Gender, Sexuality, Reproduction, And Motherhood - 1727 Words

Prior to and during the 1960’s the traditional outlook on women as equals was limites in nearly every aspect. From marriage, sexuality, reproduction, and motherhood a woman was expected to follow a pre destined order and timeline in life to complete these tasks. The expectation of women at the time was to marry young, 18-24, and quickly start a family where she would devote her life to raising children and housekeeping. Wives of the time period shouldered the responsibilities of child care and home making, while men were expected to merely work, come home to a clean house and dinner, and then slip off to bed. Until the late-1960’s when women began pushing for social change to rid themselves from the slavery of traditional womanhood. Though this life style seems more like imprisonment, some women didn’t feel that way, for example my grandmother Armalene Haxby, was content in her role as the home maker. However we know that this idea wasn’t shared with the r est of American women. The 1960’s was filled with social reforms and women rights protest meant to free the American women to be equal to their male counter parts. An excerpt from Betty Friedan s book The Feminine Mystique, gave insight to some women’s outlook on life, I m desperate. I begin to feel I have no personality. I m a server of food and a putter-on of pants and a bed maker, somebody who can be called on when you want something. But who am I?(Friedan 63) What was it like to be a house wife? Was it in factShow MoreRelatedThe Case For Feminist Revolution By Shulamith Firestone879 Words   |  4 PagesFrom the introduction of birth control to the acceptance of surrogacy, feminists have fought for every milestone. In today’s society, reproductive and medical technologies are growing at an incredible rate, allowing individuals to be liberated from gender conventions and oppression. Though having these technological advances are comforting, some feminists argue whether having these newfound reproductive and medical options are what is best for womankind, or if it simply adheres to the patriarchy. Read MorePublic Discourse Relies On Tropes Of Motherhood, Parenting, And Family884 Words   |  4 PagesPublic discourse relies on tropes of motherhood, parenting, and family: The bodies of mothers belong to feminine (Hine 2013; Kinser 2010), heterosexual, monogamous, married women (Morris and McInerney 2010). Heavily entrenched in these tropes is the notion of monomaternalism. Monomaternalism has been defined by Shelley Park (2013) as an ideology and practice that upholds the heteropatriarchal nuclear family, residing at the â€Å"intersection of patriarchy, heteronormativity, capitalism, and Eurocentrism†Read MoreAn Overview of Republican Motherhood1445 Words   |  6 PagesRepublican Motherhood is a term used to describe women’s attitudes and roles before, during, and after the American Revolution. These republican mother s, daughters of patriots, were raised with the ideals of republicanism, and were expected to pass on these ideals to the next generation. Republican Motherhood enforced the concept that a domestic women’s domain of life should be kept somewhat separate from men, and that their role was extremely important in raising the next generation. RepublicanRead MoreStudy questions Essay1333 Words   |  6 PagesAnthr 110 Gender, Age and Culture Instructor: Franà §ois Larose Study Questions Fall 2012 Instructions: In preparation for the exams, here is a list of study questions for each chapter. What you need to know from the text is covered in these questions. For all these chapters, you need to be familiar with the definitions (technical terms) highlighted in the text. Also, while there will be no direct questions on the grey boxes in these chapters, I strongly suggest you read them. They provideRead MoreWomen s Roles Of Reproduction1466 Words   |  6 PagesFeminists argued that women’s roles of reproduction and social attachments in the domestic sphere constituted an economy and class of its own. This was based on the role of motherhood and unpaid work at home. Millett (1969) contended in Sexual Politics for the existence of women’s sexuality that was detached from the motherhood and marriage obligations. Conversely, other lesbian authors such as Audre Lorde and Adrienne Rich utilized writing, speeches, and poetry in linking women’s oppression andRead MoreThe Argument For Voluntary Motherhood1813 Words   |  8 PagesThis question got people thinking. Around the 1870’s a campaign began called â€Å"voluntary motherhood† which was a program suggesting that married couples should resist sexual activity for long periods of time to keep from having unwanted children. Some feminists during this time were pushing the campaign of â€Å"Voluntary Motherhood†. â€Å"Contesting† against the conservative party and their extreme beliefs became one of the most â€Å"powerful feminist movements†. The main problem was really that women didRead MoreGender Inequality in Hong Kong2274 Words   |  10 Pagesthe gender inequality in Hong Kong. This paper is divided into three parts. The first part will discuss the different theoretical and strategic positions within feminism  ¡V Libertarian Feminism; Liberal Feminism; Welfare Feminism; Radical Feminism; Socialist Feminism and Black Feminism. The second part will try to look at the situation of gender inequality in Hong Kong. At last, this paper will try to make a conclusion on which perspectives of feminism are effective in analyzing the gender inequalityRead MoreAnth1321 Words   |  6 PagesTravesti: Sex, Gender, and Culture among Brazilian Transgendered Prostitutes Introduction Gender is something that is complex and ambiguous, and cannot be set into a strict binary structure. Through Don Kulick’s ethnographic research, he spent time studying transgendered prostitutes called Travestis in Brazil. After reading Kulick’s book about the Travestis and their lifestyles I would like to argue that â€Å"gender† is an incredibly personal identity that is constructed by ones environment, andRead MoreAnalysis of Gender Inequality with a Focus on Feminist Ideas Essay804 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis of Gender