A Closer Look at Winter 1946

Regionalism, also known as American Scene Painting, is an art movement that occurred from the 1920s through the 1950s, with its height in the 1930s in the United States. Regionalism focused on rural scenes and rejected city life and modern industrialism (Regionalism). The main focus of these painting were mid-western architecture and figures. It gave the viewer a heartwarming view of the simple life in the rural United States (Regionalism). One of the main figures of this movement was Andrew Wyeth. Another influential painter of this time was the painter of American Gothic, Grant Wood. The main focus of the following works is mostly farm area with a poor twist to them. They are all inferring that the subjects portrayed are alone in this wide open space, giving the viewer the feeling that every man or woman must fend for themselves or that only the strongest survive.


 



Winter 1946 was painted by Andrew Wyeth with tempera on a board. This is the painting I chose from the NCMA’s collection. This piece is significant due to being based off of Wyeth’s father’s death. His father reportedly died on the other side of the hill featured in this work. The main subject in the painting was a neighbour of Wyeth named Allan Lynch (Meryman). This painting has very muted colors and a sense of loneliness. This feeling grows deeper when the viewer is made aware of the significance behind the work.




Christina’s World is a painting of a neighbour by Wyeth. Christina Olson was a neighbour who suffered from polio and spent most of her time at home thus giving the title of “Christina's World” (Meryman). She most likely felt very trapped on her property. This painting shows her on the edges looking towards her house. This represents her testing her limits as much as she can. This piece is another regionalist work with muted colors and gives the feeling of loneliness as it must have been for Christina, not being able to venture off of her property. This piece was done in tempera and gesso.




Turkey Pond is another Wyeth painting that continues the lonely theme and uses muted colors. It was made using tempera on panel. It features a man walking away in the distance with no other object to be seen. This indicates that he is on a mission of his own. He appears to be walking away towards nothing of importance signifying a journey into loneliness.




Floodplain is another work by Wyeth. It, unlike his other works does not have a person as the main subject. It instead uses a pile of hay and what appears to be scraps from an old building as its focus. It still uses muted colors and gives a sense of emptiness. It was done in tempera on panel. Most of Wyeth’s works feature a person as the main focus, however this one does not which gives a tone of emptiness which still follows suite with his other works.

American Gothic is regionalist painting done by Grant Wood. It features two people who are farmers, solidifying the regionalist element, these people look very over worked and lonesome similar to Wyeth’s recurring themes in his works. The couple is dressed in nice material but their facial expression and props explain the whole painting. Their faces look tired and faded from long days of work. The pitchfork shows that they still work today despite their age, but it isn’t so much a form of work as it is a way of life for them because that is how they were raised. American Gothic was done in oil on beaver board which is in contrast with Wyeth's common usage of tempera.



References

Meryman, Richard. "Andrew Wyeth." Life 14 May 1965: 93-114. Google Books. Web. 5 Apr. 2016.

"Regionalism." Collections. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.

A Closer Look at Brides

North Carolina Museum of Art is located in Raleigh, NC and is home to many different cultural pieces of art. Including African, Jewish, Egyptian, and Italian art. It is also the first museum in the nation to purchase art with public funds (“Permanent Collection”). The museum holds many beautiful paintings and sculptures, however there was one piece that stood out to me. It was one created by Beth Lipman, who is a sculptor who works with glass. Her sculptures exhibit the still life culture, which is the arrangement of inanimate objects to represent a person or idea. All of Lipman’s sculptures are made entirely of glass, with an exception of a wooden shelf or table. She has exhibited her work in the Ringling Museum of Art in Florida, ICA/MECA in Maine, RISD Museum in Rhode Island, the Milwaukee Art Museum in Wyoming, the Gustavsbergs Konsthall in Sweden, and the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC. Lipman’s art has been purchased by many museums including the North Carolina Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum of Art in New York, the Kemper Museum for Contemporary Art in Missouri, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC, the Jewish Museum in New York, the Norton Museum of Art in Florida, and the Corning Museum of Glass in New York (“About”). The piece of hers that resides in the North Carolina Museum of Art is titled “Bride.” This paper will attempt to analyze the complex structure of “Bride” and try to make a connection and purpose of the piece.  The connection is between the sculpture and an American bride and the pressure to have a perfect wedding in order to have a perfect marriage.

