Researching politics and international relations Essay

Researching politics and international relations - Essay Example To understand the scientific rigor regarding researching, one must focus on the types and the different methods of research. There are numerous methods of research. However, we narrow our researching methods down to two ways; the Qualitative and the Quantitative method. There are numerous methods of research. However, we narrow our researching methods down to two ways; the Qualitative and the Quantitative method. Each is a scientific method much used and approved, by researchers. Before reverting to our topic, it is better to have an extensive overview of the scientific method, quantitative and qualitative methods(Brady&Collier,2004). The research process itself is extremely complex with several variables staying in effect at one time. It is important for the researcher to ensure that the focus remains on the subject that is being researched. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are as different as day and night. Scientists use them to test casual theories. Qualitative mainly fo cuses on how and where. It pertains to the quality of the data, e.g. the quality of a sample , is it randomly taken or is it specific(King ,Keohan ,Verba,1994). However, quantitative method includes all the finer mounts and pertains to the quantity of the data, e.g. a sample of a large population maybe a small sample or a large one. The sample size typically depends upon the objective of the research and what the researcher is basically aiming to identify. Quantitative Method: Generally speaking, scientists use this method for statistical analysis.It is defined as a method of research which focuses on numbers. Nowadays, all types of quantitative methods are required in almost every discipline of social science. This is because they help quantify different aspects of the research along with different phenomenon linked to the variables of the research. Generally, after the experiments are held, researchers use statistics to determine the result of their experiments. Statistical analys is is done by taking out a sample from the experiment and is used to determine the approval or disapproval of the entire group. Quantitative research is based on statistical analysis and can be easily replenished. This method is preferred because of its accuracy in social sciences. The fact is the quantitative researches helps quantify the different questions that the researcher has posed for the purpose of the research. There is no aspect of subjectivity involved here, whereas qualitative research can at times be limited because it is more opinion based than anything else and cannot be generalized easily. Quantitative research is done when subjective formulation of theories has been done in the field of study. The quantitative method of data collection is highly systematized and efficient. The major component of quantitative research is how vague concepts of quantity are measured so that statistical tests can be run on their differences between groups(Manion&Morrison,2000). The qua ntitative data collected is analyzed via statistical databases.If the results of the experiments on the data are significant then it is used to propose a valid hypothesis. Quantitative research of any sample of collected data is systematized and rigorous, which is easier to duplicate and resurrect. The main criticism this method holds is that focuses on one point of the data. Qualitative Method: Miles and Huberman defined Qualitative method as the method that uses words instead of numbers( Miles&Huberman,1994). It is considered â€Å"soft† in regard with quantitative methods of research. Within the vast framework of qualitative research there are numerous methods to compile data and results. Qualitative research is very important in the fields of psychology and anthropology because this method probes in deeper into the data to dig out results, which often cannot be analyzed as thoroughly due to other systematic errors.When data based on quantity comes up, we use traditional q uantitative methodology. However, when researchers are up against data

Human Resource Management methods. Examples Essay

Human Resource Management methods. Examples - Essay Example Similarly, rather than investing money on training money firms are coming up with innovative methods to boost the productivity of their employees. These methods are by giving your employees good working condition, giving them better machinery to work with, increase supervision through the use of modern technology like CCTV, giving them chance of recreational activities and by creating better information flow networks. This is to evaluate the proposed training session on the directive of managing director according to the letter which HR department received on 12 April 2007. The reference number for this letter was "xHRMD". We will evaluate this training session under following techniques: As I told you in our meeting that training and development represent a planned effort by an organization to facilitate its employees learning new job related behaviors. Training usually involves involve two things, a) it involves teaching how to do their job efficiently that is taking less times in the tasks they do, and b) it involves teaching the employees skills necessary not only for present job but also to prepare them for future jobs. However, as managing director has said that the training session is going to improve the morale of the company, this may be wrong as training session might not improve the morale of the employees as many business managers believe that it is nothing but rewards that improve the motivation level of the employees.1 Motivation basically is the when employees are feeling happy and are satisfied with their jobs. The MD of the company might argue that when employees know how to do their work well they may be happy and satisfied. But the argument given b y the managing director might not always be right. Suppose, the employees are working in their present job from decades and know each every thing about the job and know how to do their job well, so one might say that teaching them might not motivate them. However, what will motivate them in the current scenario is good pay or financial security, job security and other needs as suggested by one of the management guru Maslow. Maslow argued that there are levels of motivation and after each level is fulfilled there is a need to fulfill another one to motivate the workers. Suppose, when a person joins the work, at that time he will not have that much money and might need more money to build property and life. At that point, he believes, that money will be the best motivator. You pay your workers well and they will be motivated. Once he has achieved the level of financial security he'll move on to the other level. Now he might want job security i-e he will not want promotion in job and k nowing that he will not be fired. Now these factors will become his motivating

