Reflective Journal

Thought this subject, I wonder a lot of decision making are containing ethic issue. This class taught me thinks deeper in every question. On the other hand, I have learned that actually anything have their both sides. I need to think mutually and deeply when reflect issue.

From my first blog, discrimination and stereotyping, we can see stereotyping existing everywhere. We used to stereotype. My view is, we might be stereotype but we shouldn’t discriminate. As the example I mentioned, why men should do every hard work and should be ability to cover all your expenses (if you are a girl), because this is a kind of stereotype. Women might not get a job position because society will think men are capability than women. We have no choice but have to accept that society is being stereotype and we have to make sure ourselves be prepare to against it.

In second blog I was talking about the ethical of prostitution. Women being prostitution have their own reason but most of the time they have their difficultly. My opinion is, they are not stealing, not robbing, not cheating, they are just using their body to subsistence. Prostitute is a kind of job as well. I am not going to discriminate to them, but of course, I will not encourage. As long as like every other job, work in responsibility, mean work in no harm and safe. Like a said, everything have their both side, think it positively, prostitute can reduce rape crime. 

Finally in my last blog, I talked about earning or ethic. This is the most common question appear within business sector. Every decision making we have to consider does it ethically? That’s why we sign agreement in every transaction. To make sure everything is following rules. But sometime, legal does not mean ethical, illegal does not mean non-ethical as well. People even try to take advantage of law when money is the antidote of every problem.

In my case, change supplier actually is very reasonable in business industry, because people want to get better price from better supplier. There is no point for a business that does not seek for improvement. As long as I am not breach of contract. Mean I change my supplier only after I complete the contract with original supplier. Then, it makes sense and ethical.

Thought this three blog, I realize that we often debating in ourselves thought. Right or wrong, answer is difference from everyone. How to be ethically? I persist, every decision making as long as we are not harming to other.  

Profit or Ethic

Recently is a hot selling period in our college. I would say that because October is the month everybody is selling things for Entrepreneurs development subject. The selling ranges contain all diploma and degree student who taking this subject. Hence, everybody is sell sell sell.

Since everyone are trying to earn as much as they can, at least break-even, well, let’s talk about price setting. Of course, the purpose of selling is earning the profit, therefore we will mark up the selling price, but, how much should we mark up, exactly how much we only considered as EARN? 

The definition of EARNING to everyone is big difference. Some will satisfied with only earning 10 per cent from the product, some are not.

So, actually how much should we mark up the selling price?

Case 1:

There will be a famous singer’s concert in next month. Concert tickets were sold out immediately at the first 2 hour of launching. Part of the buyer actually was take advantage to do a business in this case. They bought all the ticket and resell it in the higher rate. In the end of the day, the one really desire to watch this concert were no choice but have to buy more expensive ticket from those ‘reseller’. Those ‘reseller’ really earn profit from it, good business as well, but is this business ethical?

In case 1, is this action ethical? These are the buy and sell business should we say it is wrong?

In my opinion, it is wrong. And I don’t think this kind of business is legal.

First, those ‘reseller’ did not get any permission from organizer for selling concert ticket in higher price.

Second, they probably causing someone who really wants to watch the concert lost their chance to attend the concert. They buy all tickets that otherwise would go to fans, and then sell them at ridiculously high prices. This makes the tickets unattainable to many people. Ticket scalping is not a legitimate business and it hurts the entertainment business.  I think that ticket scalping needs to be banned so that people can enjoy the arts rather than focus on the profits for charging exorbitant rates.

Case 2:

I am taking entrepreneurship development subject in this semester and I decide to selling pepper spray which call Stoper. The stock I get is from one of the reseller of Stoper- INTI college student. In this supple chain, the mark up price is actually in very top, while in my turn I can’t able to earn more from this supply chain. But I am still taking from them because they are giving me consignment agreement. Consignment agreement is a contract that I can take the stock without paying at beginning, after I sold the product then only pay. If can't sale those stock can just return to them. It is zero cost and zero risk for our business actually.

