African Americans Essay

In the beginning of 20-th century African Americans were already free from slavery, but their rights differed significantly with the rights of â€Å"white† people. Politics of segregation was still in place, and African Americans, especially in Southern states, were forced to live in separate parts of cities. Special institutions like schools, churches, cemeteries, even special transport units existed for the African American part of the population to separate â€Å"blacks† and â€Å"whites†. Needless to say, these special organizations and units for the African Americans were of low quality. African Americans lacked good education and though were forced to work as unqualified personnel. Political activity for the African American was a dream. But between the African American people some activists appeared that called upon peaceful improvement of their status and establishment of equality of the races. A number of public organizations appeared that were objected to attain the equal rights for the African Americans, among them were even educational organizations like the institute of Booker Washington. 2. USA entered the conflict in the Korean peninsula with the intention to lead the UN forces and to give support to the South Korea armies in confrontation with the Northern aggressors. United States could not let the communists in Korea win shortly after the communists’ victory in China, and tried to keep this sphere of influence on the events in the Far East. In the third phase of the war, general Douglas MacArthur strived for the complete destruction of North Korea troops and insisted on the â€Å"total war† with the communists of China and Korea even to the extents of nuclear bombing. These ideas weren’t welcomed by the President Truman and were the cause of MacArthur’s resignation. After the Korean War the â€Å"cold war† had spread from the Far East into the other regions. USA had expanded their military presence in Europe and in the Middle East; also the politics of neutrality in the Indo-China became obsolete. Military-industrial complex of the United States rapidly recovered from the recession that followed the World War II 3. Eighteenth century was the time of revolutionary changes in almost every aspect of life. Ideas of the Age of Enlightenment claimed the universal equality, and women started to understand that they may possess an active position in social life. This tendency reached the point of culmination at the end of the century, when the Declaration of the Rights of Women was created in 1791 by Olympe De Gouges during the times of the Great French Revolution. This declaration demanded for women equal rights in the family, the rights of active and passive voting, right of possession, right for education and right to take up any posts. Declaration was the embodiment of ideas of feminism that were born in the beginning of 18-th century, and appeared to be the starting point for the active movements for the equal rights of women in the future. 4. Philadelphia System was based on the idea that the prisoner, left alone with his thoughts, with God and the Holy Bible as the only book for reading, would aspire to his inner perfection and inevitably reaches remorse for his deeds. â€Å"Philadelphian† prisoners were kept in solitude and silence. They had to wear masks while leaving their cells, no entertainments and relations with other prisoners were allowed, and work was a reward for the good behavior of the prisoner. This type of keeping the prisoners was very expensive; moreover, silence, solitude and forced idleness often caused insanity, flatness of mind or suicidal tendencies among the imprisoned. So the Auburn System was developed to change the situation. According to this system, criminal should be reformed by regular obligatory work, accuracy and discipline. During the day prisoners work in general workrooms with the only short breaks for the rest and walk, and for the night they are separately locked in one-man cells. Several hours in a week are for education. In an early Auburn System prisoners were prohibited to speak on the penalty of corporal punishment, but later on they were allowed to socialize during the rest. This system is more psychologically comfortablew for the prisoners, and is not such a heavy financial load for the government, as the Philadelphia System is.

