Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Corporate Governance Coursework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Corporate Governance Coursework - Essay Example This creates a situation where, the CEOs are tasked with decision management while the board of directors charged with decision control on behalf of a public corporation’s shareholders. This means that the public shareholders do not engage directly in running the affairs of their Company. As such, effective corporate governance is necessary to ensure that those charged with running a public corporation engage in good practices (Shleifer & Robert 1997, p.743). Most public corporations tend to experience an incentive problem. Accordingly, those tasked with the management of the public corporation are not the owners (shareholders) or stakeholders who have an interest in the success of a public corporation. For example, the top managers (CEO) are a paid professional and may have their self-interests. As such, solving the problem where senior managers make decisions that are guided by personal interests and not the shareholders, require a system of checks and balances (Shleifer & R obert 1997, p.751). The governance systems in an organization may include the board of directors, whose purpose involves, for instance, hiring of the management. In addition, hiring the services of an external auditor is also necessary to check regularly on the accuracy of financial statements in an organization. Further, other constituents, for example, the media and regulators have an important role to play in terms of enhancing corporate governance in larger organizations that serves the risk bearing constituents (Harris & Ravis 2010, p.4118). Where the CEO and the board of directors work on behalf of the public shareholders, good corporate governance is critical. In this sense, the institutional systems and measures of enhancing accountability and proper ethics are necessary for efficient management of large organizations (Harris & Ravis 2010, p.4121). This paper explores

Monday, October 28, 2019

Importance of College Essay Example for Free

Importance of College Essay When I think of my college search, I think of a lot of stress and a lot of time. It was a very stressful time in my life and put a lot of pressure on me to get into a good school. Education is the most important part of one’s life. Not everyone goes to college right after high school, and college is not intended for everyone. For example, some people decide to work right after high school rather than go straight into college. College is quite expensive, and some may even say it is hard. However, college is not a bad thing. It has many good qualities. For instance, college is a time where students can venture out and meet new people. I knew without a college degree I would probably be going nowhere in my life. So, I decided to go to college. There were many reasons backing my decision to go to college: I wanted to make a better life for myself. I waneted to find a job where I would not be living paycheck to paycheck, like my parents have had to. I wanted to encounter things that I never realized could even exist, and to take classes taught by passionate instructors. But most of all, I wanted to prove that I could be successful. I did not do the whole high school experience thing at all. During my four years in high school, I was antisocial, and spent most of my time at home. But now that I am in college, I can experience so many things that I skipped out in in high school. It was a huge dream of mine to have friends, to be social, and to really be a teenager (or a young adult). I am hoping by being in college, I will be able to experience that. Being at such a young age, I literally hold my future in my own two hands, just as my other peers do. What I decided to do now with my life is what will affect my future, my familys future, and the outcome of my life. Without a good head start on life, I dont see any possible way for me to truly succeed. This can be compared to how one would construct a building. If you build a foundation out of sand and sticks, and try to build a skyscraper, the entire structure will topple. But, if you start with a solid foundation, such as cement, you can build a mighty tower. In the same sense, should I make something of myself while I am young, I will be able to continuously flourish throughout my lifetime. If I am able to do that, then