Inequality with a Focus on Feminist Ideas The goal of this paper is to describe and analyze gender inequality, focusing on the history of feminist ideas. I will start with a basic overview of the entire feminist movement, and will then analyze feminism more specifically. In this analysis I will focus on the different types of feminism. Most notably of these types will be the main groups that consist of socialist feminists, liberal feminists, and radical feminists. I will describeRead MoreThe Feminist Thought Is Old Enough1412 Words   |  6 Pagesto eliminate gender discrimination. Radical feminists thought otherwise. They insisted that if gender equality is the goal, we must first examine men’s and women’s sexual and reproductive rights and responsibilities. Then we will understand why systems that encourage male domination and female inferiority are so determined and prevalent. Radical-libertarian feminists claimed that women need to be liberated not only from the encumbrance of natural reproduction and bio logical motherhood but also from

Annotated Bibliography On Data Encryption Standard

1.1 Data Encryption Standard Data Encryption standard was one of the predetermined symmetric algorithms for the encryption of data. DES was developed in early 1970s at IBM and based on an earlier design by Horst Feistel. DES is one of the most and significant modern symmetric encryption algorithm, for many years DES was known as â€Å"secret code making†. The algorithm was developed in early 1970s, but due to some controversies the algorithm was published in January 1977 as an algorithm to be used for the unclassified data. The data encryption standard, as specified is a block cipher operating on the 64 bit data block. DES also uses a key to customize the transformation, so that decryption can be only be performed by those who know the†¦show more content†¦Key mixing: the expansion word is XORed with a round key constructed by selecting 48 bits from the 56 bits secret key, a different selection is used in each round. Substitution: the 48 bits result is split into eight bit words which are substituted in eight parallel 6 * 4 bit S-boxes. All the S-boxes, are different but have the same special structure. Permutation (P): the resulting 32 bits are reordered according to a fixed permutation before being sent as the output. 1.3 ALGORITHM [1] In the first step, the 64 bit plain text block is handed over to initial permutation (IP) function. [2] The initial permutation is performed on the input plain text. [3] The initial permutation results in two halves of permuted block: LBlock and RBlock. [4] Each of LBlock and RBlock goes through 16 rounds of the encryption process, each with its own key. [5] From the 56 bit key, a different 48 bit sub key is generated using the transformation. [6] The 48 bit is XORed with the 48 bit RBlock and the resulting output is given in the next step. [7] Using the S-box substitution procedure the 32-bit from 48-bit input. [8] These 32 bit are permuted using P-box permutation. [9] The P-box output 32 bits are XORed with the LBlock 32 bits. [10] The result of the XORed 32 bits is become the RBlock and the old RBlock becomes the LBlock. This process is called swapping. [11] The RBlock

Challenges free essay sample

I am very motivated by challenges and always look for opportunities to solve problems. Challenges intrigue me because they show me how far I am willing to go. No one can meet every challenge, but I strive to do the best I can and not repeat mistakes. I realize this is a high standard, but I don’t know any other way. In life, situations repeat themselves. The ability to learn from one’s mistakes and solve them is as important as anything. I challenge myself to solve every problem. From an academic standpoint, I can often be found looking at the same math problem for 30 minutes. It might appear that I am doing nothing. Contrarily, I meticulously work through every possibility. For every problem, there is always a right answer and I constantly strive to find that answer. Furthermore, I will do everything in my power to win. Last year, in AP Calculus, my third quarter grade was a B+. We will write a custom essay sample on Challenges or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I struggled with the material and used every resource available to salvage an 87. As fourth quarter started, my attitude changed. I expected perfection. I would not accept a missed problem on my homework or practice problems. I studied and studied, and received at 99% on my fourth quarter grade. I can not stand doing just par on anything I do, but strive to overachieve. My values are very similar athletically. Competing in tennis works with my strengths because I can problem solve. I break down my opponent’s strengths and weakness, and attack mercilessly. Also, tennis’ three set system gives me a chance to reevaluate how I am playing. If I lose the first set, my style of play will change drastically. I will do anything to win. Furthermore, I take particularly pride in the manner in which I practice with passion and a purpose. After my failing to qualify for the state tournament as a freshman, I made a commitment to make the state tournament the next year. Over the wint er, I focused on my doubles play by learning strategy and watching more experienced players. The next year, I excelled and received all-state honors after placing fifth in the state tournament as a sophomore. I hold myself to the highest standard socially. The Club for Exceptional Children is a place to build relationships with special needs students. One especially tough challenge is with a student who has a severe case of autism named Josh. This student sporadically rewinds a conversation and repeats everything that is said for the past thirty seconds. At times talking with this student can be difficult and very tedious, but I thrive in such situations. I challenge myself to find the hardest situations and succeed. Throughout my day, I attempt to overachieve. Looking for the fastest route to school, winning a seemingly meaningless game of Solitaire, and driving out of the school parking lot first as school ends all drive me. Second place is just the first loser, and I hate losing.