Beauty Concepts in Saudi Arabia

Beauty Concepts in Saudi Arabia Introduction The concept of beauty has been known to differ amongst nations and one community’s idea of beauty may not necessarily be the same for another. This difference in perceptions is what makes human life as intriguing as it is. With regard to beauty, most of the differences that are exhibited from community to community are as a result of the variances in cultures.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Beauty Concepts in Saudi Arabia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Tjale and De Villers, culture comprises of a system of shared ideas, concepts, rules and meaning that shapes peoples way of life and it stipulates how the society should experience and view the world and relate to it (31). The people of the Middle East and Saudi Arabia in particular exhibit especially interesting concepts of beauty. These perceptions of beauty are as a result of Saudi Arabian citizen’s cultural and religious way of life which plays a primary role in the country’s affairs. While there is no universally acceptable standard of beauty, beauty pageants try to come evaluate people on a standard that is acceptable to the local community. These being the case, Saudi Arabian beauty contests offer us a glimpse at the perception of beauty in the Middle East. This paper shall set out to analysis issues of beauty in the Middle East and in particular Saudi Arabia. The principles that govern the perceptions of beauty shall be discussed and examples given to reinforce the claims made. Beauty Pageants and Saudi Arabia In modern day society, beauty pageants are used to rate the beauty in females. These pageants consist of a number of contestants and judges who evaluate the relative beauty of the participants based on some preconceived standards of beauty. From this evaluations, one of the participants is crowned as the â€Å"most beautiful† or ‘most handsome†. The motivation be hind beauty pageants are probably from views expressed by proponents of beauty pageants such as Paglia who affirms that we should not have to apologize for reveling in beauty as beauty is an eternal human value (qtd in Lawson and Ross 1). These pageants therefore involve the public parading of the members of the society who are perceived to be the most beautiful. Most of the contests proceed to reward this particular people for their outstanding beauty. It is therefore clear from this that pageants reveal a particular societies notion of beauty. Pageants do not have a traditional history in Saudi Arabia and as such, they are more as a result of influences from the international community than any other single factor. This is because from generation to generation, cultural practices are bound to change as time and environment influences manifest themselves in the lives of the people in the society.Advertising Looking for article on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help y ou! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As such, the pageants witnessed in Saudi Arabia borrow heavily from the western ones in terms of judges and there being set standards from which the overall champion will be chosen. However, despite the beauty pageants being primarily a â€Å"foreign† concept, they still maintain some aspects which make them resound with Saudi Principles. Animal Beauty Contests Despite its vast wealth mostly obtained from its oil reserves and the high levels of industrialization, Saudi Arabia has for many years resisted the pressures of the western cultures and it was not until the 2000s that the first beauty pageant was held in Saudi Arabia. This pageant was not the typical western pageants characterized by a parade of beautiful girls adorned in trendy clothes and exquisite jewelry; the pageants contestants were animals. While this may sound like an anomaly, it is well in line with the regions conservative nature and refrain of beauty contests. A report by Othman on Islamic perceptions of beauty pageants elucidates the view with which most Saudi Arabians view contemporary beauty pageants as showcased in most westernized countries. According to the report, most Muslims did not condone beauty contests which they regarded as exploitative to women and reduce them as sexual objects.† However, a contest involving animals is acceptable and actually in line with the country’s traditions. A report by Hammond for Reuters indicates that animal contests, and camel beauty pageants in particular are very popular in Saudi Arabia. The camel beauty contest attracts hundreds of camel owners and thousand of spectators and it is the biggest of its kind in the world (Borthwick). These contests include all the components that you would expect in a typical beauty contest; judges, participants and a crowd to cheer them on. The organizers of such pageants indicate that the pageant is in reverence to the camel which i s a legacy symbol for the desert tribes. Owing to the fact that Saudi Arabia is situated in a desert region, the tradition communities who resided in the region were mostly nomads and camels were a most essential part of their lives. It is these creatures that provided the means for transportation over the vast expanses of the desert owing to their ability to go for days without water or food. However, the contests are not entirely run for sentimental purposes and there are huge monetary attachments to the events. The contests are also used to generate cash for their respective investors much like a typical beauty contest made up of women would anywhere else in the world. Hammond confirms that camels are big business and delicate females at the show could sell for a million riyals.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Beauty Concepts in Saudi Arabia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition to the sale of the animal s, Prizes of up to 14 million Euros have been said to be issued out to the winners of the particular categories in which the camels are placed (the observer). These huge monetary incentives have invariably led to a commercialization of the contests and wealthy businessmen have been said to invest heavily in the festivals because of the high returns promised. Saudi Arabia’s Miss Beautiful Morals For all its conservativeness, Saudi Arabia has its own version of a female beauty contest. Considering the great lengths that the country goes to ensure the segregation of men and women, a beauty contest is a remarkable undertaking for the country. A law that proposed a ban on male from womens apparel stores highlights the strict nature of the laws in Saudi Arabia (Abu-Nasr). As such, a beauty pageant that inevitably involves a mixed audience observing the various participants is a groundbreaking event in the country. However, this contest is unlike any other. To begin with, the contes t is duped Miss Beautiful Morals setting the virtuous tone that the contest adopts (Central). The standards for these unique Saudi contests are worlds apart from those that a typical beauty contest uses. Without a doubt, most beauty contests lay more emphasis on physical factors such as youthfulness and body proportionality