https://www.tumblr.com/search/Beth-Lipman

The picture above is of Lipman’s sculpture, “Bride.” The structure is made of glass, paint, wood, and glue. The first thing I noticed was obviously all of the glass and that the shelf they were displayed on was tiered. I also noticed that the lower you go down the tiers, the more cluttered and messy the organization of the glass is. Also in that same pattern, the pieces of glass get bigger. There are also pieces of glass on the bottom tiers that are not only glasses, bowls, or plates, but tiny wild animals. I also noticed that the stand is black. I think this is primarily to provide contrast so that the glass can be seen easily.

http://www.123rf.com/photo_2761508_a-white-wedding-cake-with-three-levels-and-redroses.html

This is a picture of a traditional wedding cake. As you can see the cake is tiered just like the sculpture, which shows connection to its name, “Bride.” It is said that the wedding cake is often the centerpiece of the venue of the wedding. Many brides are judged for every aspect of their wedding, the main ones being the dress and the cake. I believe that Lipman made her structure so large because the wedding cake for a bride is one of the most crucial part of her big day. In fact there are many traditions associated with a wedding cake. For instance, they are traditionally white, symbolizing purity, which matches with the “Bride” structure. The glass is clear and colorless symbolizing perfection or purity.


https://www.pinterest.com/pin/90072061273106415/

This is a picture of a traditional, American bride. A white dress, a big bouquet of flowers, and a white veil. So much emphasis has been put on these traditions that very few stray from them. This only adds pressure on the bride as she plans her wedding. She believes that everything must be perfect or her marriage will be a disaster. This contributes to “Bride” because if you notice, the top tier is neat and simple, while the bottom is messy and crowded. I believe that Lipman is trying to show us that the surface of things may look nice but the foundation may be in shambles. So the top tier of the sculpture represents a perfect wedding, while the bottom tier represents a messy and unloving relationship between the bride and groom. It is American culture that has put this curse on brides. The quality of a bride a groom’s relationship should no longer be judged on their wedding, but their love for eachother.




https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/becoming-modern/avant-garde-france/post-impressionism/a/czanne-the-basket-of-apples

This is a still life oil painting by Paul Cezanne. He was a famous still life artists and tended to include food on a table in his paintings. The question that surrounds this painting is, “Will the apples roll of the table?” This is an example of how these inanimate objects can produce feelings of thoughts, ideas, and people in still life art. Like Cezanne’s painting, “The Basket of Apples”, Lipman’s “Bride” is a still life work that causes people to think about questions or ideas about it and wonder who or what is represents.


http://indulgy.com/kenn-.)/paper--sculpture

This is a piece done by Tahiti Pehrson. Like Lipman’s sculpture, this too is constructed in tiers. I also find Pehrson and Lipman very much alike because Lipman works with glass while Pehrson works with paper. I find it very interesting that they both chose to do a tiered structure. This sculpture also is more chaotic at the bottom and more neat at the top just like “Bride.” This is somewhat a still life sculpture but not entirely, since is it made out of paper and inanimate objects are cut out of them.


Works Cited:

"Permanent Collection." Overview. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2016. <http://ncartmuseum.org/art/overview/>.

"About." Beth Lipman. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2016. <http://www.bethlipman.com/about/>.

McDonnell, Brandy. "Wednesday Video Spotlight: Beth Lipman's "Bride," Part of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art's "Fusion" Glass Exhibit." NewsOK.com. N.p., 25 July 2012. Web. 05 Apr. 2016. <http://newsok.com/article/3831376>.

Schapiro, Meyer. "Czanne, Paul." WebMuseum: : Still Life with Basket of Apples. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2016. <https://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/cezanne/sl/basket-apples/>.

Analysis of Visual Contexts

Towards the end of the 1800s, the socially-correct art grounded in realism and perfection began to slowly be questioned by more avant-garde artists. A few artists of the time, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Camille Pissarro, were ready for a departure from the customary still-lifes of the day. Instead, they choose to focus on evoking feelings through their works by using color and light. These men are known as the founders of the art movement coined Impressionism. This artistic style employs rough, quick brush strokes to achieve the goal of light and movement. Most often, these paintings are completed in the open air and many details are often forgotten, or perhaps overlooked, in order to capture the exactness of the moment of time. Impressionism paved the way for the avant-garde art forms that followed it, such as abstract and cubism. One of the founders of the Impressionism movement, Claude Monet, was a painter born in Paris, France. The following art pieces include four of his original works and one influencing work of a fellow painter, Eugene Boudin.