The Indian Middle Class History Essay

The Indian Middle Class History Essay Is there something known as the Indian middle class? How does it manifest itself in everyday India? Illustrate through Santosh Desais Mother Pious Lady. It is very tough to explain the contours that define the Indian middle class. Being in the middle is not a easy thing always as there are two conflicting forces that keep on pulling this middle towards itself. One is the rich, upper class, the elites whose lifestyles symbolise the new dawn of the country. The other is the seemingly poor, lower class which is routinely dismissed as the underbelly. But in Indias case, there definitely exists a middle class which is thriving and is a growing force for every aspect of the country society, culture, politics, market and even cinema. Santosh Desai, through his book Mother Pious Lady, shares this sentiment as he reflects on how the middle class has been negotiating with the seemingly innocuous but defining changes in their culture, thinking and lifestyles. This essay, through some anecdotes from Santosh Desais book and insights of some other thinkers, aims to emphasize the fact that something like a middle class is very much a part of India s structure and manifests itself in every day India. For the current generation, the concept of a middle class seems to be a fairly recent one. But then probably, the middle class was always there in the Indian history in some way or the other. A proto-middle class existed in India much before the British period, consisting of petty officials, shopkeepers, master craftsmen, priests and scribes. But they were not a middle class in the modern sense. Soon, the ideas of Industrial Revolution found their way into British India as well. Social values were transformed by the efforts of reformers like Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. At the same time, the growing use of the English language provided access to technological, political and cultural innovations of the West. Thus, the Indian middle class was born.  [1]   After independence, started the process of formation of a new lifestyle and image for the middle class the existing middle class of before independence; gained more resources for themselves and moved into the position of the new elites of the new, independent India. With the growth of public sector jobs in the 50s and 60s, came about the growth of a new middle class. As Sanjeev Sanyal puts it, In turn, it created a whole generation of middle-class children who grew up together in housing colonies and with a shared experience Chitrahaar on Doordarshan, the Fiat or scooter that was replaced by the Maruti 800, and the unending sequence of exams. It also led to a culture of sharing with each other. Sociologist Shiv Visvanathan provides an insight, What made the middle- class of the time different was the way it wove together scarcity, memory and boredom. The public sector socialism of the time with its ritual of ration cards created a world of limits. One did not starve but one subsisted on little. The one thing socialism created was the world of boredom as a commons. One shared each others boredom. The 70s and 80s gave a shape to the faint contours of the middle class which had risen in the 60s. The culture of the middle class was now also more consumption based and provided the image of the middle class which we now seem to identify with. Santosh Desai describes these pangs of growing consumption through anecdotes on how sending a 2-word telegram was all it took to convey well-being, how stainless steel utensils acted identifiers of a certain modernity that was newly acquired. Raja Menon provides another insight, Families moved into quarters designated Type 2 A, 14B/43 of Phase 1. All appliances-a radio, BW TV, a stereo, refrigerator and mixie-were displayed in the drawing room and the whole neighbourhood dropped in to watch Chitrahaar.  [2]   The 90s are heralded as the era of the middle class which the marketers chased. Liberalisation opened up new avenues for the middle class. When India opened up in 1991, the big attraction for marketers both national and global was the big Indian middle class estimated to be anywhere between 300 to 400 million and growing.  [3]   Anuradha Goyal documents the pangs of transition for the moderate 80s to the ambitious 90s for the middle class, They (middle class) lived in their own world where they had enough for their basic needs but nothing for their desires. Then came the famous economic reforms of early 90s and it changed the Indian middle class forever. People in the upper echelons of the society probably always had everything, and for the people in the lower rung things have still not have changed much except probably a mobile phone in the hand. But the middle class suddenly had more resources than they were used to. They could now afford to buy houses at a much younger age, cars almost at the beginning of their work lives, clothes and shoes without waiting for a wedding to happen in the family. Psychologically, for people who grew up in 70s and early 80s, the change was tremendous, while their growing up was in the era of scarcity they landed up in the era of abundance without really making a proportionate effort. They embraced the change but also had to deal with their roots that lie in another age. As a class they also became the focus segment for many product and service offerings. They were not used to and had to learn to deal with this sudden attention. During the 90s and beyond, the level of middle class got a raise, a raise which was quite different from that of the upper or lower class. As Madhukar Sabnavis puts the query, In any society, people want to move up in life and there is continuous push for every group to move up. Simultaneously, the people on the top have the urge to do better to distance themselves from the rest. So, to define a middle class by income earned is always possible. And to affix a number to it is equally easy, once the arithmetic is done. But is this actually the middle class and whats special about this class? Why is this group so special to everyone sociologists, marketers and administrators? Economically, the 90s defined the middle class in terms of its earnings and the subsequent spending or to say differently, the consumption. This new middle class worked hard to rise from the bottom, bringing with it a nouveau-rich mentality that some Indians consider vulgar. Today, Indias middle class is one of the largest in the world, equal in some estimates to the population of the United States. The economic reforms started in the early 1990s have spurred an annual growth rate exceeding 7%, with especially rapid growth in the middle class. Projecting that growth rate into the future, Indias income will double every ten years. Within a generation almost 50% of Indias people could become middle class and poverty could diminish to 15%. In line with this growth, the Indian middle class is developing an appetite for telephones, cars, televisions, clothes, refrigerators and other consumer goods.  [4]   This economic rise of the middle class also gave a new direction to the cultural mores which have now come to define the middle class in India Sabnavis again gives an insight, Once unshackled, its not surprising that the Indian middle class felt liberated to enjoy and spend in the last two decades. Integrity is a relic of the Gandhian/scarcity era. Means justify the ends has always been the Indian principle of living Krishna and Chanakya are the cultural icons of this. Jugaad has always been part of our lives. No doubt, words like jugaad, fixing, contacts have invariably crept into the lingo of the average middle class guy. Another quite peculiar identifier of this new middle class culture has been the fixation with English. Puts Vikram V. Garg  [5]  ,Knowledge of English, together with mass media and the internet puts middle India in a very interesting position. It is in some sense, pre-western. The combination of comfort with English, combined with the relatively liberal political and media environment of India, is resulting in a huge American influence on this middle class. Also contributing are the increasingly strong people to people links between America and India. The middle class is thus developing aspirations that are in line with this psuedo-western mindset. It seems that for now these aspirations are mostly consumerish and professional, not political. But the most defining feature of this middle class has been the fact that despite moving up the ladder in the consumption chain, it has not lost view of its traditions which does appear contrasting but is the path chosen. Says Rowena Robinson, The modernity of the middle class does not enter the realm of the mind. Perpetuating patriarchal and hierarchical notions and reaffirming stereotypical gender roles are seen as commitment to tradition. Being liberal is epitomised as consumption and spending.  [6]   Santosh Desai also emphasizes on a related aspect in Mother Pious Lady. He analyses this through the term ritual reality The penchant for symbolic action finds its pinnacle when it comes to finding a method to punish inactionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the institution of the suspension is an inspired oneà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Most suspensions are liftedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and often with retrospective effectà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Overall, it seems to reflect a lack of belief in the ability of any person to materially alter the world through individual actionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ we place thinking on a higher pedestal over action, seeing the latter as a lower order activity compared to the former. Another way to see this middle class is through the silver screen. The depiction of middle class in films has kept pace with the changing aspirations of the middle class itself. As Alam Srinivas puts it, Nationalism is not just about geographies, politics and social upheavals. Its also about economics, in the context of the evolution of the middle class-the intellectual-ideological force behind the nation-building exercise. Over decades, as various pressures transformed it, the middle class forced the country to alter its socio-politico-economic vision. And Hindi cinema has, through the decades, tracked all these changes.  [7]   Madhava Prasad refers to a certain tendency in popular Hindi cinema of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He says that this set of films à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦was addressed to the subject, the individual in society, faced with the struggle for existence, the locus of desires, fears and hopes  [8]  . He refers to this as the middle class cinema. The cinema of 1970s 1980s reflected the middle class as a section of society in transition and in that transition, going against the system and leading to a resultant angst the angry young man image as a symbol for the same films like Zanjeer, Deewar, Laawaris, Shaktià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Films like Ardha Satya and Aakrosh showed the undirected middle-class anger, discontent and confusion during those days in the 1970s and 1980s. The rise of economically empowered middle class in the 1990s gave a new image to be projected by popular media. In an article World Cinema: Bollywood forced to go mainstream? Iain Ball says -The highly educated middle and upper classes in India, once embarrassed at being westernized and for speaking and thinking in English, are feeling confident in their sense of identity and their language for the first time. Theres a whole audience one can target that wasnt there 10 or 15 years ago. This is a new money class.  [9]   As Neha Chadha points out, This also explains the sudden emergence and dissemination of a certain set of images that not only repeatedly appear in Hindi cinema but also float all around us on television, newspapers, hoardings, posters, etc. and create a matrix, of which we have now become a part. All sorts of consumer items fill the frame cars, phones, television sets, microwave ovens, designed interiors and increasingly they became a part of the narrative and sometimes even became the very tools to carry the narrative forward. This larger trend of media images that surrounds us is an ever-expanding universe of merchandise, shopping malls and the new media, and each, in its own way, naturalizes this image culture.  [10]   Thus emerged a new romantic form which was definitely different from that of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was definitely not situated in the middle class. The romantic cinema of the late 1980s and early 1990s was about the urban youth who spend incessantly on food, clothes and entertainment, an image which continues to be projected even now. As Santosh Desai describes it, The Hero of today is changing, albeit slowly. His clothes are more normal and he woos his woman less roughly, but in many ways he is the same. As a society we still need our Heroes (sic) to do six impossible things before the first song in Switzerland. He must not appear ordinary, for we still have too much of that commodity going around in our own lives. As Chadha reasons, Even though the middle class exists in an enormous number as the principal consumers of these films, it is visually absent in them because it now begins to identify itself with a different class this identification occurs at the level of aspirations. Hence the paradox, the middle class can now not be associated with these images even though they could afford these objects or the lifestyle shown in these films. It is precisely this middle class that is the focus of Santosh Desais book, Mother Pious Lady. Desai dips into the world of media, Hindi films, relatives and jobs to paint a very accurate picture of India prior to liberalisation and in the early period after it. There are uncanny observations about the way Indian middle class has gone about living its life during this time.  [11]   For example, he offers an interesting insight about women travelling in DTC buses which some 20-22 years back, was the preferred mode of travel for the middle class The bus would wait for her arrival if needed to and the crowd would part to allow her to sit in the seat reserved for her. The relationship with the driver was never remotely improper; there was rarely any conversation or even an overt acknowledgement; it remained an unspoken pact between the driver and his muse. Desai offers his take on the changing aspirations of Indians, the dilemmas that come along with sweeping changes post liberalisation, and the historical baggage we carry. What we called middle class values were in reality nothing more than the whole protocol of actions we developed to deal with insufficiency with diginity and graceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ A comrade of our needs, an enemy of our desires, this tightness of hand was accompanied by a value system that sought to minimise the acknowledgement of the role that desire played in our lives. He documents the huge shift the middle class has seen from stainless steel to the postcard, the blue used to whiten our clothes, the all-important crease in the trouser, unannounced (now unthinkable) visitors, the Bajaj scooter, the thali, even the pickle. Money used to be hard to come by, but joy wasnt The Maruti, which has been a symbol of the middle class living for quite some time, has been described by Desai like this For most of us, who were born in the middle class only to die there, the car was a border we could not imagine crossing à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the Maruti compressed the promise of consumerismà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ andà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ flung the doors of aspiration wide openà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The auto rickshaw, which is also a symbol of middle class transport, has been very amply described The autos appeal comes from its ability to provide a real luxury; it offers us the power of individualised motorised transport. When one hires an auto one is placing a value on ones own time. Rather than wait for public transport, an auto is hailed and ones precise destination is reached. The autorickshaws implicit deal with us is that while it gives us this wonderful luxury, in return it strips everything else in the experience that could remotely reek of luxury à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ It is both deeply comforting and dissatisfying. It captures the variable and uneven nature of life in India that is not too poor to have no choices, yet not so affluent that it can take life for granted à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ It reaffirms and gives substance to the Indian belief that life may be hard but there is always a way. The politics of speedbreaker are also a feature of his analysis, We may or may not build great roads, but we sure know how to build great speedbreakers à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The speedbreaker exists to defeat the purpose of the road. Motorised traffic became possible because of the macadamisation of roads and the speedbreaker is tarmacs revenge on itself à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ But there is a larger need that drives us to put up so many of these speedbreakers. At some level we are afraid of speed and the distance that gets created between those speeding and the rest of us. The speedbreaker is the political front, the battle line that marks the tussle between those with the means to speed and the othersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Desai on those ubiquitous badges carefully bestowed on organizers at puja mandals and Lions Club felicitations: The badge is a quasi-uniform converting disconnected people into a cadre. The badge converts a lower division clerk into an officer bristling with disappointmentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and a housewife into a despot with untrammelled powers. Whats the way ahead for this thriving, captivating middle class? Desai discusses how the Indian middle class is emerging from the folds of its past, thereby requiring fresh analysis. This transition, is still ongoing the middle class will become a stronger social force five years from now, with a more nuanced worldview. Rajdeep Sardesai documents this insight, The middle class, especially the more affluent sections, have dramatically shifted their priorities and become more self-centred than ever before. A credit card induced, acquisitive culture has meant that tomorrow is dispensable, what matters is the here and now. As long as an endless cycle of consumption is not significantly altered, there seems little empathy for the daily wage labourer who is struggling to survive. Double digit inflation is just a statistic, not a overwhelming concern.  [12]   Finally Madhukar Sabnavis has this prediction for the middle class, As India evolves, it appears the middle class, as we have known it in the second half of the 20th century, is disappearing. Across India, people are looking to better their lives materially and moving up the acquisition chain demanding more, wanting better products and living richer lives. Indian cultural values, however, will not disappear as people move up. Desire and values can and will coexist and its important for sociologists to accept it and live with it rather than bemoan it.