Kansas City Jazz free essay sample

A single definition cannot be found. Many people try to define jazz music only to regress to trying to define what it does. Even this approach Is difficult. People are only able to find things to agree on, such as agreeing that Jazz is music. Jazz has been so many things throughout it long and illustrious history that Its even hard to point out its origins, which stem from many places, many styles of music, and many people. However, there Is an ongoing debate as to Its precise origins. It is known to have evolved out of New Orleans in the 20th century and from here spread to the North and Midwest. Based in blues and ragtime, jazz have geographical hot spots throughout the country; New Orleans, Chicago, New York. And Kansas City. Each hot spot has Its own history contacting significant events and people that helped shape the musical style of that culture center. Kansas City is no exception. There are innumerable persons that helped make Kansas City jazz what it has become.Jazz emerged In a time that one might think that something new, such as the Jazz movement, would not succeed. Jazz began to gain notoriety in the midst of The Great Depression. Kansas Citys ability to sustain throughout such a horrible time can only be accredited to one thing; the administration of Thomas J. Penetrates, The Boss of Kansas City from 1911 until his arrest for tax evasion In 1938. His methods, however. Where not one of the most reputable morals. Penetrates openly tolerated a wide- open town in Kansas City in exchange for political and financial benefits.Pentagrams tolerance of such laws as prohibition were so extreme that from the year 1920 to 1 933, there was not a single felony conviction for violation of that law. This is seen as more unusual when one realizes that there were over 300 bars in the city that employed live musical entertainment (Pearson, Political 181). Penetrates and his followers were not avid supporters of black music, In fact, he scarcely listened to music at all. Throughout his life he made it a rule to be in bed no later than nine oclock, an hour at which musical happenings in the nightclubs of Kansas City were barely getting started (Russell 6). He did however ally himself with figures of organized crime that controlled the nightlife of Kansas City and, by proxy, allowed the jazzmen and blueness of Kansas City to be able to find employment in the hundreds of clubs and bars that Kansas City was known for having (Pearson, Political 182). For the most part gangs and mobsters and musicians minded their own business and had a silent respect for each other. The gangsters did however tend to look out for the musicians, or dancers, or prostitutes well being. Kansas City was a cen ter of commerce that brought in many starry-eyed American men to the heavenly place. When a cattleman sold his beef, he did so at the Kansas City fattening pens and slaughterhouses lying between the older and poorer sections of the city and the Missouri River. In the same sense, raisers of hogs and sheep, growers of wheat and barley, and many other items made their way to the liquor, dancing, exciting women, and dice rolling, all accompanied by the sauce of lively music was irresistible to many men (Russell 4). Since Jazz emerged during the Roaring Twenties and it was not out of the ordinary for it to be associated with gangsters and their kind. There was no Depression for he gangsters, says pianist Sammy Price, who was there during the heart of the era. Due to the wide-open town the gangsters did well and therefore, because of their lavish lifestyles and the lurid nightlife that they indulged in, the Jazz bands of the day didnt lack for employment. This influence spread as far as Texas Negro dance bands (Stearns 187). There were a few influential people in Kansas C ity that stood out above the rest of the countless musicians to have graced the stage with their gifts. One such person was Bennie Moment.There was no Jazz in Kansas City at the end of World War I and his was the time that Moment started his first trio Called the BD trio named after its principle members; Bennie Moment, Bailey Hancock, and Duke Langford. After abandoning the trio Moment had the idea that, instead of staking his career in ragtime piano, which he played fairly well, he wanted to try to project ragtime style by means of other instruments. Moment became the leader of a band named The Blue Devils who, in 1921, opened at the Panama Club, in the Afro-American district of Kansas City, one of the first cabarets in the area (Russell 88-89).They began as a six ice playing adapted versions of piano ragtime (Russell 15). In September 1923, The Blue Devils, along with blues singers Dad Brown and Mary H. Bradford became one of the first local bands to record an album. However, the bands true influence did not come about until after Moment died and the band was taken over by the piano player, William Basis (Astronauts 195). William Count Basis, born in Red Bank, New Jersey, literally learned the piano at the feet of Fats Waller, was stranded in Kansas City in the late twenties, where in 1928 he joined Walter Pages Blue Devils, later led by Bennie Moment, in Oklahoma.Aside from his considerable keyboard skill Basis was blessed with good organizational instincts, an even temper, and an uncanny rhythmic sense. After Motets death in 1935, Basis and a group of several members of The Blue Devils began to play together and formed the best renown and longest lasting big band to emerge from Kansas City. Instead of continuing with Motets big band and the flabbiness that Basis thought was inescapable with a band of that size he focused on having tighter group by having fewer performers and having them all be stars (Pearson, Going 135-136).After hearing Basi ss nine-piece Reno Club band on the