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Uses and Meanings of Myths in Different Cultures Exploring the Navajo and Maya Cultures
Uses and Meanings of Myths in Different Cultures: Exploring the Navajo and Maya Cultures
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Introduction
Myths are handed down tales. Some are based on true events, while others are made up. Myths have deeper implications in ancient and contemporary society (Bennett & McDougall, 2016). Myths explain the cosmos and why humans exist. Myths are still important. Myths contain timeless solutions that may aid all ages. Lost paradise myths offer people hope that if they live well now, the hereafter will be better. They provide hope. People trust golden era legends because they assume great leaders would improve their life. The hero’s journey may help young people transition into adulthood. Some myths serve just to make people feel better, as those that think natural occurrences are God’s deeds. Myths speak about topics people throughout the globe care about and have cared about forever (Pierotti, 2016). What man is and where he comes from are only a few of these questions. Myths are based on what individuals have learnt through time and are recounted in various cultures. These beliefs are universal because so many individuals who have never met may relate experiences that are eerily similar (Masse et al., 2007). The fact that societies throughout the globe have legends about cataclysmic floods, virgin births, and the afterlife is no surprise. The Navajo and Maya are cultures that will be used to show that myths could be instructional, psychological, for purposes of storytelling and performance, and political in nature, yet they have an underlying message or warning that could either be culture-specific or universal.
Instructional Message
In cultures from all over the world, myths provide direct examples of how one is expected to behave and offers the reason for said expectations (Pierotti, 2016). Within the framework of Navajo spirituality, the cosmos is seen as being beautiful, well-ordered, and in harmony with itself. Rituals are a significant component of the Navajo religion. These ceremonies focus on reestablishing “hozho,” which is a term that refers to harmony, balance, and orderly control. Things like death, violence, and evil are the kinds of things that throw the world’s peace and equilibrium off. The origin of each ritual may be traced back to a unique tale that explains how humans came to be living in one of many distinct locations or eras, such as the mountains, the sun, or the moon. Chanters devote their whole lives to the study of rituals and rites such as the Mountain Top Way, the Life Way, the Evil Way, and the Game Way (Connors & Donnellan, 1993). Each ceremony is often accompanied by a variety of other social activities, including dances, rather frequently. There are over 500 sand murals that have been created by the Navajo people, and each one is connected to a distinct chant (Quintero, 2002). Here, the examples of the many chants that every individual is expected to perform before or after completing a task is an example of the instructional message and role of myths.
In regard to instructional message in cultural beliefs and myths, the gods and heroes who appeared in Mayan mythology each had their own unique names and appearances. People were expected to know the difference and to conduct the expected rituals and ceremonies depending on the event (Naaeke, 2005). The tales that they told were likewise radically diverse, and the characters and settings inside those stories underwent incredible transformations and expanded at an astounding pace. Even if at first look it seemed as though there was chaos, there was a feeling that the cosmos was organized and ordered, and that treating the gods in the appropriate manner was essential to maintaining its harmony and balance. Mesoamerican culture was an integral component of the Maya way of life (Rice, 2018). The people who lived there practiced various forms of divination, constructed temples in the shape of pyramids, believed in the same gods and mythology, and were particularly interested in astronomy. Another game that was played was called “ball,” and it was a competition between two teams to determine which one could get a solid rubber ball through a stone ring or “hoop” the quickest (Inomata, 2001). This was a game that could only be played by a select few gods as well as a few of mortals. On occasion, it does not amount to much more than a game, but on other occasions, it is a significant event.
Both the Mayan and Navajo civilizations have a great deal of similarities when it comes to their respective myths. However, the specific details of every myth vary within a culture. Instructional messages within myths for both the Mayan and Navajo civilizations converge at some points and diverge in others. For example, the performance of different rituals and ceremonies is a similar expectation for both Navajo and Mayan people. However, the names of gods, the folklore names, the songs, and chants are all different between the two cultures.
Psychological Message
Cultures also had myths that defined and helped its people to deal with feelings. Myths are said to originate in the subconscious thoughts of individuals and are founded on how people feel (Bennett & McDougall, 2016). People in every region of the planet had concerns, inquiries, and requirements that they were unable to comprehend. Because of this, individuals have come up with psychological mythologies, and as a result, there are archetypes that are universally present throughout all communities. Archetypes are recurring patterns of forms and personalities seen in all of human history’s cultures. A deity of the sky, a god of the sea, and a god of farming are all examples of archetypes that may be found in a variety of different civilizations. These archetypes illustrate how many individuals think about things that are weird or frightening to them in their own unique way.
The Maya had a number of universal and culture specific myths that were psychological in nature. For example, there is a psychological link between the Mayan myths and rituals revolving around blood sacrifice and sustaining group cohesion over time (Carrasco, 2010). The Mayan myths relating to blood events and rituals were used to reinforce group identity and to allow members of a group to belong to an association that would act as the social group. The Maya performed a rite that included shedding blood that served more than one function. The Maya, who lived in several city-states that were always at war with one another, considered kingship to be the ultimate degree of cultural achievement. Bloodletting and other significant beliefs about blood had a significant role in shaping the ways in which people thought, felt, and behaved in a variety of social and cultural contexts. As such, these rituals defined and helped the Mayan to deal with emotional connections and other psychological issues.
Some Navajo stories were created in such a manner that they provided individuals with a secure haven to dwell in their thoughts. Myths circulated, for instance, about the nature of the link that exists between a man and a woman, as well as the family, the children, and other ties. The notion that each and every child is a unique and priceless gift from God is an example of a psychological myth (Naaeke, 2005). They believed it thanks in part to a variety of Navajo tales. The adults in the society believed that children had an exceptional quality that set them apart from adults in some way. People held the idea that children had a real link to the gods and other supernatural beings that existed in nature. In the myths and legends of some groups of people, they played significant roles. Denetdale (2001) conclude that children provided happiness and good fortune to the Navajo people. In point of fact, children were considered as the live evidence of the “vitality” of a tribe. They were in control of what would happen in the future. People were able to be more open about how they felt about children because of these beliefs, which facilitated more honest conversation.
