Economic analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economic analysis - Essay Example Structural constraints faced by the economy have also been highlighted in the economy. 2.0 Introduction The GDP growth in India has been below potential in the last financial year (2012). Real GDP in the country has grown at the rate of 6.5 percent (according to 2012 estimate) (CIA, 2013). In 2011, the rate has been 6.8 percent (CIA, 2013). Hence there has been a 0.2 percent fall in the real GDP growth. According to a report from a leading newspaper of the country, the manufacturing sector is the major factor that is pulling the country’s growth rate downwards. This sector accounts for almost 17 percent of the country’s GDP. In the third quarter of the last year, the manufacturing sector grew by a meagre 0.8 percent. While India is mainly an agrarian economy, agriculture has grown at the rate of 1.2 percent in this quarter. This is definitely a gloomy picture that suggests that the government has a role to play to push the country’s growth status. The government of India has taken expansionary monetary policy to spur economic activities in the country. 3.0 Analysis 3.1 Monetary policy In the last year (2012) the government of India had increased interest rates to control inflationary pressure since rates of consumer price inflation fluctuated around 7.5 percent in the first two quarters of 2012 (Trading Economics, 2012). However, this policy failed to reduce inflation rates to the desirable extent. The most undesirable side effect has been felt on the level of private investment activities; fresh investment (as measured by the Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF)) was found to be only 33 percent of the GDP (Choudhury, 2012). GDP forecast for FY2013-14 has been scaled down from 6.2 percent to 6 percent by international brokerage firm Barclays (Economic Times, 2013a). The government has therefore taken expansionary fiscal policy to boost up investment activities in the country. The reserve bank of India has cut interest rates by 0.25 percent in May 2013, thereby reducing the repo rate from 7.5 percent to 7.25 percent (BBC, 2013). India is the third largest country in Asia and the government has cut interest rates in order to â€Å"stimulate a fresh wave of economic growth† (BBC, 2013). This policy has been adopted in an endeavour to swell money supply in the economy. Thus banks would possess more money for lending out to borrowers (NASDAQ, 2011). Rate of interest â€Å"is the opportunity cost of holding money† (Boyes and Melvin, 2008, 339). Low interest rate can be interpreted in this way; there is little opportunity cost of holding money. Money demand has negative relationship with rate of interest (Walsh, 2003). Therefore the money demand curve has a downward slope. As interest rate shrinks quantity of money demand rises. It is illustrated by the following figure: Figure: Money demand is a negative function of rate of interest (Source: Author’s Creation) As interest rates are reduced, supply of lo anable funds increase. This increases investment and consumption activities in the country. Figure: Lowering of interest rate supply of loanable funds rise (Source: Author’s Creation) Higher availability of lendable funds reduces interest rates from i1 to 12 and quantity of money demanded rises from L1 to L2. Downward trend of inflation in mid 2013

