Discuss the Ethnicity, Race in new cinema and how these elements Essay

Discuss the Ethnicity, Race in new cinema and how these elements represent the culture identity in new cinema - Essay Example Countless movies have been made that placed the white race concept atop the pedestal. This is apparent in many genre, setting and context. Films strengthen the existing prevailing social concepts (Kellner, 1995, as cited in Brayton, n.d.) that refer to a middle class white heterosexual male as the normative figure (Brayton, n.d.). The concept of race is a social construction and originally defined by western people. The general notion brought by this concept is that the white people are superior over those with colored skin. This prevailed during the colonization period where the colonizers were white people. Whiteness reached its peak after the colonial era though (Lopez, 2005). Thus, having colonized lands with black people, the latter were treated as inferior and were made slaves. The same treatment is accorded to people with brown skin. The concept of whiteness was perpetuated even after colonialism as desirable and utilized to repress and marginalize the others (Lopez, 2005). Th e concept of â€Å"personal whiteness† referred to by W.E.B. Du Bois has been readily and systematically accepted by groups which were â€Å"racialized, enslaved, conquered and colonized,† but who regard â€Å"white power and white pretense† as critical concerns (Towards a Bibliography 2006, p. 5). Although numerous groups are working to counter this unequal social construct, there are still segments in society as well as individuals who retained such white supremacy notion. Even those not belonging to organized groups, their individual attitude towards colored people show antagonism or disgust. Individuals who do not belong to the whiteness group are categorized as belonging to the â€Å"other† (Performing Whiteness n.d.). The concept of race can be found in many cultural materials such as stories, narratives, habits, etc. and perpetuated in cinema (Critical Race Theory 2011). Although socially constructed, race has been institutionalized in the US throu gh systematic and deliberate actions, thus creating social structures and consequences (Lipsitz, 1995). In cinema, race is constructed continually as a performance and â€Å"understood as a set of cultural tastes,† but not in relation to biological or cultural existence (Brayton, n.d., p. 63). The lifestyle of the rich upper class whiteness is portrayed as the proper norm (Johnson and Roediger, 1997, as cited in Brayton, n.d.). It is played around the concept of consumer choice (Brayton, n.d.). Academic debates on race focus on cultural identity, the roots of the group, and how members see themselves as a cultural group (Bernardi, n.d.). Identity does not remain the same. It undergoes continuous change and transformation (Hall, 1989, as cited in Bernardi, n.d.). White dominance as a performance is aptly described by Orwell (1936 as cited in Lopez, 2005) in saying that by wearing a mask, the face grows to fit with it. Shifting Focus of Whiteness Racial formation, according to Omi and Howard (1994, as cited in Bernardi, n.d.), is a divide grounded on cultural and physiognomic parameters that tells who should have access to institutions. Racial formation changes like identity (Bernardi, n.d.). During the early developments in cinema, the concept of race was dominated by social Darwinism and eugenics wherein humanity is placed in a â€Å"hierarchy of human cultures and histories† with the Anglo-Saxons at the top, followed by the other Caucasians, the

Sustainable Practise journals Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sustainable Practise journals - Assignment Example In the context of value, the journal has provided five major efforts that have a major influence on individuals shaping their sustainable position. In this regard, the five major attributes include the historical chronology, taxonomy of sustainable developmental goals, the earth charter, millennium declaration, and continuous transitional scenario of the global environment. These efforts are the core factors in terms of setting trends towards sustainable development of values, attitudes and behavioral traits of each human being across the overall natural ecosystem (Leiserowitz et al., 2004). According to my understanding, I would like to mention that historical chronology along with different transitional stages is the core factors shaping attitude and behavioral skills of individuals. I believe that the changes in developmental goals are often influenced by different chronological facts. Moreover, I think that the severe changes in development of a global economy along with socio-cu ltural aspects also have a major influence on building effective behavioral skills and attitude for long term sustainability. In relation to the present day context, different scholars have provided numerous definitions and have described the impact of major factors that have a profound influence on shaping human attitude and behavioral skills over the various transition stages. In addition, the increasing pace of globalization along with the unabated fluctuation of the socioeconomic and political trends also has a similar impact towards changing the attitude and behavioral skills of the individuals (Rogerson et al., n.d.). With respect to the view of the scholars, I conjure that changing cultural aspects in terms of conserving continuous development in the living standards along with the unabated external forces are few of the key driving forces behind the major changes in the individuals’ attitude and

