The Education Connection Essay Example For Students

The Education Connection Essay It is hard to find a time in my life where I can honesty look back and say that my parents had no influence. Whether it be advice, getting yelled at, or simply help on a math problem, in every situation there is lessons to be learned. My parents have had an insurmountable impact on who I am and the path I have gone down. For some however, like Richard Rodriguez, I cannot say the same. In Rodriguez’s The Achievement of Desire, he tells his story on how his parents and family got in the way path he wanted to pursue. We will write a custom essay on The Education Connection specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now He talks about how he came upon a point during his life where he had to make a decision on what was more important; family or education? For him, these were two mirror opposites. One setting was open-minded while the other was by the books. He chose education and with this decision, he consequently shunned his family from what he was doing and started blaming them. It is mind-blowing to think that the people who mad him who he was and gave him everything that they could were supposedly the reasoning behind the faults in his life. For me, family is everything and they have made the person I am, and have wanted to be. The concept of learning is very opaque. There are different ways to learn and different people to learn from. From Rodriguez’s s standpoint, his parent could not live up to the level of education that he desired. They were not smart enough for his standard as the nuns and teachers that taught him provided more for him. I have grown up my whole life with little help from my parents when it came to education. Seeing as the educational world is continuously changing, the ideas and concepts that my parents learned were outdated and not of any use to me, but that does not me that they of no use. I found that a causal mix of open mined learning along with strict learning is what best suited my abilities. I would have my parents quiz me or help read long during certain readings so could have another perspective on what an answer could be. They knew that they could not teach me what to do so they did whatever they could to help out. If Rodriguez had possibly done the same, he could have found that there was use for his parents instead of deliberately using them as a scapegoat. It is shameful that Rodriguez shunned away his parents because they were extremely proud of what he was accomplishing. The part that bothered him was that his parents were not as smart as him. There was one instance where Rodriguez had won an award and a nun had come up to his parents to congratulate them. â€Å"You both must be very proud of Richard,† the nun said. â€Å"We are proud of all our children, they sure didn’t get their brains from us† (Rodriguez 603). He was embarrassed when his parents said phrases like those as in his mind, it tarnished his reputation. It made him seem like he was less of a person and not as smart because of where he came from. Though it is not his fault that his parents are not as smart as him, that does not mean that they have not worked as hard as he did. He talks about how his mother went from job to job with her limited education and uses the excuse that if she had a better education, she could have done bigger and better things. .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec , .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec .postImageUrl , .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec , .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec:hover , .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec:visited , .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec:active { border:0!important; } .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec:active , .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u7c495415c7d633c6738fdf2bc57baeec:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Sex, prostitution, and the pen EssayWhat he does not realize is that there were many lessons learned along his mother’s journey that she learned. I cannot tell you what those lessons were, but many lessons are learned outside the classroom and Rodriguez does not give his parents enough credit for what they have done. I realize that my parents both took different paths to get to where they are in life today and every time I do something that is on the same level or exceeds what my parents have done, it gives me a feeling of gratification; knowing that I can live up to what they have done and I am not letting them down. It bothers me that Rodriguez did not like when people would say â€Å"Your parents must be proud†. Kids around the world with no parents and parents who do not care would die for someone to say that they and he takes it for granted because they cannot live up to what he believes. His parents gave him everything that he has and on a smaller note, he would not be here today if it were not for them. They did not abuse, or hurt him in any way, but they still were not good enough. He even says, â€Å"I intended to hurt my mother and father. I was still angry at them for having encouraged me toward classroom English. But gradually this anger was exhausted, replaced by guilt as school grew more and more attractive to me. † (Rodriguez 601). It seems as though he feels sorry for his parents for not being able to live the same life that he was. That they could not find education the way he did and that they were missing out on something better. The realization of this pushed him even farther away, causing his parents to eventually become distant too. They did not care as much about what he was doing because he did not care about what they were doing. He talks about how he was a â€Å"certain kind of scholarship boy† and the only way he could live up to this is by eventually becoming more and more alone and how it had to happen for him to fulfill his duty as this specific â€Å"scholarship boy†. Looking back at my journey and everything that I have