Scarlet Letter :: Free Essay Writer

Scarlet Letter For Every Action There is a Reaction: the Affects of Sin in The Scarlet Letter According to Webster ¡Ã‚ ¯s Collegiate Dictionary, sin is defined as an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible. The average person would agree that it is only in human nature to sin. Therefore the severity of such transgressions is diluted with that simple justification. However, the less frequently discussed and oftentimes the more important issue is the effects of a man or woman ¡Ã‚ ¯s sin. Nathaniel Hawthorne ¡Ã‚ ¯s The Scarlet Letter revolves around the single theme of the unforgivable, adulterous sin which affects Hester Prynne, Pearl, and Roger Chillingworth to their very cores. First, because of this unforgivable sin, Hester was forced to live as the social outcast for the rest of her days. Hester makes her first public appearance clad in the scarlet letter when she first emerges out of the cold dark prison. It is described as  ¡Ã‚ °so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom ¡Ã‚ ± (37). Hawthorne continues to say  ¡Ã‚ °It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and enclosing her in a sphere by herself ¡Ã‚ ± (37). Since the scarlet letter symbolizes sin, it is the ultimate source of social isolation for her. Hester is in a sphere of her own where her sin affects her livelihood and has completely isolated her from the world. The prison marks the beginning of a new life for Hester; a life filled with coping with consequences. Guilt is a consequence of sin that Hester must endure throughout her life, which also begins to have a profound effect on her life and thinking. Then, Pearl evolved into the very manifestation of Hester ¡Ã‚ ¯s sin. Pearl is not just a passive reminder of Hester ¡Ã‚ ¯s terrible deed; on the contrary, she is active in the role of torturing her mother. From the very beginning she drives to cause Hester to suffer.  ¡Ã‚ °But that first object of which Pearl seemed to become aware was--shall we say it?--the scarlet letter on Hester's bosom! ¡Ã‚ ± (66). This small movement of the baby ¡Ã‚ ¯s hand causes immense amounts of pain in Hester. Then, when Pearl is older she  ¡Ã‚ °she amused herself with gathering handfuls of wild-flowers, and flinging them, one by one, at her mother's bosom; dancing, up and down, like a little elf, whenever she hit the scarlet letter ¡Ã‚ ± (67). Hester begins to wonder if Pearl really is a demon ¡Ã‚ ¯s offspring  ¡Ã‚ °through the agency ¡Ã‚ ± of her sin.

