The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said (Pillai & Krishna, pp 57). This quote is a reminder that often, what is not said can be more important than what is. Communication goes beyond words; it is important to truly listen and understand what is not being said to have meaningful conversations. This lesson has been invaluable to me and has changed how I approach conversations. I now prioritize listening before speaking, and I make sure to pay attention to the subtle cues that often go unnoticed. This has allowed me to have more meaningful conversations and build stronger relationships with those around me.
As a young adult, I thought I had the world figured out, and I was sure of what I wanted and what I had to do to achieve it. I was also convinced that my voice was the most important in every conversation, and I was eager to express my opinion and ideas, even when I had nothing of value. I remember one particular instance in which this attitude got me into trouble when I was invited to a dinner party by a family friend, and I felt obligated to show my appreciation by engaging in a lively conversation. As the talk got more and more intense, I felt the urge to jump in and make my presence known. I started to offer my opinion about various topics despite having no relevant knowledge or experience, and without considering the other people’s feelings at the table, I interrupted them and spoke over them. My main priority was to make sure that all heard my voice. I was completely unaware of the effect I was having on the other people present. My behaviors were not only rude and disrespectful, but it also made other people feel disregarded. They were not allowed to express their opinions and ideas because I was too busy asserting my own. This caused others to feel resentment towards me and my behaviors. To make matters worse, I was not only disregarding the opinions of my peers’ opinions but also my superiors’ opinions. I had yet to recognize their authority and the authority of their positions. This lack of respect made me appear unprofessional and immature. The dinner ended in an awkward silence, and I felt embarrassed by my behavior. As I was leaving, our family friend pulled me aside and said, “I’m glad you came, but next time tries to be more aware of the people around you. Listen more and talk less.” At first, I felt frustrated by the comment and felt like I was being judged. However, I soon realized that the advice was meant to be constructive and was not intended to make me feel bad. After some time to reflect, I realized my friend had a point.
I began to realize that my behavior was rude and disrespectful since I was not allowing anyone else at the table to get a word in edgewise. I was also not demonstrating any respect for the other person’s opinion. I was so eager to make my point that I was not taking the time to listen to what the other person had to say.
This experience opened my eyes to the importance of being an active listener. It taught me that I must put aside my agenda and take the time to listen to what others have to say. It also taught me that I must know how my words and actions affect those around me. I had to learn to control myself and think twice before I spoke. I had to learn to be a better listener and fully understand the other person’s point of view.
I have since learned to practice active listening by engaging in conversations to understand the other person. I have also become more aware of my body language and facial expressions to show the other person that I am genuinely interested in what they say. I have learned to ask questions and to be patient when someone is speaking. I have also learned to step back and allow others to express themselves without interruption.
Another lesson I have learned from this experience is to be respectful of opinions, be open-minded, and accept that not everyone will agree with me. I have also learned to be mindful of my tone and words when speaking with others and to be honest and direct while respecting the other person’s opinion. This experience taught me the hard lesson that sometimes it is better to shut up and listen. Hence, it was an invaluable lesson that helped me become a better communicator and person. As Peter F. Drucker said, “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.”
Learning to be an active listener has allowed me to become a better communicator and build stronger relationships with those around me. I have become more aware of my behaviors and mindful of the people around me by learning to be respectful of the opinions of others and to take the time to listen and understand what the other person is saying. I have also learned to think before speaking and to be aware of how my words and actions affect those around me.
This experience has taught me the importance of communication and the power of listening. It has also taught me the value of being aware of the feelings of the people around me. Therefore, I will always be grateful for the lesson I learned that day and the changes it has brought about in my life.
Work Cited
Pillai, Krishna, & Krishna Pillai. “Communication: Hearing What Isn’t Said.” The essence of a Manager (2011): 57-73. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-17581-7_4
Theory Article: Poverty Free Sample
Poverty is a condition where people lack the financial possessions to support a chosen standard of life. People in a state of poverty lack the resources to afford the basic commodities in life, such as clothes, food, and shelter. Poverty is spread worldwide, and governments are ratifying policies to eliminate it. The prerequisite for poverty eradication is understanding its causes and strategizing to eliminate them. Different organizations are partnering with countries to eradicate poverty. Poverty is a global concern affecting numerous people, and nations must increase their efforts to curb it for increased quality of life.
