Josh Kane

Josh Kane

COMM 355: Persuasion

Dr. Diane Nathaniel

Opinion Piece Analysis paper

Mar 22, 2010

Josh Kane When the United States was founded and the U.S constitution was written our founding fathers agreed upon the belief that everyone should be treated equally. This belief throughout history has continuously fallen short, and is seldom enforced by our government and society. Todays American citizens, in one form or another, are being deprived of their given rights. In February 2010, an editor for the Miami Herald, Casey Woods, further examined parental leave and how it deprives women of their natural right of being a parent. When Woods article is examined through a cultural premise, there are different theories within the premise that can be directly related to the article. Theories such as Eternal return, Reichs cultural parables such as; Mob at the Gates, can used to relate directly to the article. Casey Woods, Miami Herald, decided to take a look closer on the United States and its attitudes toward parental leave. Woods argues women in the workforce are deprived from being a parent and time for political pitch. Woods found a recent study by Harvard and McGill University researchers that concluded compared to some of the worlds most economically successful countries, the United States is dead last when it comes to providing supportive work conditions such as parental leave. The study also shows even up and coming countries grant their citizens with supportive work conditions. Woods, shows how whats a given protection to some countries the United States cringe at the thought of providing such conditions. The United States has created a

Josh Kane workaholic culture (Woods, pg.1) and when taking a leave, its frowned upon and people develop a sense of self-debt to the kindness of their employer. Woods quotes Joan Bloch, assistant professor at Drexel University, Women today dont even expect to be able to make choices. Woods believes women should be given the opportunity to spend time with their children and not have to worry about being laid off. Woods exploits the cultural attitude of the United States and wonders why we as citizens accept and allow such deprivation to take place. Culture is a set of material practices used to demonstrate ones self. For example culture is someones beliefs or languages. Culture may be regional or generational. When culture is used as a proposition in which arguments are based, the individual is depicting the arguments through cultural premise. Within Make paid parental leave a priority Cultural premises such as Reichs cultural parables and Eternal Return are represented throughout. Eternal Return is the cultural myth or theory that society has been corrupted throughout time and that society needs to return to the way it used to be. Also within Eternal Return there is a notion that we have lost sight of our beginnings and we need to rid ourselves or corruption and confusion. (Larson, 238). Within Make paid parental leave a priority, examples of Eternal Return can be found throughout. Jody Heymann, co-author of the Harvard study citied within Make paid parental leave a priority, stated A lot of people in the U.S.

Josh Kane dont realize that most of the world has a right to these things. This quotation relates to that there is a notion that we have lost sight our beginnings. Our country promises us everyone would be equally treated from the beginning but today these women are deprived of this right and people lose sight of the current wrong doing. Mob at the Gates creates an us vs. them mentality. The mob may also be the greedy corporate executives who exploit workers and this theory states the deprivation may be acceptable for one side but not for the other. (Larson, 242) Mob at the Gates, falls under Reichs Cultural Parables. Reichs Cultural Parables contend there are Rising expectations for prosperity throughout the world. (Reich 241) Within Make paid parental leave a priority Reichs Cultural Parable Mob at the Gates examples from the editorial can be taken an interrupted culturally with the use of this parable. In Make paid parental leave a priority, John Bloch, assistant professor at Drexel University, states, Women today dont even expect to be able to make choices. Women today have a mentality as if it is they vs. the oppressing parties. Women are being exploited and to them it is not acceptable but to others it is accepted and at times considered a non-issue. Another example from the editorial on how the cultural premise is represented is when Woods states, Other countries, both wealthy and poor, have not flinched at funding parental leave, but any suggestion that our government subsidize these family-friendly policies inevitably draws shrill

Josh Kane complaints of big government or new entitlement. (Woods, pg.2) When organizations mention the United States government should support financially family friendly polices our government and they choose to overlook and brush off the possible policies it gives further background to womens arguments that they stand alone. The women have no choices but to develop the us vs. them mentality as described in The Mob at the gates. The United States was founded on the beliefs that everyone should be treated equally. The United States though when examined further is not practicing what they preach. The equality that its promised to every citizen of the United States is daily deprived in our citizens workforce. Americans society through the centuries has constantly debated the subjects of slavery, desegregation, and womens suffrage. In todays workforce, some of these issues are still present. American society has conformed to the norms established through generations and ignorantly participating in its own modern day suffrage. It is someones natural right to be a parent and these natural rights should not be deprived or dictated by our government or accepted by our society. Society when decoded culturally allows one to look further into the culture of their associated organization and how culture impacts ones beliefs and attitudes. Through the cultural interpretation of medicated forms of communication, society will become aware of issues in todays society and why in our culture we allowed ourselves to conform to such negative norms. Cultural premises interpret for

Josh Kane society the issue, allow one to develop reasoning, show how the culture was formed, and how the culture can be changed.

Josh Kane Works Citied

Charles U. Larson, . (2010). Persuasion: reception and responsibility. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Casey Woods, Initials. (2010, February 28). Make Paid parental leave a priority . Miami Herald,