Why Abortion is Immoral Essay Example

Why Abortion is Immoral? Essay The ethics of abortion is very complex and controversial as no single opinion whether it is moral to permit abortions exists. Abortion controversy has continued unabated maybe because the Supreme Court imposed the nation with the idea of abortion on demand. Therefore, Don Marquis, in his paper â€Å"Why abortion is Immoral?† provides his own arguments why abortion is the same as killing an adult or human being. The author is trying to provide alternative approach to the controversial debate. Marquis’ ideas are centered on whether to consider fetus a person. He claims that if fetus is considered a person, the he has all rights for life, but if he is not considered a person, then abortion should morally right. Marquis doesn’t try to discern the personhood of a fetus. He also tries to provide clear reasons whether it should be permissible to kill fetus. The most difficult, he says, is the question of morality: â€Å"Morally permissible abortions will be rare indeed unless, perhaps, they occur so early in pregnancy that a fetus is not yet definitely an individual†. (p.189) Marquis defends position that abortions are immoral as they brutalize the one who is willing to kill and is going to deprive from individual’s presence. The consequences of killing are that a person â€Å"deprives them of all the experiences, activities, projects, and enjoyments that would otherwise have constituted ones future†. (p.191) Therefore, abortion is immoral as killing â€Å"inflicts one of the greatest possible losses on the victim†. (p.193) It means that future child is deprived from activities, experiences and enjoyments in his life – there are things he doesn’t enjoy now, but may does enjoy in future, but he is deprived of such chance. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Abortion is Immoral? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why Abortion is Immoral? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why Abortion is Immoral? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Summing up, Marquis’ central argument is that abortion deprives others from their future. He sums up: â€Å"When I am killed, I am deprived both of what I now value, which would have been part of my future personal life, but also what I would come to value†. (p.195) It is necessary to agree that every child, either born or unborn, has the right to live. Works Cited Marquis, Don. Why Abortion is Immoral? The Journal of Philosophy, 86, 4 (1989): 183-202.

The Dietary Needs Of Individuals At Different Life Stages Essays

The Dietary Needs Of Individuals At Different Life Stages Essays The Dietary Needs Of Individuals At Different Life Stages Essay The Dietary Needs Of Individuals At Different Life Stages Essay Everybody’s dietary needs depend on a lot of different factors. One of the main stages that is dependant is life stages (New born, Adolescent, Adult and Pensioners). A balanced diet is a diet that has a varied amount of foods or nutrients (Carbohydrates, Minerals and Fruit and Vegetables etc). This is so that the individual eats healthy amounts according to their needs but each person has different needs. Life Stages: Infancy 0-3 Years – New born babies are very good when eating foods as their needs are simple. They need milk and water and this meets all of their needed nutrients. Babies can be given milk through a bottle or the mother can breast feed. There are my benefits of breast feeding and they are: It contains all nutrients in correct amounts. It contains antibodies that protect new born against diseases in the first few months of life. It is clean whereas the bottle may contain bacteria etc. It is already produced by the mother and it can be given in the correct portions. Breast milk does not cause allergies so the baby will be safe. When the baby is being carried in the womb and at birth, the mother of the child is encouraged to breastfeed for at least a few weeks after the baby’s birth. On the other hand some women chose that they don’t want to breast feed or sometimes they can’t as a result they use formula milk (modified cow’s milk). The infant’s kidneys and digestive system is not fully matured when they are born so it is vital that the mothers follow instructions on how to prepare the bottle to reduce the risk of infection. This is why breastfeeding is an easier option. 6 Months Old – This is the age where most babies are introduced into solid foods such as rusks (baby biscuits) and this process is called weaning. Weaning is started around the sixth month of the newborns life. Moreover, this will avoid damage to the young kidneys and obesity and allergies. 