been through, I do not believe I could have made it this far without my family. They were my motivators that kept me moving on to greater things that eventually ended in me winding up here at the University of Connecticut. Every family is different, I realize that, but at the same time, every family shares a unique bond that makes them special. With that bond, comes certain lessons that are hard to replicate. Rodriguez broke that bond by isolating himself away from his family and not getting to experience what it was like to be a part of a true family. He threw away his chance at learning those lessons. One of the lessons that I have learned is loyalty. It is one thing to be loyal to a friend, or even to a significant other, but nothing tests a person’s loyalty like family. There is no greater felling than knowing that you have a group of people behind you that care deeply about what you do and what say; knowing that in a heartbeat, they would drop what they were doing for you not because they had to, but because they wanted to. Although Rodriguez’s family will always be there for him and he will always be there for them, the concept behind that principle was lost when Rodriguez decided to go rogue and avoid his family. Another lesson that I learned through family was that there is no such thing as perfect. .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9 , .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9 .postImageUrl , .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9 , .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9:hover , .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9:visited , .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9:active { border:0!important; } .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9:active , .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9 .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue14ec6ef8e32ec6c377bfd5578b730a9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Night Essay ThesisA family knows that each of the individuals in it has problems, or differences and accepts them for what they are. It is one thing to poke fun at someone for being different, like being a picky eater or whatever it may be, but at the end of the day, no matter what it is, the feelings are meaning behind the person are what matter. Rodriguez says that his brother would say things like â€Å"Hey, Four Eyes! † (Rodriguez 598) or his mom would make fun of him for reading books by saying, â€Å"What do you see in your books? † (Rodriguez 598) but that does not mean that he should of isolated them. He lost interest in what family was all about because school was too important to him and for that, he missed out on opportunities that he cannot even pay to get back. Family is everything to me and I would not give them up for anything. They have made me into the person I am today and I would not want it any other way. Contradictory, Rodriguez talks about how giving up family was the best option and it molded him into the man he was because it allowed him to focus on school and everything that it had to offer; he talks about how he wanted to be like teachers, as they had control, power, and a great knowledge. While all those are true, every teacher that he looked up to did not get there by doing what Rodriguez did so why did he have to go down this specific path to get there? Many if not all of them had families that they loved dearly. I am not going to judge Richard Rodriguez for the decision he made, but at the same time, I cannot help but feel like he was the one missing out on a part of life that is very special. I could not bear sitting across from the people that I supposedly love and sharing absolutely nothing in common. People always say friends come and go but family is forever. You could implement any word in for the word friend and the sentence would still make sense. In Rodriguez’s case, education will come and go as what he learned as a kid and growing up may be irrelevant in 30 years because the world is always changing. The constant is family. It is specific to each individual and is something you cannot take from someone else or give up. I have learned lessons and made memories with my family that I will remember for the rest of my life. I know no matter what, I will always have them and I hope one day Rodriguez will see that too.

Chaikovsky on Inspiration and Self-Expression essays

Chaikovsky on Inspiration and Self-Expression essays Chaikovsky viewed his art as a kind of autobiography or confession. He gave this belief a famous expression in the letter we have read, which concerns his fourth symphony. He is asked whether the symphony has a definite program. He replies that whenever he is asked this question he always no, but in fact he also says it is not that a simple question to be answered. The second paragraph of page 398, is the one that captures most of my attention in this letter. He talks about how a composer while is in that magical state of mind of inspiration gets disturb from different things, such as a call from someone, the clock will strike to remind you that you must go about your business, etc. The last part of this paragraph though is the most important to me. What is says is that only one thing is important when you are in the state of inspiration. That thing is that the main ideas should appear without being sought, but rather spontaneously, as a result of that supernatural force we call inspiration. He then describes all the movements of the symphony. But again, a small sentence such as the last one in this article strikes my attention. Where words fail, music speaks. I love this phrase because I believe all the meaning of instrumental music can be found in here. You go to hear an instrumental concert for several reasons. The most important one for m e is because I believe that listening to music with words is too real. When I go to a concert I want my mind to be free and be able to travel anywhere. How can you do that freely when the performer tells you where to travel with your mind? ...

