The effect of BRIC countries on the Triad

The effect of BRIC countries on the Triad The United States, Japan and the European Union have long been regarded as the leading economic powers in the world. Referred to as à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¹Ã…“The Triadà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢, this group of nations represents the largest economic power bloc in the world. With strong economic controls, they are able to grow their economies in measured steps. This is in stark contrast to the growth of many BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries whose growth is rapid and often uneven in both tempo and regional development (Dhaval 2010). The United Kingdom, traditionally allied with the Triad, has both opportunities and threats from the emerging BRIC nations. These include challenges to existing industries within the United Kingdom itself and also in competition with usual export markets for their goods, prompting GDP growth. However, with the competition also come expanded markets and niches where the United Kingdom may be able to compete to sell goods. The different sectors of the United Kingdom will be affected by the power shift in different ways. The main sectors will have to compete for raw materials in an increasingly competitive market, which will cause prices to rise. However, the services and technology sector, especially in the areas of software development and higher education may well experience a boom, as they are in high demand, require an educated work force and do not rely on primary resources (An Overview of the BRIC Economies 2010). The well educated middle class demographic could do well from such a boom. Overall, however, the BRIC economies represent a rising threat to the stability of the global economy and to international trade. While the Triad have undergone their own trials, with the Global Financial Crisis, Greek bailouts and Japanese à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¹Ã…“Lost Decadeà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢, they have at least managed to some degree. With the possible exception of China, the rest of the BRIC lack sufficient controls over monetary and fiscal policy to correct the problems that might befall them. You may think that it is good to see the BRICs gaining power. It means that as these nations become more prosperous nations they can help to address global problems. Who wouldnà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t like it if China, India, and Russia started to clean the oceans and feed the starving nations of Africa? That however is the problem with the emerging BRICs. These countries usually do not find it in their best interest to assist in solving global problems. They prefer not to get involved in things that do not benefit themselves. Many of the BRICs prefer to use old Cold War methods of operating. They find it easier and more profitable to say they are like the United States and care for their citizens in public, and oppress them in private; than to generally make life for the average citizen better. Nations such as China send their citizens to work camps for tweets, and are some of the biggest non regulated polluters in the world (Associated Press 2010). OVERVIEW: The United Kingdom business environment is beginning to change. The current global economic troubles are starting to affect business within the UK business community. There has been a power shift from the established Triad of the United States, European Union, and Japan; to the emerging economies (BRICs) of China, India and several smaller nations. It is hard to say if this power shift is good or bad. Some growth for the BRICs is a good thing. The increase in the economic power of emerging nations will allow them to help their own countries and to increase the trade of global goods. This is beneficial to the world as a whole. However, the current rapid growth they are experiencing today is very dangerous. With the BRICsà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ rapid growth and less need for international trade, nations such as the UK can be facing tough times. The business environment in the United Kingdom especially is at a great risk due to the declining powers of the current Triad. The Triad of economic power; that has held the economy in not only the UK but the whole world together since the end of the Cold War, is starting to lose its grip on the world economy. The growth in foreign economic power is leading to increasing strain on global prices on raw materials. This then leads to strain on every business in the UK. Due to this increasing stress and uncertainty in the markets, the UK is rapidly approaching uncertain times. Industries such as airlines and other transportation services are already suffering due to high global oil prices. It is possible to see why there is concern for a loss in trade that can be brought about by the growing BRICs. This is all being compounded by a decrease in growth and a troubling global economy. While the current forecasts for the United Kingdom business economy look bleak, there is