Economics Commentary- Prices of onions jumped yesterday, buoyed by a ban by India on the export of the item Essay Example for Free

Economics Commentary- Prices of onions jumped yesterday, buoyed by a ban by India on the export of the item Essay Prices of onions jumped yesterday, buoyed by a ban by India on the export of the item, traders said. The price of onions rose to Tk 36-45 a kilogram yesterday from Tk 32-42 on Thursday in markets in Dhaka, according to Trading Corporation of Bangladesh. The wholesale prices of onions also rose. â€Å"There is a lack in the supply of onions in the market. Those who are still hoarding stocks are reluctant to sell as well,† said Idris Ahmed, owner of a wholesale store, Dhaka Baniyalaya at Shyambazar. He said onions were selling at Tk 35-36 a kilogram at the wholesale market of Shyambazar yesterday. Prices went up since Friday afternoon, after news of the ban by India, said Ahmed. The prices of locally produced onions also rose, influenced by the move by India, he added. This is the second time in less than a year that India restricted onion exports to curb the hike in prices, according to Indian news reports. On September 8, an Indian ministerial panel banned onion exports following a steep rise in prices, reports Reuters, quoting Food Minister KV Thomas. The restriction came in effect on Friday. â€Å"We will review the ban every fortnight, said Thomas. Bangladesh meets much of its local demand for onions by importing it from the neighbouring country. Since Saturday, 80 onion-laden trucks entered Bangladesh till yesterday afternoon, our Chapainawabganj correspondent reports. No shipment took place at the Bhomra Land Port yesterday. The trucks carrying onions that came to the Ghojadanga Land Port on the Indian side returned without shipment, our Sathkhira correspondent reports. Babul Hasnat Durul, an onion importer at Sona Masjid, said their suppliers are not shipping onions against the previously placed orders by Bangladeshi importers. â€Å"We are worried. If onions are not exported against the already opened letters of credit (LCs), we will incur losses,† said Durul. The LCs came to a halt following the ban on exports, said Islam of the C F Agents Association. The disruption in supply from India led to the hike in the prices of locally produced onions, said Mohammad Aminul Islam, an onion wholesaler at Karwan Bazar. He bought a 40 kilogram bag of onions from Pabna on Saturday at Tk 1,450, he said. Prices for the same stood at Tk 1,300-1,350 last week, he added. This article talks about the rise in onion prices that has happened in Bangladesh due to a shortage of onion. The shortage is due to the restriction on onion exports imposed by the Indian government. This has resulted in a decrease in supply (the amount of a commodity that sellers are willing and able to sell at different prices) resulting in price rise. Price of onion in the market is determined by the demand (the amount of a commodity that consumers are willing and able to buy at different prices) for and the supply of onions. Initially the market was equilibrium (this is the point where demand is equal to supply) at point E where at P* price Q* amount was purchased and sold. Due to the ban imposed by the Indian government on exports of onions, the supply of onions in the Bangladesh market has decreased substantially. This is because Bangladesh relies on imports of onions from neighboring countries for the supply in its domestic market The decrease in supply will shift the supply curve to the left from S to S1. This will result in a new equilibrium E1 with a higher equilibrium price. As the article says that the â€Å"price of onion rose to Tk 36-45 a kilogram from Tk 32-42 The higher onion prices will reduce the quantity demanded and people with limited income or low income will have to switch to the available substitutes (goods which satisfy the same wants) like radish. Also industries like restaurants which use onions as inputs will experience an increase in the cost of produced and will be forced to increase price to keep profits constant. The Indian government’s decision to restrict exports of onions will increase the supply of onion in the Indian market. This will result in lower onion prices in India, and hence Indian consumers will benefit. On the other hand onion being a necessary commodity will have an inelastic demand (when for a certain percentage change in price, the quantity demanded will change less than proportionate.) Higher prices in onion will result in a greater expenditure of households and hence Bangladeshi consumers will be the losers. The Bangladeshi farmers and traders who have onion stocks will gain from the higher prices. The Bangladesh government