Social Constructionism in Environmental Sociology Essay Example

Social Constructionism in Environmental Sociology Paper This construction of perceptions and meanings are what this essay is about. It is called social construction. The assay focuses more explicitly on the social construction Of environmental problems and issues. It does this by looking at examples of how and why certain societies can come to consider certain natural phenomena as environmental threats or issues, and asks the question of whether their perceptions are right or not. It focuses the concept of social constructionist and determines the relevance of it in environmental issues. It does this by looking at past findings of attempts at deconstructing the perceptions some societies have on their own identified environmental problems to be able to see if it helped with solutions to the problems. And lastly, it identifies criticism leveled against social constructionist in environmental sociology. All to support the following hypothesis: It is important to take the social construction aspect into consideration when looking at certain environmental problems to be able to identify hidden agendas when it comes to solving the perceived problems. But first, a brief definition of the social construction of environmental issues is necessary (As there are many- and some contradictory). It will serve as a foundation for building an understanding of what is going to be discussed. When something is socially constructed it then eggs the question of whether the threat or issue is in fact a real threat or issue because according to Hardballs and Holbrook a social construct is a product of social definitions, not natural, biological categories (2008: 752). We will write a custom essay sample on Social Constructionism in Environmental Sociology specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Social Constructionism in Environmental Sociology specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Social Constructionism in Environmental Sociology specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Now according to Marsh, Keating, Punch and Harden (2009) the environment as a concept, is always contested and changing and he says that it means different things to different populations at different times. What the social construction of environmental issues and problems then means is that people in different populations perceive an issue on the environment differently from one another. An environmental issue for one society may not be one for another society. It is because they constructed their realities independent from each other. The independent development of perceptions allowed several dominant social constructs about the environment to emerge as separate independent realities. These realities were shaped and formed by power players in each society. The power players that shape a societys opinion in contemporary lifer and therefore its perspective on things are among others the media, activists, [and] scientists (Marsh et al, 2009). The following examples will illustrate how environmental issues may come to be instructed and considered important in one society, but not in another. When the media of a particular population informs its members about the poor condition of their local water, the water may have been of poor quality even before the media announced it, but since the announcement was made it has been added to the members environmental reality. In effect of the announcement the people may start buying bottled water, local government would start addressing the issue, they could create jobs to fight the issue, and certain entrepreneurs may see potential for business. All of which that loud not have happened if the media did not bring the knowledge of it into the societys reality. In another society, the media may be focusing on how behind they are economically rather than writing about water quality. Even though it has a quality similar to the other society, people does not worry about it because people arent aware of it. In both societies people dont get sick when drinking the Water, but the one society gave it an environmental issue label because of the media coverage it got. Another example is where scientists does research on something that is not considered dangerous to he environment, but after which it becomes an issue. It happens because scientists usually have an elite status. They are considered experts in their fields, and most people do not have the knowledge or qualified degree to grant them alternative knowledge which would enable them to disregard scientists opinions and findings. So when a scientist, based on his own interpretations and gained knowledge, in one society declare something as an environmental issue, the people generally respond with acceptance. Another