radio, record producer John Hammond was drawn to Kansas City and engineered the enlargement of Basiss band to full big-band scale and booked them on tour leading to New York (Pearson, 135). One cannot list influential Jazzmen of Kansas City and go without saying the name Charlie Parker. Parker did not have a background in Jazz to shape him and had not improvisational ability that seemed rootless and partly unexplainable (Astronauts 268). Parker is also remembered as possibly the most tragic figure to come out of the Kansas City Jazz scene.After only picking up the saxophone at age 11 and finishing school at age 15, Parker tried to Jam his way into the Jazz world by gigging the city all around and playing with anyone and everyone that would let him (Charlie Parker). He could play something and make is sound Just pretty. He knew what to do; he would pick the right notes. But when he first started playing, nobody wanted to hear him. They did not understand what he was doing. (Pearson, Going 205) Having not had great luck with this approach, Parker found solace in heroin that omen less upstanding individuals taught him how to use (Astronauts 269).Charlie Parker was pawning off his instrument nearly every day to get enough money to pay for his heroin addiction. John Timing would have to get the money, get his horn back, and put him to work the next night with the promise that he would not pawn it the next day (Pearson, Going 208). Charlie Parker was the saddest character to come out of the early Jazz scene. Though the Jazz scene greatly declined rapidly in the late sass, the nightclubs that used to overflow with the Jazzmen of the age continued to be active through the sass.Though there are multiple factors that can be pointed out as the death of the jazz age in Kansas City (I. E. Early closing hours of 1 a. M. In the forties), racial conflict stands out above the rest, due to the fact that the black downtown was the center of the Jazz scene. Kansas City would not have been the same if it had not been for it being the commercial center it was for buying, selling, and trading of cattle, wheat, barley, and other items from the plains that brought the cattlemen and farmers to the nightlife of the city. In the same way, if it had not been for people such as Bennie

Compare and Contrast Essay Sample For Middle School Students

Compare and Contrast Essay Sample For Middle School StudentsLooking for a good college essay sample for middle school students can be very confusing. There are so many different writers, writers who have designed essays for the college level and writers who have designed essays for the high school level. The difference between them is only in their college level writing and not in the actual content of the essays. When it comes to college-level writing, the only thing that really matters is how you format the words you will be using to write the essay.With that said, we are going to look at some sample essays that you can use to make comparisons between how these writers come up with these samples and how they came up with them. It is important to note that in these samples, you will see one writer who is trying to figure out how to use words to get across something that will be of benefit to an audience. Another writer is also trying to figure out the way to make a strong college-le vel essay and, to that end, trying to make the reader feel like they have the time to read a longer essay.When you begin looking at some sample essays for middle school students, you will find that the first writer has a distinct style while the second writer is attempting to create a style that will appeal to the reader. Each of these samples has the same objective and, by reading them, you will be able to see that it is difficult to do an interesting essay without employing an interesting style. While it may seem like the most obvious technique to find a middle school essay sample, it is not actually the best tactic.Instead, you will need to look for a sample that has a slightly different objective. The first sample has something to say, whereas the second has something to say that will engage the reader. In other words, you are able to compare and contrast the written works of these two people.The same can be said for the different approaches these writers take when they are writ ing a college-level essay. A writer who is more interested in getting the point across as quickly as possible is going to be more concerned with pushing the reader to the next sentence and, generally speaking, is more interested in trying to create a very good college-level essay. This approach would be a far cry from the second writer, who has already figured out how to make a strong essay and has honed their craft.Look for samples that feature two different approaches to writing an essay. In this case, one sample will make it clear that it is really an essay on writing; the other sample will clearly indicate that it is an essay on the academic side of things. You are looking for the writer who is willing to use the best techniques. That should be your goal.The best college essay sample is one that includes both. It is easy to tell which one has been writing for a longer period of time and who has the knowledge and experience to write a complex essay. The important thing to remembe r is that this is your focus when comparing and contrasting. If you are writing for middle school students, you are looking for an essay that will draw them in and keep them reading throughout the whole piece.For those writing for the college level, the best college essay sample is one that allows you to make comparisons and contrasts based on the written content. It is a lot easier to write an essay about math than it is to write an essay about literature, so use this technique to make a stronger academic essay.