Transforming the Influence of the Media on our Lives

Our goal in this publication is to help our readers lay a foundation for transforming the influence of the media on their lives. It is in all of our interests to critically assess, rather than mindlessly accept, news media pronouncements. Our hope is that we can aid readers to become more independent, insightful, and critical in responding to the content of news media messages and storiesIf objectivity or fairness in the construction of news stories is thought of as equivalent to presenting all the facts and only the facts (â€Å"All the news that’s fit to print†), objectivity and fairness is an illusion.No human knows more than a small percentage of the facts and it is not possible to present all the facts (even if one did know them). It isn’t even possible to present all the important facts, for many criteria compete for determining what is â€Å"impor- tant. †We must therefore always ask,â€Å"What has been left out of this article? †Ã¢â‚¬Å"What would I think if different facts had been highlighted here? †Ã¢â‚¬Å"What if this article had been written by those who hold a point of view opposite to the one embedded in the story as told?†For example, people commonly consider facts to be important to the extent that they have significant implications for them personally: Is any given event going to affect what they want, how much is it going to cost them, how is it going to influence their income, their living conditions, their leisure, their convenience? How some given event is going to affect others, especially others far away and out of sight, is quite another matter. There is therefore a large divergence among the news media of the world as to what is presented as â€Å"significant† in the world.

Limited Power of the People

Man's destiny is at his own hands. Certainly true nowadays for most people, but there was a time when, and presently in some areas where, people do not decide their own destiny. Destiny of those people was decided upon by their masters or their rulers. In the early modern period (1500's – 1700's) most people do not have the luxury to choose their own path. Take for example the Africans and the people under some monarch. During this time, Africans were compelled to be slaves and imported to Europe and America. While in the case of people under monarchy, their laws are under the authority of their ruler. According to the True Law of Free Monarchies written by James I of England, the king is responsible for the whole land and his subjects. He is the master of every individual residing in his kingdom. He had the power over the life and death of his people. In a monarch, rules and laws made by the king were crafted at his followers' advise or proposal but it is still subjected to the king's discretion on what to implement when times arises. His authority solely made these laws official. Implementation or revoking of certain laws or policies is within his bounds alone. The people are put to oath to be loyal followers of their king and his predecessors. Generally, a king's subject has a sort of liberty as long as they follow the rules of the land and whatever the king wishes them to do. Most of the kings give very harsh punishment to those persons who do not follow his orders. The king is not bound to anything except his conscience and his goodwill to his subjects. As for the slaves, they do not have the conveniences savored by the followers of the king. They absolutely do not have the freedom to do their own will. Slaves were commonly captives or prisoners of war. The victors, rather than killing them, prefer to make use of them or profit from them. Later on, slavery was brought about by racial discrimination. Slavery trade soon flourished when civilization progressed. They use/bought these slaves for the manpower needed to produce the needs of their people, especially for doing arduous tasks. They were usually traded in exchange for money, foods, goods or ammunitions. The slaves were usually kept inside the cages or tied around a tree. According to Bosman, the slaves were first examined by a physician before they purchase them. All those handicapped were set aside, only the physically fit ones were bought. They were also branded for easy identification of their buyers. With regards to food during the voyage, the slaves were fed thrice a day, the food much better than the food that they were eating at their place according to Bosman. Their sleeping area is divided per gender. One part is designated for men, the other is for women. They usually lie very close to each other because they are usually crowded due to the large number of slaves shipped. Majority of the slaves were treated poorly and cruelly by their masters. Very seldom will you find masters that are good to their slaves. Some who are lame were beaten to death. Slaves were not allowed to marry their masters or mistresses but there are some secret relationships that transpired. The world of these people was very limited especially the slaves. They do everything that was asked by their master or ruler and they do not have the right to complain. Some even kill themselves when told to do so by their masters. Their lives were literally on their master's hands. Over time, slavery trade dwindled down because of some resistance and laws enacted upon by humane individuals, monarchy had also been lax with their subject. But if you look around, the idea of slavery or ruling over somebody has not been totally obliterated, some people still do not have the power to choose their own destiny. In the present years, slavery is not so obvious. Though it still exists but it operates discreetly. It is demonstrated by ruling class or rich people by using their money power to influence and dictate the lives of the poor. They have all the power to manipulate them, a discreet demonstration of slavery. Works Cited Page Bosman, Willem. A. A New and Accurate Description of the Coast of Guinea Divided into the Gold, the Slave, and the Ivory Coasts. http://www.cambridge.org/resources/0521808944/3355_WiesnerHanks%20ch13%20sources.pdf James I. True Law of Free Monarchies. http://www.thenagain.info/Classes/Sources/JamesI.html Lain, Zachary. All Men Are Created Equal: Or Are They? The Triangular Slave Trade. http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/museum/programs/historyfair/Lain.pdf ;