still time to turn things around. The governing power of the UK may be able to do something to stabilize the economy, and protect the business infrastructure. But, with the government struggling to sustain the economy with massive bailouts, and economic manipulation; things are not looking good for business in the UK. MAIN REPORT: With emerging economies (BRICs) such as China, India, Brazil and Russia; it may seem like there are new world powers that can assist in the stabilization of the global economy. However that point of view is only for the short-sighted, who neglect to see the economic strain that is placed on the global economy. With the recent bail out of Greece and the massive 85 billion euro bail out of Ireland, the UK is in a tough economic predicament (Davis 2010) (Irish Republic 85bn euro bail-out agreed 2010). This predicament is caused by the unstable and rapid growth of these BRICs. The growth of these emerging economies is not regulated and controlled like the Triads, and this leads to a dangerous and unstable economy. Countries such as China which plans to raise their GDP from 1.54% to 2.5 % by 2020, is one of the most dangerous (Narendra 2010). China as one of the fastest growing economies in the world can be seen as a threat to global stability. With their highly unstable growth, and unregulated economy, it is only matter of time before China starts a ripple effect that will devastate the UK economy (Dixon 2010). With the shifting of power from the US and UK toward China at an alarming rate, China is quickly becoming a massive economic force. With the shift in economic power, nations such as China have far less need to export goods to outside nations and less need to purchase imports from other nations. This is leading to economic troubles in the United States. This in turn, causes economic troubles for the UK. With BRICs increasing their self reliance and lessoning their dependence on foreign nations, the economic strain will drastically increase in the UK in the long run. This can be seen in various goods that have recently seen high prices not seen in decades, such as the price of raw sugar (Plummer 2009). This increase in raw material prices leads to increased prices for processed materials, which causes increases in the cost of living (Verma 2010). [See Figure 1] With the increased cost of living and the economic power shifting to unstable foreign powers, the UK is quickly approaching uncertain economic times. With the increase in price of raw materials, business in the UK is starting to suffer. While it may seem that the worst is over, the UK auto industry is reporting an estimated increase of 160bn euro in the cost of vehicle components by 2020. While the increase in demand for components will increase, it is only a matter of time before China, with its unregulated cheap labour begins to out produce the UK, which will lead to greater economic troubles (Berret, Bernhart 2010). The future of business in the UK looks bleak with the budget balance expected to expand to a dangerous -13% of the GDP. [See Figure 2] This would increase the public debt of the UK to over 70% of the GDP. It would cause the borrowing rates of the UK to rise and make banks less likely to loan to new businesses (UK Economy 2010, Economic Forecast). [See Figure 3] With no new loans, an increase in the cost of raw materials and increases in the cost of living; local businesses will began to suffer greatly which will lead to higher unemployment rates. With the loss of local business, unemployment is expected to climb. Unemployment that is estimated by some to increase to 4 million by 2012. In addition to climbing unemployment and rising costs, growth in the UK is expected to be a mere 2% by 2012. This will cause a domino effect where businesses cannot hire new employees, and out of work citizens cannot afford goods, causing more business to collapse thus leading to greater unemployment (Hopkins 2009) (Inman 2010). [See Figure 4] This shift from power to the BRICs is going to cause troubles with not only the UK economy but the global economy as well. While it may be harsh to say that growing economies on the emerging world is bad, it is a fact. While the rest of the world grows at a rapid and unsustainable rate, the larger nations and the United Kingdom will face tough economic times until the BRICs collapse under their own weight. While it is certain the BRICs will remain dominant for the foreseeable future, it is inevitable that they will become unable to sustain themselves and have to turn by to the Triad for help; one must just hope it is still there (Ionescu, and Oprea). With the loss of business and the increase in unemployment, UK business as a whole will suffer greatly. [See Figure 4] The transportation industry which is already suffering due to high fuel cost and the threat from global terrorism will suffer even greater when they see huge deceases in travelling Europeans. The loss in traffic will not only hurt the transportation industry but the tourism industry as well; which in turn hurts local businesses even more. This chain reaction of a crumbling economy and