History of Imperialism

There is no exact definition of imperialism in particular. Usually, this word is confused with colonialism. However, the two words are frequently related to European expansionism except that imperialism is far reaching to the Ottoman and Chinese histories. Certainly, imperialism was a way of life to ancient societies such as Persian and Greek, Aztec and Mayan among others.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on History of Imperialism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Imperialism by definition is the maintenance or creation of unequal cultural and economic relationship between states where one is a subordination of the other. Others define it as the policy that allows a nation to extend its authority or control through establishment of political and economic hegemony through acquisition of other nation’s territorial boundaries (Lenin 14). Imperialism evolved through a series of stages dating back to the AD era. Bef ore developing into a major kingdom, Europe underwent major transformations over a long period of time. Meanwhile, Africa was characterized by a constant stream of explorers and outside traders who brought in new religions and ideas. On the other hand, Henry, the then Prince of Portugal, sent ships to West Africa in attempt to explore the area. He commanded ships to take gold to West Africa in exchange for slaves, and this resulted to the establishment of new colonies especially inside America. Imperialism then took a different phase of industrial revolution where natural resources and raw materials such as diamond and rubber were being transported to Britain. Then followed the era of The Atlantic Slave Trade where horrible injustice was committed against African slaves before they got sold to major kingdoms such as Britain (Lugard 59). Moreover, the scramble for Africa by colonial masters began, and this led to the Berlin Conference of 1888. However, imperialism was resisted in som e African countries like the Zulu in South Africa. Meanwhile, effects of imperialism especially loss of life through slave trade raised a lot of tension amongst African nations. This was followed by Independence Nationalism that led to the Pan-Africanism movement, which was aimed at bringing all Africans together on the basis of their common heritage. Through World War II, most European countries were weakened and Pan-Africanism gained strength. As such, most African nations gained independence during the 1950s.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, these nations experienced poor governments and poor economies, which they struggled to stabilize. As this was happening in Africa, Middle East started experiencing imperialism through the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. In the nineteenth century, most independent states such as Egypt were recaptured by the Great Britain. Elsewhere, as Ind ia was struggling to gain independence in 1919, troops from Britain wounded and killed almost one thousand five hundred civilians (Lenin 39). What followed from that period was a series of events that led to today’s imperialism. Despite the brevity of the imperialism era, its impact on the world was immense. The European countries who were the major perpetrators of this concept had their culture and society tremendously influenced by the various colonies they captured. Even after independence of most colonies, the interaction process between the colonized and the colonizers continued. Consequently, massive migration from the colonies into Europe occurred, and this was a key factor to the emergence of Europe’s multicultural societies. On a similar note, the culture of Europe was copied to the colonized nations. For instance, European sports such as soccer and cricket are adapted in most countries around Africa, the Pacific, and Asia. This idea is further evidenced by th e manner in which countries around these regions speak French and English. Besides, the imperialism legacy developed in different spheres of such colonies. This includes metropolitan economic ties, communication networks, and economic structures that have undoubtedly shaped the contemporary society. Surprisingly, the imperialism legacy has far reaching effects not only in the past, but also in the foreseeable future. Take for example the world’s fluctuations on market that greatly depend on Europe’s economy, which has become so hard to remove, and hence, enhancing this idea of dependency (Lugard 22). Accordingly, imperialism related legacy extends to religious systems in the colonized countries. Not only did campaigns by Christian missionaries convert individuals, but also they left behind a series of Christian states such as Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria in Africa.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on History of Imperialism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They also left behind Catholicism in South Asia and Latin America. Moreover, modernization resulted from imperialism. This resulted to descent cities, the emergence of the money economy, ownership of private land, modern medicine, cash crop farming, and modern technologies among others. Besides, some of the legacy include infrastructure. Evidence exists that some British built road network and water projects in India, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Pakistan are present up to date. In addition, the British employed the divide and rule strategy that led to ethnic divisions present in our society. For example, they preferred the Hausa and Tutsi communities in Nigeria and Rwanda respectively. They also preferred the Kikuyu in Kenya and the resettled slaves in Liberia. Also, they placed borders illogically, and this led to ethnic conflicts such as those seen in Kashmir, Palestine/Israel, Spanish Sahara/Moroccan Sahara, Biafra war, a nd West/Eastern Pakistan. Works Cited Lenin, Vladimir. Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism. Moscow: Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1947. Lugard, Frederick. The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa. Edinburgh and London: Blackwood and Sons, 1922. This essay on History of Imperialism was written and submitted by user L0k1 to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Purchase and Product Involvement when Buying