“The Cliff, Étretat, Sunset” by Claude Monet, 1882

Étretat is a small fishing village off of the Normandy coast of France and a popular spot among Impressionistic painters. Monet completed a series of works here, focusing on the unique rock structures protruding out from the coast. It is estimated that Monet produced 22 works from the landscape at Etretat. Monet’s piece speaks directly to the heart of impressionist painting. The brush strokes are rough, painted in quickly to capture the fleeting light. The shadows are created with colors, not just black. The water evokes feelings of movement and depth, along with elements of reflection. A unique discovery about this piece was made in 2012. A group of astrophysicists journeyed to France in hopes of establishing the exact time of Monet's painting. The low setting sun made this painting unique and served as a useful tool in their analysis. After finding Monet's exact vantage point and by digitally recreating the sky from the 1880s, the team was able to conclude that the painting was completed on February 5 at 4:53 pm.





“Personnages sur la plage de Trouville” by Eugene Boudin, 1865

Monet’s friend and fellow artist Eugene Boudin painted “Personnages sur la plage de Trouville” in 1865, about a decade before the formal dawn of Impressionism. He was one of the first artists to depict patrons relaxing at the beach, for around this time, fainting was a common ailment in Europe and many people were being sent to the coast to relax. Boudin recommended Monet take up Impressionism painting, especially paintings of nature and the coast. Monet was at the time a struggling artist fighting to gain acceptance within The Academy. It was because of Boudin that Monet traveled to the Normandy coast and began to paint in the Impressionistic manner. Boudin’s promptings succeeded in producing one of the most revered Impressionistic painters within the art community.





Graphite caricature of Henri Cassinelli by Claude Monet, 1858

Monet spent time in London making a name for himself by drawing charcoal caricatures. His friend and fellow artist, Eugene Boudin, felt he could produce so much more. It is recorded that Boudin said, “Come on, Claude — your caricatures are fun, but it's not real art,' ...'I mean art; I mean painting, Claude, painting!” (Stamberg). Boudin was right–Monet did have more to give, especially in the realm of painting. Once Monet fully committed to creating Impressionist work (after a short stint spent trying to create still-lifes), he quickly amassed hundreds of paintings, many of which were not accepted during his lifetime, but came to be valued years later.





“Women in the Garden” by Claude Monet, 1866

Monet was just a young painter at the age of 27 when he completed “Women in the Garden”. This piece includes four women, that of which his wife posed as a muse for all. Although very much a common-day still-life, a story line is missing from this painting. The art community was not impressed with Monet’s work and rejected it. This rejection, due to the lack of a story line and poorly executed academic art techniques, is speculated to be a reason why Monet took the opportunity to explore a new, unique type of painting. Monet had exhausted himself trying to conform to the stylistic conventions of the day. He was now ready to heed Boudin’s advice and venture out into the world of Impressionism.





“Impressionism, Sunrise” by Claude Monet, 1872

The fundamentals of impressionist art may have been established before the creation of “Impressionism, Sunrise”, but a name was not. This piece is where the name of this art form originated. This was one of the first pieces Monet completed and it was widely debated among the art community. Critics analyzed the short, crude brushstrokes and the bright, unblended colors. Many failed to appreciate this style of painting until years later. Modern art scholar Margaret Samu says, “Indeed, its life [impressionism] seems as fleeting as the light effects it sought to capture. Even so, Impressionism was a movement of enduring consequence, as its embrace of modernity made it the springboard for later avant-garde art in Europe.



Works Cited

Burks, Robin . “Physicist Figures out Exact Date and Time of Monet Painting.” Tech           Times . N.p., 6 Sept. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.                

        http://www.techtimes.com/articles/14953/20140906/physicist-places-exact-           date-and-time-on-monet-painting.htm


“Permanent Collection .” North Carolina Museum of Art . NCMA, n.d. Web. 29 Mar.         2016. http://ncartmuseum.org/art/detail/the_cliff_tretat_sunset



Stamberg, Susan . “Eugene Boudin: The Man Who Inspired Monet.” npr. npr, 1 July           2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2016. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?               storyId=128174560


“Women in the Garden (1866-7).” Encyclopedia of Art Education . N.p., n.d. Web.            29 Mar. 2016. http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/paintings-analysis/women-in-          the-garden.htm

