Did women have a Renaissance in Early Modern Europe Essay - 1

Did women have a Renaissance in Early Modern Europe - Essay Example The early modern period saw many rapid changes in the way that society interacted with itself. Whereas the middle-aged should have been defined by dogmatic religious interpretation, the early modern period saw something of a relaxation of the means by which society and the laws that constrained it operated. Moreover, trade began to flourish and created the first exhibitions of what we might now term the middle class. Arts and literature came to be in greater and greater prevalence within this particular era due to the fact that the daily struggle to provide food, security, and basic human needs was simplified. Political theory and the means by which society was structured became less chaotic and more orderly. However, even though it might be tempting to state that each of these progressions somehow invariably impacted upon the plight of women, it is the assumption and understanding of this brief analysis that even though a great many societal changes were occurring during this time, the majority of these did not impact upon the rights and/or freedoms that women would otherwise experience. Instead, the benefits of this â€Å"early modern era†, as it was dumb, were almost invariably concentric upon the males within society. However, even though a low level of benefit was able to be derived by women during this period in time, the reduction in power that the church was able to exert over societal shareholders was necessarily a net in a fit with regard to the overall level of rights and privileges that women could exercise and experience within their respective societies. Naturally, this reduction in the church’s power existed to varying degrees based upon geography and/or ethnic/cultural determinants. Secondarily, as a direct result of the level of economic growth and the rise in the existence of the middle class, women of this particular class experienced a different type of lifestyle than those which had traditionally been confined to and constrain ed by abject poverty and/or the differential between the extraordinarily wealthy and carefree and those who struggled under varying forms of servitude to provide for the needs of themselves and for their families. Firstly, any study or examination of human rights and the progression of feminism denotes the fact that religion, by very definition, has traditionally negatively impacted upon the way and manner that these freedoms were experienced. Whether one considers the case of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, or any of the other world’s great religions, each of these has at its core a patriarchal respect which necessarily places women and their rights in a position of lesser importance (Andrea 275). In much the same way, medieval Europe was defined and structured along religious lines. This was so much the case that cultural differences between the French and the Italians, between the Germans and the Danes, and/or between the Swiss and the Poles were more concerned wit h whether or not a particular religion defined this interaction than they were with regard to the differential and cultures that necessarily existed between the two. For a large part of the dark/Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church had near unchallenged sway with regard to how people thought and believed in Europe. However, as a result of the challenge that Protestantism posed, the role and power of the Roman Catholic Church, and indeed the overall power that religion itself was able to project within this system were necessarily reduced. This is not say that Europe experienced anything like a miniature enlightenment during this period. Rather, the challenge of an alternate point of view led many individuals to challenge, at least on a personal level, whether or not the religion that they had so long clung to was effective in determining the mores and norms by which they would live. It is important to note at this juncture that even though Protestantism allowed for a deviation and distraction from the rigid constructs of Roman Catholicism, it was not necessarily any more friendly or

Dan And Mike Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dan And Mike - Essay Example However, the return on investment (ROI), was low as compared to other funds thereby meriting a change in approach a view also subscribed to by the younger generation of analysts in EPI. Mike's entry into EPI challenged the existing 'status-quo'. The founder members of EPI were unprepared and therefore unwilling to accept Mike's style of functioning as the traditional values of the firm were being challenged. That these new methods practiced by Mike produced amazing results as also earned the loyalty of junior analysts further caused jealousy amongst the senior partners. Riding on Mike's success, other fund mangers and researchers also began to back Mike in various forums, further widening the rift between the 'old' and the 'new'. This dissension within the organization had the effect of adversely affecting the operations of other members. The senior partners felt that Mike was deliberately going against EPI's laid down policy to "provide safe and moderate income[and that it was]the philosophy we used to solicit the investment[and therefore]approach we are obligated to maintain"(p373-4). In such an organizational climate, Mike began o criticize those who would not t oe his line. This would even include the senior partners who felt that Mike was willfully challenging their authority and position in the company by being insubordinate. Thus the conflict was both at a personal as well as organizational level. Q. What are the approaches to manage the conflict A. Essentially, the conflict was between the conservative senior partner of EPI and Mike the maverick. Obviously there was a need for a mediator who would be acceptable to both parties. Accordingly, one of the senior partners approached Dan, a founder member of EPI, as also is CEO. As the CEO it was Dan who had recruited Mike, overriding the reservations voiced by the other partners while at the same tie offering Mike, "the freedom and flexibility to operated a segment of the fund as he [Mike] desired"(p 373). By requesting Dan o resolve the conflict, EPI showed a degree of maturity. However, by insisting that, "Mike must either conform to the philosophyof the organization or else resign' (p 373), the senior partners showed a forcing approach to conflict management of impinging their views on others, an approach that can also have a negative fall-out. Dan on the other hand, had a reputation as a 'great equalizer' who liked to work through consensus. Dan's management philosophy was based on, "loyalty - loyalty to the organization...to membersto friends"(p372). Dan approached the situation keeping in mind this very fact that the resolution of the conflict must be a 'win-win' situation for all the players. Not only should the concerns of the partners be met and the EPI itself continue to prosper, but his promise of autonomy to Mike should also be upheld. Accordingly, Dan tried to reason with Mike in an attempt to find a compromise solution. While accepting the need for change, Dan pointed out that everyone in the company had to be taken on board and that, "The rate of change is as important as the direction "(p