Students' Column
Effect of Popular Culture on Treatment of Women by Society
Lots has been said and written on how women are treated by society and how societal behaviour has been influenced by various factors. So far, I have not come across any paper, article or book that has really scrutinised popular cultures. At least-if I am right- not till now.
There are many, many songs in the wide world and of course, it is not possible to analyse all of them so perhaps I might limit my examples to my 32 giga byte music library.
Let me start with a new favourite from Telugu hit film Baadshah- the heroine serenades the hero singing-“whether you beat me or scold me you’re still the one I love”- what kind of message do these lyrics send to the masses as they listen to these songs? Positive vibes regarding spousal abuse, women as the weaker sex who will put up with anything and overall simply anti-woman. Another song from Tamil hit film Thuppakki where the boyfriend is called “smart and sexy” and the girlfriend is referred to as “hot and spicy”. Is it so difficult to refer to females as something other than hot, spicy or any other such synonyms? Let’s go north and take the example of Hindi item song Fevicol Se- where Kareena refers to herself as grilled chicken and invites the hero to take a bite? Is such objectifying of women wise especially under the recent pathetic, horrifying circumstances of women all over India?
Another issue would be the dialogues in the movies, which stereotypes women, and many are downright insulting. I’ll be using a familiar example- in Baadshah- the hero delivers a hate speech where he says that what’s ruining India isn’t the corruption and the 2G or 3G- but a single G which stands for girls.
Malayalam film “Chettayees” has the woman play villain, when she is actually the victim- being ignored and tossed aside by her husband for whom she threw away her family.
Another Malayalam movie- “My Boss” has Mamta Mohandas as the CMO of a company- as a female boss she is portrayed as snobby, hard to work with, unreasonable and annoying and called a she-devil throughout the movie. It is also hinted that the reason behind her successfulness is that she uses the bedroom to procure business deals. At the same time, her male counterpart who actually has a negative role is portrayed as just the opposite. Her boss, also male, is portrayed in the same way. It has been proven that such- solely-gender based discrimination in the workplace is already wildly existent all over the corporate world- further explained in Lean In by Facebook’s COO Sheryl Sandberg- such movies provides further rigidity to this ridiculous stereotype. In Telugu movie Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu, colloquially referred to as SVSC, Samantha’s character Geetha is a full grown girl who’s major aim in life is to find herself a great guy to get married as soon as possible. Society lays enough emphasis on marriage being the most important for women as it is without such films pitching in.
Each one of these above explained anecdotes- not to mention the ones I have not been able to cover- are completely unacceptable and actually not surprising due to the presence of so few female directors and screenplay writers. Most of the people in charge of dialogues are also male-, which further adds to the chaos. Most of the music directors are male as well.
I would like to wrap up by saying that it is such things that is causing the disrespect for women present today. When we are able to put a check on such atrocities in the portrayal of women in stories, songs and dialogues, all in movies which are available to such large populace, we will be one step closer to achieving an equal world with equal rights-or as Sharon Meers so aptly put it in her book titled the same- we will be one step closer to Getting to 50/50. That will naturally take us one-step closer to attaining safety for our women-who so deserve it.
Students' Column
How Students Are Learning To Focus Better

Being a student can be tough for a lot of people, and it is certainly something which can often prove to be difficult to do right. One of the main issues that are always going to be happening for students everywhere is that it can be hard for a lot of students to focus on their work for that long. However, this is vital if someone is going to be able to put their all into their work and get the results they are looking for. Here are some of the ways that students are now learning to focus a little better on their studies.
Putting The Phone Down
In many respects, the smartphone is the enemy of concentration – and a lot of students these days are starting to realize it. The simple act of putting the phone down for a while can dratically help anyone to concentrate better and focus on what they need to, so that is something that students are doing more effectively now. It can also help to turn it off or even put it somewhere far away while studying, such as in the other room. This is a great and very important way to focus better right now for students everywhere.
Using Supplements
There are many supplements out there in the marketplace now that are designed to help with concentration and focus. Of course, it can often prove difficult to know which of these are actually worth taking and work well, and which might not be quite so worthwhile. One good example of a supplement that does seem to work well for improving focus is CBD oils such as those at CBDistillery. These can often seem to be highly effective, and they are definitely something that students can consider in order to try and focus a little better each day.
Getting More Sleep
Sleep is a vital factor in how well a person can concentrate. Someone who is not getting enough sleep is going to find that this can drastically affect their ability to focus, so this is another area that many students are starting to look into more and more. In order to get more sleep, however, they might need to make many changes, and it’s something that for some students can simply escape them for quite a long time. However, it is worth pursuing for anyone who wants to be able to focus better on their work.
Setting Up A Distraction-Free Space
Distractions can be all too easy to come across, and this is one of the major ways in which someone is going to often struggle to concentrate properly on their studies. However, the simple solution to this problem is to set up a distraction-free space, which is what a lot of students are now doing, and this does seem to be incredibly effective for a lot of people. So that too is another really important thing that students can attempt in order to concentrate more, and it’s looking like more people are doing this.
Students' Column
8 Tips On How To Be The Best Teacher