8 Months Old – At this stage in the toddlers’ life more solid foods are introduced into the baby’s diet such as cereals and pureed fruit and vegetables. As time goes on the baby gets older and it grows bigger so lumpier foods are put into the diet however this can be different to other babies as they all grow and mature at different ages. Sometimes it takes babies longer than others to chew and swallow lumps. 12-18 Months Old – At this age the baby can now be given cow milk which is full fat and now they should be eating a varied amount of foods that help them to have a balanced diet. Using the milk as food will not be necessary because as they grow older they begin to eat solid foods with the family. Skimmed milk should only be given to children after the age of five. It is important that up to the age of three they have a lot of iron-rich foods. When the children begin weaning they begin to move around a lot and use up more energy so their diet must contain more carbohydrates which provide a good source of energy for crawling and walking youngsters. Childhood: Ages 4-10 – At this stage in the child’s life they are beginning to explore the world and this is the start of their education so their diet should reflect their growing needs. They still need a lot of energy but this will differ due to every child having a different sized body and they will have a different stomach to adults). This is vital for the children’s nutrition. Parents are advised to give their children healthy snacks and meals so as they grow up this will be part of their routine and they will have a healthy body. Mainly other foods like sweets, fizzy drinks and fatty foods are certainly meant to be avoided because it can cause health problems such as obesity however they can be given as treats. A good time to eat these foods is after meal times as it avoids tooth decay. It is also good to have the children show manners and social skills by eating with a knife and fork and drinking from a cup when at the table. It is also vital that the child learns how to brush their teeth so they stay healthy and this will eventually become a habit. Adolescence: 11-18 Years Old – Adolescences’ grow very quickly as this is where there is a big change in a person for example they grow taller and put on weight. There are physical changes both externally and internally. All of these changes require energy so an adolescences’’ appetite can be large as they crave foods which are fatty which causes the weight increase however they should still eat balanced foods. A diet that is high in fats, sugars and salt may result in health problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease which will develop as they grow older. It is important that adolescences take part in exercise which will help them to stay fit and lose weight but also its main benefit will be to avoid these health problems. At this age they should be told about the risks of severe dieting that some teenagers are susceptible to. Adults: 19-65 Years – Adults need to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Their ages will decide how much food they should eat and how much carbohydrates and fats to avoid. This will prevent heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Adults’ nutritional requirements reduce as they grow older because they become less able to do physical exercise. They are advised to do some exercise so their body stays healthy and this could result in people living longer. Also as people become adults they are allowed to drink alcohol so there are safe intake measurements with both men and women. Men should consume 21 units and Women should consume 14 units. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding – During teenage pregnancy girls are more likely to suffer with nutrient deficiencies as their bodies are still growing and changing as a result it is vital that they eat more foods as they now have the job of feeding the foetus and because their pregnant they provide breast milk. When an adult is pregnant their nutritional needs increase slightly to help the foetus develop and also the placenta which guards the baby. The figure of speech,’eating for two’ is known and used by many people but this is not completely true. It is more important that they eat a well balanced diet instead of eating lots of foods. If the pregnancy is planned it is advised that woman have more folic acid in their diet maybe in the form of a tablet. Folic acid has been proven to lower the risk of spina bifida in the foetus. If the family of the baby have a good diet then this can be passed down to the baby for example if a person like brussell sprouts this is down to the genes. Older People: 65 Years and Older – As we grow older our bodies become less able to do things like exercise and so our need for energy decreases slightly. Even though they don’t need a lot of food older people still need energy from foods. The sources needed are proteins, vitamins and minerals. Some older people may not eat enough food and so they can’t have a balanced diet with a good amount of nutrition. One