I will have succeeded in my own eyes. After high school, many people do not consider going to college. But not going to college was not an option for me. My parents never went to college, and watching them struggle to make ends meet was awful. I just knew that I did not want to be in their situation.. Therefore, I do not want to live my life, paycheck to paycheck, and worrying about whether or not I am going to have enough money to pay to keep a roof over my head. The reason for going to college is that I wanted to have a better life. Not everyone can go to college to better themselves, but I am lucky, and truly blessed that I am getting a opportunity to better myself. In fact, college is extremely important to me. I am the first one in my immediate family to go to college so it is a big deal to everyone that I not just go, but to also graduate. Being in college, and getting a degree in whatever my heart desires, will open up so many doors for me. It would help me get a job that I not only like, but one that I look forward to going to everyday, and one that will make me feel like I am actually accomplishing something with my life. College is going to be a great thing for me, not just because it says â€Å"Oh look at me, I went to college†, but because I am doing something to make myself become a better person. My dream for my life in the next ten years is simple; to be happy and successful. I’m sure there are a lot of people who want to be successful in their life, but I don’t need to be making tons of money to be happy. I want to be happy with my job/career, and be able to support my family and I. My family had a big part in my choice of going to this school in particular. I didn’t have any ideas of what I wanted to do with my life or what kind of job I wanted. That was my major reason for coming to college; to figure out my life for the future. I would want my peers and teacher to remember me how I am today. I like to believe I am a nice, outgoing, and very open person. Someone you could come to for help and be able to talk to, or someone to make you laugh when you need a laugh. I was raised to treat everybody with respect and kindness, and I want to be remembered in that way. For people who have already finished high school, one of the choices they will have to make is whether to continue to higher education, which means going to college, or to start working and planning their life right away. Different people will have different choices of their own, but for me, I think there are a couple of reasons why I should attend college. I decided to go to college to get a bachelor’s degree in restaraunt management. A college degree will make me more competitive in the job market, and give me a better opportunity to receive a higher paying job. In order to maintain and promote your position at a company, you must have the knowledge and experiences that come from attending college. A person with a bachelor’s degree will earn, on average, almost twice as much as workers with a high school diploma. People with a master’s degree can earn up to $31,900 more per year than a high school graduate. And those who attend a two year college are able to earn up to $250,000 more than someone who does not. Going to college not only helps me better my life, but it also gives me a wider range of job opportunites. In todays society, more and more jobs are requiring that you have more than just a high school education. Attending college will help me gain skills that I will use in the workplace. In the past, workers were required to do very simple tasks which didnt require complicated skills. but, a`s time passed, these kinds of simple tasks have been replaced by machines. Therefore, large corporations and even small  companies want a person who is capable of completing somewhat more sophisticated jobs, the skills for which can be obtained from a college education. Also, taking college courses in English will help me improve my reading and writing skills, which are essential for any job. So, college is the best place to increase my knowledge and skills before I move on to the real world. College is important to me. I am the 1st one in my immediate family to go to college so it’s a big deal to everyone. So far, I love college, it has been a great thing for me, and I know in the end, it will really pay off, and turn me into someone that I want to be.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Essay --