may have to impose a subsidy (payment by government to producers of goods and services either to increase supply or reduced cost) or maximum prices (price imposed below equilibrium price through legislation by the government to protect the interest of consumers) in order to control the onion prices. Provision of subsidy will result in a greater government expenditure which will have an opportunity cost (the next best alternative for government) in terms of various welfare services which need to be sacrificed. Imposition of maximum prices will result in greater shortages and may increase the problem. In order to deal with this situation the government of Bangladesh may resort to import onion from other countries which have surplus. However this is only a short run solution (time period during which at least one factor of production cannot be changed) solution to deal with the immediate prices. Imports will increase supply and thereby reduced price of this commodity and benefit the Bangladeshi households. To deal with this problem in the long run (time period where all factors become variable) the Bangladeshi government should encourage greater domestic production of onion. This can be done by giving subsidy’s to onion producers or spreading awareness to popularise onion production. The government should also try and reduce onion hoarding by traders in Bangladesh market. Hoarding is an illegal activity and the government should be vigilant to stop this. The government also need to improve infrastructure facilities like irrigation, transportation and storage facilities to reduce the fluctuation in the supply of agricultural goods. The government can also build a buffer stock (a stock of essential food grain and strategic materials held by government to deal with unforced seen events) of essential food grains to reduce the fluctuations in the prices of agricultural products like onions. However all this involves a lot of government expenditure which may result in higher government borrowing and greater taxes.

An Overview Of Varanasi Tourism Essay

An Overview Of Varanasi Tourism Essay Varanasi Varanasi, also commonly known as Banaras or Kashi is one of the holiest cities in India and is situated in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city is situated on the west bank of the river Ganga and is one of the oldest, continually inhabited city in the world. Significance Varanasi is believed to have been established by Lord Shiva about 5000 years ago and, in addition to being one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the city has long been a centre of religion and spiritualism. The city of Varanasi finds a mention in ancient Hindu religious texts and scriptures like the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, Rigveda amongst others. It is holy shrine of Lord Kashi Vishwanath, a manifestation of Lord Shiva and was here that Gautam Buddha was born and Varanasi is perhaps one of the few holy cities that enjoys a revered position among devouts of Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Attractions Over the years, the city of Varanasi has earned several sobriquets, the city of temples, the city of lights and the city of learning. No wonder then, Varanasi is home to several temples, however, most of these places of worship were destroyed by pillaging Muslim armies of Mahmud of Ghazni and Mohammad Ghori. Varanasi is also home to over one hundred ghats scattered along the banks of river Ganga. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple: This temple was built in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar and encloses the holy Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva and is said that a view of this Jyotirlinga is makes for a very profound spiritual awakening. The temple is a magnificent piece of architecture and is adorned by ornate carvings. Intricate carvings can also be seen on the dome that is the roof of this temple. Durga Temple: Is another temple of worship and is presided over by Goddess Durga. The temple is home to a large number of monkeys who can be found wandering around in the courtyard and the Durga kund, a small tank near the temple and is therefore, sometimes referred to as Monkey Temple. The temple built in the 18th century is a classic example of the Nagara style of architecture. The Sankat Mochan Temple: The Sankat Mochan temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is one of the popular temples in Varanasi. This temple, unfortunately, was also the site of a vicious terrorist attack but that failed to diminish the faith of the devotees who still throng to this temple in large numbers to pay obeisance to Hanuman. Other Attractions Varanasi is also home to over hundred ghats located along the banks of the Ganga. By day, these ghats witness frantic activity of devotees wanting to take a dip in the holy waters and by evening, these ghats turn into a magnificent spectacle of lights it is here that the Ganga aarti is performed in the evening. How to Reach Varanasi has its own airport, the Babatpur airport, that is about 25 km from the city centre. The city is well connected by rail and road with other cities in India.