Nature and Parameters of Poverty
Nature and Parameters
The international poverty measurement index is an income of $1.90 per day. Any person in the world living under the stated wage bill per day is considered to be poor. The World Bank aims to reduce the number of people living in extreme poverty to 3% by the year 2030 (Go, 2020). Poverty is a global concern because it affects people all over the world. A study in 2022 proved that 698 million people, equivalent to 9%, live in extreme poverty, under 1.90 dollars per day (Brady, 2019). The number of people living in extreme poverty increased in 2020 by over 50 million people as COVID-19 ravaged the global economy (Dhongde & Dong, 2022). Although poverty is a global concern and stated in the United Nations as one of the sustainable development goals, sovereign nations have the role of helping their citizens move out of the poverty cycle. China and India are the two most populated countries implementing policies to eradicate poverty. Consequently, the countries moved over 407 million people from extreme poverty. Governments worldwide must formulate policies to overcome challenges by empowering all people affected to achieve prosperity.
Populations Most Affected
Almost all nations in the world have a percentage of poor people regardless of their economic status. For example, the United States of America is an economic superpower worldwide (Leal Filho et al., 2021). However, 11.6% of Americans are living below the poverty line. Poverty in the region, however, varies according to age group and race (Dhongde & Dong, 2022). Children below 18 years and adults over 65 years have a poverty rate of 16.9% and 10.3%, respectively (Brady, 2019). Gender comparison shows that females are poorer compared to their male counterparts. Blacks have the highest number of people living under the poverty line in the USA, at 19.5% (Leal Filho et al., 2021). The whites living under the poverty line are 8.2%, far less than the blacks living in poverty (Brady, 2019). Blacks, adults, children, and women are more affected by poverty in the USA than other groups.
Consequences of the Social Problem
Poverty in the USA has numerous negative consequences on the population. The insecurity and increased gang crime result from income discrepancies and poverty. Further, social problems have led to higher mortality rates because poor people cannot take care of their hospital bills, reducing life expectancy. Suicide due to depression and other mental conditions is likely to be experienced in poverty-stricken regions (Brady, 2019). Generally, poverty lowers the quality of life and jeopardizes the pursuit of happiness.
Theoretical Approach
Social exclusion theory is a multidimensional philosophy concerned with deprivation. The theory was coined in France by Rene Lenoir in 1974 (Leal Filho et al., 2021). Lenoir’s main aim was to have all the disabled, mentally ill, and socially maladjusted individuals have a chance to partake in economic activities. The then secretary for social action wanted to eliminate injustices committed against the people. The theory is relevant in the contemporary world since it involves the deprivation of resources and the required support to eradicate poverty. The main cause of poverty is deprivation, and the theory underscores why social exclusion increases discrimination (Brady, 2019). Consequently, the people discriminated against lack access to better healthcare, education, water and sanitation, and employment opportunities. Society is subdivided into classes through exclusion, and the status quo is created in the long run.
The creation of minorities and people of color in society is made possible by social exclusion. The state where people regroup based on biological traits and discriminate against others is likely to cause poverty in the discourse. The capitalist economic system also thrives in the exclusion system, where a few company owners get richer while the people working for them languish in poverty. Social inclusion is the antidote to solving the social challenge by ensuring that every person is involved in the economic welfare of a country (Go, 2020). Policymakers must investigate the existing data on exclusion and determine the best ways of overcoming the social challenge. Poverty is created by the social exclusion practiced in society by depriving certain members of rights to education and employment opportunities. The class system that creates the problem is responsible for maintaining it as the discrimination exercised deprives the blacks and women in patriarch societies of the resources.
Social Injustices and the Oppressive Forces
Social injustices are the primary causes of poverty in the contemporary world. Gender discrimination and racism are examples of the social injustices experienced that result in poverty. In patriarchal societies where gender discrimination is paramount, poverty is likely to affect women deprived of educational opportunities. Victims of gender discrimination lack the opportunities to get a better education, employment opportunities, and a safer working environment (Go, 2020). The few who make it to employment get meager pay and work under harsh conditions. Consequently, people lack the financial capacity to take care of their daily needs. Gender discrimination is, therefore, a social injustice that directly impacts poverty.
Racial discrimination is a social injustice manifested through depriving minorities, indigenous, and immigrant’s basic rights based on their color. In the USA, for example, blacks are discriminated against and are not given opportunities to flourish. After the Second World War, when American society was thriving, the blacks were left behind in the development agenda because they were red-lined on the development loans. In contrast, the whites were empowered with loans to buy houses and improve their living standards, and redlining deprived blacks of the right to ask for loans. Racial discrimination may lead to deprivation of employment opportunities, education, and healthcare facilities. Consequently, the group being discriminated against is exposed to absolute poverty.
Economic oppression is an example of the force causing poverty in the contemporary world. Capitalism is an example of an oppressive force where business owners pay workers minimal pay in exchange for labor. Since the capitalists view the employees as tools for property, the proletariat suffers at the hands of the bourgeoisie (Timor-Shlevin et al., 2023). The wages earned in such a setting must cater to the worker’s basic needs. Consequently, the workers need to be able to pay for the standard of living.