Storytelling and Performance
Myths are traditional tales that have been passed down through generations and attempt to provide answers to some of life’s most perplexing problems, such as how the world came to be, why individuals pass away, and why the seasons change (Bennett & McDougall, 2016). Before people discovered the logical explanations for why unusual things occurred, they turned to myths and other tales to attempt to make sense of what was going on in the world and why weird things occurred. Ancient societies all throughout the world have their own unique mythologies. Every civilization has its own theory on the origin of the planet we live on. In adventures, heroes and gods were often employed to demonstrate what actions were appropriate and what actions were inappropriate.
People have a profound and intimate connection to their ancestors via the use of myths and tales, and this connection spans both time and place. People in a culture may acquire a sense of what their forebears believed, did, and felt on a daily basis by reading or listening to these tales and passing them down the generations (Denetdale, 2001). Myths are tales that demonstrate that people in the past truly did have the same aspirations, fears, and wants as people today. These stories are told in the form of myths. The fact that people still tell tales of unrequited love, jealous spouses, and wives venturing out into the world to discover themselves is evidence that people haven’t changed all that much since their ancestors. People may increase their knowledge of their world and history by listening to and reading tales. Even while science and technology, and other developments have made significant strides in the last millennia, humans, at their heart, are still the same, experiencing all of the same emotions and dealing with all of the same issues. Through the retelling of these tales, people and civilizations are reminded of their connection to the energy of the whole planet as well as the world’s more profound soul (Csordas, 2005). They assist individuals in rediscovering their origins and reestablishing a connection to the very center and essence of a culture. We all have the ability to connect with a profound, elemental, and time-honored aspect of ourselves when we take the time to hear, discuss, and recall these old tales. While facts tend to appeal to one’s rational side, stories tend to speak to their emotional side. People are able to connect with myths and see the ways in which they share similarities and stand on similar footing.
Myths were used by both the Navajo and the Maya as a means of enhancing the art of storytelling and the function of putting on performances. Myths, folktales, and legends were significant ways for people to interact with one another and build community in times past (Inomata, 2001). These tales were recounted by the elders to their offspring when everyone was gathered in a circle around a campfire or participating in a ritual. When the ancestors were still living as hunter-gatherers, they would congregate around the fire and tell tales to pass the time while the younger and more agile young men were off hunting, an activity that Naaeke (2005) terms as a storytelling and performance class. Consequently, mythology plays a significant role in both the Navajo and the Maya ways of life. For instance, the Navajo and the Maya are famous for their creation myths, which are tales that explain how their tribe came to be. These myths have been passed down through the generations. People were able to explain things that were place in nature on a daily basis as well as their own beginnings by making up tales and relaying those stories to one another.
Political Messages in Myth
Myths are undeniably the means through which ideas and customs are handed down from generation to generation. Ancient traditions, particularly Greco-Roman customs, form the basis of Western civilization and are profoundly ingrained in its core values and institutions. Myths serve the same purpose as history does for the Maya. Mythology was the first teacher of life, serving as a vehicle for people to demonstrate what they had learned throughout the course of their history (Bennett & McDougall, 2016). In a time when people are almost entirely focused on the future and history is seen as an archaic and almost useless field of study that has nothing to do with the future, coming to terms with how important myths were to ancient people and what they meant to them can have a significant impact on how people view the world today. This is especially true in a time when people are in a time when people are almost entirely focused on the future. The political landscape of myths is presented in a fairly straightforward manner.
The Navajo and the Maya were able to better grasp their history and beliefs with the assistance of mythology. In addition to this, it instilled in them a feeling of belonging to a certain culture, group, clan, or tribe, as well as an understanding of politics. Origins, significant events, the creation of laws and rules for living together, the timeline of events, ruler biographies, hero deeds, and much more were all described in Navajo mythology, initially for the entire civilization, and later, when smaller political organizations were made, for these specific communities. Navajo mythology also described the making of laws and rules for living together, as well as the making of laws and rules for living together (Quintero, 2002). Myths serve the same function as history does for the Maya. History is factual information about a society and its past that attempts to explain and clarify the present by basing it in the past and passing on current global knowledge.
Myths continue to have a significant role in political discourse even in the current period. Leaders, significant events in history, and the origins of a town or a nation all figure prominently in many of the most prevalent ones. In many different ways, myth and organized systems of mythology have been significant components of human existence. To begin, myths assist us in comprehending how everything came to be, why everything is as it is, and why life is as it is by illuminating the reasons behind these things. This plays a significant role in Navajo culture and daily life. Second, there is a place for myth in the discussion of what it is to be. Myths are important to the Maya because they help individuals understand their position in the world and the fundamental order of things (Carrasco, 2010). The third point is that myths played a part in the spiritual and psychological lives of the government of a society. Myths are important to both the Navajo and the Maya because they illustrate the struggles that are inherent to being human, such as the tension that may arise between the mind and the outer world, and they provide nonviolent solutions to the issues that might arise. Lastly, Naaeke (2005) identifies that myths play a significant part in the political and social lives of today’s society. The Navajo have a feeling of common identity that comes from their myths. The same technique was done by the Mayans, who used mythology to unite the beliefs of different social groups and provide legitimacy to social and political organizations.
Conclusion
A notable function of myths in the discussion above is how they helped to explain life in a variety of ways. The examples chosen above are both culture specific and universal. The explanation for this is that both the Navajo and Maya had very specific cultures relating to their myths. For instance, the variant creation stories placed importance on some common things such as human life, the environment, and the deities. However, variations emerged in the treatment of these individual factors. For example, both the Mayans and the Navajo valued children, yet the Navajo had more rituals and myths relating to children compared to the Mayans. In the present day myths in literature and film, the variations in the specificity or universality of myths must be understood from the explanation of life using the lens of various communities. Universal beliefs about deities, natural disasters, life, death, and birth are evident even today. However, these beliefs also extend to more specific cultures that create the differences in what is passed down from one generation to the next.