example of a construct of an environmental issue is one from an article based n dingo management on an Australian island (Heathen, K. Burns G, 2007). They look at the Fraser Island Dingo Management Strategy (FIDS) to deconstruct key assumptions about management of dingoes on Fraser Island. What they found was that the FIDS were trying to prevent dingo aggression towards humans, and that the FIDS constructed the issue of the aggression as deriving from human-dingo interactions via feeding. The prevention techniques were composed of many ways to prevent that type of interaction. Despite that, the dingoes remained as they were, still hurting people. Heathen ND Burns concluded that the management should take to account a wider range of interpretations of human-dingo interactions (2007: 55). One can see the importance the social construction aspect has in shaping priorities of societies when looking at the above examples. It is clear that when a society does not have knowledge on a subject, it is as if it does not exist. And when making the knowledge freely available as the only relevant knowledge, the society can do no different than to accept what they are being told by power players. The construction can be deliberately created by power players in society. The government or managing scientists in a particular field can use their power to change perceptions of the society by publishing rational substantiations for their claims on a matter so that they can employ a policy or action that will benefit themselves or one that will contribute to solving a related problem of the matter without the society complaining about why they do it. It is clear from these examples that some constructed environmental issues are not real in terms true intentions as there are additional economic or monetary goals often hidden it the actions to solve he environmental problems identified by power players. This is where social constructionist in environmental sociology comes in. When social environmentalists look at an environmental issue they try to consider the social construction aspect in the origin of the issue. By doing this they are able to deconstruct what has led to the construction of the problem, and thus identify the hidden agendas associated with policies claimed to solve the problem. They can then ask the question: is it really an environmental problem if the social, cultural and economic spheres of human life are not actively affected by it? The question may leave policy makers with a conscious thought about their true agendas, and enables them to determine for themselves whether or not they will be addressing a true environmental issue or not. The study on Dingo management shows how social constructionist has deconstructed a social construction of an environmental issue to bring hidden agendas to the surface. The notion that nature should be managed by humans has led to the notion that humans are in charge of it. Humans feel that they can use and manipulate nature to generate income (like tourism to wildlife parks etc. , and that is where the problem in management comes in. The wellbeing of the nature and the economic capital it may generate produce a mixture of interests. One that wants to be green and one that wants to gain monetary profits. These two interests are contradictory because a monetary gain is sometimes gained at the expense of a green environmental gain. Now at the dingo management park, social constructionist showed why dingoes may be aggressive against humans. It showed that humans may not even belong there, or try to manage the dingoes because the fact is that dingoes are just a wild animal that react on instinct, and humans trying to control them could be causing the aggressive incidents. It showed that the management is actually catering for the safety of the humans at the expense of the dingoes (they kill dingoes deliberately to reduce their population). They cater for their safety because they bring in money, and the more safe they can make it for them, the more money they may receive. The hidden agendas (to generate monetary wealth) in the management and conservation of dingoes are actually letting dingoes getting killed instead Of getting conserved (Heathen, K. Cooper, G, 2007:48-55). Even Hough social constructionist in environmental sociology may bring the question of whether an issue is real or not under discussion when policies need to be made, it still remains just that -a question. It does not provide an answer. It is not possible to give an answer because by stating that an environmental issue is not this, but it is that, would be contradictory to what social construction stands for. That is, that people construct definitions on matter by the available knowledge they have. But knowledge is limited by a persons senses.