Purchase and Product Involvement when Buying Introduction Consumer involvement refers to that â€Å"state of mind that motivates a consumer to identify with a product or service offerings, their consumption patterns and consumption behavior†.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Purchase and Product Involvement when Buying specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Involvement enables consumers to develop the urge to search for or think about the available product categories before selecting a preferred brand and purchasing a product. Involvement reflects the amount of effort (physical and mental) that a person invests in the process of making a purchase decision. Involvement creates a level of relevance to the product or service offering and this, prompts the consumer to collect and interpret relevant information about the product before making a purchase decision (Schiffman and Hansen, 2011, p. 89).Thus, it influences the consumer’s decision making process, as well as, the process of searching, processing and transmitting information. Involvement varies across persons, situations, product offerings and time. The strength and intensity of involvement determines the consumer’s level of involvement. Thus, involvement can be high or low (East, Wright and Vanhucle, 2008, p. 132). Involvement can also be short-term and situational or long-term and enduring. Additionally, involvement is often directed at the elements of marketing mix. This paper focuses on purchase involvement and the process of consumer decision making. Purchase Involvement Purchase involvement refers to the â€Å"level of concern for or interest in the purchase process, once the purchase process has been triggered by the need to consider a particular purchase† (Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins, 2011, p. 67). Purchase involvement is a temporary state that is typical of a consumer, and exists in a process. Purchase involvement is influenced by current external varia bles which include the product, situation, and communication. It is also influenced by past external factors such as enduring, ego, as well as, central values. Thus, purchase involvement reflects the time, thought, as well as, the energy that consumers dedicate to the process of purchasing a given product.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Difference between Purchase Involvement and Product Involvement Purchase involvement differs from product involvement in the following ways. First, purchase involvement refers to the consumer’s interest in the buying or purchase process (Kim and Sung, 2009, pp. 504-519). This interest is initiated by the need to purchase a product. Product involvement, on the other hand, refers to a consumer’s or a person’s interest in purchasing a given product and the consumer’s commitment to purchase a particular bran d (Quester and Lim, 2008, pp. 22-38). Thus, purchase involvement focuses on the interest in the purchase process, whereas product involvement focuses on the interest in a particular product or brand. In the context of product involvement, the arousal, interest, as well as, emotional attachment is evoked by the product, whereas in purchase involvement, these attachments are evoked by the need to purchase the product. Second, purchase involvement is situational, whereas product involvement is enduring. Situational involvement occurs when the consumer attaches relevance to a product in the short-term. Thus, it is temporary in nature. Purchasing a computer as a gift to a student on his birthday is an example of situational involvement. In this case, the involvement disappears as soon as the purchase is completed. Enduring involvement, on the other hand, occurs when the relevance attached to a particular product last for a long period. A high school student planning to purchase a compute r to use in collage three years from now is an example of enduring involvement. In this case, the student has three years to get involved with the product offering and plan for the purchase. Finally, consumers can have a high purchase involvement in a product without necessarily having a high product involvement. For example, a person purchasing a dish washing machine may have a high purchase involvement due to the high cost of the product. However, he may have a low product involvement due to band loyalty.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Purchase and Product Involvement when Buying specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Factors Influencing Purchase Involvement The factors influencing purchase involvement includes the following. First, the consumer and his personal characteristics such as interests, lifestyle, attitude and motives/ needs determine the level of purchase involvement (Bezenco and Blili, 2011, pp. 682-708). A prudent consumer will always explore and evaluate the available alternatives before deciding on what to buy. A shrewd consumer tends to search for more information in adverts, and sale offers. Additionally, they are willing to spend more time in shopping in order to obtain the product with the lowest price. A consumer who is price conscious gives priority to price when making a purchase decision (Harari and Hornik, 2010, pp. 499-506). The consumer’s cognitive ability determines the extent to which he or she can process, as well as, draw conclusions before purchasing a product. These characteristics lead to high purchase involvement. In general, products associated with the consumer’s image and personality normally leads to high purchase involvement. Consumers associated with high levels of apathy and hassle-free attitudes tend to be less concerned with the shopping process. Thus, their levels of purchase involvement tend to be low. Second, purchase involvement is dete rmined by the product or service to be purchased. The features or benefits associated with the product will influence the level of purchase involvement (Harari and Hornik, 2010, pp. 499-506). Thus, a consumer who is concerned about quality will be willing to spend more time comparing brands with varying benefits and features. Additionally, purchase involvement can be low if the consumer is loyal to a particular brand. The amount of risk associated with the consumption or purchase of the product will also determine the level of purchase involvement. The level of involvement will be high if the product is associated with high risk levels (Radder and Huang, 2008, pp. 232-243).