References
Bennett, P., & McDougall, J. (2016). Myth today and together. Art, Design & Communication in Higher Education, 15(1), 55-69.
Carrasco, M. D. (2010). From field to hearth: An earthly interpretation of Maya and other Mesoamerican creation myths. In Pre-Columbian Foodways (pp. 601-634). Springer, New York, NY.
Connors, J. L., & Donnellan, A. M. (1993). Citizenship and culture: The role of disabled people in Navajo society. Disability, Handicap & Society, 8(3), 265-280.
Csordas, T. J. (2005). Gender and Healing in Navajo Society. Religion and healing in America, 291-304.
Denetdale, J. N. (2001). Representing changing woman: A review essay on Navajo women. American indian culture and research journal, 25(3), 1-26.
Inomata, T. (2001). The power and ideology of artistic creation: Elite craft specialists in Classic Maya society. Current anthropology, 42(3), 321-349.
Masse, W. B., Barber, E. W., Piccardi, L., & Barber, P. T. (2007). Exploring the nature of myth and its role in science. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 273(1), 9-28.
Naaeke, A. (2005). The Cultural Relevance of Myth: A Reader-Response Analysis of the Bagre Myth with Reference to the Role and Place of Women in the Dagaaba Society. Journal of Dagaare Studies, 5.
Pierotti, R. (2016). The role of myth in understanding nature. Ethnobiology Letters, 7(2), 6-13.
Quintero, G. (2002). Nostalgia and degeneration: the moral economy of drinking in Navajo society. Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 16(1), 3-21.
Rice, P. M. (2018). Maya crocodilians: Intersections of myth and the natural world at early Nixtun-Ch’ich’, Petén, Guatemala. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 25(3), 705-738.
NDA Submission to the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform
DRAFT NATIONAL PLAN FOR WOMEN
2001-2005
SUBMISSION TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, EQUALITY
AND LAW REFORM
FEBRUARY 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOC o “1-1” 1Summary of key recommendations PAGEREF _Toc1457517 h 2
2Introduction PAGEREF _Toc1457518 h 6
3Context PAGEREF _Toc1457519 h 7
4Draft 1 National Plan for Women Part 1: Government commitments PAGEREF _Toc1457520 h 10
5National Plan for Women Part 2: statistics and performance indicators PAGEREF _Toc1457521 h 12
6Income Adequacy PAGEREF _Toc1457522 h 13
7Health PAGEREF _Toc1457523 h 17
8Education PAGEREF _Toc1457524 h 22
9Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc1457525 h 26
Summary of key recommendationsThe NDA acknowledges the value and magnitude of the task of using the UN Platform for Action and the Beijing Declaration 1995 as a framework to integrate all Government commitments and women’s aspirations into a single plan for women. The aim of the NDA in making this submission is to strengthen the National Plan for Women by ensuring that it addresses explicitly the needs and concerns of women with disabilities. Summary of overarching recommendationsIn pursuance of that aim the NDA makes the following recommendations.
Plan reworkedTo be truly reflective of Government policy and to meet the needs of women with disabilities, the Draft National Plan for Women be comprehensively reworked in order to integrate fully:
existing relevant Government policy in all policy areas
an approach to equality in keeping with recent Irish equality policy and practice and the equality objectives, including equality proofing of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness
the government commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to the accessibility of public services. This should include the dimensions of:
accessible physical premises
accessible information
accessible services
the insights already available into the specific needs of women with disabilities and of women carers of people with disabilities
Disability / Equality training
In all twelve Beijing platforms disability/equality training be provided for all relevant personnel in publicly funded services.
Actions and indicatorsIn all twelve Beijing platforms:
specific initiatives be taken to implement, monitor the implementation and evaluate the impact of the National Plan for Women
specific initiatives for women with disabilities be included in all these processes for implementing, monitoring and evaluating the Plan.
meaningful qualitative and quantitative indicators be developed specific to women with disabilities.
Capacity buildingWomen with disabilities be supported and resourced to capacity-build, to network and to develop their own specific political agendas so that their unique voices can be heard. This should be a key element in the national women’s plan.
Disaggregation of dataThat in all sectors data gathered should be disaggregated on the nine grounds for discrimination including disability and gender.
Summary of key recommendations – income adequacy
Access to an adequate income as a rightBy the end of the National Plan for Women
The basic income supports for women should be benchmarked at 27% of the average industrial wage
All women with disabilities should have a pension in their own right equal to the non contributory old age pension
Flexibility in the setting of pensionable age should be considered so as to enable older disabled women to continue to work if they choose to do so
Women in receipt of short-term disability related paymentsResearch should be undertaken during the early stages of the plan on the number of women on the various disability related payments, the length of time on such payments and reasons why there are more women on short term allowances than men.
Income support – marital status
All income support measures should be reviewed in terms of their impact on single and married/cohabiting women. Income support should be paid to married or cohabiting women working in the home. (ref CSPD)
Women with disabilities in residential careThose women with disabilities in residential care who meet the eligibility criteria should receive income support as a right.
Costs of living with a disabilityA Costs of Disability Payment should be introduced as recommended in the Commission’s Report to cover the extra costs associated with disability.
Women as carersBy the end of the National Women’s Plan Health Boards should put in place support services for women carers, such as respite care, training, local community supports and networks.
Means test on Carer’s AllowanceThe means test on Carer’s Allowance be reviewed to ensure that families in receipt of the average industrial wage qualify for the Allowance.
Cost of providing careA Cost of Providing Care payment be introduced to cover the costs of heating, food and other expenses incurred as a result of providing full time care.
HealthReference to Government commitments
The National Plan for Women, Section 3 Women and Health, be expanded to include all key Government commitments in health and disability, notably Quality and Fairness.
Government commitments and the Beijing Platform for ActionGovernment commitments and policy in health be comprehensively evaluated against the Beijing Health Strategic Objectives and Actions and where necessary amended to reflect those undertakings.