A Closer look at Sexual Harassment in STEM Fields

http://www.dashtaki.com/lawyer-attorney-discrimination/sexual-harassment/

Imagine being denied medication for a severe illness or being told to “find the electric fences first.” While these seem like overly harsh reactions to being rejected this is exactly what happened to archaeologist Maureen Meyers when she was sexually harassed by her superiors. This may seem like an isolate, one-of-a-kind type situation but this happens to many people in research positions all over the county. Sexual harassment is a large issue in the United States. Sexual harassment can defined as harassment, typically of a woman, in a workplace, or other professional or social situation, involving the making of unwanted sexual advances or obscene remarks (Sexual Harassment). Sexual harassment can include but are not limited to acts such as leering, obscene phone-calls, stalking, indecent exposure, or pressure for dates (Sexual Harassment). This is different from sexual assault. Sexual assault is defined as any forcible sexual contact (Sexual Assault). is defined as A study Cosmopolitan Magazine published in February of 2015 surveyed 2,235 women and found that 1 out of every 3 women had been sexual harassed at work. This number is not including the 16% of women surveyed who said they had not been sexually harassed but did report workplace interactions that meets the definition of sexual harassment. When the same study was broken down by the career of the surveyees 31% of women who worked in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields reported being sexually harassed (Survey). Sexual harassment can happen anywhere, but there has recently been a large amount of research put into sexual harassment specifically in science and research fields. Another online survey of field scientists recently reported that uncovered a range of negative experiences; nearly two-thirds of the 666 respondents, who were mostly women, reported being sexually harassed at a field site, and one-fifth said that they had been sexually assaulted (Gewin). Reports also show that until recently this has not been a known issue due to universities ignoring and hiding these issues and women not coming forward in fear of losing their jobs (Harassment Victims). However, more victims are coming out with their stories bringing this issue into public view. A stronger system for reporting and investigating sexual harassment needs to be instilled in university systems. There needs to be an easier reporting system, stronger follow through in investigation of reports, and actual consequences for people found to be sexually harassing others.

For there to be positive change in this process, there first needs to be a less intimidating reporting process for sexual harassment. While sexual harassment is not limited to North Carolina State University and is present in every university system, for ease and clarity this paper will focus on the reporting procedures at NCSU. The webpage that had the form to report harassment was a little difficult to find. This could be made more prominent on the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity’s (the campus department that handles these reports) website. While looking at NCSU’s reporting procedures, I found that there are generally extensive interviews involved with reporting sexual harassment. This can be highly traumatic for someone who has been repeatedly harassed. This could be eased by having a counselor from the counseling center on hand for the interviews.

After the victim or witness reports the harassment, there needs to be a serious attempt to find out all aspects of the incident(s). In the media, there are often stories of someone reporting sexual harassment to superiors who then hide all allegations. This can make the victims feel even more inferior and give the harasser the feeling of having more power in the situation. NCSU has a fairly good process for investigating sexual harassment and is a good template for other universities. First, a complaint is filed, then the complaint is processed and referred elsewhere (i.e. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) if applicable, then there is a preliminary review to see if the investigation even needs to occur, an investigation, a verdict, then notification to all applicable parties of the verdict. While this is a good system some victims problems go unreported and unresolved.

Finally, if the reported party is found to have sexually harassed the victim there needs to be legitimate consequences for that party. These could include having to take an informational class on sexual harassment, pay docks, revocation of honors, or being reported to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which is the federal office in charge of criminal charges for federally-funded institutions (Title IX designation). There have been many reports of people getting promotions, honors, and other designations after multiple sexual harassment reports being filed against them. This, just like with investigating the reports, if not handled correctly can make the victim feel insignificant and undermined while giving the harasser a sense of invincibility and the feeling that this is an okay thing to do.

The sexual harassment reporting system is a large issue full of problems. The way harassment is reported, the investigative process, and the consequences are all problematic. Major changes in the way people report, the way it is investigated, and the consequences of guilty parties need to be implemented to make this an easier solution for a terrible issue. Counselors should be present in initial interviews, investigations should be more thorough, and there should be real consequences if parties are found guilty. This is a problem that needs every involved party to work on improving because it can happen to anyone and it is certainly not just going to go away on its own.