as can be surmised from the reveling cloths and seductive manner in which the contestants act as they display their bodies on the catwalks. A report by the Los Angeles Times reveals that as opposed to adorning backless evening gowns and swimsuits, the 200 contestants that participated in the 2009 Saudi Arabia contest were draped in a black robe with a headscarf as is fitting of a decent Muslim girl. The aim of the contest as articulated by one of the organizers was to gauge the commitment of the participants to the Islamic morals. The contest which ran over a number of weeks involved the contestants being supervised by a panel of female judges who made inquiries as to their devotion to their parents and their following of the teachings of Islam. The founder of the contests asserted that the contests were self-styled to be an absolute opposite of â€Å"the decadence in other beauty contests that only take into account a womans body and looks (Abu-Nasr). This demonstrates the strict and religious culture adopted by the Saudi Arabians.Advertising Looking for article on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The contests emphasis on the obedience to parents also highlights the gravity with which respect for one’s parents especially by girls is held. The concept of the pageants is embraced by the participants and a former winner indicates that the joy is not so much as in winning the contests as in obeying ones parents. (Abu-Nasr). Discussion of Beauty Perceptions in the Saudi Community The Saudi Arabian society is primarily made up of Muslims who have a very strong traditional attachment to their religion. Their faith dictates the socially acceptable code of conduct for the people and on this basis, the western perception of beauty as is advanced through beauty pageants has been viewed as highly immoral and degrading to the woman. It is for this reason that the contests in the Middle East show a greater inclination to personality than to the aesthetic attributes of a woman. Dr Ahmed, a reporter with Islam on line indicated that the morally appealing contests were aimed at showing that beauty has nothing to do with nudity and obscenity. This is the exact message that the Middle East beauty pageants were trying to sell to the Muslim faithful in particular and the society at large. The pageants in Saudi Arabia are in high contrast to the Western shows as a result of the religious basis of Saudi Arabia. The Muslim beauty contests are especially strict and a contestant is not supposed to reveal any awrah which is the parts of the body which should not be exposed in front of others. (Ahmed). This suggest that to the Middle East communities, beauty is not simple a matter of being pretty but in fact goes far deeper to include character and a respect for the religion. Khadra Mubarak, the founder of the contests in Saudi Arabia reinforces this perception of beauty in the region by stating that the idea of the pageant is to measure the contestants commitment to Islamic morals he goes on to indicate that the pageant number one will not necessarily be a pretty face for the judges and by extension the community cares about the beauty of the soul and the morals† (LA-Times) Western beauty standards can be and in fact have been used as the basis for excluding minority races from the dominant images of beauty. This is especially the case in 201th century America where the concepts of beauty as advanced by Hollywood were used to infer racial superiority of the white to the blacks. With such undertones in mind, perhaps one can hail the Middle Eastern views of beauty as more progressive since they have more do to with personality that ones physical attributes However, opponents of the contents still insist that inasmuch as the Middle East pageants demonstrate the difference in perception of beauty in Saudi Arabia, the very fact that the community has embraced this western idea is an indication that the society’s views of beauty are more inline with western perceptions than the Saudi Arabian community is willing to admit. While this is a mere speculation, as it currently stands, the Saudi concepts of beauty remain worlds apart from those of most of the Western world. Conclusion This paper set out to highlight the unique concepts of beauty in the Middle East and with particular reference to the situation in Saudi Arabia. To fulfill this, a critical look at beauty pageants which highlight a particular society or culture’s standards on beauty has been taken. From this paper, it is clear that the beauty contests of Saudi Arabia are miles apart from those in Westernized Countries. Of particular significance is the importance that the people of Saudi Arabia attach to their camels as can be demonstrated by the beauty contests held in their honor. These contests highlight the desire by the Saudi Arabian community to preserve their heritage even in the face of enormous pressures from the western cultures mostly through the media. The Middle East goes contrary to the common wisdom expressed by most scholars who infer that as the prosperity of a nation increases, its greater wealth allows people to consume more leisure goods like pageantry (Lawson and Ross 6). In this region, the cultural and religious compass of the people is the driving force to their definition of beauty and while the people of Saudi Arabia have the capability to increase their cosmetic appearance, their deep religious and cultural values prevent them from undertaking this vain measures. As such, the animal contests continue to play a significant role in the social calendar of the Saudi Arabian population. Ahmen, Damir. â€Å"Brains not Body Criteria for Tatarstan Miss Muslim.† 21 January 2006. Web. islamonline.net/English/News/2006-01/21/article02.shtml Abu-Nasr, Donna. Here She Comes: Saudis Miss Beautiful Morals. 6 May 2009. Web. breitbart.com/article.php?id=D980U07G0show_article=1 Abu-Nasr, Donna. â€Å"Saudi Women Train to Sell Lingerie.† 24 June 2009. Web. huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/24/lingerie-sales-in-saudi-a _n_220174.html Borthwick, Malcolm. â€Å"How do you Judge a Camel Beauty Contest?† 10 Feb 2010. Web. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8506946.stm Hammond, Andrew. â€Å"Saudi Tribe Holds Camel Beauty Pageant.† 25 April 2007. Web. reuters.com/article/idUSKUA74812720070427. Huffington Post. â€Å"Saudi Beauty Pageant: Miss Beautiful Morals.† 5 June 2009. Web. huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/06/saudi-beauty-pageant-miss_n_198103.html Lawson, Robert and Ross, Justin. â€Å"Economic Freedom and Beauty Pageant Success in the World.† Atlantic Economic Journal 33(4): 485-486. 2005. Los Angeles Times. â€Å"Saudi Arabia: An inner-beauty Pageant.† 7 May 2009. Web. Othman, Norani. â€Å"Islam and the State in Malaysia: A Problem of Democratization and Pluralism.† 2000 Web. asef.org/go/subsite/ccd/documents/othman.pdf The Observers. â€Å"Saudi Arabias Miss Camel Contestants Accused of Fame Seeking.† 19 Feb 2010. Web. Tjale, Adele and De Villiers, Louise. à ¢â‚¬Å"Cultural Issues in Health and Health Care: A Resource Book for Southern Africa.† Juta and Company Ltd, 2004. Print.