loss in growth will lead to panic and strife among neighbours that will threaten the European Union as a whole. All of this will happen while nations such as China increase in both economic and military strength. With a powerful nuclear armed China and an increasing Russian economy, it is possible to see a threat of a renewed Cold War. (Pop 2006) This may seem farfetched for a younger population that does not remember the great threat and fear felt throughout the world. It is not the case for an older population that knew all too real the threat of the Soviet Union. One may think this is never going to happen, as this is the modern world. It is always the modern world, and the threat is all too real. Russia, China, and other BRICs are gaining power, and nations such as North Korea are starting to stir up trouble. One just has to look at the fact to see that not just the UK but the whole world is quickly approaching a change. It is a change that for better or worse will be here in our lifetime and in the near future. Whether you are a UK business owner or a possible investor; you can not overlook the changing times, where the Triad is no longer the most dominant economic power. CONCLUSION: The United Kingdom will face many challenges in the future. There is significant risk in relying on the BRIC economies to generate economic growth, as this growth is unplanned and relies on many unpredictable factors. In addition, many businesses in the United Kingdom are already under pressure. It is therefore likely that standards of living are set to fall and unemployment is going to rise. The nations of the BRIC, unlike the nations of the Triad, lack sufficient fiscal control and monetary policy to effectively police their economies. When this is combined with the decline in the Triad, it will spell uncertainty for many of sectors within the United Kingdom. In particular, it will be very difficult for the manufacturing sectors to compete against the low labour costs of the BRIC nations. Additionally, without environmental regulation, a minimum wage or an educated populace, it will make it even harder for manufacturing to survive. This is in addition to rising raw material costs, which will in turn raise living costs. It is unfortunate, but the BRIC economies represent the introduction of even more people into the global market place. The small population and many main market sectors being challenged by their competitors in the BRIC means hard times ahead for the business environment in the United Kingdom. References An Overview of the BRIC Economies. URL: (http://www.selloverseas.co.uk/overview-bric-economies.html [29 Nov 2010]. Associated Press. (2010) Chinese women sent to labour camp for retweeting. 18 November 2010. Available from: [Accessed 28 November 2010]. Berret, M. and Bernhart, W. (2010). Growth in China, but Stagnation in Europe, North America and Japan. Key Topics going forward are electronics and power strain. URL: http://www.rolandberger.com/company/press/releases/Key_topics_Electronics_and_Powertrain.html [28 Nov 2010]. Davis, A. (2010) Rescue of Ireland Dwarf Greeceà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s Bailout on Cost of Shoring up Banks. Bloomberg. 22 November 2010. Available from: . [Accessed 28 November 2010]. Dhaval, S. Brazil BRIC Economic Growth and China Retail Sales Analysis. URL: http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article20220.html [29 Nov 10 2010]. Dixon, J (2010). USA-China-Europe: Tomorrowà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s New Triad? 5 March 2010. Available from: http://www.atlantic-community.org/index/Open_Think_Tank_Article/USA-China-Europe%3A_Tomorrows_New_Triad%3F [Accessed 28 Nov 2010]. Hopkins, K. (2009). Unemployment could Peak at 4m in 2012. The Observer. 10 May 2009. Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/may/10/unemployment-figures-to-peak-2012%20%5B28. [Accessed 27 Nov 2010]. Ionescu, R. Oprea, R. (n.d.) Global Economy and the Triad. Inman, P. (2010). OECD Slashes UK Growth Forecast to 1.7%. The Guardian. 19 November 2010. Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/nov/19/oecd-slashes-uk-growth-forecast%20%5B28 [Accessed 28 Nov 2010]. Irish Republic 85bn euro bail-out agreed. (2010). BBC. 28 November 2010. Available from:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11855990. [Accessed 28 November 2010]. Narendra, C. (2010). China Challenging US, Europe, Japan in RD. 12 November 2010. Available from: 27 November 2010]. Plummer, R. (2009). Sugar Rush for Hyperactive Brits. BBC. 2 September 2009. Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8231287.stm [Accessed 28 Nov 2010]. Pop. A. (2006) Globalization, Regionalization and the EU-Japan-U.S. Triad, Romanian Journal of European Affairs, 6(3). UK Economy 2010, Economic Forecast. URL: http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/united-kingdom/uk-economy-2010-forecast.html [28 Nov2010]. Verma, S. (2010). Rising Food Prices trouble Households. TopNews. 3 November 2010. Available from: http://topnews.us/content/228446-uk-rising-food-prices-trouble-households [Accessed 28 Nov 2010].