Implementation of government commitments in healthIn implementing, monitoring implementation, and assessing the impact of Government health policy, including all parts of Quality and Fairness, specific initiatives for women with disabilities be included. The Plan for Women’s Health 1997 – 1999The Plan for Women’s Health 1997 – 1999 be updated in the light of Quality and Fairness and of other key Government disability policy documents. In updating the Plan, specific actions and progress indicators be developed for women with disabilities in the following key areas.
All health policy and plans to include specific initiatives to meet the health needs of women with disabilities
removing any attitudinal barriers to health care by disability/equality training
comprehensive assessment of need and support co-ordination across all services
training and employing sufficient numbers of health personnel in key care and therapy areas
providing health and personal social services of sufficient amount and quality to enable women with disabilities to live and participate effectively in their communities of choice
making all health premises and information accessible
Summary of Key Recommendations – EducationIndicatorsThat meaningful qualitative and quantitative indicators are developed to record progress in participation of women with disabilities in education and training.
Policy StatementsAll educational/training institutions should develop and implement Equal Access and Participation Policy Statements with specific reference to women with disabilities.
Accessible environmentSpecific action plans be drawn up by the Department of Education and Science and education/training institutions detailing actions for creating an accessible environment for education/training.
CarersThe development of alternative targeted initiatives to address the education/training needs of carers.
Introduction”This density of women’s groups and associations in Ireland today has the potential to strengthen the voice of women for change. Despite this, the voices of some women, traveller women, asylum seekers, older women and women with disabilities are heard only faintly in the crowd.”
(Pauline Conroy: Reflecting at the Crossroads, 2001:9)
“We all need to consider how we can widen the circle and bring about the inclusion of women with disabilities into both the women’s movement and the mainstream of everyday life. The experience of women with disabilities has been and continues to be one of exclusion”
(Jacqui Browne: The Inclusion of Women with Disabilities in the National Plan for Women, 2001:1)
Mandate of the NDAThis submission is made under the mandate of the National Disability Authority Act, 1999. This Act establishes the National Disability Authority (NDA). Among the principal functions of the Authority are:
To act as a central, national body which will assist the Minister (for Justice, Equality and Law Reform) in the co-ordination and development of policy relating to persons with disabilities (National Disability Authority Act 1999 Sn)
In the NDA Act ‘‘disability’’ is defined as
“in relation to a person, means a substantial restriction in the capacity of a person to participate in economic, social or cultural life on account of an enduring physical, sensory, learning, mental health or emotional impairment;”
This broad definition is used in this submission unless specified otherwise.
The Report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities In preparing this submission we have drawn on the consultation conducted by the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities between 1993 and 1996. This consultation process was the most extensive ever conducted in relation to people with disabilities and their families. Much of the analysis and recommendations in the Strategy for Equality, the Report of the Commission (CSPD) remain valid today. Implementation of the Report is a priority of Government policy for people with disabilities. (Action Programme Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats in Government).
The Commission recommended that various steps be taken to ensure that women with disabilities are enabled to participate at all levels of society (CSPD pp. 54 – 55 and pp227-228). NDA Response to Draft National Plan
The NDA welcomes the Draft 1 National Plan for Women (2001-2005) as an important initiative by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and congratulates the Department on its consultation process. We acknowledge both the value and the magnitude of the task of using the UN Beijing Platform for Action as a framework to integrate all Government commitments to women, and women’s aspirations, into a single document.
However, we find that the Draft 1 Plan for Women does not meet the needs of women with disabilities. We recognise that the comments we make in this submission are directed as much to the Ministers and Government Departments whose policies are included in the Plan as they are to the DJELR in it’s task of compilation. Nevertheless we believe it is time for all analysis of issues relating to women to address issues wider than gender with regard to differences.
While the Plan makes some mention of women with disabilities (para 1.10, for example), it fails to integrate women with disabilities sufficiently into policy and objectives. In this submission we suggest ways in which the Plan could be improved and made more comprehensive. ContextIntersectionality and GenderFrom the late 1960s onwards, second wave feminism changed the political agenda in Ireland as elsewhere, by adding an awareness of, and attention to, the effects of gender as a form of structured inequality (Galligan, 1998; O’Connor, 1998; Stetson and Mazur, 1995, for example). Subsequently, developments in feminist thought over the past three decades have added complexity to the picture by recognising the intersectionality between gender and other forms of social stratification and thus acknowledging that gender-based inequalities are not the only disadvantages facing many women. There has been increased understanding of the differences between women as well as of their commonalties based on gender. This has led to substantive analyses of the interconnections between gender inequalities and inequalities derived from other forms of social stratification, in the lives of women with disabilities and other disadvantaged women. (Good, 2000).
It is now increasingly recognised that, if the lives of the majority of women (as opposed to those of the privileged few), are to be improved, then policies need to be based on a full understanding of women’s multiple identities and of the complex inequalities which they face. To be effective, a national plan for women can no longer be based on a simplistic and undifferentiated focus on “women” as a single category, with only token gestures towards inclusion of difference. Rather, the interrelationships between inequalities need to be addressed in a systematic and comprehensive way.
Recommendation
We recommend that the National Plan for Women be revised in keeping with current feminist analyses.
Irish Equality FrameworkThere is now a strong Irish equality framework into which a sophisticated and differentiated national plan for women can be fitted. This is outlined in several places. For instance, Framework 111 of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness includes clear Equality Objectives and signals the commitment to equality proofing. (PPF 98). Equality proofing is a strategy aimed at ensuring that marginalised people and their requirements are included from the start in the development of structures, policies and practices.
The equality legislation of the late 1990s (e.g. the Equal Status Act) bans discrimination on nine grounds, those of age, marital status, family status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, race and membership of the Traveller community, as well as gender. These are not discrete categories, for in real life there are connections, overlaps and multiple identities. For example, a disabled, lesbian refugee would experience inequality on the basis of several aspects of her identity: not only gender, but also disability, sexual orientation and ethnicity. If her situation were to be improved by government action this could only be done through policy which was sensitive to all aspects of her situation.
To ensure the rights to equal treatment established by this legislation, and to accommodate diversity, the Equality Authority has produced a Support Pack.