Effect of Social Media on Nigerian Undergraduate Essay Example for Free

Effect of Social Media on Nigerian Undergraduate Essay Rapid growth of popular online communication mediums has introduced new ways for the students to communicate. The vast array of social communication changes introduced by the relatively young prologue of social network site mandate the essences of this study. This study accessed the influenced social media (facebook in particular) on Nigeria youth in the higher institution. Specifically it attempts to collect facts on the positive and negative influence of facebook on Nigeria youth. Background of the Study  New type of communication influence by rapidly changing internet-based-technologies have spurred research on mass communications theory(Ruggerio,2000). during the period of 1988 to 1998 the internet grow nearly 100 percent every year as of January of 1998,it was estimated that 102 million people were using the internet globally(Bastian,1998). in 2007, the pew internet American life project forecasted that between 165 and 210 million users were surfing the internet in the united states alone (fallows,2007). Between November of 2006 and December of2009,the pew Internet American life project found that teenagers and young adults were consistently to highest users of the internet. social network sites, in particular, have provide a prominent medium for relationship formation (valkenburg, Peter sebouten,2006). As the internet quickly grow many key online technologies began to take shape. In 2008, social networking site were among the fastest rising most visited websites. CBC News reported that the popular social networking website Facebook jumped from the 60th most visited website to the 7th most visited website in 2008. One social network site in particular has become one of the most visited internet websites in the world. Initially started in February of 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, the social network site Facebook. com has become largely popular. Its mission has been to â€Å"give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected† (Facebook. com, 2009). Millions of users are empowered to communicate with friends, share information such as photographs and videos, and learn more about the individuals they meet on Facebook everyday (Facebook. com,2009) At the time of data collection for this study Facebook. om had over 900 million active users, approximately half of Facebook’s active users log into Facebook on a given day. In addition, users have historically spent 500 billion minute per month on Facebook (Facebook. com, 2010). As of spring of 2010, Facebook had become the most popular social network site in the world. As online social networking grows in popularity the number of users placing personal information online does as well. Studies as shown that undergraduates put high levels of personal information online/ including inappropriate and appropriate information,which can be easily accessed by anyone.  This study focused on the influences of social networking on undergraduate that are using Facebook. This literature review discusses the previous research and findings on the influence of Social Media (Facebook) on undergraduate, youth and children. According to data gathered from several sources by Online Education . net. Social media may have positive impact on students’ sense of themselves in the community. social media-using students were twice as likely as other students feel well-liked by their peers and to participate in extracirricular activities. And more of Facebook-using students (as compared to students who didn’t use Facebook) said they felt connected to their school and the world. However, negative effects abound student who use Faceebok and hit the books simultaneously found their multitasking led to a lower grades than those of their more focused peers. Not only do grade suffer, but students might actually end up feeling depress. As Facebook’s dominance continues to grow, we are starting to realize the impact it is having in society, particularly on youth. DR. Larry Rosen, a professor of psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills, researches on how technology impacts youth. Rosen presented his study at the 119th American Psychological Association Convention in Washington DC. His findings are based on survey responses from computer-based surveys distributed to 1,000 urban adolescents and his own 15-minute observation of 300 teenagers that were studying. Rosen said in a presentation title† Poke Me: How Social Network can both Help and Harm Our Kids. He said his research found both negative and positive influences linked to social networking. Rosen’s top three potential negative effects of Facebook; 1. Teenager who use Facebook more often show narcissistic tendencies while young adults who have a strong Facebook presence show more sign of other psychological disorders, including antisocial behaviours, mania, and aggressive tendencies. 2. Daily over use media and technology has a negative effect on the health of all children, preteens, an teenagers by making them more susceptible to future health problems’ 3.  Facebook can be distracting and can negatively impact learning. Studies found that middle school, high school, and college students who checked Facebook at least once during a 15-minute study period achieved lower grades. Rosen’s top three potential positive effects of Facebook; 1. Young adult who spend more time on Facebook are better at showing â€Å"virtual empathy† to their friends 2. Online social networking can help introverted adolescents learn how to socialized behind the safely of various screens, ranging from two-inch smart phone to 17-inch laptop.   3.  Social networking can provide tools for teaching in compelling ways that engage young students. Jasmine, P. (2011) rightly said; today youth is addicted to social networking site like orkut, Facenook, e. t. c. But nowadays especially Facebook is most popular amongst youth. Due to this over indulgence, their studies suffer a lot. Even it not only hinder their studies but also their physical, social, mental and ethic growth. Children have become couch potato. Parents are under stress to see their children spending more and more time on this social network sites. ot only children became a prey of these but every age group fascinated of this sites. this sites are meant for connecting people, to make them socialize, communicate with each other, share videos, photos, their past memories etc. but people especially youth used whole day wasting their time on this sites. they are addicted to this sites. Mose Jator(2011)also has this to say; social networking is good to some extent that people share views and ideas as well as keep in touch with friends and love ones. ooking at it on the other hand, you will discover that people today tend to use this avenue for their selfish interests which in most cases offend public decency. Some use fake identity. Looking at it on the other hand, you will discover that people today tend to use this avenue for their selfish interests which in most cases offend public decency. Some use fake identities with the sole aim of cheating hence the prevalence of cybercrime. Many youth today found themselves in one secret society and either consciously or unconsciously through social networking. Walther (1995) postulates that computer-mediated communication(e. g. social network)offers additional opportunity for students with limited amounts of time for socialization to develop their personal relationship than their face-to-face peers(as cited in Mazar, Murphy Simonds,2007). Methodology The intent of this study is to examine the influence of facebook on undergraduates. it seek to determine the positive and negative impact of facebook have on undergraduates attitude, grade and social life. An interview with 15 respondent from the major higher institutions in kwara state. Interview guide was used in collecting in-depth or rich data from the respondent. the purpose of this section is to describe the methodology used in this qualitative study. Findings Social media has become an integral part of our lives and no group feels it impact more than students. Facebook started on college campuses and it continue to thrive there the most. there’s no doubt that social media has had a huge impact on the lives of students, but what’s less clear is whether this impact has been good or bad. As a result of the interview guide administered to undergraduate of higher institution of Kwara state. Akinkunmi Jayeola, a business study student of Kwara state polytechnic posited that facebook are good platform for sharing what’s in your mind, a good medium of communication, easiest and cheapest means of communication. it’s a good way to stay connected with your friends in this fast going trend. You get a good knowledge about present going things. He later go further by pointing out the negative side of it by stressing that, if you give it so importance it will make you as slave. Another opinion from Afolayan Kabir another student from same institution also elaborate what Akinkunmi has said by stressing that facebook is good to use if we use it to some limit. it help us in improving our communication, use for creating awareness and negative aspect of it is that students waste too much time on this site. Baderu Ayotunde also have something to say; he rightly stress that it is good for student to use facebook if it is used in a right way because it a means for individual to explore the world without physically taking risks. nother student expositing on Baderu’s point of view that facebook is a good things for youth of Nigeria to think beyond friendship to close or old friends and new friends around the globe, one can share thought to each other and exchange the knowledge. he further enriches his point by sitting instant like; Today if breaking news happens before the news channels flashes, facebook flashes up the detail which were uploaded or shared by t he nearby person using facebook. he took his stand that to him that facebook is the way to develop the people of Nigeria and aware them. Najeeb Blogun student of university of Ilorin held a contrary opinion by stating that facebook have a negative impact on youth by spoiling their life and killing their most valuable time in chatting rather than spending time more on their studies. He go further by also positing that youth are cheatting one another by their false name on facebook, like a boy coming into facebook and introducing himself as a girl to divert attention towards himself and exploiting the people’s mind, it may also increase terrorism. In exploring the underlying structures of influence of facebook on Nigeria youth, the fact deduce is that facebook site has became the means of communication where individual were connected with friends and relatives with this sites as they don’t have enough time to spend with their friends in their busy schedule they can stay connected with them by sharing their feelings, thoughts, pictures etc. It’s the easiest and cheapest means of communication as now that internet is easily accessible to everybody. As anything that exceeds its limit becomes addiction therefore this can affect anyone that got addicted to facebook. The information uploaded can be misused by the people so it increases the question of privacy. so adaptation of things in limited ways is important.