Being a teacher in a day and age when teachers are constantly being attacked for their inability to educate students can be quite a daunting prospect. Even when teachers try hard, they may encounter parents who complain about what they’re teaching or how they’re teaching it. In any case, it’s always best to learn from those who have been in the trenches before you.
Here Are 8 Tips On How To Be The Best Teacher
1. Get To Know Your Students
One of the best ways that you can improve your teaching is by knowing who your students are and what they want. However, this takes time; it’s something you build through the school year. So begin by getting to know their names as soon as possible – then start learning other things about them: interests, background, ambitions, etc.
This will help you plan lessons that meet their individual needs and wants, resulting in a more enjoyable experience for both you and them. A good rule of thumb is to ensure you take part in a cpr certification course online, as you never know when it might come in handy.
2. Find Out How Each Student Learns
No two people learn in exactly the same way. Therefore, you should find out how each of your students learns to understand how they absorb information from your lessons.
For example, some people prefer listening while others prefer reading, some learn best from demonstrations, and others need to see a diagram or image. This will help you plan your lessons so that everyone has a chance to learn.
3. Encourage Your Students To Ask Questions
Students often fail to ask questions after a class because they don’t want to ‘look stupid’ or embarrass themselves in front of the rest of the class. Try to encourage your students to ask questions by emphasizing that there’s no such thing as a silly question – the only stupid question is the one that wasn’t asked!
4. Encourage Group Work Between Your Students
Group work can be an excellent way of helping your students learn. Not only does it help those who find it hard to participate in class, but it also helps those who are more confident as they have to explain themselves and defend their reasoning. With a bit of guidance from you, many classes will soon grow closer as friends and work better together as teammates.
5. Give Regular Feedback On Performance
Giving regular feedback on performance during lessons will help show you what areas each student needs extra tuition in. It will also allow you to give quick guidance on how they can improve their performance next time – saving valuable lesson time.
6. Encourage Your Students To Help Each Other
Utilize peer-learning by encouraging your students to help one another – this not only helps them prepare for the real world but also saves you time when planning lessons. For example, if you need students to research various facts and figures, why not set up groups of two or three? They can then share ideas and resources to complete the work in less time.
7. Reward Good Performance
Everyone responds well to positive feedback, and with careful planning, you can use this in your teaching style to encourage good performance from your students. For example, if someone is doing particularly well in class, why not surprise them with a special reward? It doesn’t need to cost money; examples could include letting them eat lunch first or giving them some extra playtime at break time.
8. Keep Your Class Active
One of the most important things about being a successful teacher is ensuring that your students are actively taking part in all aspects of each lesson. If you feel that some lessons have become too passive, try to inject more energy into your lessons by making them more interactive. This will keep students interested, and they’ll retain more of what you’re teaching.
Students' Column
Is Writing An Easy Field To Break Into?

For many of us, the idea of becoming a writer is something that we nurture from adolescence, our love of reading dovetailing with a desire to be heard. It is one of the most romanticized career ideas – just think about how many films and TV shows revolve around one or more writers – and it’s no surprise that student newspapers and magazines are often among the most popular extracurricular activities included on college applications.
What separates writing from many other careers is that there is not always an evident career path. Those of us who dream of one day writing for the newspaper we read scrupulously, or of signing a deal for our first novel, can end up quite disillusioned by the reality of trying to get paid as a writer. And while we’d love to think that it’s not about the money, there’s a great deal of truth in the motto that has become a mantra for so many writers: “I can’t pay my rent with exposure”.
Do you need to secure a regular writing job to make it a career?
If you dream of becoming a writer, you probably have an inspiration, someone who made you want to pick up a laptop and share your ideas for the first time. Chances are, these icons are individuals who can make a very comfortable living from a column per week thanks to a tenured slot at an established media institution, and they’ve “paid their dues”. That’s something that’s getting harder to do, as local newspapers are struggling to hold up in the digital age – making it harder to get a starting job in the industry.
Is freelancing a reasonable alternative?
The idea of being a freelancer can be attractive initially – if you’re not tied to any one media group, you won’t be committed to an editorial line – but it is tricky and guaranteed income is hard to find. It is a good idea to cultivate regular clients. You’ll learn their payment patterns, have the ability to invoice them in one touch through your accounting software, and can establish yourself as a reliable writer. It may not have been how you pictured freelancing, but a good client is worth cultivating – and they may well mention you to other potential clients.
Is starting your own outlet a realistic option?
Writing is a competitive world, and as a freelancer you will always be fighting with other freelancers for what can often be a small amount of work. You may prefer instead to take matters into your own hands by starting your own project. Often, this will begin with a blog; there are ways and means to monetize such a site, but you’ll need followers to make it happen. If you take this approach, social media is also going to be pivotal. Talented writers can still get read these days – and it can lead to higher-level recognition and a stable writing job – but there is still going to be a grind and you’ll need to have the discipline to produce content that is both interesting and regular.
The truth of the matter is that if you want to become rich and have a comfortable living doing something you love, writing is a sector that is filled with potential obstacles and it can be frequently disappointing. However, if writing is what you love, then there are ways and means of going about it – as long as you keep cultivating contacts, it can be a rewarding career.
-
Technology11 months ago
What are spamtraps and how to get them off your mailing list for good?
-
Business8 months ago
Do’s and Don’t’s of Firing People
-
Business11 months ago
Turn Your Passion into a Career: How to Make Money Doing What You Love
-
Sports12 months ago
Discover the best sports accessories shop
-
Business10 months ago
Best Strategies to Create an Comfortable Atmosphere in Your Restaurant
-
Business11 months ago
Top Tips for Moving Your Business to an Office
-
Sports11 months ago
The popularity of role-playing games and the desire for the most spectacular miniatures is growing
-
Health12 months ago
10 Tips for Starting Your Own Architectural Firm