4. Post-school education in the usa (basic principles, types of educational establishment).

The American educational system is based on the idea that as many people as possible should have access to as much education as possible. This fact distinguishes the US system from others which screen people out as it is to keep them in . The US system has no standardized examinations which results allow students to go on to higher levels of study. American system tries to accommodate students even if their academic aspiration and aptitudes are not high, if they are physically\mentally handicapped or even if their native language is not English. This idea is an outcome of the Americans’ assumptions about equality among people.

There are 2 main categories of institutions of higher learning: public and private. All schools get money from tuition and private contributions. However public schools are supported by the state and as a result tuition is lower in public schools.

Schools are grouped by the types of programs and degrees they offer. The three major groups are:1)community colleges 2)four-year colleges 3) universities. Community colleges offer the first 2 years of undergraduate studies, such colleges are supported by local or\and state funds. Community colleges offer technical training in many areas of study: health services, office skills, computer science.

There are liberal arts colleges which means that they offer studies in the humanities, languages, mathematics, social sciences and sciences. Some colleges specialize in training students for one particular occupation (agricultural). Many specialized undergraduate institutions that are not called colleges also provide higher education: conservatories, seminaries and fine arts schools. After graduating from a college a student gets bachelor’s degree.

American universities offer three main categories of graduate degrees in most fields of specialization. A master’s degree is earned after 1\2 years of study beyond the bachelor’s degree. Doctor’s degree usually takes at least three years beyond master’s.

The main difference between a college and a university is that a university offers a wider range of undergraduate programs and also offers graduate studies. It encourages its faculty and its graduate students to do research that will advance human knowledge. Colleges, on the other hand, are primary undergraduate schools with no commitment to train students for research.

18. Modern feminism:pros and cons.

Feminism is the organized movement which promotes equality for men and women in political, economic and social spheres.

Feminists believe that women are opposed simply due to their sex based on the dominant ideology of patriarchy. Throughout history men have had greater power in both the public and private spheres. To maintain this power,men have created boundaries and obstacles for women, thus making it harder to hold power.

Feminism ideology can take many different forms. In the 1970s,women started developing a theory which helped to explain their oppression. Pockets of resistance began to organize and challenge patriarchy. By the 1980’s,however,feminists started disagreeing. What was once one theory,began to branch out into many theories. I can name some of them.

1) Social feminism. Socialist feminists believe that there is a direct link between class culture and the oppression of women . Society rewardsworking men because they produce material goods,on the other hand, women’s work in the domestic sphere is not valued. The way to end this oppression is to put an end to class and gender.

2) Cultural feminism. Cultural feminists believe that there are fundamental,biological differences between men and women,and that women should celebrate these differences. Women are inherently more kind and gentle. They believe that if women ruled the world there would be no more war.

3) Ecofeminism. Ecofeminists believe that male domination is harmful to women,as well as the environment. Men feel as though they conquer both in order to have complete power. There is a deep connection between the earth and women men cant understand ,hence the terms” Mother Nature” or “ Mother Earth”.

Like any other movement feminism has its own pros and cons.

Pros:

1) Women strived to obtain equality in every sphere of life and have achieved this aim.

2) The equal rights help to create healthy society ,which is the generator of social balance.

3) The ability of self realization

4) The ability of women to protect themselves.

5) Through feminism women get greater confidence in themselves.

6) Women have acquired a higher social status as a result of this movement.

7) Elimination of job and sex discrimination.

8) More possibilities opened in jobs and social activities.

9) Feminism caused more participation in the family affaires on the part of men.

Cons:

1) Higher rate of divorces, low birth rate

2) Appearance of gender war and hatred to men

3) Some radical types of feminism were created. For ex “ femi naris” –women who try to produce as many abortions as possible

4) Loss of femininity,as a result of this the creation of unisex and problems with gender identification.

5) Domination of the role of men

6) Same sex marriages

7) Linguistic factors: extreme cases in the language (history-herstory)