of the reasons why they don’t eat enough could be due to depression or being alone. Sometimes if they lose their partners then they may not feel like cooking and they lose their appetite. In order to maintain their appetite they are advised to cook tasty and easy nutritious meals. This will help them to avoid illness. If they do exercise here and there then they will be healthy physically and mentally and this will increase their social wellbeing. Concept of a Balanced Diet Intake and Needs – Apart from breast milk there is no other single food that provides nutrients for a healthy and balanced diet as a result we have to eat a varied amount of foods to keep us healthy. Usually there are no unhealthy foods as such as it is just unbalanced amounts of foods that can cause consequences as health problems. Energy Balance – The term energy balance means how much energy is taken into their bodies and given out but they are both equal. Energy intake is mainly from carbohydrates and fats in diet and the output is the energy that is used during everyday processes like breathing, moving and metabolism. If the energy input is more than the output then the extra bit is stored as fat as it cannot be given off. Over a long period of time this fat will cause chronic conditions like obesity. Children will need a higher intake of energy as they are now at the stage where they’re growing rapidly. Since the mid-twentieth century people living in developed countries have become less active due to the changes in work, transport and technology and this can have a bad impact on their health as this causes obesity. Dietary Reference Values: Dietary reference values were developed by the department of health 1991 to replace recommended daily amounts (RDA’S). DRV are a suggested amount of energy and nutrient intakes and they should not be taken in as exact amounts. They are just guidelines for people of the same age group and they show an estimate of how much energy and nutrients should be taken in and sometimes if can be decided by the gender. These recommendations show what people need for good health. Even though DRV are given as daily intakes, people don’t eat the same foods every day and so their appetite can change. Consequently the intakes of energy and nutrients are averaged over several days moreover DRV only apply to healthy people.

5 Projects To Visit Before Doing Anything In Dubai

5 Projects To Visit Before Doing Anything In Dubai As Dubai is getting geared up for hosting the new developments for coming years, the whole economic horizon has got a fast move. Major visitor and recreational points of interest across the city are usually taking a leap, with projects effectively worth gigantic amounts of money already on their way. If you are interested to see the Dubai future projects, then do not forget to visit these places below. 1. Al Habtoor City This city offers 3 well-appointed inns Regis, a leading W Lodge, presenting more than 2,600 sophisticated suites. This town specifically offers 3 stylish noncommercial podiums, a 2,300-seat perpetual water-based cinema by Franco Dragone known as La Perle, and several stores and recreational amenities, such as shops, well-known dining places and state-of-the-art restaurants, a blvd, a marina balcony, a golf academy and divine landscapes. The exceptional advancement also offers 3 luxurious noncommercial properties, Noura, Amna Meera, in a couple of 74-storey podiums and another 52-storey tower, including elegant condominiums, together with 14 penthouses, 3 of which are generally Very important personnel penthouses. Their attics have expansive living areas, roomy cooking areas, and several balconies having hypnotic vistas. A few penthouses cover a space of 900sq m of the magnificent standard of living with big glass windows. The towers’ 7 penthouses have 862 sqm, with the L-shaped living area, providing occupants clear sights of the exclusive swimming pool, spa bath and landscaped backyard. Extend across 4 floors; the 3 Very important personnel penthouses possess magnificent spaces, several garden balconies, open-air spa bath, a workout room, saunas and steam area the best high-end experience. 2. Al Seef Expanding 1.8km over the Creek and in the vicnicity to National Historical Area, Al Seef is built to keep Emirati lifestyle at its root. Experience the country’s traditions, take a trip through their history and submerge in the customs through programs and ethnic gatherings at the open-air amphitheater as well as open-air memorial, museums, and galleries, Emirati handmade items selling shops and conventional souks, plus floating trading markets. Site visitors can see glimpses associated with Emirati tradition, for example, pearl scuba diving, angling, vessel building and have the means to access abras as well as dhows. The waterside viewpoint may also have eateries and dining places exactly where site visitors can eat, unwind and then inhale the timeless ambiance, precisely where dhows drift their way on the superbly serene stream. This project will be the place to find 3 lodgings a 200-key history, a 150-key modern elegant and a 250-room cutting-edge extravagance resort. 