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Third, purchase involvement is determined by the situation under which the act of purchasing a product is undertaken (Ozdipciner, Li and Muzaffer, 2012, pp. 34-43). For example, a person purchasing a gift for a loved one will tend to be highly involved in the purchase process in order to obtain the best product or brand. Social pressures such as shopping in the presence of friends also influence the level of purchase involvement. Socially, individuals tend to be more conscious of the products or brands they buy in the presence of their friends as compared to when they are alone. The amount of time devoted to the purchase process also has a bearing on the level of purchase involvement (Benerjee, Koshy and Shobha, 2007, pp. 746-763). In this case, the available time determines the consumer’s ability to collect and process or interpret the information about the product to be purchased. The level of purchase involvement will be low if the time to be spent in shopping is little an d vice versa. Consumer Decision Making Consumer purchasing decisions â€Å"fall along a continuum of three categories namely, habitual decisions-making, limited decision making and extended decision making† (Neal and Quester, 2007, p. 56). This continuum is anchored by habitual response behavior on one end and extended decision making process on the other extreme. The categories of decision making are influenced by, the level of involvement, available time, information, and the availability of alternatives. The difference between the three decision making categories can be explained as follows. Habitual Decision Making In habitual decision making, the consumers do not make any decisions regarding the purchase of a product (Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins, 2011, p. 67). In this case, the consumers simply purchase a given product whenever there is a need to consume that particular product. The consumers normally depend on their long-term memory to identify the preferred band (Ch ang and Ling, 2003, pp. 94-107). Thus, no effort is devoted to the process of searching for information about the product. In habitual decision making, post-purchase evaluations are rarely done. In most cases, the consumers evaluate the product or brand only when it fails to function as expected. Habitual decisions are often made when the level of purchase involvement is very low. Additionally, the option of not purchasing the product is hardly considered by the consumer. For example, a person whose body lotion has run out may purchase the same brand. In this case, the decision is habitual since, the consumer is loyal to a particular band which she purchases without much thought or consideration of all available alternatives. Habitual consumer decision making can be classified into two categories namely, â€Å"brand loyalty and repeat purchase decisions† (Parsons and Maclaran, 2008, p. 88) Repeat purchase decisions occur when the consumer buys a particular brand repeatedly wi thout being committed to that particular brand. Repeat purchase can be made as a result of apathy. Apathy is a situation in which the consumer is indifferent towards the available brands (Grebila, Colson and Menapare, 2011, pp. 112-115). Consequently, the consumer can settle for any brand that is readily available. For example, a student can be indifferent towards the brands of pens available at a local store. Thus, the student will buy the pen she or he finds in the store. Repeat purchase decisions can also be made due to non-availability of alternative brands. For example, a student can continually purchase locally made pens if the government restrict importation of pens. In the context of brand loyalty, the consumer is usually committed to a particular brand. This usually occurs when the consumer is emotionally attached to a product due to the actual and perceived superior qualities of the product (Gunjan and Amitava, 2011, pp. 430-432). Due to the high level of loyalty, the cons umer will always prefer a particular brand over the rest in the market. For instance, a consumer can consistently purchase a particular brand of soft drink until a better brand is launched in the market. Limited Consumer Decision Making Limited consumer decision-making occurs or exists between the habitual and the extended decision making categories (Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins, 2011, p. 69). The difference between limited and habitual decision making is that the former involves a limited search for information prior to making the purchase decision. For example, a consumer who is interested in purchasing coffee may spare some time to compare the prices of various coffee brands. The consumer may also be interested in trying a new coffee brand. Hence, he or she will have to seek information on the quality and prices of the available coffee brands. Limited decision making is likely to occur if the consumer has past experience with the product. For instance, a consumer interested in trying a new toothpaste brand may allocate limited time to compare available brands. Limited decision making can also occur if the risk associated with the product or making the wrong choice is moderate. In this case, failing to search for some basic information about the product may be costly to the customer (Broderick, Graley, and Dentiste, 2007, pp. 678-681). However, the consumer may not devote a lot of time and resources in searching for product information since the risk associated with the product is moderate. Lack of knowledge about the available brands can also lead to limited decision making. With limited decision-making, consumers tend to depend on personal information rather than external sources of information. Limited decision making is also associated with low levels of purchase involvement. This is because the consumers devote limited time and effort to searching information or comparing available alternatives. Additionally, the post-purchase evaluations are hardly d one. Extended Decision Making This is the most complex purchase decision making process. Extended consumer decision making occurs when the consumer intends to buy a new product. In this case, lack of knowledge about the product will prompt the consumer to consider external sources of information (Torres-Moraga, Vasquez-Parraga and Zamora-Gonzalez, 2008, pp. 302-313). Extended decision making also occurs when the product is very expensive or the product is one that is seldom bought. For example, the purchase of a house involves extended decision making. The person intending to purchase the house must extensively search for information about the house, the financing options and the quality of the environment in which the house is located. Since a house is a very expensive product, purchasing it involves a high risk. This is because the consumer is likely to lose a large potion of his or her investments if the wrong choice is made. In order to avoid these risks, the consumer must engag e in extensive information search, as well as, evaluation of available options (Dobbelstein and Zielke, 2007, pp. 112-121). The evaluation normally involves reviewing the attributes of each brand at a time. The attributes of each brand are then matched to the desired characteristics or expectations of the consumer. The consumer will depend mainly on external sources of information to make the right decision, especially, if the