Essay --

Brian Daniels March 12, 2014 Heart of Darkness In Heart of Darkness, Conrad presents us with two classes of â€Å"darkness†. The savage nature of the natives and the brutality of European imperialism, asking which of the two is the greater evil. In the beginning of the novel, Conrad establishes his thoughts on imperialism through the main character Marlow. The idea of â€Å"darkness† is emphasized from the title of the novel, and continues to play an important role throughout the story. Darkness governs almost everything in the novel. The secluded and harsh attitudes Europeans held towards the native’s increases the darkness throughout the novel. Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, is based on the historical period of imperialism in order to describe Marlow’s struggle. Marlow is asked by "the company", the organization who he works for, to travel to the Congo River and report back to them about Mr. Kurtz, a top notch officer of theirs. When he first sets sail, he doesn't know what to expect. Marlow's experience in Africa stirs hate at the brutalizing effects of colonialism, a hatred tha...

Turkish Economy Essay examples -- essays research papers

Turkish Economy - Structure and Grwoth At the time of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, the Turkish economy was underdeveloped: agriculture depended on outmoded techniques and poor-quality livestock, and the few factories producing basic products such as sugar and flour were under foreign control. Between 1923 and 1985, the economy grew at an average annual rate of 6 percent. In large part as a result of government policies, a backward economy developed into a complex economic system producing a wide range of agricultural, industrial, and service products for both domestic and export markets. Economic Development At the birth of the republic, Turkey's industrial base was weak because Ottoman industries had been undermined by the capitulations. World War I and the War of Independence (1919-22) also had extensively disrupted the Turkish economy. The loss of Ottoman territories, for example, cut off Anatolia from traditional markets. Agricultural output--the source of income for most of the population--had dropped sharply as peasants went to war. Even the production of wheat, Turkey's main crop, was insufficient to meet domestic demand. In addition, massacres and the emigration of Greeks, Armenians, and Jews, who had dominated urban economic life, caused a shortage of skilled laborers and entrepreneurs. Turkey's economy recovered remarkably once hostilities ceased. From 1923 to 1926, agricultural output rose by 87 percent, as agricultural production returned to prewar levels. Industry and services grew at more than 9 percent per year from 1923 to 1929; however, their share of the economy remained quite low at the end of the decade. By 1930, as a result of the world depression, external markets for Turkish agricultural exports had collapsed, causing a sharp decline in national income. The government stepped in during the early 1930s to promote economic recovery, following a doctrine known as etatism (see Glossary). Growth slowed during the worst years of the depression but between 1935 and 1939 reached 6 percent per year. During the 1940s, the economy stagnated, in large part because maintaining armed neutrality during World War II increased the country's military expenditures while almost entirely curtailing foreign trade. After 1950 the country suffered economic disruptions about once a decade; the most serious crisis occurred in the late... ...h. Structure of the Economy In the years after World War II, the economy became capable of supplying a much broader range of goods and services. By 1994 the industrial sector accounted for just under 40 percent of GDP, having surpassed agriculture (including forestry and fishing), which contributed about 16 percent of production. The rapid shift in industry's relative importance resulted from government policies in effect since the 1930s favoring industrialization (see fig. 8). In the early 1990s, the government aimed at continued increases in industry's share of the economy, especially by means of export promotion. Services increased from a small fraction of the economy in the 1920s to just under half of GDP by 1994. Several factors accounted for the growth of the services sector. Government--already sizable under the Ottomans--expanded as defense expenditures rose; health, education, and welfare programs were implemented; and the government work force was increased to staff the numerous new public organizations. Trade, tourism, transportation, and financial services also became more important as the economy developed and diversified. ________________________________________

Poverty in Bangkok Essay

Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia and the only country in the region which was not touched by colonizers. The Asiarooms. com provided a proof to the common knowledge that name of the country came from the fact that being devoid of colonizer influence means they are free, thus Thailand means land of the free (Thailand population 1st par. ). The country’s population as reported by Asiarooms. com as of 2006 is about 64 million (Thailand population 11th line). Similar to most developing countries in the world, migration of people from rural to urban areas in search for better paying jobs and  opportunities, is a trend in Thailand. Bangkok has been the favorite destination. It is a common belief that westernization and effect of consumerism as seen in television, broadcast and print media provided the inertia and idealism for poor people to move to prime urban center that is Bangkok. According to United Nations poverty yardstick as reported by Stickman, poor people are those whose income is US$1. 00 per day or below. The UN report further stated that as of year 2000, there are about 19 million Thailanders classified as poor and that is about 29. 9% of the total population. These people are the rural dwellers in the provinces of north, west and northeast regions of Thailand (Stickman, â€Å"Poverty† 4th par. ). They are full of hope that they can successfully seek an employment in the city and send part of their wages back to their impoverished families which they left in the rural areas. As they move to the city, it is a normal expectation that most of them will face problems related to descent housing. Majority of them opt to stay with their relatives and friends in slum areas while trying to adjust to the new environment and searching for an employment. Due to the fact that majority of  them are unskilled having come from an agriculture area where rice farming is the dominant livelihood, experience will tell us that the chances are they will get a job which is normally low paying in the informal sector. If the new city dweller is a female, experience will tell that temptation is great to earn money from prostitution and drugs to relieve the tension of psychological worry that their families left behind in the rural area may go hungry. It can be hypothesized that since the new city dweller lack the essential skills and knowledge for a high paying job, majority of them will opt to be added to the ever  increasing slum population of Bangkok. As a sign of progress, others who have tasted the experience of touching money from their services rendered as prostitute or worker in informal sector and not from 2 farming, will opt to get their families back in the rural areas to stay with them in the slum areas amidst the hardship and glaring neon lights in the city. This paper aims to elucidate the plight of rural workers with emphasis on the female gender in urban setting and causes of poverty of slum dwellers in Bangkok. Current Status of Women in Thai Society The Thaiwaysmagazine.com in 2002 revealed that women status in Thailand has come a long to its present stage where the women are supposed to be in the same level of societal standing to men. In the middle 18th century, the wives were considered as material thing that can be possessed and be disposed of anytime. The culture of Thailand even up to this day expect women to go to work like men and at the same time take care of the household, cook food, take of the children and ensure the welfare of family members at all times (â€Å"Women status in Thai society† 1st par). It has been in the social structure in Thailand in the past that woman had to take care of the husband and be obedient to him. Whether born from a high society or not, ladies were still considered inferior to men (â€Å"Social Structure† 1st par. ). Theravada Buddhism is the religion of almost 85% of Thai population (Asiarooms. com, â€Å"Religion† 1st par. ). Buddhism as religion instilled into the mind of Thais the concept of karma. This concept is deeply engrained into the culture of Thais. The doctrine of karma teaches that every human act carries with it a merit and demerit points. The merit makes karma pure and clean while demerit makes karma dirty. Buddhism instilled into the minds of Thai that their life on earth is a process of being born again. When they die, they will be promoted into higher karma if they have no demerit. If their soul is impure due to demerits, they will be reincarnated into a lower form of life, they will undergo punishment and must learn to cleanse their karma (Sexwork. com â€Å"Buddhism and Prostitution† 7th par. ). Furthermore, Buddhists believe that by helping someone and showing gratefulness to their parents, they are purifying their soul leading to clean karma and nirvana, the purest of all souls. It is this belief that ladies since they are viewed lower in status than man under Buddhism ( 10thth par) opt to be prostitutes and sacrifice their virginity and shame just to earn money and give to their parents to redeem themselves and cleanse their karma (9th par. ). On closer analysis, the over-all effect in the long run is dependency of the family to their daughter prostitute for financial support and forgetting to strive harder to earn a descent living. 