3. Bvlgari Resort Hotel and Marina Village Specifically situated on Jumeirah Bay Isle, a seahorse-shaped tropical isle off the coastline of Jumeirah Seashore, Bvlgari Vacation resort is actually designed by renowned developers of the city and is the world’s 5th Bvlgari Resorts Hotels property. Scheduled to be functional this coming year, its made by an Italian company. The particular 1.8-million-sq-ft multifaceted building will encompass 101 suites and rooms, twenty noncommercial private villas coupled with a marina surrounded by landscapes and followed by a full array of deluxe features. The occupants can have spectacular sights of the Arabian Beach and a pristine sand seashore cove. 4. Dubai Frame Standing upright at 150m height and 93m in width in Za’abeel Recreation area, Dubai Frame is going to be on the list of the city’s one of a kind and unforgettable attractions upon its finalization by the end of this year. Providing strength to its legendary status, it will eventually gleam against the azure skies with its a couple of glowing towers and a linking bridge. The frame signifies the new, the old and the potential of Dubai. Site visitors will turn to Dubai’s history at the mezzanine standard, the location where the city’s background and development will be explained through a brand new and refreshed means of demonstration. The site visitors will certainly enjoy the sky patio point that has a 360-degree sight of Ancient Dubai to the northern part and Brand-new Dubai towards the south. Theyll experience fun packages to complement the revolutionary Dubai adventure. The ultimate experience is a digital urban center of the city, walking visitors through the present to five decades into the foreseeable future in the spectacular metropolis. 5. Bluewaters Island A Meraas venture, Bluewaters is without a doubt a cutting-edge family-friendly tropical isle spot proudly located off the coastline of Jumeirah. Its a human-made compounded tropical isle which is the place to find a privileged choice of high-class condominiums, penthouses, and townhomes. Within this tropical isle, you will not have issues finding the world’s biggest wheel named Ain Dubai, which is 210m in height. Established to be on the list of world’s biggest travel and leisure hang-outs housing a couple of high-end resorts, Bluewaters Island will be a shopper’s heaven, having a wide array of retail and cuisine aspects. JBR’s The Shore is also a couple of minutes of easygoing walk away. This plan would be to construct ten non-commercial towers, providing 3-bedroom condominiums. This tropical isle is going to be linked to the landmass by way of a direct road from Shaikh Zayed Highway. A monorail model will certainly run and carry tourists on a driverless vehicle platform to Dubai Metro’s Nakheel Harbor and Towers platform. A walking bridge will link up this tropical isle to the JBR beach, providing its occupants and site visitors a couple of minutes of a good old stress-free stroll.

Economic Externalities And Market Failure Essay

Economic Externalities And Market Failure - Essay Example It can then, in turn, have either a positive or a negative effect on a third party individual who is not directly involved with the buyer or the seller of the transaction at hand.These costs (or benefits) are not included in the cost curve faced by the decision makers. For example, if I plant trees around my neighborhood, not only will I enjoy the benefits of having a street that is cooler and has more shade, but so will my neighbors, even though they did not have any part whatsoever to play in planting the trees. This is an instance of a positive externality. There are several instances that provide absolute evidence that the market economy is plowed with enough imperfections and that it is unable to achieve economic efficiency. Economic efficiency is both productive and allocative efficiency. Productive efficiency is achieved when goods are made with the least possible amount of scarce resources, in other words, goods are made at the lowest possible cost. Allocative efficiency is a chieved when the right amount of scarce resources are allocated towards the production of the right kind of products., i.e., when a combination of goods that leads to the maximum satisfaction of unlimited wants is produced, allocative efficiency is achieved. Therefore, the market fails to choose the right goods and services and is unable to produce them well enough. Market failure is a concept pertained to economic theory, whereby the allocation of goods and services by a free market is not very efficient.

