Saudi Arabia - The first ever women-only city?!

Kate told us about an amazing current event - the design and building of a brand new city in Saudi Arabia... for women only!!

Is this something to celebrate as CHANGE in recognition of women's rights in a society where inequality is so evident, or is it an example of CONTINUING gender segregation?
See her full report for more information and how it relates to the Society and Culture concepts.

World Countries - International Stats

Here is a great website to find out a bit about different countries around the world. Not so much focussed on social and cultural elements but interesting none-the-less!
http://hdr.undp.org/en/data/map/
Click on the statistics tables tabs for more data too.

Tips and Look Out's- when planning and using methodologies

Here are some excellent Top Tips and Things to Think about for whenever you are planning your research methodologies (in a project) or having to analyse their usefulness or validity (in an Evaluation of a project, or in an exam question). 

Research Methodologies - Glossary

Here is a link to your official guide for Research Methodologies. You will need these for assignments, exams and of course... your PIP!

Olympic Truce Campaign - 'Equal Olympic Opportunity'?!

With all the hype and excitement of the Olympics at the moment, Monica decided to look a little more closely at what issues have arisen in Olympics past and how they are today. A little healthy competition and banter between teams and countries is in full flow at the moment, but it has not always been a positive, internationally harmonious event.

Inequality and discrimination has been seen throughout the years the Olympic Games have started from the beginning until now. It was not until 1992 that the world united and everyone from all countries were able to compete in the Olympic Games. The following examples show some of the history:

The Olympic truce campaign has been created for all countries to travel to and from the games in peace with no racial discrimination from other countries or no conflicts and to also achieve peace throughout the games.  Within  the Olympic Village is an Olympic Peace Wall 2012 which is signed by all competitors of the Olympic  Games that have all agreed to live and compete in peace.

Colorado Shootings "I am the Joker"

Lucy analyses the recent news of the Colorado "Batman movie' shooting, linking it to a variety of the Society and Culture concepts.

A gunman wearing a gas mask and sheathed head-to-toe in body armor opened fire in a theater packed for a midnight showing of a just-released Batman movie, killing at least 12 people and wounding 58 others.

MEDIA: The suspected shooter, James E. Holmes, considered himself as the Joker from the famous batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises”. He was influenced from this type of media to go on the rampage in Colorado, and tried to bring the character to life.

PERSONAL IDENTITY: James E. Holmes identified himself as ‘the Joker.’ He was trying to bring a movie character to life, and changed his personal identity to one of a fiction character.
POWER: James E. Holt had a lot of power in the Colorado shootings, and would have felt very confident with all his weapons and his costuming.

Women, race and stereotypes... what message is Disney giving girls today?

Disney Movie Princesses: what messages do they send out to young girls on how to be a woman and will it lead to 'happily ever after' today?  Danielle reviewed these questions using examples of Disney characters.

"For example; Cinderella why did the Prince choose her? Why didn’t he give the UGLY step sisters a chance but gave the household maid a chance first up from her looks? Do all men only go for beautiful looking women and not care about what comes with it? We also see in the movies every successful male is always the strongest and always seems to save the female from anything she couldn’t handle. The Princess is beautiful, always innocent and does what she's told. Is that the messages Disney Movies wanted to make children think life’s all about? Getting told what to do just because you’re a woman?

You will find little aspects in life where you never knew stereotypes were hidden that seem to reinforce those stereotypes in society. Times have changed but it seems these classic childrens films have not and therefore may mean that these stereotypes and expectations stay around for a long time to come!"

Film Review - 'Never Let Me Go'

Brae reviewed the film 'Never Let me Go' in relation to some of the Society and Culture Concepts:

Time - Only a certain amount of time to live.

Power - The medical breakthrough that occurred changed lives for younger people, however elder people got an advantage.

Authority -  People are under constant watch.

 The film begins with onscreen captions explaining that a medical breakthrough in 1952 has permitted the human lifespan to be extended beyond 100 years.
 The first section of the film depicts the young Kathy, along with her friends Tommy and Ruth, spending their childhood at Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic English boarding school.
It is revealed that the film is set in an alternate twentieth century. One of the teachers is fired after telling the pupils of their fate: they exist to provide donor organs for transplants. They will be nurtured to adult age at which time they will be available for "selection."

Do I look suspicious??

What does our appearance say about us? What we wear, our body language, our style of communication...
The 'hoodie' has become a topic of debate as an item of clothing and what it represents, as well as the ongoing issues of race and skin colour stereotyping.

The fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman took place on February 26, 2012, in Florida, USA.  Trayvon Martin was a 17-year-old African American who was unarmed and wearing a hoodie.

George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old multi-racial Hispanic American, was the designated neighbourhood watch coordinator for The Retreat at Twin Lakes, the gated community where the shooting took place. Since the shooting and the trial, there have been protests, marches and campaigns.

Watch the campaign video to find out more about what happened. BUT be sure to look up other sources of information too to get a balanced view of the the story... there are many parts to it!