I am certainly in no means becoming a scientist but I do like keeping up with what is happening in the world science wise as well as other things. I’ve seen how the media and politics have blurred the lines between what information is backed up by evidence and what is not. In Sagan’s essay I found that some of his tools to detecting ‘baloney’ are tools that I see myself use on a day to day basis without thinking or in school when I’m writing papers that are using logos, pathos, or ethos. I think everyone should try and practice Carl Sagan’s tools in baloney detection, as it would benefit you as a person to have substantial information with solid evidence. I agree that it is important to have independent confirmation of the ‘facts’ as Sagan said. I use this method most of the time at work; I work in health care and deal a lot with sending documentation to doctors. I have come across multiple times that a doctor’s office will say they never received a document and when I’m questioned about it, I always show the confirmation sheet that shows that the fax went through to the doctor’s office. If I only had my word that I sent it, I don’t have the evidence to back up my calm and it becomes a he said she said situation. Another good example having independent confirmation is say you’re having an argument with someone and they are just denouncing the evidence you found from performing a test, look into getting another set of results done from the same test by another person to show that not only have you come up with the same results but another person has also found the same evidence of your claims in their results. Another tool Sagan mentions that I believe is very good to practice is encouraging substantive debates. I don’t kn... ...ts that show that Greece is one of the most seismically active countries in the world. Be it having an argument in politics, science, or simple reasoning; these tools for detecting baloney are very useful and important. You don’t want to be that moron at a party just spewing ignorant nonsense just because it was what you read in a tabloid magazine that states that the world is going to end in the next few days by a massive asteroid hitting the Earth; you also don’t want to be the person caught believing what that moron is saying to be true without having good facts. I don’t always know when I use these tools but I know that how I think most of the time falls along the guidelines of these tools. I rather be properly informed of what I am learning or I rather be persuaded in a different view of something as long as it has substantial evidence to back up its claim. Essay -- I am certainly in no means becoming a scientist but I do like keeping up with what is happening in the world science wise as well as other things. I’ve seen how the media and politics have blurred the lines between what information is backed up by evidence and what is not. In Sagan’s essay I found that some of his tools to detecting ‘baloney’ are tools that I see myself use on a day to day basis without thinking or in school when I’m writing papers that are using logos, pathos, or ethos. I think everyone should try and practice Carl Sagan’s tools in baloney detection, as it would benefit you as a person to have substantial information with solid evidence. I agree that it is important to have independent confirmation of the ‘facts’ as Sagan said. I use this method most of the time at work; I work in health care and deal a lot with sending documentation to doctors. I have come across multiple times that a doctor’s office will say they never received a document and when I’m questioned about it, I always show the confirmation sheet that shows that the fax went through to the doctor’s office. If I only had my word that I sent it, I don’t have the evidence to back up my calm and it becomes a he said she said situation. Another good example having independent confirmation is say you’re having an argument with someone and they are just denouncing the evidence you found from performing a test, look into getting another set of results done from the same test by another person to show that not only have you come up with the same results but another person has also found the same evidence of your claims in their results. Another tool Sagan mentions that I believe is very good to practice is encouraging substantive debates. I don’t kn... ...ts that show that Greece is one of the most seismically active countries in the world. Be it having an argument in politics, science, or simple reasoning; these tools for detecting baloney are very useful and important. You don’t want to be that moron at a party just spewing ignorant nonsense just because it was what you read in a tabloid magazine that states that the world is going to end in the next few days by a massive asteroid hitting the Earth; you also don’t want to be the person caught believing what that moron is saying to be true without having good facts. I don’t always know when I use these tools but I know that how I think most of the time falls along the guidelines of these tools. I rather be properly informed of what I am learning or I rather be persuaded in a different view of something as long as it has substantial evidence to back up its claim.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Malcolm X Essay