Daphne du Maurier, Don't look Now Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Daphne du Maurier, Don't look Now - Essay Example Dont look now† is the mystical and wistful story of a British couple named, John and Laura, who are on a vacation in Venice. They are on holiday in order to escape, from the pain and heartbreak of their young daughter Christine’s recent death. They are also on a rebound, striving to bring back the fun, laughter and romance in their marriage, which seems to have diminished after the tragedy. However, quite contradictory to their expectations, Venice soon becomes a hazardous place for them too, as a series of paranormal events unfold, when they meet two old Scottish sisters at a cafà ©. There comes a twist in the plot, when the blind sister claims that she can see the ghost of their deceased daughter uniting with them. All their claims make Laura extremely happy and rekindle a flame of hope in her dull and dim, sad life, and she is suddenly drawn towards the two sisters. An interesting aspect of Du Maurier’s literature was that quite unusually, she wrote from the perspective of the male protagonist, and exceptionally good at that. This story is also told from the rationalist, sensitive and edgy point of view of John, the male lead. John begins the story by describing the trauma and distress her wife is going through, after the shocking tragedy, as it is driving her to the point of hysteria, John is feeling anxious and helpless, at her ordeal and finds very hard to see the unsettling state of mind of his beloved wife. After the two sisters claimed to have seen Christine’s ghost, Laura becomes very ecstatic and that upsets John even more. The two sisters, kept referring to having the â€Å"gift† of second sight, which John instantly dismisses, as he does not believe in ghosts, instead he feels very uncomfortable by seeing Laura’s immediate interest in those women. Laura’s sudden happiness seems like a betrayal to Joh n, who is still a grieving parent and Laura’s

Morality - Ethics Essay Example for Free

Morality Ethics Essay 1. What are the fundamental questions which ethics tries to resolve? Ethics seeks to resolve questions dealing with human morality—concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime. 2. Distinguish a human act from act of man. The difference between human acts and man acts is that human acts are a free will decision. This includes knowledge, freedom and voluntarism When modifiers come into play, then it makes the act become the act of man. The elements are ignorance, passion, fear, violence and habits. You act simultaneously with your feelings. A human act is an action that is considered to be carried out voluntarily, whereas an act of man is an involuntary action. The distinctions and nuances between an act of man and a human act are often a focus of philosophical debate. 3. What is morality? Morality is the differentiation of intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good orright and those that are bad, evil or wrong. Morality can be a body of standards or principles derived from a code of conduct from a particular philosophy,religion, or culture, or it can derive from a standard that a person believes should be universal. 4. Distinguish moral, immoral, and amoral. Moral concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character. Immoral actions or events: those areas of interest where moral categories do apply and of are such a kind as to be evil, sinful, or wrong according to some code or theory of ethics. Amoral actions or events: those areas of interest exhibiting indifference to and not abiding by the moral rules or codes of society. 5. How will you determine the goodness and badness of human act? An event which is caused solely by the effect of nature or natural causes and without any interference by humans whatsoever. 6. What qualities of human act have ethical in form? The qualities of human act that have ethical in form are the actions that are free and deliberate, those that proceeds from the free and conscious acts of man and the act that is always done for a purpose. 7. What are different connotations of the term moral? The term â€Å"morality† can be used either 1. descriptively to refer to some codes of conduct put forward by a society or, a. some other group, such as a religion, or b. accepted by an individual for her own behavior or 2.normatively to refer to a code of conduct that, given specified conditions, would be put forward by all rational persons. 8. Why is Ethics important? Ethics is a requirement for human life. It is our means of deciding a course of action. Without it, our actions would be random and aimless. There would be no way to work towards a goal because there would be no way to pick between a limitless number of goals. Even with an ethical standard, we may be unable to pursue our goals with the possibility of success. To the degree which a rational ethical standard is taken, we are able to correctly organize our goals and actions to accomplish our most important values. Any flaw in our ethics will reduce our ability to be successful in our endeavors. 