Email Etiquette

Email Etiquette Email Etiquette Email Etiquette By Ali Hale If you work in an office, you probably write emails every day – to colleagues, to your boss, to clients. Even if you’re still at college, you’ll need to email your lecturers once in a while (maybe to plead for an essay extension, or to ask for help) – and many employers now expect resumes and cover letters to be sent by email. So, being able to write a professional, business-like email is a crucial skill. Daily Writing Tips has already covered the email subject line, but the body of your message also matters. 1. Start with a salutation Your email should open by addressing the person you’re writing to. Sure, you can get away with leaving out the salutation when you’re dashing off an email to your friend, but business-like messages should begin with: Dear Mr Jones, or Dear Professor Smith, (for someone you don’t know well, especially if they’re a superior) Dear Joe, or Dear Mandy, (if you have a working relationship with the person) It’s fine to use â€Å"Hi Joe†, â€Å"Hello Joe† or just the name followed by a comma (â€Å"Joe,†) if you know the person well – writing â€Å"Dear Joe† to one of your team-mates will look odd! 2. Write in short paragraphs Get straight to the point – don’t waste time waffling. Split your email into two to four short paragraphs, each one dealing with a single idea. Consider using bullet-points for extra clarity, perhaps if you are: Listing several questions for the recipient to answer Suggesting a number of alternative options Explaining the steps that you’ll be carrying out Put a double line break, rather than an indent (tab), between paragraphs. 3. Stick to one topic If you need to write to someone about several different issues (for example, if you’re giving your boss an update on Project X, asking him for a review meeting to discuss a payrise, and telling him that you’ve got a doctor’s appointment on Friday), then don’t put them all in the same email. It’s hard for people to keep track of different email threads and conversations if topics are jumbled up. 4. Use capitals appropriately Emails should follow the same rules of punctuation as other writing. Capitals are often misused. In particular, you should: Never write a whole sentence (or worse, a whole email) in capitals Always capitalise â€Å"I† and the first letter of proper nouns (names) Capitalise acronymns (USA, BBC, RSPCA) Always start sentences with a capital letter. This makes your email easier to read: try retyping one of the emails you’ve received in ALL CAPS or all lower case, and see how much harder it is to follow! 5. Sign off the email For short internal company emails, you can get away with just putting a double space after your last paragraph then typing your name. If you’re writing a more formal email, though, it’s essential to close it appropriately. Use Yours sincerely, (when you know the name of your addressee) and Yours faithfully, (when you’ve addressed it to â€Å"Dear Sir/Madam†) for very formal emails such as job applications. Use Best regards, or Kind regards, in most other situations. Even when writing to people you know well, it’s polite to sign off with something such as â€Å"All the best,† â€Å"Take care,† or â€Å"Have a nice day,† before typing your name. 6. Use a sensible email signature Hopefully this is common sense – but don’t cram your email signature with quotes from your favourite TV show, motivational speaker or witty friend. Do include your name, email address, telephone number and postal address (where appropriate) – obviously, your company may have some guidelines on these. It makes it easy for your correspondents to find your contact details: they don’t need to root through for the first message you sent them, but can just look in the footer of any of your emails. Putting it all together Compare the following two job applications. The content of the emails are identical – but who would you give the job to? i’ve attached my resume i would be grateful if you could read it and get back to me at your earliest convenience. i have all the experience you are looking for – i’ve worked in a customer-facing environment for three years, i am competent with ms office and i enjoy working as part of a team. thanks for your time Or Dear Sir/Madam, I’ve attached my resume. I would be grateful if you could read it and get back to me at your earliest convenience. I have all the experience you are looking for: I’ve worked in a customer-facing environment for three years I am competent with MS office I enjoy working as part of a team Thanks for your time. Yours faithfully, Joe Bloggs Have you ever received a really badly written email? Or have you ever been told you need to brush up your own email writing? Share your email etiquette horror stories – and any of your tips – in the comments! Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Business Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Idioms About Legs, Feet, and ToesThat vs. WhichDrama vs. Melodrama

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 6