Recommendation
We recommend that the national plan for women be revised in order to include an approach to equality which is more in keeping with recent Irish equality policies and practice and the equality objectives, including the strategy of equality proofing, of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
In relation to women with disabilities this means, first, that attention needs to be paid to how disability and gender interact in the lives of women with disabilities. Second, it means that the Plan must recognise that women with disabilities sometimes also belong to other categories of disadvantage and inequality. This recognition must be systematically fed into the thinking across all the policy fields covered in the plan. This will require integrated thought and a sophisticated mainstreaming approach (see for example, Cornell, 1992, Lister, 1996, Rees 1998).
The current draft plan contains elements of such integrated thinking. For example, part 1, section 1 speaks of family friendly polices, anti poverty programmes and other cross cutting measures, and of the need to inform the plan with their thinking. This approach needs further development. This would require not alone acknowledging these measures in the listing of relevant government commitments contained in part 1, but also integrating this dimension into the statistics and indicators selected in part 2. These proposals are discussed further in section 5 of this submission.
Women and Disability Women with disabilities face inequalities and disadvantage based on gender, on disability and on complex interactions between these two forms of social stratification. They also find themselves marginalised both in the women’s movement and in the disability movement (Browne, 2001; NRB, 1991, 1995, CSW 1994). Yet women with disabilities form a significant minority within Irish society, totalling an estimated minimum of 150,000 Irish citizens.
Recommendations
We recommend that:
women with disabilities be supported and resourced to capacity-build, to network and to develop their own specific political agendas so that their unique voices can be heard. This should be a key element in the national women’s plan.
the insights already available into the specific needs of women with disabilities and of women carers of people with disabilities be properly integrated into every section of the draft plan.
Sources for this could include the following: the report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities (1996), Murray and O’Carroll (1998), NRB (1991, 1994, 1995). Submissions by groups of women with disabilities to this consultation process will also provide insights and ideas. To assist in the process of consulting with people with disabilities the NDA is completing Guidelines to Consultation which will be available from the NDA shortly.
Accessibility of Public Premises
In the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness the government stated its commitment to each government Department taking reasonable steps to make its services and those of agencies under its remit accessible to people with disabilities. (PPF p 100). Accessible includes the following dimensions:
accessible physical premises
accessible information
accessible services.
Recommendation
The National Plan for women should include the government commitment to the accessibility of public services where this is relevant in all twelve platforms. This should include the dimensions of:
accessible physical premises
accessible information
accessible support services
Draft 1 National Plan for Women Part 1: Government commitmentsThe NDA in this submission is focusing on the three policy areas chosen by the Authority for special attention during the first phase of its strategic plan 2000-2003:
income adequacy
health
education. (NDA, 2001).
They are intended to provide examples of what needs to be done for all 12 platforms if the national plan for women is to be truly national and to include women with disabilities fully within its remit.
General pointsComprehensive inclusion of all Government commitmentsWe find that the Draft as it stands does not adequately reflect existing Government commitments.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Plan should be comprehensively reworked to ensure that existing relevant Government policy in all policy areas is included.
Within stated Government policy and commitments the NDA sees substantive areas where improvements should be made for women with disabilities. This is consistent with the “Aspirations” dimension of the Plan. In the specific policy areas of this submission recommendations include:
known government policy commitments which are absent from the plan
policy statements which have yet to be implemented
areas where policy changes are needed.
Equality Objectives The PPF (p98) includes a commitment to the learning phase of equality proofing across the nine grounds. The initiatives to be undertaken include pilot projects in the public sector, research into the relationship between inequalities and poverty, equality proofing through the SMI in the civil service, North/South cooperation on the development of equality strategies, data collection, and equality reviews and action plans in the private sector. (Mullaly and Smith, 1999: 44-50). This learning phase is to run from 2000 – 2003. The NDA is of the view that it needs to be integrated into part 1 of the National Plan for women as a relevant government commitment. Section 5 – 8 show how this could be done in relation to poverty, education and health.
Beijing PlatformThere are 12 areas of concern listed under the Beijing Platform, all of which have specific implications for women with disabilities. Three of these will be examined in detail in the following sections. However, it is also important to note the relevance of the other nine areas. Much further work needs to be done but it can already be pointed out in relation to these that women with disabilities in Ireland are likely to:
have specific concerns about violence, both on the basis of disability and of gender (see Wilson, 2001)
have specific experiences in situations of war and armed conflict
have greater need than other women for support towards reducing their under representation in power and decision-making fora
have disability related as well as gender related human rights issues
have even greater problems than other women in relation to media representation of their lives and their needs
have a different experience of childhood than their able-bodied sisters
be excluded from equal participation in society, including paid work, by barriers which are physical and environmental, structural and institutional, and attitudinal.
Part 1 of the National Plan for Women should outline the ways in which government commitments to equality proofing and to the rights of women with disabilities will address some of these issues. Such measures would make progress to reduce the disadvantages and hardships experienced by women with disabilities and their families.
National Plan for Women Part 2: statistics and performance indicatorsGeneral pointsThe learning phase of equality proofing contains a dimension relating to databases and statistics which should be integrated into the Plan. This can then be added to the statistics section in part 2(a) of the Plan and also used to expand the performance indicators proposed in part 2 (b) to include some which are disability sensitive. We have seen that data collection is one of the main categories of action during the learning phase of equality proofing. It consists of taking initiatives to address the data deficits that exist in relation to the new grounds covered under the equality legislation (Mullaly and Smith, 1999:9)
Mullally and Smith argue that:
“The cornerstone of an effective equality proofing process is an adequate database. The lack of disaggregated (sic) data in many areas of economic and social policy has created difficulties in monitoring and evaluating equality strategies adopted to date”
(1999:48)
They point out that creating disaggregated data is complex and may need to be tackled in a variety of ways. Initiatives will include
extension of official statistics to include questions on the nine grounds
expansion of existing systems of data collection by service providers to include data on the nine groups
inclusion in Information Society Project initiatives of a focus on data collection across the nine grounds.
creating a single statistical product containing data on the nine target groups which would be regularly updated and publicly available
This work needs to be fed into the statistical section of the Plan and to the performance indicators to be used to assess the National Plan for Women, in such a way that there are relevant indicators to measure the Plan’s impact on women with disabilities.