9. Why should ethics always be treated a way of life? Ethics, sometimes known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophythat involves systematizing, defending and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct. The superfield within philosophy known as axiology includes both ethics and aesthetics and is unified by each sub-branchs concern with value. Philosophical ethics investigates what is the best way for humans to live, and what kinds of actions are right or wrong in particular circumstances. Ethics may be divided into three major areas of study. Meta-ethics, about the theoretical meaning and reference of moral propositions and how their truth values (if any) may be determined. Ethics seeks to resolve questions dealing with human morality—concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime. 10. How is responsibilities entaill in a human act? Responsibility for own existence is grounded on self-awareness and personal freedom to make choices. By exercising freedom to choose man becomes totally responsible for himself. But his responsibility does not stop there; it extends to other people so that at the end it assumes the form of universal responsibility. There are at least three circles in the extension of our responsibility. The Individual responsibility, if existence precedes essence man is responsible for his own actions. Total Responsibility, If man is free to choose what he is going to make of himself, he is entirely responsible for what he is becoming. Universal Responsibility, If man is fully responsible for what he is presenting as the image of man, he is responsible for all men. 11. What are the different approaches in dealing with the problem of moral principles? ?The Utilitarian Approach Utilitarianism was conceived in the 19th century by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill to help legislators determine which laws were morally best. Both Bentham and Mill suggested that ethical actions are those that provide the greatest balance of good over evil. ?The Rights Approach The second important approach to ethics has its roots in the philosophy of the 18th-century thinker Immanuel Kant and others like him, who focused on the individuals right to choose for herself or himself. ?The Fairness or Justice Approach The fairness or justice approach to ethics has its roots in the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who said that equals should be treated equally and unequals unequally. ?The Common-Good Approach This approach to ethics assumes a society comprising individuals whose own good is inextricably linked to the good of the community. Community members are bound by the pursuit of common values and goals. ?The Virtue Approach The virtue approach to ethics assumes that there are certain ideals toward which we should strive, which provide for the full development of our humanity. These ideals are discovered through thoughtful reflection on what kind of people we have the potential to become. 12. Research on the following: a. The problem of Moral Principles Now, such principles come in two distinct forms: formal principles (i. e. moral principles without specific action-guiding content) and substantive principles (i. e. moral principles with specific action-guiding content). In what follows, I consider substantive principles first, then formal. Both forms of principles, I argue, are incapable of providing the sort of moral guidance necessary to achieve mature moral judgments (i. e.judgments that are appropriate to the situations they are judgments of). The problem is that such principles are unable to provide information about what actually would, in a given situation, uphold justice or maximize utility. That is, formal principles fail to provide moral agents with the tools necessary to evaluate the complex details particular situations confront them with, or to develop appropriate moral solutions. b. The problem of Scope Morality Scope of morality are moral concept which are mixed modes, are transparent, we cannot reduce the descriptions of our moral life, that is the descriptions using our moral vocabulary, to some substantial residue or some real objects. c. The problem of Moral Obligation Moral obligations are standards that do not merely advise or recommend our conformity, but demand it. Moral obligations come from the demands or expectations of society d. The problem of Freedom Freedom naturally occurs in nature, but only becomes an issue in the way that humans view themselves, their surroundings and others. Freedom grants one the right to behave without fear or punishment i. e. go anywhere they wish, do anything they wish or say anything they wish. Of course there are always limits imposed on freedom. We are all born free, but as we grow we learn the physical limits of our surroundings. We learn about the limits imposed on us by gravity or by our physical surroundings such as walls. The thing is, freedom can only exist if you recognize its existence and then exercise it while at the same time acknowledging and tolerating others freedom. e. The problem of Moral Practice Since cultures and individuals differ in certain moral practices, there are no objective moral values. Several objections can be made to this