“I am not your dog that you whistle for; I’m not a stray animal you call over, and I am not, I never have been, nor will I ever be, your “baby

―Joy Jennings


http://www.tamuc.edu/research/


Works Cited

Feminist Majority Foundation. "Sexual Harassment - Fact Sheet." Feminist Majority Foundation
Feminist Majority Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

Gewin, Virginia. "Social Behaviour: Indecent Advances." Nature 519 (n.d.): 251-53. Nature. 11
Mar. 2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

"Harassment Victims Deserve Better." Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group.
19 Feb. 2016.

"Survey: 1 in 3 Women Has Been Sexually Harassed at Work."Cosmopolitan. N.p., 16 Feb.
2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

"Sexual Assault." Department of Justice. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2016.

A Closer Look into Banning the Microbead

http://www.unep.org/gpa/gpml/BeattheMicrobeadProject.asp

Many face and body washes feature microbeads that gently exfoliate the skin to leave it smooth and healthy. These beads may be good for the skin, but they are a threat to the Great Lakes, marine life, and potentially our health. This every scientist and journalist agrees with, and many say that the polyethylene plastic that the beads are made out of, is the cause of the pollution. It is true that the beads are creating extra pollutant, however, it is not the beads themselves that are causing the poisoning of marine life. It is the fact that the beads absorb toxic chemicals that already reside in the water. Therefor, when they are ingested they poison the organism that eats them (Elkin). In summary, the plastic beads do pollute the lakes, but they solely do not harm marine life or humans. However, something still must me done about the poisoning of organisms and pollution of the Great Lakes, which is why society has targeted the microbeads. It is the easiest and fastest way to keep the aquatic organisms from being poisoned.

The Great Lakes are an important landmark of the United States. They are marveled at for their beauty and mass size. Sadly, the microbeads are working on altering the lakes forever. Plastic has been an issue with pollution for a long time. It does not break down very well or fast, and when it does is releases harmful chemicals. So since these microbeads are made of plastic, it is only obvious that they are polluting these gorgeous lakes. The microbeads do even more damage than a milk jug or a plastic bag. This is because they are so small, that they get past the water treatment plants. And unlike a milk jug or plastic bag, you can not easily come across a less than 5 millimeters size microbead in a lake and remove it from the water, much less most or even all of them (Beat the Microbead). That makes their potential to harm the environment even greater than anything else. So, since the plastic is what is harming the lakes, the scientists and journalists have it right. The microbeads themselves are what is harming the Great Lakes.

Litter in the environment is a big cause of death in animals, especially marine animals. Plastic bags resemble jellyfish when they are in the water, which causes sea turtles to mistake the bag for their common food choice, ultimately causing death. The ringed plastic used to hold together sport drinks are just big enough so a bird can fit its head through, and just small enough so that it chokes to death while trying to free itself from it. All of these deaths are direct causes of the plastic. Many scientists say that the polyethylene beads have the same effect when organisms mistake them for fish eggs, and ingest them. However this has been found false. The reason why the microbeads are so toxic is because while they are in the water, they absorb all of the toxic chemicals that already reside in the water (Elkin). This being said, the microbeads only aid in poisoning whatever eats them. Unlike the plastic bag and ringed plastic, the microbeads are not the direct cause for harming marine life, instead it is the chemicals that are ultimately the cause for the poisoning.

Humans consume an average of 4.833 billion pounds of fish a year. If the fish that have been feeding on the microbeads are among the billions that we are consuming, the effect on our bodies could be just as worse as those on fish, maybe worse. However, this has not been confirmed. Environmentalists are quick to jump to the conclusion that the chemicals are transferred from organism to organism through the food chain poisoning every predator that consumed prey that has been feeding on the microbeads, including humans. Research is still being done to determine if the transfer of the chemicals reigns true, and also if the effects are maximized or minimized as it moves up. So even though our health may not be affected by the microbeads, some of our everyday activities may be. A fisherman’s income may be affected if the fish die from being poisoned, which would affect restaurant owners that sell fish. The fish would become more expensive if they are becoming scarce because of the poisoning. So, even if research shows that humans are not directly harmed from consuming fish that have ingesting polyethylene beads, we are still affected in other ways.