The recommendations in the next three sections suggest areas where statistics should be collected and performance indicators for detailed analysis in poverty, health and education. Similar work needs to be done for the remaining nine areas of concern under the Beijing programme.
Income AdequacyIntroduction
Two broad issues are central to the elimination of the ongoing cycle of women with disabilities and poverty. The first issue concerns women’s right to access an adequate income. The second, which cuts across and interacts with the first, is the role of Irish women as carers. In all of these situations women with disabilities and carers of persons with disabilities feel very isolated and unsupported. This ongoing sense of isolation may lead to secondary mental health problems.
There is a clear link between women with disabilities and poverty. Households headed by a person with a disability have one of the highest risks of poverty, using the measure of consistent poverty adopted by the National Anti- Poverty Strategy. The figures from the 1998 Living in Ireland Survey show that the risk of poverty for households headed by someone who is ill or disabled is 28%. This is one of the highest risks of poverty (households headed by someone who is unemployed have the highest risk at 30%) compared to a risk for all households of 8%.
The key issues include:
inadequate income levels
duration on short-term disability payments
married/cohabiting women’s entitlement to disability allowance
access to disability allowance for women with disabilities in residential care
costs of living with a disability
Issue: Access to an adequate income as a rightThere are three interrelated issues, which need consideration.
Married/cohabiting women who become disabled while working in the home are excluded from income maintenance supports and have to depend on their spouses/partners income
Access by married/cohabiting women who become disabled to labour force re-entry back to work employment schemes is restricted by the criteria set down. This results in their ongoing participation in various employment-related schemes e.g. community employment schemes, back to work allowance scheme, back to education allowances. This process continues their economic isolation and exclusion. In addition there are disincentives that hinder taking up employment, such as the loss of the medical card and the benefits of the free schemes
Older women with disabilities are a particularly vulnerable group. The Household Survey shows that elderly or retired women with a disability who head a household are more likely to end up in poverty. This scenario was reinforced by the findings of the 1994 Report on Monitoring Poverty Trends which found that women in Ireland experience greater risk of poverty than men, largely due to the risk of poverty for single adult households (mainly headed by women) and households headed by someone working fulltime in the home( again mainly women)
Recommendation
By the end of the National Women’s Plan
The basic income supports for women should be benchmarked at 27% of the average industrial wage.
All women should have a pension in their own right equal to the non contributory old age pension
Flexibility in the setting of pensionable age should be considered so as to enable older disabled women to continue to work if they choose to do so.
Issue: Women in Receipt of short-term disability related paymentsWomen in receipt of disability related payments remain on short- term payments for longer periods than men on the same disability related payments. The period of time involved for some women to remain in receipt of short-term payments is several years.
Invalidity Pension (DSCFA December 2001)
Male 27849, Female 22576, Total 50425
Disability Benefit (not exact figures)
Male 20400 Female 30600 Total 51000
Recommendation
Research should be undertaken on the number of women on the various disability related payments, the length of time on such payments and reasons why there are more women on short term allowances than men.
Issue: Women in Receipt of Disability Allowance:Women in receipt of Disability Allowance who marry a partner in employment lose their entitlement to the disability allowance through the means test. Women who marry or cohabit with someone on Invalidity Pension and Disablement Pension will also lose their entitlement to Disability Allowance.
Recommendation
All income support measures for people with disabilities should be reviewed in terms of their impact on single and married/cohabiting women. Income support should be paid to married or cohabiting women working in the home. ( ref Equal Status)
Issue: Women with Disabilities in Residential CareThere are a number of women with disabilities living in residential centres who do not receive any income payments from the state. Since 1996 when the DSCFA took over responsibility for the DPMA, now called the Disability Allowance, those entering residential care retain their Disability Allowance. This has resulted in an unfair and unequal situation.
Recommendation
Those women with disabilities in residential care who meet the eligibility criteria should receive income payments as a right.
Issue: Costs of Living with a DisabilityThere a number of Health Board and Social Welfare Payments that could be classified as costs of disability related payments but they are means tested and limited by strict criteria. The Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities recommended that a Cost of Disability Payment be introduced to cover the additional costs associated with having a disability.
Recommendation
A Cost of Disability Payment should be introduced as recommended in the Commission’s Report to cover the extra costs associated with:
equipment
mobility and Communication (travel and telephone)
living Costs (fuel, food, clothing etc)
medical care and assistance (including personal assistants)
Women as Carers
Women continue to bear the primary responsibility for caring in Irish society. There is a direct relationship between women as carers and women’s poverty. The absence of supports and adequate financial payments for caring continues the cycle of women being caught in a role that Irish society does not value and reward.
Caring is predominantly a women’s issue and women have history of taking on the role of carer which results in their ongoing exclusion from economic activity. The Carer’s Association of Ireland estimates that there are approximately 100,000 carers in Ireland, 80% of whom are women. The Statistics on Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit (see below) confirm that women are the main carer’s in Irish society, with 80% of those receiving Carer’s Allowance being women. Those statistics also confirm that of the estimated 80,000 women cares fewer than 13,500 receive any financial support for their caring role from the state.
Carer’s Allowance:
Male3473Female13,005Total16478
Carer’s Benefit
Male 57 Female 381 Total 438
Source: DSCFA Annual Report 2001
Key issues
The key issues for women carers are:
lack of support services
means test of the carer’s allowance
cost of providing care
Lack of support services
The Commission’s Report identified several areas where support services are lacking or inadequate. These include respite care, training, local community supports and networks. Many of these issues are identified for Acti
User Requirement Specification final reflective and analytical Green Dream Report
User Requirement Specification final reflective and analytical Green Dream Report
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Course:
Lecturer:
Introduction to prototyping
1.1 Definition and objectives
A prototype is a functional model that operationally similar to the component of the product. In most cases, the client only has the general perspective of what is expected from the product of software. In such a situation where there is no detailed information concerning the system input, processing requirements and the output requirements, the prototyping model can be used. Prototyping has a number of objectives. First, it is employed in order to overcome the possible client misinterpretation and also to test technical feasibility of the proposed design and its purpose. Next is that it is meant to answer the questions concerning the feasibility of the product design or its suitability through the production of limited version of the product. Third is that they are used for the purpose of providing a better impression of experience for the user as compare to what simple descriptions can do. It also provides away of selecting the best product option out of the available alternatives. They are thus a way of ensuring that users are given the opportunity to evaluate the software product. Prototyping are used as a requirements technique and as a means of getting product specification. Other objectives include the need to increase flexibility of the development process by permitting the client to interact and experiment with a functional representation of the product (Sommerville, 2006, Wiley, 2002).