Cold War Ideologies essays

Cold War Ideologies essays There are three main schools of thought that trace the origins of the Cold War. The Orthodox view is that the intransigence of Leninist ideology, the sinister dynamics of a totalitarian society, and the madness of Stalin (Doc 1) cause the Cold War. The Revisionists claim that American policy offered the Russians no real choice...[and] the United States used or deployed its preponderance of power (Doc 2) and these actions caused the Cold War. The Post-Revisionist position is that the Cold War was initiated both by the United States and the USSR. Through the analysis of documents and other sources, the actual cause of the war lies with both powers. Both powers caused the Cold War because, although the US and the USSR were allied during World War Two, the USSR and US had different ideologies and aims of the war that conflicted after the war was over and the threat that each power imposed on the other. The primary cause of the Cold War is the exceedingly bipolar systems of government that the USSR and the US were administered under. The US had a democracy and had, in April of 1945, just said farewell to one of the most liberal presidents that ever had been elected. By making many social reforms, President Roosevelt pulled the US out of the crippling depression and into on of the most prosperous decades ever. The aims of the US are evident in the Atlantic Charter, which was signed by Churchill and Roosevelt in August of 1914. According to the Charter, the US would seek no aggrandizement.... respect the rights of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live.... bring about the fullest collaboration between all nations.... [and seek] the abandonment of the use of force (Doc 4). While still early in the war, the Atlantic Charter was later adopted by the United Nations and remains, to this day, one of the cornerstones of the western world. H...