Marketing - Essay Example The various techniques used for the Nike shoe are then able to strategically position the shoes ahead of other competitors that are in the market to sell shoes. Background of Organization Nike was established in 1972 by business owner, Bill Bowerman. The idea began in 1964 with the desire to create an athletic shoe that could be used effectively for competitive sports. By 1971, Bowerman had established a shoe that would work and then created the Nike brand to develop the new mechanics and techniques for the shoe. Bowerman began by making a contract with the University of Oregon runner Phil Knight. The approach was to give running shoes that would help Knight to have ease o use while running without having some of the malfunctions that come with basic shoes that are used. The business quickly gained a strong reputation in footwear with a current stance of 160 countries which sell the footwear and the employment of over 1 million people. The approach is to use a set of diversity inclus ion within the organization while creating a strong reputation among those interested in the footwear (Nike, 2011). The success of Nike, with a revenue of $91.2 billion in 2010, is one which is based on a portfolio of products. There are now several affiliate businesses that work with Nike for the brand reputation. These include Cole Haan, Converse, Hurley International, Nike Golf and Umbro. The brand identity that is established all carries the overall features of the Nike logo. This is then divided into specific shoes used for sports, such as running shoes, basketball shoes and other specialized makes and models. There are also divisions for women, men and children to further the brand identity. Nike has incorporated sportswear as well as personal trainers with electronics to assist those that are looking for a different approach to their athletic regimen, creating a different set of brands within the Nike organization (Nike, 2011). Marketing Techniques and Strategies The marketin g techniques that are used by Nike involve several dimensions of finding what the best methods are to reach consumers. The first way in which this is done is by segmentation. The theory of segmentation is defined as creating a presence by noting different target markets which would be interested in a product. Meeting this need by establishing demographic relationships can then provide a stronger movement toward sales among those that are interested in the products (Alderson, Cox, 2006 pg. 137). The segmentation of the products isn’t done by developing the product first, then creating a market that will need the item. Instead, there is an established presence created by need first. Each of the shoes that are presented by Nike is segmented first, than established with the mechanics of the shoe to create a need within the segment. Basketball, soccer, football, running shoes and segments among women and men are some of the several ways that Nike has approached building its brand. This is done within the internal environment first, than leads to establishing a presence among those in need with the item. The concept of segmentation becomes essential by noting that there is a need among different groups of individuals, which Nike can then meet by building a reputation from the science used behind the makes and models of each of the shoes. The target

Knolege creatain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Knolege creatain - Essay Example niversities are responsible for this in efficient growth of clusters and business industries are putting in no effort to make use of them for growth and innovation. Each sector has to play a certain role with constant coordination to overcome crises. Grant (1996) suggests that knowledge infuses increased performance opportunities for firms able to understand, and utilize relevant knowledge efficiently. The role of a business industry is to sponsor extensive funds for research work to universities who are struggling hard to raise funds beside their limited funds from government to bring in exceptional innovations, technology and knowledge. Mode 2 is interconnected and not possible without a thorough work of mode 1, therefore business industry should collaborate with universities to carry on research and expand the area of innovative knowledge with practical experiments over it and simultaneously, business industry should give internships, job training and design an individual area to comprehend mode 1 studies into mode 2 work which can examine the loopholes in academic knowledge and its implementation in practical experiences which is not possib le in isolated environment of universities. This changing wave of knowledge economy has a great impact and acts as a driving force towards new opportunities for industries and will smooth the dynamics between universities and industries in the long run. Students independently cannot achieve a complete combination of theoretical and practical work if exposure is not provided but can help demonstrate through their university projects, though not sufficient to unfold their growing minds but can contribute. It is beneficial for students to use their academia through internships or part time jobs in the relevant industry in summers or annual vacations. Universities are the pathways for students but students themselves should take initiative to promote practical enforcement of their academic theories however on large scale,

The Castration of Eloisa in Popes Eloisa to Abelard :: Pope Eloisa to Abelard Essays