Design Experiment

Design Experiment: Enzyme Inhibitors. Research question: What is the effect of adding lead nitrate solution on the activity of amylase enzyme? Aim: To test the effect of adding nitrate solution on the activity of amylase. Background Information: Inhibitors are molecules which repress or prevent another molecule from engaging in a reaction. They are substances that attach themselves onto an enzyme and reduce or prevent the enzyme’s ability to catalyse reactions. Competitive Inhibitors are inhibitors that occupy the active site of an enzyme or the binding Site of a receptor and prevent the normal substrate or ligand from binding.An active site is a region on the surface of an enzyme to which substrates bind and which catalyzes a chemical reaction involving the substrates. Thus the inhibitors prevent the enzyme activity when the concentration of the substrates is very low. As the substrate concentration increases so does the enzyme activity. Non-competitive inhibition is an Enzym e inhibition in which the inhibiting compound does not compete with the natural substrate for the active site on the enzyme but inhibits reaction by combining with the enzyme-substrate complex after the complex is formed.An example of a non-competitive inhibitor is ATP. When ATP accumulates it binds to a site other than the active site on the enzyme phosphofructokinase. In doing so it changes the enzyme conformation and lowers the rate of reaction so that less ATP is produced. Hypothesis: There is an inverse relationship between the mass of lead nitrate and the ability of amylase to convert starch into maltose. Variables: Independent Variable: ?The mass of lead nitrate dissolved in each of the solutions. Dependent Variable: ?The change in the color intensity of the iodine. Controlled variable: Time: the reaction was allowed to proceed for twenty minutes. ?Temperature: the water bath was set at 40? C. This was to provide the optimum conditions for the enzyme activity. ?Volumes of the respective solutions: The volume of the starch solution (10 cm3), the volume of the amylase (10 cm3) and the volume of water (5 cm3). The exact volumes were measured out with the help of a syringe. Materials: 1. Syringe 2. 6 test tubes 3. Stop watch 4. Water bath 5. White spotted tile 6. 5% amylase solution 7. Iodine solution 8. Lead nitrate crystals. 9. 6 boiling tubes. 10. A pipette. Procedure: 1.The water bath was fixed at 40? C. 2. The six boiling tubes were labelled A-F and then each was filled 10cm3 of starch solution with the help of a syringe. 3. Different quantities of lead nitrate were then added to the 6 test tubes labelled 1-6. The quantities were: 0. 00gm; 0. 10gm; 0. 20gm; 0. 30gm; 0. 40gm and 0. 50gm. 4. In the test tube 10gms of 5% amylase was then added. 5. The contents of each test tube were then transferred to the boiling tubes i. e. the contents of test tube 1 were transferred to boiling tube A and so on. 6. The boiling tubes were then placed in a water bath wit h a fixed temperature at 40?C. 7. The reaction was allowed for 20 minutes. 8. A drop of iodine was added on to the spotting tile. 9. After 20 minutes the boiling tubes were removed from the water bath and using a pipette a drop was withdrawn from each test tube and placed on the white tile containing the iodine solution. 10. The effect of the drop of liquid on the iodine was then noted. Change of color of the solution on the iodine solution. Mass of lead nitrate ( ±0. 01 grams)Color of the solution 0. 00Light Green 0. 10Light Green 0. 20Light Green 0. 30Dark Green 0. 40Darker Green 0. 50Dark Blue 1 2 3 4 5 6Data processing: Iodine solution is used to test for starch. If starch is present in a substance then the iodine solution would turn blue black. If no starch is present then it remains as light brown. In the above experiment boiling tubes E and F contain starch. This was because they contained greater mass of lead nitrate and therefore has reduced the ability of the enzyme (amy lase) to hydrolyse starch into maltose. The blue-black color remained indicating that the solution contained greater amounts of starch. In the boiling tube A the color was the lightest because lead nitrate was not present.Thus the starch could bind to the active site of the amylase and could be broken down into maltose easily. Therefore in the test tube A starch was broken down in the solution and hence none was left. In boiling tubes B and C the solution was relatively darker because the mass of lead nitrate