There are therefore two types of prototypes namely version1 and version 2 which are used as requirements techniques and as specifications respectively. The version1 prototype makes use of prototype as a way of fast determination of the client needs. It is then discarded as long as the specifications are agreed upon. The importance of version1 prototype is to represent the features of the software that will be visible to the client or user. The visible features are like inputs approaches and formats of outputs. It does not really matter in this case whether the prototype is working or not. In the case whereby the first version of prototype fails to meet the needs of the client, then it is rapidly converted in to the second version where the prototype is used as the specifications for the design stage. The version2 of prototyping has an advantage in that it is fast and accurate since no time is used in drawing up the specifications although it has some difficulties such as incompleteness, ambiguities and contradictions (Sommerville, 2006).
1.2 Merits of using low fidelity prototypes
Low fidelity prototypes helps the developers get the most appropriate requirements from the clients or users. It speeds up the research of visual control algorithms thus helps in the design and implementation of software design for quick prototyping. Low fidelity prototype also provides an outline of the software product. It is designed to offer the user with the idea of what the real software may appear or look like. It is thus advantageous in that it gives a software idea at the early stages of the design. In addition, low fidelity prototypes can be used to form the foundation of high fidelity prototype by the software design team. Consequently, this kind of prototyping helps the designers to produce or generate software that better fits the needs of the user (de Sá, et al. 2011, de Souz, Ferreira & Maurer, 2013).
Description of Methods
Arriving at the prototype
2.1.1 Use of interview method
The interview method was used to collect requirements data from the garden designer users who use the system and the client who in this case is the garden owner who interacts with the system for which a garden can be designed. This was done with an aim of finding out what the user wanted in terms when using the system. One thing that went wrong during the interview process is that much emphasis was placed on the garden requirements rather than system requirements. It turned out that I did not have the most suitable set of questions for the garden designer and the garden owner. The questions focused on the garden design instead of how the garden designer would use the system. In other words, the requirements to be collected through questions such as those could not help in coming up with user centered design.
2.1.2 Use of Volere Shell Card Method
The second method used was the Volere shell cards which were very helpful in understanding the requirements in comprehensive details. The Volere shell cards generate a summary of requirements by giving the description and Fit criteria. The Volere shell is a kind of guide on how the requirements should be written and it consists of printed cards each with requirements attributes that can be employed for the initial requirements gathering. Every attribute helps in understanding and testing of the requirement (Robertson & James, 2013).
The shell card used consists of the attributes namely the description, the rationale and the Fit criterion. The description part of it is used to describe or rather explain what it does while the rationale explains the reasons as to why we want requirement. The Fit criterion part of the shell card explains why it works or the test condition. The main aim still is to collect the right and all inclusive data given that incorrect requirements will result to a software product intended for the green dream which is also wrong. As a result it is very significant to get the right understanding of what is essential for the period of the prototyping phase. The Volere shell cards used in this case were divided into three categories: Volere shell card user tasks, Volere shell card characteristics of users and Volere shell card environment.
The description attribute in the Volere shell card user task emphasized that the orders have to be entered precisely for the purpose of sending the entered orders into the database. The second part of the description explained that the system should store the date and time when the garden design project is set to be commence. The rationale attribute maintained that the designer have to enter client information correctly using the correct format. The client information to be entered includes name, email, phone number and payment details or card number. It is only after the input of this client information that the reference order can be produced. The rationale also explained the schedule for landscaper employment within a given time frame. The Fit criterion part of the shell card indicated that the garden design orders will be sent to the database with all data precisely entered. In addition, the Fit criterion also explained that the stored design orders have to be logged within three hours of completion.
The description attributes in the category of Volere shell card characteristics of the users describes how the system menu should appear. In this case, the menu should have icons which are easy to use as per the description with the second part of this attribute stating a requirement that the system software will function only by means of interactive graphical user interface using handheld device. The rationale part of user characteristic shell card explains that all users prefer to use image icons and that the software is for the garden designer and not the client. The Fit criterion requirement description is that menu displayed will have image icons which are easy to view. In addition, the Fit criterion states that the software product should be tested for it to be compatible with hand held device.
The third group of requirement gathering was grouped under Volere shell card environment. The description attribute part of this category stated that the garden owner would like specialized furniture. The description requirement also stated that the garden owner would like a small garden. The requirement under rationale was that that the software product should be marketed for the garden leisure usage and that the client has made it clear that that they do not want any expansion on their garden. On the other hand, the Fit criterion part of this requirement category maintained that the product should be medium sized hot tub designed for garden usage. Furthermore, the Fit criterion stated that the size of the garden should not change or vary.
2.1.3 Use of persona
The use of persona was used for the purpose of getting a better understanding of who is using the system which in this case includes the garden owner or client and the garden designer. The user of the system is thus more acquainted with what he/she wants in the system but which is lacking in the current system. In addition to that, the information received during requirement collection is dependent on the various personas each with different interest.
2.1.4 Future use case scenarios
Use case scenarios are useful in this case they were used to show the functionality of business process. This is done by breaking it into a series of simply identifiable steps. The steps can be written in English or any other language used in the working place for access by all stakeholders However; we used English in our use case scenario. It was therefore important to use case scenarios to help in the description of business processes in addition to understanding of the functionalities required. As long as the scenarios are decided upon they become the framework of requirements (Robertson & James, 2013).