The Castration of Eloisa in Pope's Eloisa to Abelard If Pope's intent in writing an Ovidian heroic epistle is to show the entire range of his protagonist's emotions from meekness to violent passion, then he was wise to choose the twelfth-century story of Eloisa and Abelard as his subject. Eloisa and her teacher Abelard retired to different monasteries after her family discovered they were lovers and brutally castrated him. Years later, Eloisa by chance intercepted a letter from Abelard to a friend chronicling their love affair. The letter reawakened Eloisa's long repressed passion for Abelard, and she struggles to reconcile her sexual passion with her religious vows. As she has taken a vow of silence, the only mode of expression left to Eloisa is her emotion, which she often expresses by weeping. She tells Abelard in her mind: Tears still are mine, and those I need not spare, Love but demands what else were shed in pray'r; No happier task these faded eyes pursue, To read and weep is all they now can do. (lines 45-48) Eloisa thus lives in her mind, communicating mentally with God and now her former lover Abelard alternately. Pope's poem is his idea of what Eloisa would write to Abelard in a letter, albeit a letter whose writing would have spanned several years until her death. In his seminal 1969 article "The Escape from Body or the Embrace of Body," Murray Krieger states that "the poem represents at once a finished letter and a letter that, apparently finished, is actually in the stormy process of being written" (34). The richness of Pope's language juxtaposed with the rigidity of his couplet form have suggested to critics both the depth of Eloisa's emotion and the restraints placed on her by the Church and her vows. This juxtaposition has troubled some critics (including Krieger) as a mismatch. These critics argue that a writer in Eloisa's emotional state would produce writing that is much less polished and constrained than Pope's perfect couplets. In fact, that Pope records Eloisa's emotional l anguage in the confining couplet verse structure is precisely what Krieger calls the poem's failure. I propose that Pope intended Eloisa's emotional outbursts to strain against his own exacting poetic form. I believe Pope constricts Eloisa's florid language within the couplet in order to emphasize the severity of the imprisonment she suffers in the monastery. Further, I would argue that Eloisa's imprisonment in a monastery, combined with the vow of silence and marriage to the Church required of her as part of her religious confinement, is a symbolic act of

Gandhi’s Impact on the Liberation of Indian Women

India has the world's largest number of professionally qualified women. It has more female doctors, surgeons, scientists and professors than the United Statesi. This is a remarkable accomplishment for Indian women. Despite all of this, for thousands of years Indian women have been treated unfairly and unequally. It has taken years for women to gain respect in society; it did not come over night. Not one single event has emancipated women, instead it has been a series of events which has led Indian women to their liberation. Many riots, protests and powerful leadership have taken place in order to overcome this rigorous struggle. Due to the leadership of one man India changed from being controlled by the British Commonwealth to becoming and Independent Nation. This leader was Mahatma Gandhi. In is efforts to develop an independent country he also paved the path for Indian women to rise and speak against the social norms, which excluded them in society. During the time of Gandhi's leadership he observed many instances in which women were suffering. For instance, the average life span of an Indian was 27 years as both babies and pregnant women ran a high risk of dying young. Child marriages were very common, widows were in high numbers, and only 2% of the women had any education. In addition, specifically in North India the women practiced the purda (veil) system, in which they had to keep their faces covered if they were to go outside. Gandhi recognized and attempted to change the terrible suffering of Indian women and therefore, he initiated women to step out of their homes and participate in the protests by his use of Satyagraha philosophy, which resulted in several women leading their own movements. The harmful treatment toward Indian women was profoundly due to societal and religious sacraments. Many societal and religious customs subordinated women and made them inferior to man. A hundred years ago it was common for child marriages to occur, and for it to be completely legal. Child marriages were considered important in Indian society especially in the Hindu religion, since it was crucial to be married to someone of the same caste and therefore should be arranged at a young age. However, this invariably led to a high number of child widows since the men the young girls were marrying were much older. Gandhi stated â€Å"not only consider it uncivilised but a crime against God to call the union of children a married state because it undermines morals and induces physical degeneration†ii. He recognized that child marriages were immoral and also contributed to the high number of child widows. Gandhi believed that if young girls were not married at such young ages then the number of child widows would decrease. Although, Gandhi was married at a young age of 13 he â€Å"vehemently† condemned child marriages and argued that ancient Hindu scriptural texts laying down â€Å"barbaric† and â€Å"degrading† rules regarding women should be revisediii. Gandhi proposed the idea that child marriages should not occur and that there should be a minimum age at which a girl can be married. This proposal by Gandhi initiated women to take action on this issue. At the first session of the Women's Conference they adopted a resolution urging the government to make marriages under 16 a penal offence. Although, this did take time to enforce eventually in 1929 the Sarda Act took place fixing the age limit to 15 iv. This was the first legislative enactment