consumer has no past experience with the product. The internal search or the consumer’s memory is also considered an important source of information in extended decision making. Other products that involve extended decision making include cars, and plasma TVs. Extended decision making involves high level of purchase involvement. The extended decision making differs from limited and habitual decision making in the following ways. First, limited and habitual decision making are characterized with low risk products and low purchase involvement. The extende d decision making on the other hand is characterized with high risk products and high purchase involvement. Second, limited and habitual decision-making involve little or no information search. The acquired information is often processed passively, and the consumer is likely to make in-store decisions. Extended decision making, on the other hand, involves extensive search for information about the product’s quality, price, promotions and discounts. In extended decision making, information is often processed actively. Additionally, the consumer usually consults multiple sources before settling on a preferred brand or product. Finally, habitual and limited decision making involves limited shopping time. The shopping process is normally self-service in nature with little or no help required from the store attendants. Additionally, the choice of products or brands is often influenced by the store or shop displays (Delgado-Ballester and Munuera-Allemon, 2001, pp. 1238-1258). The e xtended decision making, on the other hand, involves visiting several outlets in order to find the best shopping deal. Communication or assistance from the store personnel is normally required to help the consumer to make the right choice. Conclusion Consumer involvement is a high state of awareness that stimulates a person to search for, attend to, as well as, think about a product’s information before purchasing the product. It reflects the interest, as well as, the importance that a person attaches to the process of acquiring and consuming a given product. In this context, involvement can be conceptualized in terms of product and purchase involvement. Product involvement refers to the interest a person has in purchasing a product and the person’s commitment to a particular brand. Purchase involvement, on the other hand, refers to the consumer’s interest in the purchase process. The level of involvement influences the purchase decision making process. Consumer decision making can be classified into three categories namely, habitual, limited and extended decision making. Habitual decision making does not involve any decision. In limited decision making, the consumer searches for limited information before making any decision (Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins, 2011, p. 69). Habitual and limited decision making are associated with low purchase involvement. Extended decision making, however, involves extensive search for information and high purchase involvement. References Benerjee, B., Koshy, A., and Shobha, G., 2007. Brand Specific Association and Consumer Involvement in the Evaluation of Brand Extension. Journal of International Business Studies, 28(5), pp. 746-763. Bezenco, V., and Blili, S., 2011. Segmenting the Market Through the Determinants of Involvement: the Case of Fair Trade. Psychology and Marketing, 28(7), pp. 682-708. Broderick, A., Graley, L., and Dentiste, R., 2007. The Behavioral Homogeneity Evaluation Framework: Multi-Level Evaluation of Consumer Involvement in International Segementation. Journal of International Business Studies, 38(5), pp. 678-681. Chang, L., and Ling, Y., 2003. Determinants of Habitual Behavior for National and Leading Brands in China. Journal of Product and Brand Management, 12(2), pp. 94-107. Delgado-Ballester, E., and Munuera-Allemon, J., 2001. Brand Trust in the Context of Consumer Loyalty. European Journal of Marketing, 35(1), pp. 1238-1258. Dholakia, U., 2001. A Motivational Porcess Model Product Involevement and Consumer Risk Perception. European Journal of Marketing, 35(11), pp.1340-1362. Dobbelstein, T., and Zielke, S., 2007. Consumers Willingness to Purchase New Store Brands. Journal of Porduct and Brand Management, 16(2), pp. 112-121. East, R., Wright, M., and Vanhucle, M., 2008. Consumer Behavior: Appliocations in Marketing. New York: Routledge. Foxall, G., 2002. Consumer Behavior Analysis. New York: McGraw-Hill. Grebila, C., Colson, G., and Menapare, L., 2011. Analyzi ng Pork Purchase at the Point of Sale: the Role of Consumer Involvement. Advances in Management, 3(2), pp. 112-115. Gunjan, M., and Amitava, M., 2011. Consumer Behavior Towards Mobile Phone Services Provider. Advances in Management, 4(6), pp. 430-432. Harari, T., and Hornik, J., 2010. Factros Influencing Product Involvement among Young Consumers. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 27(6), pp. 499-506. Hawkins, D., 2010. Consumer Behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill. Hoyer, W., 1984. An Examination of Consumer Decision Making for a Common Repeat Purchase Product. Journal of Consumer Research, 11(3), pp. 822-829. Kim, J., and Sung, Y., 2009. Dimensions of Purchase Decision Involvement:Affective and Cognitive Involvement in Product and Brand. Journla of Brand Management, 16(1), pp. 504-519. Laaksonen, P., 2004. Consumer Involvement. New York: Routledge. Mittal, B., 1989. Meaeuring Purchase-Decision Involevement. Psychology and Marketing, 6(2), pp. 147-162. Neal, C., and Quester, P., 2007. Consum er Behavior. New York: Cengage Learning. Ozdipciner, N., Li, X., and Muzaffer, U., 2012. Cross-Cultural Differences in Purchase-Decision Making Criteria. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Reserach, 6(1), pp. 34-43. Parsons, E., and Maclaran, P., 2008. Contemporary Issues in Marketing and Consumer Behavior. New York: Cengage learning. Quester, P., and Lim, L., 2008. Product Involvement/ Brand Loyalty: Is there a Link. Journal fo Product and Brand Mangement, 12(1), pp. 22-38. Quester, P., Pettigrew, S., and Hawkins, D., 2011. Consumer Behavior: Implications for Marketing Startegy. New York: MaGraw-Hill. Radder, L., and Huang, W., 2008. High Involvement and Low Involvement Products: A Comperision of Brand Awareness among Students in a South Afriocan University. Journal of Fashion and Marketing Management, 12(2), pp. 232-243. Schiffman, L., and Hansen, H., 2011. Consumer Behavior: A European Outlook. London: John Wiley and Sons. Torres-Moraga, E., Vasquez-Parraga , A., and Zamora-Gonzalez, J., 2008. Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty Starts with the Product Culminates with the Brand. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 25(5), pp. 302-313.