San Francisco State - SAT Scores and Admissions Data

San Francisco State - SAT Scores and Admissions Data San Francisco State University Admissions Overview: As part of the application, students will need to submit scores from the SAT or ACT. While the majority of applicants submit SAT scores, the university accepts both equally. For more information, check out the schools website or contact the admissions office. Will You Get In? Calculate Your Chances of Getting In  with this free tool from Cappex Admissions Data (2016): San Francisco State University Acceptance Rate: 68%SF State GPA, SAT and ACT Score GraphTest Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 430 / 540SAT Math: 430 / 550SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanCompare Cal State SAT ScoresACT Composite: 18 / 24ACT English: 16  / 24ACT Math: 17 / 24What these ACT numbers meanCompare Cal State ACT Scores San Francisco State Description: Founded in 1899, San Francisco State University takes pride in the diversity of its student body. 67% of undergraduates are students of color. Students come from 94 countries, and the school enrolls more international students than any other masters degree-granting university in the U.S. San Francisco State offers 115 bachelors and 95 masters programs. The 142-acre urban campus gives students ready access to the dining and cultural attractions of the city. In athletics, the San Francisco State Gators compete in the NCAA Division II  California Collegiate Athletic Association. Popular sports include softball, cross country, basketball, soccer, and wrestling.  SFS is one of the  23 Cal State schools. Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 29,045  (25,945 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 44% Male / 56% Female83% Full-time Costs (2016- 17): Tuition and Fees: $6,484  (in-state); $17,644  (out-of-state)Books: $1,900  (why so much?)Room and Board: $13,882Other Expenses: $2,966Total Cost: $25,232  (in-state); $36,392 (out-of-state) San Francisco State Financial Aid (2015- 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 76%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 69%Loans: 42%Average Amount of AidGrants: $8,817Loans: $5,441 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Biology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, English, Film Studies, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Psychology, Radio and Television, Speech and Rhetorical Studies What major is right for you?  Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 80%Transfer Out Rate: 6%4-Year Graduation Rate: 18%6-Year Graduation Rate: 53% Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Soccer, Wrestling, Cross Country, Baseball, BasketballWomens Sports:  Softball, Volleyball, Track and Field, Basketball, Soccer, Cross Country Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics Admissions Profiles for Other Cal State Campuses Bakersfield | Channel Islands | Chico | Dominquez Hills | East Bay | Fresno State | Fullerton | Humboldt | Long Beach | Los Angeles | Maritime | Monterey Bay | Northridge | Pomona (Cal Poly) | Sacramento | San Bernardino | San Diego | San Francisco | San Jose State | San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) | San Marcos | Sonoma State | Stanislaus More California Public University Information SAT Score Comparison for Cal State SchoolsACT Score Comparison for Cal State SchoolsThe University of California SystemSAT Score Comparison for the UC SystemACT Score Comparison for the UC System

Harms of Illegal Immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Harms of Illegal Immigration - Essay Example The massive numbers of illegal aliens pouring across mainly the southern border has and continues to cause substantial economic, social and physical harms to legal citizens. These harms occur predominantly to those who are among the most vulnerable segments of the population: minorities, children, and the poor. The primary reason that the politicians are not interested in grappling with the problem of illegal immigration is because it stands to be a potent political issue that can be conveniently exploited by them (Oakland Tribune, 2007). Illegal immigration facilitates the politicians of all hues and affiliations with the opportunity to appeal to their vote banks. Democrats vociferously support illegal immigrants to cash on the fast altering demographics of the nation (Oakland, 2007). Republicans on the contrary use this issue to exploit and entice the citizens who are particularly concerned with the wastage of their tax dollars on non-productive aliens (Oakland Tribune, 2007). The problem is further bolstered by the vested interests who intend to thrive on the cheap labor of illegal immigrants, be it the hotel industry, construction business or agriculture (Oakland Tribune, 2007). ... The problem is continually being exacerbated by a flexible border security, 12 million illegal immigrants striving for sustenance, and a system that is hell bent on taking advantage of those who are willing to provide cheap labor (Oakland Tribune, 2007) The fundamental reason for the flood of immigration from Latin America, specifically Mexico (see Chart 1) is the disintegration of the Mexican economy predominantly resulting from free-trade strategies employed by the North American Free Trade Agreement and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Chart 1. National Origin of Illegal Immigrants: 2004 Note. From https://classof08honors.wikispaces.com/preston. The rampant corruption within the Mexican government has also contributed significantly to the collapse of the Mexican economy. Due to IMF policies regarding Mexico, its economic output dropped 33 % in the past two decades. During this period, its foreign debt rose 359 % because of widespread looting of the national coffers. These factors caused the "collapse of all areas of productive economic activity and employment, is the primary driver of the flood of emigrants desperate to leave Mexico, to find some livelihood for themselves and their families in the United States" (Small, 2005). Throughout the history of America, people of differing ideologies have generally agreed on immigration controls. Public opinion polls have continually shown an overwhelming opposition to illegal immigration as well as for the concept of amnesty. Amnesty for illegal aliens is merely a reward for law-breaking and by whatever name, causes ever escalating future illegal immigration.