was greater but not great enough to stop the reaction completely. Therefore the greater the mass of lead nitrate, the darker the solution will form since a darker color indicated the presence of starch. The starch remained because of the effect of the inhibitor which reduced the capacity of the enzyme to break down starch into maltose.Data Presentation. Thus the graph shows that a darker color perseveres if a greater mass of lead nitrate is added. This is because the bigger out come of the inhibitor prevents the hydrolysis of the starch and so many molecules of starch still remain in the solution without being broken down by amylase. Therefore the color intensity of the solution and the mass of the lead nitrate share a direct relationship. Conclusion and Evaluation: Mass of lead nitrate added is directly proportional to the color intensity of the solution.This is because a greater mass of lead nitrate reduces the ability of the amylase to breakdown starch into maltose. Therefore lead nitrate acts as a non-competitive inhibitor reducing the enzyme’s ability to catalyse the reaction. Lead nitrate is non-competitive because it affects the enzyme’s activity even though it is present in small quantities. The hypothesis were proven since the lead nitrate changes the shape of the active site of the enzyme and prevents some starch molecules from binding to the active site for catalysts. According to the results obtained from the experiment, my hypoth esis is accepted and is correct.My hypothesis was, â€Å"There is an inverse relationship between the mass of lead nitrate and the ability of amylase to convert starch into maltose. † Despite the results obtained were correct and proved that the experiment was a success a few variables emerged during the performance of the experiment that if improved could result to a more accurate result. We didn’t have enough time to do this experiment over and over again so we didn’t have enough results to compare. Another important factor that may have influenced in our experiment was the quantity taken of the lead nitrate. We didn’t have any colorimeter so our result might not be accurate.

Fusion of Real and Unreal Realms

Magic realism – fusion of real and unreal realms. A comparison of F. Weldon's â€Å"Puffball† and J. Winterson's â€Å"The Passion† â€Å"My most important problem was destroying the lines of demarcation that separates what seems real from what seems fantastic† – Gabriel Garcia Marquez At the beginning, let me introduce the term: â€Å"magic realism†. As we can read in N. Lindstrom's book â€Å"Twentieth-Century Spanish American Literature (University of Texas Press: Austin. 1994): â€Å"Magic Realism is a narrative technique that blurs the distinction between fantasy and reality.It is characterized by an equal acceptance of the ordinary and the extraordinary. Magic realism fuses (1) lyrical and, at times, fantastic writing with (2) an examination of the character of human existence and (3) an implicit criticism of society, particularly the elite. † I would like to make a comparison of two excellent novels: F. Weldon's â€Å"Puffball † and J. Winterson's â€Å"The Passion† based on the definition. First of all, I would like to present an interesting relation between these two titles, that is to say, an appearance of two opposite groups of characters in each of the novels: a factual and a surreal type of a personage.Fay Weldon in â€Å"Puffball† portrays this relationship in a surprising way: a factual type is a man, and surreal type is a woman. Let me introduce you to Richard and Tucker, the first one is a husband to Liffey, a city oriented, down to earth person, working in a big corporation. The second one, who is married to Mabs, in spite of being aware of his wife strange powers, is a simple farmer. In opposite, we have females: Liffey, a girl whose process of changing into a women (what I mean here is her being pregnant) is a beginning of her new, closer to Nature life which enables her to gain new abilities.Next, we have Mabs, a regular country-side witch, daughter of Nature, who tries t o stop a birth of something new and unexpected – a new sorcerers and her baby . In the book, these women are a connection between a world of unknown and fictitious happenings and reality. They are like remainders of Nature's true power. By contrast, the men (especially Richard) symbolise lust and earthly pleasures, warning us that forgetting about our Ancient Mother may complicate our lives. Also, in Jeanette Winterson's