Social Work Strategies for Prevention and Intervention of the Social Problem
Employment Assistance
Social workers deal with societal challenges and meet people with different needs daily. Poverty-stricken neighborhoods are marred with unemployment, gang violence, and other social concerns. Social workers can help eradicate poverty through employee assistance programs. Social workers can change social problems into opportunities, solicit funds, and employ locals to solve the challenges. For example, drug distribution to the needy can be performed by the locals affected by poverty. Further, social workers may sign contracts with companies offering corporate social responsibility to employ the locals as staff. Through social work aid in employment assistance, poverty levels will be eradicated.
Educating People on Social Injustices and Oppressive Forces
The main causes of poverty may be traced to oppressive forces and social injustices. Social workers have a key mandate of educating the masses and lobbying for policy changes on behalf of society. If the community is educated on gender and racial discrimination, children will have equal education and employment opportunities (Timor-Shlevin et al., 2023). Consequently, poverty causes will be eradicated, and the people will experience a high quality of life in the discourse. The education may be conducted at the family and institutional level to ensure all people have an opportunity to thrive.
Conclusion
Poverty is one of the global concerns causing suffering to millions of people worldwide. Almost all nations worldwide are affected by poverty and require government policies and efforts by relevant stakeholders to end the challenge. The main cause of poverty is social exclusion where some members of society are discriminated against and deprived of rights and privileges. Social exclusion makes poverty more prevalent in certain groups than in others. Social workers can eradicate poverty through programs such as employment assistance and education since the oppressive forces, and social injustices can be eradicated through their interventions.
References
Brady, D. (2019). Theories of the Causes of Poverty. Annual Review of Sociology, pp. 45, 155–175. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-073018-022550
Dhongde, S., & Dong, X. (2022). Analyzing racial and ethnic differences in the USA through the lens of multidimensional poverty. Journal of Economics, Race, and Policy, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41996-021-00093-2
Go, J. (2020). Race, empire, and epistemic exclusion: Or the structures of sociological thought. Sociological Theory, 38(2), 79-100. https://doi.org/10.1177/0735275120926213
Leal Filho, W., Lovren, V. O., Will, M., Salvia, A. L., & Frankenberger, F. (2021). Poverty: A central barrier to implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Environmental Science & Policy, pp. 125, 96–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.08.020
Timor-Shlevin, S., Saar-Heiman, Y., & Krumer-Nevo, M. (2023). Poverty-Aware Programs in Social Service Departments in Israel: A Rapid Evidence Review of Outcomes for Service Users and Social Work Practice. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(1), 889. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010889
Why Are Romance Narratives In Popular Culture Problematic Sample College Essay
Mass media has come to play a crucial role in shaping the social norms of modern society. Some unrealistic expectations about romantic love result from the constant barrage of fairy-tale depictions of romantic love in popular culture movies, TV, books, magazines, records, radio, advertisements, and the news beginning at a young age. It is important to remember that the mainstream media often resort to stereotyping, generalization, and exaggeration to get their point through. In extreme cases, media-created unrealistic expectations have been linked to clinical depression and other mental health issues. Therefore, it is prudent to become self-aware and take steps to alter our negative worldviews. Romance narratives provide an idealized picture of love that leads to heartbreak in actual relationships.
A common trope in romance novels is a protagonist who defies conventional wisdom about conducting themselves in a love relationship. People who profit from the present social order do not appreciate it when women see this modelled for them in fiction, and vice versa. To imply that something other than ourselves (what we could call society or culture) may be playing a hidden, vital role in managing our relationships in their most intimate moments might seem weird, and even very insulting, to the person we are falling in love with. The cultural context in which our romantic relationships develop a potent sense of what is “normal” in love; it quietly instructs us on where to focus our emotions, how to handle disagreements, what to celebrate, what to tolerate, and what to be rightfully outraged about. The currents of love have a history, and we ride on them, sometimes pretty hopelessly. According to popular media, the best love tales are grim, painful, and all-encompassing.
Someone usually needs to take the initiative in a romantic relationship. And there’s a wide variety of goals to aim for: Pop culture’s depictions of romance aren’t always spot-on; occasionally they stray into the horrifying or criminal, and other times they’re simply a little weird or overbearing. However, reading some of these fictitious love tales again might leave one with the impression that a man’s persistent devotion to his lady is evidence of his ardour and, therefore, something to be welcomed. When male protagonists are shown to have crossed a line by physically assaulting a female character, they are often pardoned, or their transgressions are placed in a dark corner of the plot and forgotten.