Brief History of Sustainability :: Environment Economy Sustainable Development

A Brief History of "Sustainability" â€Å"[M]odern industries still operate according to paradigms that developed when humans had a very different sense of the world† (McDonough and Braungart 26)—when resources were thought to be infinite. In 1972 the UN convened the Conference on the Human Environment where â€Å"the global community acknowledged that more exploration was needed of the inter-relationships between the environment and socio-economic issues of poverty and underdevelopment. Thus the concept of sustainable development emerged in the 1980s in response to a growing realization of the need to balance economic and social progress with concern for the environment and the stewardship of natural resources† (â€Å"Education,† par. 2). The concept of sustainability has since permeated the globe. It is integrated within curricula or used to refer to â€Å"green† campus initiatives at numerous international and national universities, including: Yale, Stanford, Harvard, Arizona State University, UMass Lowell (Lowell Center for Sustainable Production), UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Alaska Anchorage, George Washington University, and Colombia. MIT is part of an international partnership called the Alliance for Global Sustainability. Created in 1997, the Alliance â€Å"brings together hundreds of university scientists, engineers, and social scientists to address complex issues that lie at the intersection of environmental, economic and social goals† (â€Å"Alliance†). In 1999 Dow Jones launched Sustainability Indexes, which are â€Å"the first global indexes tracking the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide† (â€Å"Dow†). By 2002, at the UN Johannesburg Summit, social justice and poverty were recognized as â€Å"key principles to development that is sustainable. The human and social aspects of sustainable development meant that solidarity, equity, partnership and cooperation were as crucial as scientific approaches to environmental protection† (â€Å"Education,† par. 6). At the 2002 Summit, the United Nations General Assembly declared years 2005–2014 the Decade for Education for Sustainable Development â€Å"as a way of signalling that education and learning lie at the heart of approaches to sustainable development† (â€Å"Education,† par. 6). According to the UN Educational, Social, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), â€Å"Improving the quality of education and reorienting its goals to recognize the importance of sustainable development must be one of UNESCO’s and the world’s highest priorities† (â€Å"Education,† par. 10). The Association of University Leaders for Sustainable Development, whose mission is to â€Å"make sustainability a major focus of teaching, research, operations and outreach at colleges and universities worldwide† (â€Å"About†), has partnered with the International Association of Universities and UNESCO. â€Å"The rationale for

