quick to subdue the Dravidians to establish absolute dominance. The Aryans killed a significant percentage of the Dravidians, while the remaining were subjected to slavery. However, to ensure sustainability, there was a need to come up with justifications. Therefore, the caste system played the role of creating an orderly society. The primary justification is that it was a religious doctrine. As a result, people were prompted to follow without questioning, as is the norm with most religions.
Religion played a crucial role during the Vedic period. The Vedas were primarily religious texts meant to guide people. The Vedas were not merely texts inspired by God, but they were considered the essence of God. Hinduism emphasizes that it is difficult for people to question the Vedas (Sharma, 2021). The caste system was meant to give religious authority to priests and teachers. The priests played the crucial role of offering sacrifices on behalf of the people. Furthermore, they taught people Hinduism doctrines, one of which was the importance of adhering to the caste system. Religious principles of Hinduism during the Vedic era determined various aspects of life, such as the food people could offer to their gods. Maintaining the caste system ensured that people avoided impurity by offering the food designated for their respective caste.
The caste system maintained a functional hierarchy where the Brahmins and Kshatriya occupied the top castes. Whereas Brahmins primarily played religious roles, Kshatriyas were responsible for providing leadership. The two lower castes, the skilled and the unskilled workers, catered to the labor system (Sharma, 2021). Such an arrangement ensured that people knew their societal role from birth. Therefore, there were minimum conflicts in society as the responsibility of each person was pre-determined. Jumping from one case to the other was also prohibited. As a result, it ensured that the leadership maintained a stable hegemony that would not be disputed. Although considered brutal and a symbol of social injustice, the caste system survived in India for centuries. In modern society, it has been prohibited but still practiced in social circles. For instance, it is difficult to find people intermarrying across castes. The Varna is backed by strict religious doctrines that continue to drive followers of Hinduism to practice social stratification. The resilience of the caste system in Indian society reveals the important role it has played over centuries.
Challenges Facing the Caste System in the Contemporary Society
Social advocacy in the modern era has been primarily concerned with stratification and the discrimination of an individual based on cultural factors. Therefore, the primary challenge facing Varna is the consciousness of Indian society concerning the social injustice associated with the caste system (Sharma, 2021). Indian society boasts of an educated population. Consequently, it is difficult to advance traditional beliefs that lack a sound intellectual basis without raising serious questions. Movements such as feminism and sexual liberation have made people more concerned about social justice. Therefore, social change is one of the primary challenges facing the caste system.
The caste system was only functional in a traditional set-up where there was the belief that social and economic status was primarily determined at birth. In today’s world, persons from low-income families can pursue education or develop talents and better their social and economic statuses. Therefore, a person can be born as a Dalit but then have a higher status than another born in a higher caste. Such realities make it difficult for society to accept the caste system. People are no longer condemned to specific occupations by their parentage. The availability of opportunities that challenge such traditional barriers proves that individuals can change their lives through hard work and determination.
Globalization has also influenced and motivated a critical consideration of the unique challenges facing societies that conform to the caste system. The world is sensitive to such issues, and advocacy groups struggling for social justice are unafraid to traverse borders. Such movements create consciousness through a digital platform (Sharma, 2021). As a result, persons following such traditions are often criticized. Promoting the caste system is becoming difficult, even for adherents of the Hindu culture and religion. More people are embracing modern ideologies that promote cultural equality. As a result, the caste system is slowly waning, even in a conservative society such as India.
Conclusion
The caste system has been criticized, especially in contemporary society, where people are more conscious of social justice issues. An analysis of the origins, roles, and challenges experienced by the system in modern society can promote an understanding of the caste system. The origins of the Varna can be traced to four factors; race, occupation, economics, and migration. Prehistoric India was multiracial, and there was a need to create a hegemonic structure to reduce conflicts. Furthermore, there was the need for various occupations, which made it necessary to advance social stratification. For economic sustainability, specialization was needed where each person played a crucial role in society. Finally, migration was still common during the Vedic era. Asa result, it was necessary to prevent immigrants by creating castes. Historically, the caste system has played crucial religious, political, and social roles. Religion and politics were crucial in maintaining social order. However, the system has continuously encountered challenges threatening its existence in contemporary society. For instance, people have become conscious of social justice issues. The caste system is also non-functional in modern society, where people can pursue various careers without restrictions. Finally, globalization has opened up borders making it difficult for people to practice such a system without attracting criticism.
References
Raj, E. S. (1985). The origins of the caste system. Transformation, 2(2), 10–14.
Reddy, V. (2021). India’s Heritage – Vedas to Sri Ramakrishna. Sri Ramakrishna Math.
Sharma, D. A. (2021). Changing characteristics of the caste system in India. Orientalism Bulletin, 1(96), 32-41.
Triumph IAS. (2023, February 10). Caste system. Sociological Article.