During the 1960’s, the powerful speeches spoken about equality by two men about black empowerment, ultimately lead to them to their deaths. The words spoken by Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were so strong and influential, helping them gain great audiences and followers. King preached out over the â€Å"brotherhood† among races, and the importance of non-violence. Malcolm X, also advocated for the end to segregation, but emphasized the needs for blacks to become independent of the white man, and stand up for themselves. Both King and Malcolm X had similar goals in their minds, but took distinct paths to attain those goals. Both of their many speeches varied with great distinction. While the content and underlying ideas of the speeches may have different examples and ideas, they both use many common literary devices and rhetorical strategies to attain their audience’s attention. It is through Malcolm X’s use of emotion, together with the use of other strategies, that he ultimately created a more passionate influence on his audience. The early lives that these men lived had much influence on how they would later view racism, and speak out on segregation. Martin Luther King Jr., born Micheal Luther King Jr., was raised with a middle-class family, where his mother and father stressed the importance of obtaining an education (Martin). Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, came from a place filled with fear and danger, where the â€Å"Klansmen shouted threats and warnings [about how] ‘the good old Christian white people’ were not going to stand for [his] father’s ‘spreading trouble’† (X, Malcolm and 1). Malcolm’s early childhood experiences would be there to haunt him for the rest of his life. The experiences that these men encountered at a young age, planted the seeds to how they would flourish into the voices of the oppressed African-American people, and the ways in which they would deliver their speeches. Malcolm X, was furious at the idea that whites where trying to keep b lacks in their place, and were the reason why equality was still not being achieved. From a young age, Malcolm had suffered the effects of racism, never forgetting his eighth grade teacher telling him that â€Å"[he had] to be realistic about being a nigger. A lawyer- [that was] no realistic goal for a nigger† (X, Malcolm and 38). X, an intelligent student sharing similar dreams as King of becoming a lawyer, where soon shattered, causing him to drop out of school, and turn to drugs in order to get money. After being in jail for six years, Malcolm finally turned to Allah, where he began preaching black supremacy, and the separation between blacks and whites. Martin Luther King Jr.’s most prominent â€Å"I have a Dream† speech is lucid with its use of emotion, and all ­usion. King argues that African-Americans are not free according to the rights outlined in the United-States constitution. King not only presents his argument to the African-American community, but rather to all Americans, white and black. King delivers his argument successfully through his use of ethos. Throughout the speech, King alludes to his Christian morals, speaking out on how, â€Å"one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; â€Å"and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together† (Luther King). King acknowledges the fact that the majority of his audience believes in Christianity, therefore understanding the allusion to the bible. Finally, King refers to his audience as â€Å"his people.† This implies that King sees his audience equal and also it shows that not only the black people are â€Å"his people.† King presents his argument towards freedom, strategically placing emphasis on his moral authority. Malcolm X, flustered by King’s peaceful approach to obtaining African-American rights, wrote, â€Å"The Ballot or the Bullet,† as a direct response to King’s famous â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech spoken only a month before. Like King, Malcolm appeals to the emotions of his young black audience, stirring them with anger; and simultaneously, striking fear into the minds of his white listeners. Malcolm’s goal for this speech was to persuade his audience to take action into their own hands and bring about a serious long lasting change. â€Å"The Ballot or the Bullet† begins with Malcolm’s attempt to connect with his audience. He begins by greeting both his friends and enemies speaking out, â€Å"I just can’t believe everyone in here is a friend and I don’t want to leave anybody out† (X, Malcolm. Speech). X, immediately grab s the attention of his audience by, identifying with them, also putting aside religious aspects and focusing on simply â€Å"working together and putting aside their differences to fight for their rights† (Critical). As Malcolm continues delivering his speech, his use of repetition keeps his audience aroused with anger. X repeats, â€Å"I am not†¦Ã¢â‚¬  allowing his audience to identify with him, especially when he says that he is â€Å"not an American, but a victim of Americanism† (X, Malcolm. Speech). Here, Malcolm has fallen victim to racism. When X refers to â€Å"Americanism† he refers to things the United States is guilty of, like sexism, racism, and the power that the government has over people. In this quote, he doesn’t feel like a citizen of America anymore, although he should. He is equal to everyone else, but is treated otherwise just because he is African-American. The strong and powerful words that these two men spoke out will always be remembered in the history of the civil rights movement. Although King is a heroine in the eyes of the movement, his methods of obtaining a change were very amicable. It was Malcolm X’s strong militant diction, and his power to stir the crowds’ emotions that helped him instill more passion in what he was arguing for. X’s approach may have arisen from his catastrophic childhood, instilling him to speak out on black supremacy, and the liberation from having the government having control over them. Nevertheless, King’s approach allowed him to gain more followers, but it was Malcolm X’s rage against the white man, that allowed him to create a more passionate audience. Works Cited Boyer, Paul S. â€Å"The Turbulent Sixties.† The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People. Lexington, MA: D.C. Heath, 1990. Print. â€Å"Biography.† Martin Luther King -. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2012. . â€Å"Critical Analysis: The Ballot or The Bullet.† Socyberty. Web. 02 June 2012. . Luther King, Martin. Speech. I Have a Dream. Washington D.C. 28 Aug. 1963. American Rhetoric. Web. 02 June 2012. . Malcolm X. Dir. Spike Lee. Prod. Spike Lee. By Spike Lee and Arnold Perl. Perf. Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, and Al Freeman. Warner Bros., 1992. DVD. â€Å"Martin Luther King, Jr.† SparkNotes. SparkNotes. Web. 05 June 2012. . X, Malcolm, and Alex Haley. The Autobiography of Malcolm X. New York: One World/Ballantine, 1992. Print. X, Malcolm. Speech. The Ballot or the Bullet. Cory Methodist Church, Cleaveland. 3 Apr. 1964. Social Justice Speeches. Web. 02 June 2012. .