Formation of Corporations and Stocks Essay

* Why does a company choose to form as a corporation? What are the steps required to become a corporation? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the corporate form of doing business? Corporations are created in order to separate the businesses finances from the person’s individual finances so that they can protect themselves financially. The advantages of forming a corporation are that the business can obtain the credibility so that consumers are more comfortable. Since consumers normally prefers to do business with a corporation. Also by forming a corporation the person protects their assets and name by forming a corporation. The disadvantages are that the process is lengthy and pricey. Also corporations often end up paying more in taxes. Corporations are also monitored very closely and must be in compliance with several entities. * Why is preferred stock referred to as preferred? What are some of the features added to preferred stock that make it more attractive to investors? Would you select preferred stock or common stock as an investment? Why? Preferred stock is considered preferred because it has dividend preference over common stock. Preferred stockholders have the right to receive dividends before common stockholders. The per share dividend amount is stated as a percentage of the preferred stocks per value or as a specified amount. Preferred stockholders must ne paid their annual dividend plus any dividends in arrears before common stockholders receive any dividends. I would select referred stock over common stock because I want to get paid as quickly as possible. * What are the different types of dividends corporations may issue? When should a corporation pay dividends? Do you prefer a stock dividend or a cash dividend? Why There are four types of dividends: 1. cash dividends, 2. property dividends, 3. scrip (note), and 4. stock dividends. A corporation should pay dividends when it has retained earning, adequate cash, and a declaration of dividends. I would prefer a cash dividend. If the corporation issues stock, they are not having to spend actual cash. I want to be reassured that the business actually has my money. I have seen it too many times where huge corporations lie and cheat on paper. I also do not really like the stock market and never have been good at buying, selling, or owning stock.