novel we have this relationship (real versus unreal heroes).Henri, a perfectly normal, young man, who however later encounters different surreal situation, follows the Emperor because of his love and respect for him. Domino, who likewise belongs to the first group of characters, is a ordinary stableman, who takes care of Napoleon's stable, loves horses and Bonaparte's mistress – Josephine. On the contrary, we have a mysterious girl without a heart, Villanell, who comes from a city as mysterious as she is – Venice. She tries to return to her home land of wonders to finally start leaving a â€Å"real† life.Likewise Patrick, an Irish priest, who possesses an extraordinary eye, which enables him to see beyond the horizon and who is banished from his motherland. While being a Napoleon's solder he misses his home. Here, we can observe a quest for love. Henri and Domino have something that Villanelle and Patrick do not have – a hope, while the last two are left with a voice of reason which shows that sometimes love is not enough. Next I would like to head to issues concerning a choice of places in these novels. In â€Å"The Puffball† we have an opposition of London (city) and Somerset (country side).It is the countryside, where all amazing situations which cannot be explained happen. Maybe it is caused by the fact that it is located in a shadow of a mountain which is believed to be mystic – Glastonbury Tor. On the contrary, London is a down to earth place, people live their lives and do not think about something different than related to this reality. From the ancient times, countryside was identified with witchcraft and magic, there were legends about forests which surrounded villages, about eerie things occurring at nights. People felt living in a countryside was unsafe.Instead, city was like a safe zone, where you might have been anonymous however you were never alone. A city was a place where everything was reasonable, explainable, and most of all it was safe – you had not to worry about something unrealistic. Russia in â€Å"The Passion† provides us with a harsh reality of war: we are witnessing death, cold, fear. We are being led through this country of suffer by Henri, Patrick and Villanelle. It is like an escape route to a better, fairy-tale like world – Venice. In Venice, we can observe a new interesting way of presenting unreality: a city within a city.The underworld of Venice, the kingdom of mysterious, but dangerous people, where nothing is sure an d known (even laws of physics), where you cannot be sure if you are going in a right direction. Venice is like a maze, here you can hide yourself and your feelings. Every night the city starts to bloom – it is a city of sin and fun. On the other hand, Russia is a sad and cold place, where is only an empty space of white. At the steppe you cannot deceive yourself, run or hide because there is merely snow. I would like to devote the last section to events of these two novels.In Fey Weldon's book Richard leads a normal, middle class life in the city of no hope or glory. He is working at the city, trying to overcome his desires, and eventually to avoid responsibility for what he had done. His relationship with Liffey shows his lack of imagination, his numerous romances and constant unfaithfulness to his pregnant wife makes him miserable man. For instance, his affairs with Bella, Miss Martin and Helga – it is ridiculous how these affairs start to rule his life. On the other hand, we have Liffey and her efforts to reborn to Nature.She constantly tries to defy Mabs black-magic, and thanks to her unborn baby she awakens to the world of Nature and witchcraft. The opposite of incidents from Richard's life and unusual happenings which for Liffy becomes a daily bread, shows us how sometimes ignorance shut our eyes to a reality of an another person – Richard denies that Liffey's life is also real and that she did not make up all the extraordinary happenings. In â€Å"The Passion† we are presented to the life of Henri's village. It is a daily life of normal farmers, where an only surreal and extraordinary event was an elope of a lady (Henri's mother) with a farmer (the father).Whereas Villanelle's world is different, it is a world where you can steal someone's hart (literally) and lock it up in a jar, where a icicle with a pendant inside does not melt. Here, you have to prepare for unknown. An ordinary, countryside life and an exotic Venice life are like a water and fire. Sometimes, we fails to observe that