Anatomy in Primary and Secondary Schools

Anatomy in Primary and Secondary Schools Hashtag: #GreysAnatomy The Study of Human Anatomy GreysAnatomy is actually a word play on the title of a human anatomy textbook Gray’s Anatomy: Descriptive and Applied. The book was written by Henry Gray and initially published in 1858. Historically, the study of anatomy and physiology started when man started to find answers to questions regarding their own bodies. For instance, Leonardo Da Vinci allegedly dissected a human cadaver so he can accurately represent humans in art. Anatomist William Harvey studied the human circulatory system in the late 15th century and discovered for the first time that blood has a pattern in its flow. Another interesting discovery in the field of anatomy and medicine was painless surgery through the medicinal use of ether and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to control the pain during the operation. BIOLOGY RESEARCH PAPER Anatomy and physiology are branches of biology and medicine, but the former is more focused on the structure of living things (human, animal, and plant) while the latter is more concern on mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of living organisms. The study of the structure of the human body in primary and secondary schools is normally aimed at providing a foundation for advanced study in fields related to health and fitness. It is also aimed at developing a sense of self-understanding, particularly to children who are curious about what’s inside the body. Moreover, since anatomy is not limited to the human body and extend to all living organisms, students often benefit from comparative anatomy or studying other species in order to learn evolution, structural similarities and common ancestry among human and animals. The biology curriculum in secondary schools, for instance, is not the only concern in developing students’ knowledge of the natural world in relation to everyday life, the power of reasoning and observation but familiarity with the structure and function of the human body. Specifically, students learn the change in living things through evolution, diversity of type and unity of patterns, genetic continuity of life, growth, and development, preservation of life, and others. Biology and Basic Anatomy Curriculum Primary school students are normally introduced to the basic human  skeleton or study of the skeletal system. After learning the structure, composition, and functions of the skeletal framework, students then learn the muscles and other body organs attached to it. Some of the introductory tasks include making a (normally life size) skeleton using colored paper or card and paper fasteners. By drawing the bones, schoolchildren become more aware of the significant features of each bone, identify bones’ proper location and construct appropriate joint structures for them. Moreover, anatomy in this level includes simple experiments in order to explain some of the functions of the human body and compare and recognize the similarities and differences between human and animals. However, anatomy in secondary schools is quite more complex as it involves microscopic anatomy such as the study of the structure and function of cells and tissues, senses, blood, heart, the major organs of the digestive system, and others. Some are focusing on the primary functions of the human brain, structures that enable biological systems to interact, energy and materials required to sustain life. Overall, all key stages of anatomy-related science curriculum are aimed at providing knowledge about human and animal body structure and understanding of life processes. For instance, knowledge of human and animal anatomy helps students understand the fact that humans and animals need food and water to stay alive, need to exercise, eat the right type and amount of food in order to stay healthy and strong, the beneficial and harmful effects of drugs, ability to produce offspring and senses that makes humans and animals aware of the world around them.

Recent real-life application within the past 12 months Essay

Recent real-life application within the past 12 months - Essay Example For instance, swimming is entirely based upon pressure, deepness, distance, and balance, all which constitutes the fundamental theories of physics. This paper aims to critically analyze my recent real life application of free fall acceleration and the gravitational force. Gravitational force is closely associated with Newton’s observation of a falling apple on ground. Initially he considered the downward movement of apples and later he figured out that it is basically due to the earth’s gravitational force (Kutner). Hence it was defined as the intense force of attraction among all body masses which actually keeps the objects on their suitable positions. For instance, it is the gravitational force which actually helps us in moving around, walking and doing different body activities. Moreover, it keeps the sun and other planets away from earth through a well calculated distance. It is largely responsible for the downward movement of water streams and the balance maintaine d in airplanes (Kutner). Plenty of such examples are witnessed in our daily life. Free fall acceleration is another wide concept which is directly related with the gravitational force. Free fall is caused when any object losses its weight and hence free falls due to the intense gravitational force. ... Similarly parachutes and aircrafts safely land on earth because of the fixed gravity i.e. 9.8 m/s2 (Acceleration due to Gravity). However, if a human being experiences free fall in real life then it can result in serious consequences while intensely damaging the human body. Few months back I was going to a friend’s house at the sixth floor through an elevator. Lifts or elevators are built in such a way that they easily move against the gravitational force and hence passengers remain safe from the dangers of free fall acceleration. But if the elevator breaks or it undergoes some serious mechanical issues that free fall acceleration might take place. When I reached the fifth floor the elevator suddenly stopped in the middle where I could not open the door. Three other passengers along with me started to press the emergency call button which was not responding. Then ultimately we started shouting so that people on ground can hear and help us. It was just then that one of the pass engers called her brother standing on the ground floor. He immediately told the building manager and both of them along with a technician restarted the elevator. What happened later was even dreadful then before. Studying the laws and theories of physics in classrooms and facing their real life applications are entirely different. Each one of us was confident that the elevator cannot fall freely because of its structure and the overall use of modern technology. However, the fault was such a huge one that on restarting the lift it fell from the fifth floor. Free fall acceleration and the gravitational force increase the magnitude of the force acting on a falling body containing mass (Jewett & Serway ). The accelerating gravitational force which we experienced is represented by the