3 Thus the family remains in poverty all through their lives. Earning much money as prostitute compared  to farming in the rural villages where the ladies originated and at the same time cleansing their karma gave the woman an honorable profession in her own and family’s perception per standard of Buddhism. In totality, up to the present time, we can say that women under the Thai culture as influenced by Buddhism are considered as profitable investment like a material thing and less of a human being under the condition of poverty as experienced by economically deprived rural Thais. The Different Faces of Poverty in Bangkok: Informal Sector, Slum Settlements and Prostitution On closer analysis of an agricultural economy trying to be an industrialized one, the poverty in Bangkok is mainly due to migration of poor rural folks who are less skilled to do urban jobs (Sethuraman 79). This is the reason for majority of them landing into jobs in the informal sector of the economy. Author Mark Kramer in his book â€Å"Dispossesed† argue that jobs in the informal sector in Bangkok are mainly of small scale as the capital investment is also generally minimal (120). The author revealed that the activities are usually conducted without proper approval and recognition from  authorities and as such lack laws and regulations related to worker compensation standard and safety. The major activities include retail trade, transport repair and maintenance, personal and domestic services which include prostitution and small scale manufacturing. The enterprises in informal sector normally employs ten or fewer employees and mostly immediate family members. The work is normally labor intensive and require less skill which explain the rationale for offering a low pay. The workers learn the needed skills on the job and the employer-employee relationship is unwritten  with little or no appreciation of worker rights and industrial relation (121). For this reason, the entry and exit in the informal sector is easier than in the formal sector. The operation of the informal sector work in conjunction with the formal economy and contribute a lot to the economy of Thailand and become integral part of the global economy (122). Despite this fact however, we can conclude that the wages of individual worker is just barely enough for hand to mouth existence of the worker and his family. This is the reason for the ever existence of poverty in Bangkok. The workers of the informal economy live in cramped quarters made out of scrap ply board galvanized iron and used tires and erected by the worker themselves on the land not their own. The 4 concentration of the slum houses in the last 50 years gave rise to a well known squatter community called Klong Toey (Kramer 125). The author revealed that the Klong Toey slum community is populated mostly by rural migrants from Northeast Thailand who came to Bangkok for job opportunities. Being squatters, they constantly face the danger of eviction , their make shift house  dismantled and their properties like television sets and sala sets destroyed and dispossessed due to the fact that they have no legal right to the occupancy of the land (126). For this reason, the slum area don’t receive basic facilities like water, electricity and garbage removal from the government. The make shift shacks are built very close to each other provided with very small lane just enough for a two way walk. The author added that there are some small stores and food lots that sell basic commodities like canned goods, salt and sugar inside the slum area. More than 100,000 people live in the area making it damp  and fishy smell permeates. One thing is very noticeable in Kong Toey and that is the clean maintenance of Buddha shines with fresh flowers daily, a proof that the slum occupants are deeply religious despite their poverty (127). The author added that health problems and poverty goes hand in hand at Klong Toey. Modernization and access to television, radio and print media gave rise to consumerism among rural Thais. The poor people are also hoping that someday they can save money to buy the amenities and luxuries in life. It is an accepted fact that when there is poverty and the strong desire for material thing,  prostitution will surely set in. Reliable sources revealed that prostitution in Bangkok is in an ever increasing trend due to three causes. First, it is promoted by the government, second, prostitution and woman is already interwoven in the Thai culture, third, the practice is indirectly supported by Buddhism, the dominant faith of the Thais. 1. Prostitution is indirectly promoted and encouraged by the government Author Dave in Phoenix reported that the Thai government by virtue of The Entertainment Act of 1996 declared that â€Å"Prostitution is illegal in Thailand. Yet the law is written (even if  enforced) as to protect the activities that bring in so many billions of baht to the economy which supports so many families, women and children, and does little to change the sexual traditional morals of Thailand† (â€Å"Another report on The Entertainment Places Act of 1966† 30th par. ). It can 5 be said that based on the pronouncement of the author, the prohibition is only on paper but is not strictly enforced as doing it will harm the economy. As a support to the fact that the Thai government is encouraging prostitution, Justin Hall, a Master Degree student of Politics of South  and Southeast Asia researched from reliable documents that in 1967, during the Vietnam War, Thailand agreed to provide â€Å"rest and recreation services to American serviceman† (â€Å"International Political Economics† 4th par), thus Thailand in the words of Senator Fulbright agreed to become an â€Å"American brothel†(4th par 4th line). It is a fact that American soldiers need girls and Thailand need dollars. The Vietnam War resulted to injection of about $16 million into the Thai economy annually. The author added that in 1957, there were about 20,000 prostitutes in Thailand but in 1964, when the Americans established seven military bases in the country, the number skyrocketed to 400,000. After the war, the resulting slack in dollar earning was replaced by prostitution dollars from tourism which centered on sexual aspect (3rd par. ). 