Environmentalists, journalists, and scientists have put all of the blame on the polyethylene microbeads that are in face, body, and handwashes. However, it is not the beads that are causing the damage. It is easier to put the responsibility on their products rather than the real cause, chemical pollution. There would be faster results from pressuring cosmetic companies to ban their ingredients because of pollution as opposed to pressuring power plants to reduce their wastes and car companies to only make electric vehicles. This is unfair to the cosmetic companies. They add microbeads to their products because they exfoliate the skin, leaving it soft and clean. The reason why these beads are made of polyethylene is because it is cheap, and can be made quickly and in large quantities (Adams). Even though the beads are not causing the fatal blows to the environment, they are slowly being forced to remove them from their products.

I believe that the ultimate solution to this problem, would be to eliminate chemical pollution all together, but it is nearly impossible to make this happen. So, sadly the easiest and fastest way to keep the marine life, the Great Lakes, and humans healthy, is to keep polyethylene microbeads out of the environment. This can only be done by the cosmetic companies no longer having microbeads as an ingredient, or the government creating a law that prohibits the use of polyethylene microbeads in beauty products. From how things are progressing, both of these may be put into effect (Beat the Microbead). 

http://saferchemicals.org/get-the-facts/hazardous-100-chemicals-detected-in-the-great-lakes/

Works Cited:

Elkin, Alison. "Plastic Microbeads From Body Wash Are Contaminating Lakes." Vice News. N.p., 31 Aug. 2014. Web. 26 Feb. 2016. <https://news.vice.com/article/plastic-microbeads-from-body-wash-are-contaminating-the-great-lakes>.

Worland, Justin. “The face wash ingredient in your fish.” Time. TIME.com, 15 Sept. 2015. Web. 26 Feb. 2016.

Adams, Rebecca. “How Your Face Wash Could Be Poisoning Our Water.” Huffington PostThe Huffington Post, 20 Feb. 2014. Web. 26 Feb. 2016.

"INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST MICROBEADS IN COSMETICS." Beat the Microbead. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. <http://www.beatthemicrobead.org/en/>.

A Closer Look at Vaccine Safety & Regulation

Arguably one of the most successful modern medical programs, vaccinations fell prey to faulty research publication almost twenty years ago that has since left doubts in people’s minds regarding their safety and efficacy. In 1998, British doctor Andrew Wakefield published research that linked the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccination with autism. Since this publication release, scientists 

Dr. Andrew Wakefield

have conducted numerous studies in an effort to refute Wakefield’s claims. The findings could not be more concrete: scientists cannot establish any link between the MMR vaccine and the development of autism (Novella). Digging deeper into Wakefield’s work uncovered that he stood to gain financially from the faulty findings he published, and his work has since been discredited. Unfortunately, this refutal did not erased the seeds of doubt and confusion that entered people’s minds. The general topic of vaccinations has become confusing over the past few years–personally, communally, and governmentally–due to faulty studies being published and loose correlations linking vaccinations to autism and other disorders being accepted as causations. The discussion surrounding vaccinations needs to be simplified, starting by providing parents with a better knowledge of vaccinations in the pediatrician's office, unifying vaccine requirements across the country, and finding a more effective solution to raising vaccination rates rather than through government mandate.

The Nature journal editorial “Spot the Difference” highlights the current ineffectiveness of vaccination rules. This topic came to many people’s attention after the 2015 measles outbreak that occurred in Disneyland. The author of the Nature article says, “Fortunately for the public’s health, attention around the outbreak has come down in favour of vaccination and against the myths about its dangers” (Spot). The positive support for vaccines due to this outbreak is a win for the medical community. The author also points out that, in relation to other parts of the world, the current outbreaks the US are seemingly unnoteworthy. In 2014, the Philippines saw more than 50,000 cases of measles reported. In comparison, the US only saw 121 cases reported. Yes, the US number is seemingly small, but I disagree with his stance that these numbers are “unremarkable”. With convenient vaccination access in the US, our disease outbreak numbers should be negligible. Although the issue of vaccinations is a growing problem in the US, we are not yet near any benchmark for public despair. In conjunction with that, there is also no need for resistance to vaccines.

Before the development of vaccinations, almost all children contracted measles at some point in their lives. In the US, it is estimated that about 3 to 4 million people were infected, and around 48,000 were hospitalized (Measles). Roughly 450 deaths occurred each year–450 deaths that are now fully preventable by the vaccination.