simple is better and that not always we should seek for an excitement. As we can see, in both novels we have prominent elements of magic realism. The opposition real versus unreal can be made in each of the group of instances mentioned above, which are in sequence: characters, places and happenings.Also, I would like to point out that in â€Å"Puffball† a witchcraft is a main theme for the surreal parts, while, in â€Å"The Passion† an urban legend performs this function. A fusion of two world is inevitable, we cannot argue that the unreal elements should not be used and we cannot separate them from the real ones, because these stories would not be as complete and enchanting as they are now. At the end, to recapitulate my thesis, I would like to quote Albert Einstein: â€Å"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. †

The Definition of Heteronormativity

In its broadest sense, heteronormativity implies that there is a hard and fast line between genders. Men are men, and women are women. Its all black and white, allowing for no gray areas in between.   This leads to the conclusion that heterosexuality is, therefore, the norm, but more importantly, that it is the  only  norm. Its not just one path an individual might take, but the acceptable one.   Heterosexuality vs. Heteronormativity Heteronormativity creates a cultural bias in favor of opposite-sex relationships of a sexual nature, and against same-sex relationships of a sexual nature. Because the former is viewed as normal and the latter are not, lesbian and gay relationships are subject to a heteronormative bias. Heteronormativity in Advertising and Entertainment Examples of heteronormativity might include the under-representation of same-sex couples in advertising and entertainment media, although this is becoming increasingly rare. More and more television shows, including  ABCs long-running  Greys Anatomy,  feature homosexual couples. Many national brands have tapped into their homosexual consumer base in their commercials, including DirecTV in its pitch for its Sunday Ticket, Taco Bell, Coca Cola, Starbucks, and Chevrolet.   Heteronormativity and the Law   Laws that actively discriminate against same-sex relationships, such as laws banning same-sex marriage, are prime examples of heteronormativity, but a change is underway in this sphere as well. The U.S. Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states in its landmark Obergefell v. Hodges decision in June 2015. It wasnt a landslide vote  Ã¢â‚¬â€ the decision was a narrow 5-4  Ã¢â‚¬â€ but it established all the same that states may not prevent same-sex couples from marrying. Justice Anthony Kennedy said, They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution gives them that right. Some states, most notably Texas, resisted, but the ruling and the law were nonetheless established and these states were held accountable for their decisions and heteronormative legislation.  Obergefell v. Hodges  established a precedent and a decided trend toward state approval with same-sex marriage, if not a landslide of change.   Heteronormativity and Religious Bias   Religious bias against same-sex couples is another example of heteronormativity, but a trend prevails here, too. Although the Religious Right has taken a firm stand against homosexuality, the Pew Research Center  found that the issue is not that clear cut. The Center conducted a study in December 2015, just six months after the  Obergefell v. Hodges  decision and found that eight major religions actually sanctioned same-sex marriage, while 10 prohibited it. If but one faith swung to the other side, the numbers would have been evenly balanced. Islam, Baptists, Roman Catholics, and Methodists fell on the heteronormative side of the equation, while the Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran, and Presbyterian churches said they supported gay marriage. Two faiths  Ã¢â‚¬â€ Hinduism and Buddhism  Ã¢â‚¬â€ dont take a firm stance either way.   The Fight Against Heteronormativity   Like racism, sexism, and heterosexism, heteronormativity is a bias that can be best be eliminated culturally, not legislatively. However, it can be argued that the 2015 Supreme Court decision went a very long way toward taking a stand against it. From a civil liberties perspective, the government should not participate in heteronormativity by enacting heteronormative laws  Ã¢â‚¬â€ but in recent years, it has not. The opposite has occurred, bringing hope for a brighter future.