the women had won, and a substantial part of this was due to Gandhi's realization that women were equals. Gandhi strongly believed that women and men were of equal sex and women should not be treated any differently. Gandhi stated, â€Å"Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacities. She has the right to participate in very minutest detail in the activities of man and she has an equal right of freedom and liberty with him†v. Gandhi had a strong sense of respect for women in society and believed they needed to be treated equally. Another societal and religious pressure that was considered essential for Indian women to practice was the purdah (veil) system. Purdah was more of a tradition to areas of Islamic rule. Women were to keep all parts of their body covered in public, except their eyes. Gandhi witnessed the effects purdah had on women, and believed that chasity came from within and that it could not be protected by the purdah. Gandhi stated, â€Å"It must grow from within, and to be worth anything it must be capable of withstanding every unsought temptation†vi. The purdah system restricted women to the household and even such tasks as shopping were the responsibility of the men. Gandhi encouraged a campaign to be sought out which would educate both the men and women, â€Å"If the campaign is well organized, and continued with zeal, the purdah should become a thing of the past†vii. Although the purdah system has not been entirely eliminated it has significantly decreased among women in South Asia today. However, Gandhi found that even those who were educated did not have the courage to reject the purdah customviii. The suggestion by Gandhi to educate young women was made early in the nineteenth century to eliminate practices that subordinated women. The education of women was poor at the time of Gandhi, and this was because of their low status in society. As the Nationlist movement developed a high magnitude base in the 1930's attention began to be directed toward the education of the crowd. In 1973, Gandhi organized a conference which came to be known as the Wardha scheme, a system of basic education for India. Girls basic education was to concentrate on domestic courses. However, Gandhi emphasized that men's and women's education should differ. This idea is one that does not necessarily contribute to equality. Gandhi states, † We shall accept equality of rights for women, but I think their education should differ from men's as their nature and function do†ix. Gandhi did want women to achieve equality, however; he still believed that women had a different role. The fact that there are different roles due to gender does not necessarily support women's liberation. This contradiction in Gandhi's work is due to his belief that, â€Å"It is women's right to rule the house. Man is master outside of it† x. Gandhi certainly believed that the education for women was extremely important, however; he did not believe that the methods for education should be identical in both cases xi. Once women became educated according to Gandhi they would no longer put up with â€Å"glaring inequalities to which they are subjected† xii. Gandhi emphasized the importance of education and after independence came a constitutional guarantee to establish free and compulsory education for all children xiii. Gandhi's insightful observations on Indian women have initiated substantial changes to their lifestyle and status in society due to his encouragement of education. To get women out of their homes and participate in the freedom for Independence Gandhi introduced his philosophy of Satyagraha. Gandhi's philosophy of Satyagraha is one that appealed to women and contributed to their emancipation. In South Africa Gandhi developed the technique of Satyagraha or â€Å"soul force† which proved effective in resisting political control that the British demonstrated. Truth (Satya) implies love, and firmness (Agraha) engenders and therefore serve's as a synonym for force. Gandhi adopted what he learned in South Africa and demonstrated his political genius for the Independence struggle of India. Under his guidance a mass movement was created and eventually through his patience and his use of Satyagraha, Independence was declared in 1949. Gandhi seemed to direct an appeal specifically to women, telling them he had great faith in their capacity to sacrifice and endure suffering. This was a concept that women could easily comprehend since they have socialized to endure and sacrifice. Mahatma Gandhi speaks of this and explains why women are more able to self-sacrifice, â€Å"Woman is the incarnation of Ahimsa. Ahimsa means infinite love which again means infinite capacity in the largest measure. She shows it as she carries the infant and feeds it during nine months and derives joy in the suffering involved. What can beat the sufferings caused by the pangs of labour? But she forgets them in the joy of creation. Who, again, suffers daily so that her babe may wax from today? Let her transfer that love the whole humanity, let her forget she ever was or can be object of man's lust. And she will occupy her proud position by the side of man as his mother, maker and silent leader. It is given to her to teach the art of peace to the warring world, thirsting for that nectar. She can become the leader of Satyagraha which does not require the learning that books give but does require the stout heart that comes from suffering and faith† xiv. As one can see it was Gandhi's belief in women's strength that initiated them to promote Satyagraha