Healing Hospital: A Daring Paradigm Essay

As health care providers, it is natural to want to heal the patients completely. Today, many people are wanting and needing more from their health care system. The healing hospital paradigm incorporates the process of physical healing, as well as the mind and spiritual healing (Erie Chapman Foundation, 2009). Spirituality is the foundation of the meaning of life. For some, the foundation is built on religion and for others it may include things like music, art, family or the community (Erie Chapman Foundation, 2009). This paper will identify the concepts of a healing hospital, technological advances, and the physical design of the hospital, along with the culture in which promotes a holistic approach to total patient care. When planning to create a healing environment in a hospital setting, the most important thing to remember is the patient. Healing environments give the patients a sense of comfort, and a sense of safety. This type of environment helps the patient and family cope with the stressors of injury and illness. The components of a healing environment include three important elements. The first is a healing physical environment, which encompasses not only how to care for the patient, but to care for their families, caregivers and also the members of staff (Eberst, 2008). A healing environment should focus on reducing noise levels as well as fewer night time interruptions of sleep, this is known to promote rest and healing. Providing a room with a focus on lighting, music, color and architectural design, can also promote healing (Ananth, Kreisberg, & Jonas, 2011). Working in a quieter environment helps staff enjoy an overall less stressed area to do their work, which results in fewer errors. T he next component of importance is that of an integrating work design with new technology. This focus is on patient privacy, a more efficient work environment for staff, and advanced technology in the hospital to support the healing process. The last component is essential to creating a Healing Hospital. Incorporating the â€Å"Radical Loving Care† philosophy to all that staff the hospital, from housekeeping to the physicians. This philosophy was developed by Erie Chapman, a well-known healthcare industry leader. The philosophy encourages a culturally compassionate, delivery of care to patients and their families. This type of care promotes healing a patient using a holistic approach,  meeting the physical needs of the patient as well as their emotional and spiritual needs (Eberst, 2008). A great example of a healing hospital is Mercy Gilbert Hospital, built in 2006, located in beautiful Arizona. This facility operates under the 2008 CEO of the year, Laurie Eberst. (Erie Chapman Foundation, 2009). During the building of this hospital, Ms .Eberst focused not only on the structure of the facility but also the staff and culture of caring that they deliver to their patients and family members. One program that stands out is the â€Å"No One Dies Alone† program. Volunteers for this program are specially trained to be with the dying patient when loved ones are not able to be present. Also, the fact that the code team stays with the patient who has passed in order to honor the life of that patient (Erie Chapman Foundation, 2009). These are all standards of care at Mercy Gilbert, and what helps this hospital stand out from the rest. The challenges to creating a healing hospital include many of the same challenges of building any healthcare system. Some of these issues include the process of getting the entire healthcare team involved and participating in a new model of delivering care to the patients. The budget for the education, training the entire staff and providing the newest technology for the hospital. Nurses and physicians experience high burnout rates from the physical and mental challenges of their careers. Stresses of the occupation can bring about physical illness, including musculoskeletal, as well as mental issues such as depression (Ananth, Kreisberg, & Jonas, 2011). Nurses and physicians need to heal their own mind, body and soul in order to care for others using a compassionate and loving culture of care. Another challenge is being able to engage the whole community, making new partners for a better living environment. The foundation of health and better living starts with the people of the comm unity being more proactive in their health (Neigher & Hakim, 2011). In the King James Version of the Bible, one verse that relates to a healing hospital is Galatians 3:28, it states that â€Å"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus†. (King James online, n.d.). This verse represents the healthcare community in all that they do. They should, in a healing  environment, as well as in their communities, treat everyone equally. It does not matter where a person comes from, how much money they have, what type of insurance one holds, or how much they contribute to society, everyone should be treated equally and wholly. In a radical loving and caring culture, the belief is that we are not human beings having an occasional spiritual experience, but that we are spiritual beings having a temporary human experience (â€Å"Spirituality,† n.d., p. 1) Each and every encounter we experience as humans, with another, is a blessed encounter. In conclusion, a healing hospital environment provides comfort and compassion to patients and their families during difficult, stressful times in their lives. A positive environment promotes total body healing. Change is something that is constant for growth. It takes only a few committed individuals to start the change in any organization (Neigher & Hakim, 2011). References Ananth, S., Kreisberg, J., & Jonas, W. (2011). Exploring the science of healing. Retrieved from http://www.samueliinstitute.org Eberst, L. (2008, March/April). Arizona medical center shows how to be a ’Healing Hospital’. Health Progress, 89, 77-79. Retrieved from https://library.gcu.edu:2443/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/docview/274635012?accountid=7374 Erie Chapman Foundation. (2009, April 12). Days 102-104- top ten healing hospital list & CEO of the year. Radical Loving Care- The Journal of Sacred. Retrieved from http://journalofsacredwork.typepad.com Neigher, W. D., & Hakim, S. M. (2011, June 17). Creating a Sustainable â€Å"healing culture† throughout a healthcare system: using community psychology principles as a guide. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 2(3), 1-25. Retrieved from http://www.gjcpp.org Seeking Spirituality. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.spiritualfocus.com/spiritual-quotes The official King James Bible online. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-Hospitals/