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Math Curriculum Reform Issue

Among the subjects learnt by students, Mathematics is among the subjects that are unpopular among the students. They perceive it a very hard subject especially to girls who think the subject should be reserved for boys. However, mathematics learning will be increased by the proposed National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in 1989. The curriculum proposed is very comprehensive and is likely to improve mathematics performance that has deteriorated for sometime now. One of the most important aspects that has contributed to student performance as a result of proposed National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in 1989 was due to emphasis the curriculum has put on geometry and spatial. Learning of Geometry has developed student’s understanding and appreciation as far as world’s geometric concepts are concerned. As far as children are concerned, they develop and enhance their ability to learn measurement ideas and learn number. These concepts also help students to be able to understand advanced mathematics that are learnt at higher levels. [1] Another most important concept that has improved student performance in Mathematics is because Geometry is introduced from Pre K to 12. It is very important for people to support the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics that was introduced in 1989 since it enhanced students’ performance in the subject. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics curriculum has promoted egalitarianism among the students as this was the main aim and objective of its development. The proposed Mathematics by National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is due to the fact that the ability of the student to be able to solve problems after studying the Mathematics. This is because, in the current world for one to survive comfortably, one has to go with the technology which is comes hand in hand with knowledge of Mathematics. The curriculum proposed is likely to promote student’s learning skill since they removed basic skills that were unnecessary and instead they focused on most important issues since they knew calculator and computers would eliminate calculation which is tedious. Another issue that can make us to support the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics curriculum is that previously, the curriculum had not been focused on all students as it had only focused on analytical, deductive and linear analytical that only met White (Anglo) learning style. For this case, the main aim and objective of the proposed National Council of Teachers of Mathematics was to develop a comprehensive curriculum that would cater for the needs of all students. [2] Currently, student performance in Mathematics has improved and the subject is no longer perceived as a hard subject like it used to be previously. The subject is now popular even to girls and it is should be encouraged since knowledge in Mathematics enhances understanding of other subjects. References National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (1989): Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics. Reston, VA: NCTM. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (1991): Worthwhile Mathematical Tasks – In Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (p. 25). Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Â   Â   [1] National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (1989): Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics. Reston, VA: NCTM. [2] National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (1991): Worthwhile Mathematical Tasks in Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (p. 25). Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Â   Â  

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Avon Guiding Coalition essays

Avon Guiding Coalition essays The change event for Avon Products, Inc. has been identified as transforming product ordering in the United States from a disjointed, multi-stage process which currently includes orders by mail, fax, phone, or internet to a strictly internet online order system. The transformed system will be completely functional by March 2006. To accomplish this task, a powerful guiding coalition will be necessary. The dictionary description of guiding is "one who shows the way by leading or directing" and coalition is "an alliance or union, especially a temporary one". The business environment at this time is rapidly changing. As such, to succeed, businesses must recognize that large-scale changes will only be possible as a result of new strategies, reengineering, restructuring, mergers, acquisisitions, downsizing, new products or new market development (Kotter, p 56, 1996). It is necessary to have a coalition with strong, credible leadership to be highly effective in this type of business climate. It must be strong one with the right composition, level of trust, and shared objective. Building such a team is always an essential part of the early stages of any effort to restructure, reengineer, or retool a set of strategies" (Kotter, p 52, 1996). Significant change, such as the one proposed for Avon, will certain ly require an alliance of strong leaders for the transformation to not only occur, but to have long term success. The steps to putting together the guiding coalition will include: 1) having enough key players on board, including mainline managers; 2) having coalition members with expertise so that informed, intelligent decisions are made; 3) having coalition members with credibility so pronouncements will be taken seriously by all employees; and 4) having coalition members that are proven leaders. John P. Kotter cites that major transformations are often associated with one highly visible individual" (p. ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