Popular culture has often glorified abusive partnerships. Stories in which a man still pursues a woman despite her repeated requests for him to cease are widespread. Romance tales between stepsiblings or between teachers and students are another example of an unstable interpersonal pattern. Many films and shows have normalized abusive behaviour in relationships, leading some viewers to idealize such partnerships. Many things we see in popular culture aren’t good for us (Aware, 2020).
For this reason, it’s crucial to recognize and stigmatize this practice. Too many teenagers, particularly girls in relationships, go through what is portrayed on television as a poisonous and violent relationship. Even though these presentations are intended to inform young people about the issue and encourage them to seek treatment if needed, the message is not sinking in with this demographic. It’s being misrepresented and glorified in almost all forms of media, where it belongs, as this “hot” or “bad boy” convoluted cliché when it’s simply poisonous.
His obnoxious demeanour is sometimes used as a joke. Viewers may internalize the message that such conduct is OK if they find such acts humorous. Only touch someone with their permission beforehand. No matter how tight the friendship or romantic connection is, no one should ever touch another person without their full and enthusiastic agreement, particularly in the private parts. The other person should refrain from touching the individual if they do not seem to give permission, such as if they are reluctant or unable to answer.
A highly warped view of love is accepted if we see all this as the pinnacle of relationships and strive for it. The romantic notion of wet kissing after a quarrel and the harsh reality is quite different.
Love shouldn’t be a mysterious, evil poison that only the strong can survive. Using that interpretation drains your strength until maintaining the connection is no longer possible. The bonds you form in this setting are destructive. Love is a powerful emotion, yet it can also be a gentle force. The sensation of “butterflies” is a worry, fear that the other person may never contact you again or that you may have said the “wrong thing,” as my closest friends and I frequently discuss.
It’s normal to feel lonely, tired, or defensive in a relationship, but that shouldn’t be the case since partnerships are difficult, no one is flawless, and there will be moments when you feel violent towards them. Loving someone is the antithesis of that; it’s loving, reassuring, and enjoyable. As soon as you’re in their presence, you’ll feel relaxed. You need someone who can bring out the best in you while still loving you when you’re at your lowest
A strong belief in love’s power is a valuable quality. It’s important to recognize this feeling for what it is and not dismiss it as an irrational preoccupation or dramatic overreaction. To be loved is to experience the peace that follows a storm that strengthens your resolve and gives you a firmer footing from which to discover new things about yourself, the world, and the universe of ideas.
Sexual harassment claims have flooded various industries, including the entertainment business, recently. However, not only has predatory male conduct been tolerated and hidden behind closed doors, but it has also been celebrated in the media.
Watching love films may legitimize stalking. Given this, it’s not hard to see how toxic love tales may help legitimize abusive behaviour that they have the power to confuse individuals, particularly women, about when they should feel gratified and when they should feel threatened and whether or not their boundaries have been breached.
To fully understand how our society normalizes and even celebrates illegal activity, we must first examine the most egregious examples: Sexual assault is often portrayed as the beginning of a romantic tale. The serial nature of television means that many episodes have a kind of assault amnesia when it is no longer useful for a character who formerly raped or attempted rape to be perceived as a villain.
Men may not realize they seek an idealized female form when they look at magazines or movies. Still, their girlfriends and spouses regularly need to meet the standards set by models and actresses (unless they, too, have had the surgical and photographic enhancements that pop culture icons get). Additionally, harmful ideals of the female form are promoted even by women’s periodicals.
What happens in movies happens in real life, and vice versa. Those who have harassed others are given the option to change after profusely apologizing. When it’s inconvenient, people tend to forget about a man’s alleged history of sexual misbehavior. The romantic cultural touchstones we hold dear have real-world analogues on the macro and micro levels.
Reading romance books satisfies our want for an ideal connection without the effort of achieving it in real life. Pop culture is a great way to pass the time, but it’s crucial to call attention to the negative role models it may provide. Violence in relationships and other forms of abuse may be fascinating to watch on TV. However, this is different from how good partnerships normally function. When two people are in love, they share the same goals for the relationship and the person they’re with. Respect and open dialogue are hallmarks of healthy partnerships.
References
Aware. (2020). THE ROMANTICIZATION OF TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS IN THE MEDIA
Ella Alexander. (2021). How has popular culture romanticized dark, tormented love – and completely warped our idea of what a healthy relationship should look like? https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/popular-culture-romanticised-obsessive-love
Kelly L. Choyke. (2019). The Power of Popular Romance Culture: Community, Fandom, and Sexual Politics. https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_etd/send_file/send?accession=ohiou1573739424523163&disposition=inline