Personal statement for admission to law school Essay

Personal statement for admission to law school - Essay Example By the time I reached my junior year in high school, I had become more appreciative of learning and studying the World History particularly sparked my interest to engage in debates and forums in and out of school. I started being passionate in expressing my views on several issues of concern which prevailed at the time and my growing fascination for language and communication had all the more encouraged me to attain further awareness in social and political aspects of living. I must admit though that I encountered occasions when interactions were weaving unhealthy arguments instead. In the process, however, I learned to find worth in listening to others with downright humility and how essential it is to be working on relationships that bear positive impact despite inevitable competitions with batchmates. This principle has supported me to yield into a more flexible character that seeks to understand with patience and sincerity even to this day. During early college and the three year s of attendance in the Danube International School, I spontaneously developed love toward philosophical studies which deepened my academic inclinations and involvement with other avenues of learning where public speaking matters with ample essence. Some fellow students under a similar or related field also influenced me to find delight in studying classical literature and poetry which serves as a collective inspiration for my creativity in thought and manner of speech. I recollect having looked up to certain intellectual figures covered in the literary courses and through them, I felt the necessity to contemplate on the real worth of wisdom and acquisition of a revolutionary mind from which acts of profitable reform may be derived to be taken advantage of by the society as a whole. Stepping out of the academe via extracurricular commitment gave me the opportunity to explore communities under crises of varied types. There used to be times when I participated in reach-out projects whi ch were sponsored either by our school or the government and such enlightening experience truly makes a huge difference in one’s perception of life. When we paid visit to poor families, my heart could not help outpouring cries at the view of poverty and a general picture of hopelessness. I needed no effort then to empathize for it was such a revealing moment of truth when reality unfolded itself to break my core and let loose all of the inherent compassion within. At this stage, I told myself that I knew exactly and could discern what my professional desire was going to be like. Due to the actual sights and physical encounter of impoverished communities, the idea of injustice came instantly and I was brought to ponder that such state of economy has chiefly suffered from inequality especially in terms of allocation of goods. For a case as this, there is much that the government could in the absence of corruption or illegal activities. Hence, I decided to pursue law in order th at by securing a position as a lawmaker, I would be able to earn the authority of defending people whose rights

The Social Dimension of the European Union is Weak in Comparison to Essay

The Social Dimension of the European Union is Weak in Comparison to Market Oriented Policies - Essay Example These issues were to be achieved through the use various social action programmes and a social fund which was to be operated at European Union (EU) level. However, Geyer (2000) observes that most nations did not apply the contents of the social policy in reality but opted for state based policies to curb any effects in the market such as recession or depression. Furthermore, the conservative government of Britain which was very much opposed to trade unions was not willing to endorse the policy or what was referred as the social charter. To counter the dissatisfaction with the social policy, amendments were made to the social charter and new issues addressed so as to make it appealing and enhance economic and social cohesion. According to Archer (2000), the social dimension of internal market was to be achieved through various ways. First, it was to foster mobility of labour within the EU member states. To achieve this, the member states had to establish a standard form of hiring prac tices thus the qualifications one gained in his/her state was to be recognized by all members. Members were also to avoid all forms of discrimination in its labour activities especially for women and the handicapped. Vocational training was to be given to ensure all workers had the skills needed to enter the job market. According to Gold (1993), a social fund and a regional fund was to be maintained to assist the poor and the needy such as the handicapped, women and the poor so as to set up small businesses to improve their standards of living and as a source of employment. The final charter thus included such issues as; equality between men and women, formation of worker associations, collective... As the report declares the social policy touches on various issues on how to develop workers by improving their work conditions and living standards. The issues discussed included; harmonization of social systems, labour laws, working conditions, occupational health and safety, formation of trade unions and collective bargaining. Vocational training was also of importance as they impact directly on the labour market. The social policy also aimed at ensuring equality in pay and increased mobility of workers within the single market. This article stresses that the employment policy is an important tool in the social dimension as most of the issues concern employment relations. The responsibility of the policy is shared by the EU and the member states and is aimed at fulfilling various functions. Gold identifies the role of the employment policy which is; to make labour functions better by equipping people with appropriate skills and improving the quality of jobs; to promote sharing of best practices in areas such as employment, poverty reduction, pensions and social exclusion; governing implementation of social security schemes among other roles. Most states thus opt to use own policies to solve problems moreover, the welfare policies of some states and social legislation are not upto the expected EU standards while some other states lack resources to enable them to comply with the requirements of the charter. The willingness to implement the social policy is also affected by the government in place.