The Full Monty and Bridget Jones Essays

The Full Monty and Bridget Jones Essays The Full Monty and Bridget Jones Essay The Full Monty and Bridget Jones Essay In the West, during the 20th Century the traditional roles, views on inherent abilities and predispositions, and thus their representation in art, underwent a fundamental change, reflecting the feminist agenda that womens role could and should be equal to that of men. Sometimes these changes reflect the changes in the world, sometimes they are propaganda to promote such change, and yet others satirise inequalities. Contemporary representations of gender in art are consequently far different to that of their traditional gender roles, many of them subverted and even swapped; for example the dominant ideals right up to the 1970s was the male gaze, however in the 21st century the amount of media focusing on both the male and female gaze is nearer to equal. The gender roles displayed in both the Full Monty and Bridget Jones Diary differ largely from the traditional stereotypes. Both the Full Monty and Bridget Jones Diary show how the perception of gender roles has changed over time. Both demonstrate how in todays modern society females are gaining attributes that were usually associated with the male gender and vice versa. For example the Full Monty explores the female gaze while it is usually assumed that males lust after the female body. Typical working class labourers are required to perform a strip show and the main protagonists are a father and his son, whereas in the 20th century, fathers were not really promoted in films as the dominant parents to a child, nurturing being seen as more of a female attribute. Contradictory to the traditional role, none of the main male characters in the film are breadwinners; in fact they are all unemployed. When comparing Bridget Jones to Jane Austins Pride and Prejudice, which the book was loosely based upon, it is an obvious observation that Helen Fielding has brought the novel into the 21st Century. A working woman who socialises with feminists and camp homosexual men and has a desperate passion for cigarettes, chocolate and good times differs greatly from the more flaccid personality of Elizabeth. Although it could be argued that both pieces of media show positive change in the female gender role, Bridget Jones also shows how much social and media pressure is on women. Bridget is constantly trying to change; she is almost addicted to trying to better herself even if it is half-heartedly. Every new-year there is a long list made in the binary opposite forms I WILL and I WILL NOT of unrealistic resolutions that include Stop smoking, save up money, be more confident, reduce circumference of thighs. (1) She is very body conscious, which is demonstrated through her giant pants (2) and constant calorie counting and her insecurities are only reinforced by her love interest, Daniel Clever, leaving Bridget for an American stick insect (3) in the modelling industry, relating to the size zero debate, and the weight of celebrities which is all over the tabloids in popular culture, putting pressure on young female readers. In addition to this she (Bridget) continuously comments on the pressure from family and non-single friends, to achieve the married with 2. 4 children lifestyle she feels is expected of her. Bridget Jones is about the female struggle in todays society. However, in the Full Monty the roles are subverted. You can see the social and physical pressures that are placed on men, particularly as, after they start to practice the routine doubts begin to appear, due to some of the men not feeling secure about their appearances and lifestyles for different reasons. While Dave wraps himself in cling film, due to the fact he is unhappy with his body, and even quits the show less than a week before their performance because he couldnt imagine anyone wanting to see his naked body, Gerald, an unemployed steel worker who leads a middle class lifestyle, only agrees to being part of the act, as he is ashamed about not being able to financially support his wife. Providing for the family is one of the most key points rooted to the male gender tradition, just as one of the keys for women is to be a homemaker. Unlike traditional families, the protagonist Gary or Gaz is separated from his sons mother, who has a new partner, and again breaking with traditional stereotypes, it is the love the father has for his son that spurs on the act, as Gary needs to pay his child support. Both films and the book of Bridget Jones were huge best sellers. It is a personal belief that the successes of both the films are partially due to the uplifting nature of stories. The happy endings result in the deviance from traditional gender roles being accepted and supported by other characters, and the end result was not a failure. As shown on the television and often written about in the media, the UK has a problem with both obesity and eating disorders; people do deviate from the traditional and ideal physically, in their lifestyle choices and within aspects of their personality. It would appear that there is no longer a normal (assuming of course that there ever was! ) and moving every day closer to equality as female and male attributes merge, in our new hybrid society, both texts show that it is acceptable to digress from the traditional gender roles, which almost everyone does to some degree. Despite Bridgets cosmopolitan lifestyle, throughout the book she describes how she longs for a stable relationship, even though she is self-sufficient. It is clear that Bridget feels social pressures alongside those from her married friends and family, but Bridget clearly wants a relationship for her own stability and happiness despite the independent-woman drunken rants that she partakes in with her feminist friend Jude. While Helen Fielding has managed to reflect the increase in female independence in her novel, she has not diminished the longing for intimate adult companionship. This mirrors the marriage and divorce figures ((4)on overleaf) although there has been an increase in the number of divorces there has also been an increase in the number of people who re-marry. The data could suggest that an increase in choices and a slow progress towards equality from both genders has meant that the divorce rate has risen, but that the human need for adult company, love and affection has led to a society of serial monogamy.