A look at the current number of measles cases:

Chart courtesy of the CDC website

The responsibility to regulate this has fallen upon the individual state governments, but families must recognize that the state government is not a medical authority. Many parents see the vaccine requirement laws as just another way the government is exercising authority over citizens. They look over the fact that the law exists to ensure their family’s safety and well-being. Different states hold different vaccination requirements for children entering into the public schooling system. All 50 states and the District of Columbia require DPT, Polio, Measles, and Rubella vaccinations (State). Beyond this, some states require Chickenpox, Hepatitis B, Hib, PCV, Flu, Hepatitis A, Mumps, and Meningitis. Montana has the fewest regulations, only requiring three. These varying regulations add to parent’s confusion about whether or not their child needs all of these vaccines.

For parents of school-age children, the decision to vaccinate their children comes early, with many vaccinations administered under the age of six. The administration of the two measles shots are recommended around age one and then again around age five (Measles). If parents are slow in deciding whether or not to vaccinate their child, the child will miss many of these recommended time frames, delaying the child’s shot routine, potentially affecting their school attendance. For families constantly on the move, this is a hard regulation system to stay on top of. The confusion and differences that are so evident regarding vaccines turns many parents against them all together. That coupled with the ever-circulating online articles that claim links between vaccines and autism development, it is no wonder that there is a modern day anti-vaccine movement. A practicing pediatrician Dr. John Snyder says, “While it does take a lot of effort and a lot of time, which a lot of pediatricians don’t have, I can actually explain the rationale behind why [not vaccinating] is not a good idea,” he said, “and often I’m able to change their mind” (Brown). If more pediatricians would take the time to educate their patients, resistance to vaccinations would likely decrease. Uninformed parents equate to fearful parents. It is the medical staff’s role to provide this needed information.

https://youtu.be/2LXaT8N-F50

This CNN newscast video supports the argument for better education in the pediatrician's office and also examines a specific child’s bad reaction to the MMR vaccine and the thought to be associated permanent damage that occurred.

The current regulation of vaccination is not the most effective of routes available. Many citizens today are not afraid of questioning authority. Oftentimes, government mandates produce the opposite of what they desire. A true authority figure needs to emerge on this issue. If the US desires to see any lasting disease control, the medical community will need to assume authority and take over vaccine regulation and distribution. This begins by providing better education on the topic to children’s parents early on. Ideally, this occurs in the pediatrician’s office. The next step needs to be a simplification and unification of vaccine rules and regulations across the country. It is at this level that the government may need to step back and allow the medical and wellness communities a chance to assume authority. The medical authorities should then seek legislative help for implementation, but only after making it clear to the public that ample research has been conducted to validate these rules. This most practically means requiring vaccination for public school attendance, but hopefully with less leeway for personal exemptions beyond medical reasons.



Works Cited

Brown, Karen D. “Parents Refusing Vaccines.” The Boston Globe 11 Nov. 2013: n.               pag. Print.

“Measles.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . N.p., 20 Feb. 2015. Web. 3            Mar. 2016.

Novella, Steven. “The Anti-Vaccination Movement.” The Committee for Skeptical               Inquiry 31.6 (2007): n. pag. Print.

“Spot the Difference.” Nature 518.7538 (2015): 137–138. Print.

“State-by-State: Vaccinations Required for Public School Kindergarten.” ProCon.org.           N.p., 3 Sept. 2014. Web. 3 Mar. 2016.

Stakeholder Analysis: Sexual Harassment in STEM Fields

Sexual harassment is a large issue in the United States. Sexual harassment can defined as harassment, typically of a woman, in a workplace, or other professional or social situation, involving the making of unwanted sexual advances or obscene remarks (Sexual Harassment). Sexual harassment can include but are not limited to acts such as leering, obscene phone-calls, stalking, indecent exposure, or pressure for dates (Sexual Harassment). A study that Cosmopolitan Magazine published in February of 2015 surveyed 2,235 women and found that 1 out of every 3 women had been sexual harassed at work. This number is not including the 16% of women surveyed who said they had not been sexually harassed but did report workplace interactions that meets the definition of sexual harassment. When the same study was broken down by the career of the surveyees 31% of women who worked in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields reported being sexually harassed (Survey). Sexual harassment can happen anywhere, but there has recently been a large amount of research put into sexual harassment specifically in science and research fields. Another online survey of field scientists recently reported that uncovered a range of negative experiences; nearly two-thirds of the 666 respondents, who were mostly women, reported being sexually harassed at a field site, and one-fifth said that they had been sexually assaulted (Gewin). Reports also show that until recently this has not been a known issue due to universities sweeping these issues under the rug and women not coming forward in fear of losing their jobs (Harassment Victims). However, more victims are coming out with their stories bringing this issue into public view.