2. Prostitution is now interwoven in Thai society The practice which can only be done by a sweet and innocent woman is drawn by the prospect of much higher reward than what they could earn in government position, doing unskilled labor in informal sector and in agriculture (Hall, â€Å"Opportunity† 1st par. ). The author reported further that a  study of a Thai sociologist Pasuk Pongpaichit in 1982 for International Labor Organization of UN revealed an estimated income of sex worker to be about 25 times higher than what can be earned in other occupation. The author added that a couple of years work could enable the prostitute family to build a house which can only built out of lifetime savings in rural area of Northeast Thailand. The author claimed that â€Å"Our survey clearly showed that the girls felt they were making a perfectly rational decision within the context of their particular social and economic structure† (â€Å"Opportunity† 3rd par.). This shows that the entire family can be supported by just one prostitute and the entire rural village is made up of such families (â€Å"Opportunity† 1st par. ). It is thus expected that a girl in a family will bring economic fortune to the poor family by working as a prostitute. 3. Prostitution is indirectly supported by Buddhism, the dominant religion of the Thais It was learned earlier from author Dave in Phoenix that Buddhism inculcated into the minds of 6 Thais that our life on earth is a process leading to being reborn or re-incarnated (â€Å"Buddhism and Prostitution† 7th par. ). The good acts to fellow person showing gratitude for what they have done serve as a merit factor leading to a clean karma and ultimately nirvana.. Buddhism propagated the belief that woman is of a lower gender and should not be praised, loved and taken cared of as their natural role is nothing else but of procreation. The girl in the family upon reaching adolescent age is more than willing to be a prostitute, earn money to support her parents and family. The girls are sacrificing for they know that their acts will lead to clean karma and they will be reincarnated to a higher being after death and achieve eternal peace or nirvana. (â€Å"Buddhism and Prostitution† 10th par. ). The foregoing analysis supported by reliable sources points to the fact that prostitution is a product of poverty and the way out is inspired by societal acceptance of the practice ably supported by religious belief. Summary and Conclusion It was proven from the sources consulted, that migration of rural folks from Northeast Thailand to urban Bangkok in search of better paying jobs is the trend in the last three decades. The exodus resulted to more cases of alleviated poverty than reducing it. As a means of fighting poverty, the rural folks while seeking their destiny in Bangkok congregates in informal settlements one of which is the known Klong Toey slum community. In exchange for a low paying job in the informal sector but still better than farming, the new urban dwellers developed within themselves the inherent quality to endure psychological pain and stress from constant threat of eviction and dispossession of the materials they painstakingly bought out of the money coming from sweat and sacrifices. One of the proven ways to seek out of poverty is to be a prostitute. The Thai government although pressured by UN to stop the  practice cannot do anything but indirectly support prostitution for fear of losing precious dollars which help the economy survive. It is a co-incidence that the female gender is being looked at as the one who can do it as it is accepted by society as indirectly influenced by Buddhism. Being the land of the free, Thailand is maintaining its sovereignty in the community of nations and it is only their society and no one else can judge the morality of female prostitution as a way of escaping poverty. Works Cited Dave in Phoenix. â€Å"Legal Status of Prostitution- The Creative Law to bow to Outside Pressure Yet  Preserve Traditions and Economic Advantages to Families† Sexwork Cyber Center. 1999. 23 April 2009 Dave in Phoenix. â€Å"The Influence Of Thai Buddhism on Prostitution: Traditional Acceptance / Encouragement vs. Modern Reform Views. Sexwork Cyber Center. 1999. 23 April 2009 Hall, Justin. â€Å"Prostitution in Thailand and Southeast Asia†. 1998. 23 April 2009 Kramer, Mark. Dispossesed. New York: Orbis Books, 2006 Sarutta. â€Å"Women’s Status in Thai Society† Thaiwaysmagazine.com. 10 September 2002. 23 April 2009 http://www. thaiwaysmagazine. com/thai_article/1911_thai_women_status/thai_women_status. html Sethuraman, S. V. The urban informal sector in Asia: an annotated bibliography. Geneva: International Labor Organization, 1992. Stickman, L. â€Å"Thailand-Population, Poverty and Prostitution†. Stickman’s guide to Bangkok. 23 April 2009 < http://www. stickmanbangkok. com/reader/reader291. html> â€Å"Thailand Population â€Å"AsiaRooms. com. 23 April 2009. 23 April 2009. http://www. asiarooms. com/travel-guide/thailand/thailand-overview/thailand-population. html