argument. First, the fact that people disagree about something does not mean there is no objective truth. If you and I disagree about whether or not the earth is round, for example, this is not proof that the earth has no shape. In moral discussion, the fact that a skinhead and I may disagree about whether we should treat people equally and fairly is not sufficient evidence to say that equality and fairness have no objective value. f. The problem of Casuistry. A bias is an unwarranted inclination or a special perspective that disposes us to mistaken or one-sided judgments. The potential for bias arises at each stage of a case method of reasoning including in describing, framing, selecting and comparing of cases and paradigms. A problem of bias occurs because to identify the relevant features for such purposes, we must use general views about what is relevant; but some of our general views are biased, both in the sense of being unwarranted inclinations and in the sense that they are one of many viable perspectives. 13. Is it right to say that â€Å"What is right for me to do is what I really want to do† and why? No,it’s not right to say it that way because you are only thinking about yourself. And sometimes even it is right for you its not what you really want to do because you’re also thinking about the others, what will be the effect of this to them and whatsoever. 14. What is basic substanceof the problem freedom. Freedom is one of those slippery words, difficult to define because it is an ambiguous and abstract man-made concept. It naturally occurs in nature, but only becomes an issue in the way that humans view themselves, their surroundings and others. Freedom is only an issue in the presence of oppression, and oppression only exists among humans as a result of their perceptions of the world around them. The thing is, freedom can only exist if you recognize its existence and then exercise it while at the same time acknowledging and tolerating others freedom. 15. Distinguish between moral principles and moral rules. Moral principle the principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group; the Puritan ethic; a person with old-fashioned values. Moral Rules- they come out into the open only when the person is questioned. Very often one of the rules contradicts another, thus enabling the user to resort first to one and then to the other to suit his convenience or to accord with his pre-existing prejudices. These rules are usually those they have been taught to believe.

Mother Daughter Relationships - Daughter Pushed to the Brink in Amy Tan

A Daughter Pushed to the Brink in Joy Luck Club      Ã‚   In Amy Tan's novel, Joy Luck Club, the mother of Jing-mei recognizes only two kinds of daughters: those that are obedient and those that follow their own mind. Perhaps the reader of this novel may recognize only two types of mothers: pushy mothers and patient mothers.   The two songs, "Pleading Child" and "Perfectly Contented," which the daughter plays, reinforce the underlying tension in the novel. These songs represent the feelings that the daughter, Jing-mei, has had throughout her life. The mother in this novel is pushy. She wants her daughter to become a child prodigy so badly she can practically taste it. She makes Jing-mei perform tests out of magazines to see if she could by some chance be one of those extraordinary children they are always reading about and watching on TV. Jing-mei has no interest in becoming a child prodigy; eventually gives up on these tests, and hence her mother gives up on them, too. The mother also pushed Jing-mei to try and be something she wasn't in the way of looks. After watching Shirley Temple on TV, Jing-mei's mother took her down to the beauty training school so she could get her hair cut to look like a Chinese Shirley Temple. Well, like the tests, the haircut failed too. She ended up with an uneven, Peter Pan looking haircut. Jing-mei's mother said that she now "looked like Negro Chinese" as if it was her fault her hair ended up the way it did (Tan 1208). After the first two attempts to make her daughter into a child prodigy, the mother is just about to give up on the idea that her daughter can be better than what she already is, when her last idea hits her. She was watching the Ed Sullivan show, when she saw a girl playin... ...ause her mother pushed her to hard to do things that she simply did not want to do. If her mother had just been a little more relaxed and not so caught up in her daughter becoming a child prodigy, then they would have had a better relationship. If parents push their children to do something they do not want to do, they may end up, like Jing-mei's mother, paying for it.    Works Cited and Consulted: Ghymn, Ester. Images of Asian American Women by Asian American Women Writers. vol. 1. NY: Peter Lang 1995. Souris, Stephen. "'Only Two Kinds of Daughters:'" Inter-Monologue Dialogicity in The Joy Luck Club." Melus 19.2 (Summer 1994):99-123. Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. Vintage Contemporaries. New York: A Division of Random House, Inc. 1993. Willard, Nancy. Asian American Women Writers. Ed. Harold Bloom. Chelsea House Publishers, Philadelphia 1997.