The first main stakeholder in this issue are the victims. A victim of sexual harassment is defined as any person, generally female but not always, who has been sexually harassed. Many victims of sexual harassment do not report their perpetrator for fear of losing their job, being excluded from career advancing activities, or having the harassment getting worse. A survey showed that 71% of women who were harassed at work reported the harassment and out of the 29% who did report only 15% them felt that the report was handled fairly (Survey). This is a common problem in the United States and is better illustrated in rape cases. In many rape cases women report being harassed, taunted, being told the rape was their fault, and not believed after reporting their rape. This creates a culture that is not conducive for victims to report their harassment and further burying the issue.

On the other end of the issue and the second main stakeholder are the perpetrators. There are many cases of men in positions of power such as professors, senior researchers, and even so-called rising stars in academics, having sexual harassment reports filed against them and not only having no repercussions, but being promoted, receiving honors, and receiving tenure (Zevallos). Sexual harassment is believed to not be about sexual gratification but about control and power. A psychologist from the University of Washington named Dr. John Gottman explained sexual harassment like this: “Sexual harassment is a subtle rape, and rape is more about fear than sex. Harassment is a way for a man to make a woman vulnerable." Sexual harassment conducted by people in power is often viewed as a way for people to induce fear, shame, and self-blame in victims (Goleman). This is all assuming the accused are actually guilty. While reported far less often, there are reports of victims falsely accusing men to win settlements or try to gain power.

Universities are another large stakeholder Universities are institutions of higher learning where a student receives specialized education to receive a degree. A large part of many universities is research. Research can be a part of any academic discipline but is mainly associated with S.T.E.M fields. Researchers are generally, but not always, undergraduate or graduate students who are generally aged 18 to 25. This also falls into the most commonly harassed age group of 19-24 (Survey). College education also correlates with sexual harassment as shown in a survey with 45% of surveyees having a bachelor's degree, 29% of surveyees having some college education, and 19% of surveyees having a graduate degree (Survey). Universities may not appear to be an important stakeholder but the University’s entire reputation can be ruined by a sexual harassment scandal. This can cause many universities to have less than helpful responses to reports of sexual harassment. No one knows exactly how many cases of sexual harassment are reported to universities each year due to universities not being open about this issue (Harassment Victims). The universities have the job of taking these claims, which could harm the university’s reputation if the report is true or false, and figure out how to handle it.

The last stakeholder is the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Overview) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, including pregnancy, national origin, age, 40 or older, disability or genetic information (EEOC). The EEOC has the job of figuring out if sexual harassment reports brought before their attention is just slightly inappropriate teasing (which is not illegal), sexual harassment (which is illegal), or even a false report (EEOC-Sexual Harassment). As the oversight committee for sexual harassment for universities that receive funding through Title IX this places them as a large stake holder for sexual harassment in universities.

Sexual harassment, specifically in academic and research situations is a largely underrepresented issue in the United States that is just recently coming to light. The four main stakeholders in the issue of sexual assault in the scientific research field primarily in universities are: the victim, the perpetrator, the university, and the EEOC. All of these groups have different motives and responses to this issue but all are important and without any one of these groups there would be no issue. Every time the topic of sexual harassment is discussed the academic realm should be brought into consideration along with offices.

Works Cited

EEOC. "Overview." About the EEOC:. USA.gov, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

EEOC. "Sexual Harassment." Sexual Harassment. USA.gov, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

Feminist Majority Foundation. "Sexual Harassment - Fact Sheet." Feminist Majority Foundation

Feminist Majority Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

Gewin, Virginia. "Social Behaviour: Indecent Advances." Nature 519 (n.d.): 251-53. Nature. 11

Mar. 2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

Goleman, Daniel. "Sexual Harassment: It's About Power, Not Lust." The New York Times.

The New York Times, 21 Oct. 1991. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

"Harassment Victims Deserve Better." Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group. Web.

19 Feb. 2016.

"Sexual Harassment." TheFreeDictionary.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

"Survey: 1 in 3 Women Has Been Sexually Harassed at Work."Cosmopolitan. N.p., 16 Feb.

2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

Zevallos, Zuleyka. "How To Stop The Sexual Harassment Of Women In Science: Reboot The

System." The Conversation. 28 Jan. 2016. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.