and become a part of the movement. Millions of women both educated and illiterate, housewives, widows, students and the elderly participated in India's freedom movement because of Gandhi's influence. Gandhi set a unique example amongst Indian leaders by including women among the â€Å"masses† in a more natural way. Women participated in mass movements led by him in a natural course xv. The women of India used their new tool of passive resistance to fight for freedom and independence. During the march to Dandi in 1930, to break the salt law, women from all levels and walks of life came out into the â€Å"battle arena†. As the men were put behind bars, the women stepped out providing mature considered leadership, inititative, and resourcefulness, beyond all expectations xvi. At this time women were risking their lives in order to gain freedom. Women were held in jail, some of them pregnant and thus many died because of the lack of food. They did this all in the hope that one day India would be a free country, with little conception that these actions would help to free the women of India. Gandhi put women on a higher spiritual pedestal and expected them to be a real ‘divine power'. â€Å"Not only did he believe that women was man's equal, rather, he took her to be superior in her capacity to suffer and sacrifice† xvii. Gandhi's belief that women were more superior because they could endure greater amounts of suffering encouraged women to step forward and participate in such movements. There is not doubt that the most awakening event for Indian women was the battle for India's political freedom by the use of the non-violent action that Gandhi encouraged. During Gandhi's political movements he attempted to boycott all British made goods and instead assert the need for Indians to make their own goods. Mahatma Gandhi was indeed a pragmatic thinker and he realized that women were the fifty percent of human resources and it was essential to use them in the struggle for independence. â€Å"The chastity of women can be protected with the help of the spinning wheel. There is another occupation in which millions of women can engage themselves remaining at home. India must learn to be self-reliant†xviii. He believed that women were overwhelmingly concerned with the need for foreign cloth, and instead believed that women should start spinning the wheel in order to make their own cloth. This was an idea that started off to be for the benefit of reaching independence, however; it also benefited the emancipation of women in India. Women were now self-sufficient and began to feel much more confidant and independent because they did not have to rely on others. Gandhi has made considerable impacts on women and has motivated them to step forward and lead movements of their own. For instance the All India Women's Conference (AIWC) founded in 1927 tried to mobilize Indian women and build a national organization concerning social service activities xix. The AIWC gave women's organization a national leadership and achieved limited success in influencing government policy with regard to women's suffrage, education and healthxx. The Nationalist leader Sarojini Naidu was one of the first women to take the â€Å"pledge†. She held demonstrations in various cites and made special appeals to women of the land xxi. Under Gandhi's leadership thousands of women took leading roles in several movements. Gandhi never considered women to be unfit for any position or task. From the considerable support of Gandhi, women's groups were formed all over India and hardly a week passed where Gandhi did not address a women's group. Mary Fainsoid said in her article that leftist commentators argued that women's groups associated with parties have the potential of being more effective because of their connections with mass organizations xxii. Gandhi was a member of the Indian National Congress. He approved the declaration in 1931 that the Constitute would have to agree to for a free India. The particular clauses relating to women were those dealing with equal rights and obligations of citizens without any bar on account for sex, the protection of women workers and special adequate provisions of leave during maternity periodxxiii. The commitment that was made in 1931 was embodied in the Constitution of free India and was later adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly of 1949 xxiv. It is safe to say that the women's contributions along with Gandhi's leadership in the Independence struggle were in a sense rewarded by legal equality. Women in Indian society have achieved great prominence. This has been achieved not only by one single event but instead by a string of events. Gandhi is an individual who started the emancipation of women due to his protests for an Independent India. He not only introduced women to Satyagraha but he was also a ceaseless crusader for women's equality. He brought the women of their homes and made them equal participants in the walks of life-social as well as political. The work of Gandhi has affected millions of people but the effect it has on women has changed their status forever. It is due to Gandhi's initiative and guidance that India now has more working women than any other country. This includes female workers at all levels of skill – from the surgeon and the airline pilot to bus conductors and menial labourers xxv. Although, there are still many social barriers facing Indian women today, hopefully people will look upon Gandhi's guidance and be motivated to abolish and prejudice that still occurs today.