College and High School Essay Example

College and High School Essay Example College and High School Essay College and High School Essay Essay Topic: High School College and High School BY rnvl 129 College and High School Essay As many of you may know education is very important in our lives because without it you will struggle in life. High school and college have many similarities. Despite, having those similarities, both of them have many differences as well. The similarities and differences that high school and college have are costs, workload, and social aspects. Overall, college is more expensive, has more academic challenges, and offers a better social environment for students than in high school. College is more expensive than high school because of tuition, living expenses, and books. You may choose to live at home when you are in college and most definitely live at home when you are in high school. Many times a student in college may decide to live in a dorm or an apartment, but in high school you are not given that option. Living expenses are around$400-$600 per month. Unlike college, you are provided with all of the books in high school. In contrast, you must pay for the books, which is around $300-500 per erm. In college you must also pay for tuition, which is around $1,500 $2,000 per term when you attend college and in high school you are funded by the government. The workload in college is more challenging than the workload in high school. There are fewer assignments to do in high school. The difference in the number of assignments is very high because for high school it is 1-3 while in college it is 3-5. The final grade for college is 25%-50% and for high school it is 5%-25%. Most of the ssignments in high school are less challenging and time consuming than in college because many of the assignments are easy. In contrast college assignments may take up to 2-8 hours to complete them. College offers more activities, sports, and clubs than high school because students can play on varsity teams while in high school you are not allowed and must find outside programs to be able to Join varsity teams. Most of student in high school are underage and public nights are not allowed. On the other hand, college favors that public night on campus. The activities that are allowed in college but not in high school are Halloween, Valentines Day, and Christmas. It would be great to have a pool in school so you can relax or do other activities in the pool. Well, high school does not have this, but in most colleges it does exist. It is obvious that college is very different in comparison to high school. College is very expensive has more assignments and the environment is around people is outstanding. High school is below college and has fewer advantages when comparing it to college.

Definition and Examples of Gender (Sociolinguistics)

Definition and Examples of Gender (Sociolinguistics) In sociolinguistics and other social sciences, gender refers to sexual identity in relation to culture and society. The ways in which words are used can both reflect and reinforce social attitudes toward gender. In the U.S., the interdisciplinary study of language and gender was initiated by linguistics professor  Robin Lakoff in her book  Language and Womans Place (1975). Etymology From Latin, race, kind Example and Observations It is quite clear that language use and the use of language are inseparablethat over generations and centuries, peoples constant talking deposits cultural beliefs and ideas in the medium of communication. At the same time, the weight of the linguistics system constrains the kinds of things we say and the ways we say them.   (Penelope Eckert and Sally McConnell-Ginet, Language and Gender, 2nd ed. Columbia University Press, 2013)  Ã‚   Language Use and Social Attitudes Toward Gender [T]here is now a greater awareness in some parts of the community that subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, distinctions are made in the vocabulary choice used to describe men and women. Consequently, we can understand why there is a frequent insistence that neutral words be used as much as possible, as in describing occupations e.g., chairperson, letter carrier, salesclerk, and actor (as in Shes an actor). If language tends to reflect social structure and social structure is changing, so that judgeships, surgical appointments, nursing positions, and primary school teaching assignments are just as likely to be held by women as men (or by men as women), such changes might be expected to follow inevitably. . . . However, there is still considerable doubt that changing waitress to either waiter or waitperson or describing Nicole Kidman as an actor rather than as an actress indicates a real shift in sexist attitudes. Reviewing the evidence, Romaine (1999, pp. 312-13) concludes that attit udes toward gender equality did not match language usage. Those who had adopted gender-inclusive language did not necessarily have a more liberal view of gender inequalities in language.   (Ronald Wardhaugh, An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 6th ed. Wiley, 2010) Doing Gender It is apparent that when friends talk to each other in single-sex groups, one of the things that is being done is gender. In other words, the fact that female speakers mirror each others contributions to talk, collaborate in the co-narration of stories and in general use language for mutual support needs to be considered in terms of the construction of femininity. For many men, by contrast, connection with others is accomplished in part through playful antagonisms, and this ties in with mens need to position themselves in relation to dominant models of masculinity.    (Jennifer Coates, Gender. The Routledge Companion to Sociolinguistics, ed. by Carmen Llamas, Louise Mullany, and Peter Stockwell. Routledge, 2007) A Highly Fluid Social Category Like language, gender as a social category has come to be seen as highly fluid, or less well defined than it once appeared. In line with gender theory more generally, researchers interested in language and gender have focused increasingly on plurality and diversity amongst female and male language users, and on gender as performativesomething that is done in context, rather than a fixed attribute. The whole notion of gender, and identity in general is challenged when this is seen, rather like language itself, as fluid, contingent and context-dependent. This is mainly an alternative theoretical conception of gender, though there are also suggestions that identities are loosening so that in many contexts people now have a wider range of identity options.   (Joan Swann, Yes, But Is it Gender? Gender Identity and Discourse Analysis, ed. by Lia Litosseliti and Jane Sunderland. John Benjamins, 2002)