2.1.5 Use cases and essential use cases
Use cases are used to smoothen the progress of functional requirements of the system. It is used as a technique of communication in order to describe requirements of a system. They also build the foundation for precise requirement document. The small numbers of use cases are implemented as early as possible for the purpose of getting stakeholder’s reaction. The use cases are very important because they also help in the generation of dynamic object oriented specifications (Robertson & James, 2013). It is from the reaction of stakeholder that more and valid requirements can be discovered.
1.5.6 Drawing out prototypes
This was used to show the individuals who played the roles of garden designer and garden owner. As a result the respective roles are used to update the prototype drawings in addition to improving the system design. The prototyping is crucial in overcoming the partial misunderstandings of the client and to test the technical feasibility of the suggested design. The drawing of prototypes is also based on user centered design principles. Therefore, all the above discussed methods play a great role in gathering user requirements for user centered information systems.
The prototypes consist of a home page that is displayed on three displays. The display on the other hand consists of shared display, employee display as well as the client display. The home page varies on every display and the shared display shows a home page where the employee can input data or stuff in order to generate an order. A welcome page has also been made available for the client. Once the staff has logged into the system, then the start of the order is created in which the shared display shows a list of garden products. These products can be selected by the employee screen so that an order to be created. The client in this case will be able to see the particular product that is selected. The client does not need to do anything apart from speaking to the garden designer in order to create their garden. The ultimate page displays a list of everything that has been ordered and then generates the design quote for the garden. In the case where all things are ok or satisfactory with the page of the quote, the client will be able to input the details of payment which all have to conform or agree with the terms and condition of the order.
How the prototype satisfies the requirements and any changes to be made as a result of user feedback
3.1 How it satisfies the requirements
Apart from the additional screen making it simpler, but it will also make the process of getting the bespoke garden simpler for the garden owner. Since the user feedback was to simplify each page and make it simpler, the system designer will be capable of generating a garden design without too much effort. I also simplified the design in order to put every task on the screen such as deciding on the garden, hot tubs, garden turf, furniture and garden sheds of which all have no individual.
3.2 Changes to be made as a result of user feedback
However, there was a problem during the demonstration of my finding with one of the shell cards since it did not work, having introduced handheld device yet it should be a design for an eSpace system. Having learned from this, I have therefore adapted my requirements so that they center on the three displays which was not shown correctly since the user could as well have a device that can display what they need to see on the specific screen and not on a handheld device. Therefore, I have had to change the Volere shell card so that I can implement changes that take place in the prototype. The effect of replacing handheld device with eSpace means that the system software will function through interactive graphical user interface using eSpace which a new interactive workspace that supports sales transactions (Laforest et al. 2011).
The changes on the prototype include how to make the design pages extra simplified given that they had too much navigation across the screen features. The changes have therefore been made including the inclusion of added pages for the plans of the garden so that when the garden designer deigns the system for the garden owner, they can have an overview of the exact thing that is required. The navigation page is the major page that requires changes. The changes needed include splitting the page in to extra pages for the purpose of simplifying the system in addition to making it simpler as well as making it more organized. Lastly is the splitting up of the final quote gape in to more quote pages, followed by splitting of payment page.
4.0 A reflection of your experiences in the application of the theory to the practice.
The entire data gathering using the various methods was very beneficial in drawing out the prototype. This helped me understand the system better. The additional interview on how to improve the system was also very useful like the making of a number of features extra clear and easy to appreciate. In fact, this was a perfect way of developing low fidelity prototype and offered a great approach of designing the system.
5.0 A summary of the findings and recommendations.
In conclusion, I found that people are generally resistant to change and for this reason, the system designer needed a simpler but extra efficient system in order to create garden design. Prototyping is thus a better approach to take in gathering precise user requirements for user centered design as it eliminates misunderstanding of the client concerning system requirements and its functionality. This is because accurate requirements translate to accurate and, efficient and reliable system. Last but not least, the implementation of garden design is thus a digital engineering approach which involves implementing digital technology for business value. This kind of implementation is one of the hardest activities that any company may take on. Nonetheless, the principles for this kind of complicated implementation are at last down in writing as shown by the prototyping process. The incorporation of design work in IT and technology in general is an evident that the future belongs to digital engineers (Dutch & Harriet, 2013).
References
de Sá, M., Antin, J., Shamma, D., & Churchill, E. F. (2011, May). Mobile augmented reality: video prototyping. In CHI’11 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1897-1902). ACM.
de Souza Alcantara, T., Ferreira, J., & Maurer, F. (2013, June). Interactive prototyping of tabletop and surface applications. In Proceedings of the 5th ACM SIGCHI symposium on Engineering interactive computing systems (pp. 229-238). ACM.
John Wiley & Sons,(2002), Interaction Design: Beyond human computer interaction, Inc, Phoenix Colour Corporation.
Robertson, Suzanne, and James Robertson, 2013, Mastering The Requirements Process. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Addison-Wesley, Print. ISBN-10: 0321815742
Sommerville Ian,92006), Software Engineering,7th edition, Addison Wesley.
Laforest, S, Duffe, J, Demers, A, M, & Gauvreau, M. (2011, March), eSPACE: emergency Spatial Pre-SCAT for Arctic Coastal Ecosystems project. In International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings (IOSC) (Vol. 2011, No. 1, p. abs82), American Petroleum Institute.
Dutch Holland, phD & Harriet Pritchett, MED, (2013), The Future belongs to Digital Engineers: Transforming the industry. Retrieved on 10th /04/2015, from https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ugCz_LRDTyUC&pg=PT24&lpg=PT24&dq=new+for+some+but+still+absolute+requirements+for+a+company+that+is+%22going+for+it%22!&source=bl&ots=1-B3-1SLOd&sig=idJPzg20odxws9ryXgwezgvs4M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=uRkgVbH6JoXTaKW5gpAE&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=new%20for%20some%20but%20still%20absolute%20requirements%20for%20a%20company%20that%20is%20%22going%20for%20it%22!&f=false