Roy Higgins - Post 2

 

Deary past, Optimistic Future!

The Second set of presentations in SPC1017 focused on issues facing The United States and the world as a whole. These issues were Gender Inequality, Infrastructure and Global Warming. The topics discussed are of particular importance as the world strives to better the living conditions of everyone.  Two of the topics in particular; gender inequality and global warming have become very relevant in recent decades. 

Man vs Woman?

Group 3 tackled the topic of gender equality. Gender inequality is discrimination on the basis of sex or gender causing one sex or gender to be routinely privileged or prioritized over another. The origin of gender inequality cannot be pinpointed. It is thought to have happened slowly over time. Early human societies were hunter-gatherers, with typically the males going out to hunt and females and children staying behind to gather from the nearby environment. 

In this regard, it was egalitarian. Many hypothesized that an imbalance came along with the invention of agriculture. This new format created a new division of labor. Physically stronger men could be more engaged in the fields as compared to women. Due to the increase in resources and less need to move around, women bore more children than ever before. Domestication of animals removed the need for hunting. Women in earlier society’s had roles that included not just child rearing but gathering food and caring for the weak and wounded. The invention of agriculture eventually reduced the role on women in society. 

Group 3 touched on a number of areas in which gender inequality affects present day society. Today women face discrimination when seeking medical help. Their problems are mostly seen as mental or hormonal in nature. Women face discrimination in the workplace. They are given less pay than men for equal work even though the women are just as qualified. Gender inequality also affects men, especially when it calls into question their strength. Women are often no taken seriously when they come forward with accusations of sexual harassment. Men however are often ridiculed for not accepting a woman’s advance. I know this from first hand experience. 

Maintenance is hard!

Group 2 tackled the topic of infrastructure. Infrastructure is the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities such as buildings, roads, power supplies, that are needed for the operation of a society or enterprise. The first infrastructure projects were roads. Even though hunter-gatherer populations created monuments such as geoglyphs and stone circles, creating and maintaining things such as roads were not worth the effort. Permanent infrastructure was not important in societies that had to move around to survive. Roads started to become necessary after the agricultural revolution. Communities that were built around farmlands needed clear, consistent routes for trade and traveling.

The earliest roads often came about through repeated paths through foliage between settlements. The tracks were as a result of erosion and defoliation caused by either human or animal footfall. These paths were easier to traverse and get more use. Group 2 discussed the effects of the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution brought with it an increase in the human population and thus the need for products and services expanded. To keep up, there had to be a focus on infrastructure. To move people and goods from place to place. Buildings for work and school had to be developed as well. 

In the modern era, infrastructure is continuing to improve. However, infrastructure needs to be maintained and that is where a number of countries have fallen short. Such as the United States. The United States is ranked 13^th in the world despite boasting the worlds largest economy. There have been efforts to improve the infrastructure especially in poorer communities because there has been research into how the infrastructure can affect the productivity of an area.

The self made apocalypse!

Group 1 tackled the topic of Global warming. Global warming is a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants. Going back to as far as ancient Greece it had believed that humans could change the temperature and influence rainfall by chopping down trees, plowing fields or irrigating the desert. This theory was referred to as the ‘rain follows the plough’ theory. This theory was widely believed until the Dusty bowl of the 1930s in the Great Plains of the United States. Any perceived change was merely local, the idea that humans could influence the global Climate was not believed for  centuries.

Though humans have been affecting the environment for millennia, it wasn’t until the industrial revolution that human activities have had a large and profound influence. These are mainly due to the increased amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases began to increase the global temperature by trapping heat. Even though there are natural processes that affect the earths climate, they do not explain the warming observed, particularly in the last century. 

Group 1 continued to discuss effects of global warming. Presented on the possible effects of the global situation and policies that can be put in place to rectify the situation.  

There is hope!

These presentations really opened my eyes as to the state of the United states and the world as a whole. These issues did not start over night and as such will not be solved over night. the presentations showed the history of the topics but they also gave deep insight as to what can be done. While presenting and listening to my fellow classmates presentations, I couldn’t help but think about my home country and how these issues also affect it. Even though Jamaica has more female managers than any other country, those women are still underpaid compared to their male counterpart. Even though Jamaica is a world wide destination for tourism and the tourist districts are modernized, there are places in the country without running water or paved roads. Global warming stands to affect Jamaica with rising sea levels and more drastic hurricane seasons. Despite how it may seem now, we are making progress to a better world.