After selling this product few weeks, when my business was on the track, I plan to re-order more stock. But this time I was thinking, why don’t just take the stock directly from main supplier of Stoper? It will be more profitable to my business while the cost is lower. However, a question poke up in my mind, is this action ethical?

While in case 2, should I leap though my original supplier and directly order the stock from main supplier of product which actually their supplier as well?

Initially I don’t think there is any issue for me to order from their supplier, however, my subject lecturer told me that it is not ethical because I am not gratitude while they were initially supplies me in very beginning. And my thought was, as a consumer, I have my authorized to get a better supplier. So,  I decide to take the product from main supplier.   

See, sometime business is business. As long as my action will not threat to theirs business, it will not be unethical. 

I was wondering in business world which is more important? Of course is profit. 

However, earning profit in ethical way is always the most importance.

Ethics on Prostitution

At the beginning of the blog, let us talk about [SEX]. Undeniably, from ancient times, people did sex and people NEED sex. (unless you are the monk or nun) And the form of sex can be various, for instance, consensual sex, rape, one night stand，or prostitution. In this blog I would like to talk about the moral and ethically of prostitution.

Prostitution has long been called the oldest profession in the world, commonly defined as the custom of having sexual relations in exchange for economic gain such as money or good. It is typically seen as an aberrant way to make a living and is illegal in many countries. These sex workers are referring to as prostitute.

In most of the perception, women or maybe men being prostitution been seen as kind of dirty, unethical job by ‘selling body’. However, before we related these ugly term to prostitution job without any consideration, did we ever think about the reason behind of those people who being this “occupation”. Well, if there is a passable life, will these people tend to choose prostitution as a job? Before dressing down these ‘unethical occupation’, let’s find out the reason why people choose to be prostitution:

-There are no jobs they are qualified for and they have a family to support. Often this case occurred in poor countries.

- Some of them are forced to do it as in trafficking.

- People are enslaved and forced to be prostitutes

- Some have been abused and sex is the way they find validation. The only way to be able to deal with their past as abused children, they relive it.

- They need money for an addiction. At the same time is the prostitution something they need drugs to be able to handle so it becomes a vicious circle.

- It's nothing more than a job where you can control working hours, payment etc. 

From the reason above, being prostitution seems like reasonable.

Now, we just leave aside the reason above. Let’s discuss why people looking for prostitution:

Can we say that prostitution happen because of the demand of men so that the women become the supply? My answer is YES. In contrast, men demand on sex is much higher than women. Men seek prostitutes for a variety of reasons. The most common reason named was to satisfy an immediate sexual urge or for pleasure (32%), followed by a need for variety (21%), not having their needs met in their current relationship (20%), convenience (15%), the thrill (8%), and an addiction or compulsion (3%).

Well, reason of those looking for prostitution are more on dispensable.

In a conclusion, some people choose to BE prostitution because of survived, they need to be with no choice; however, people tend to LOOKING for prostitution service is because they want it. The difference terms within both are ‘NEED’ and ‘WANT’. See, which parties looks like more unethically and immoral now?

My opinion is, prostitution is nothing wrong ONLY IF it is progress in a safe condition. What I mean SAFE is conducting AIDS prevention. Prostitution reduces rape rates, solve men inner desire, and maybe can be seem as provided a tutorial to those sex beginner. It can be ethic while it happens in responsible and consensual situation.

As I mention before, prostitution is illegal in many countries, especially in Muslim countries. Just like my country, Malaysia, prostitution is still in control by government. Under the laws, those who run prostitution shall be imprisoned and given counseling. Laws are also taken over the customers who subscribe to prostitutes. But…prostitution is usually done in secrecy.  Legal or not, it is going to happen. In Malaysia, I am sure that they are aware of it, but have not made a strict reinforcement upon making it illegal, a STRICT one, if any.  We are all aware it happens, but yet there is no strong force against it everywhere. It’s going to happen, whether we like it or not. The point is, even though it is illegal, does mean that it is not ethic.

Another point that prostitution is regarded as immoral is that it is supposed to be degrading to the prostitute. In most cases, this is true. To treat someone as mere sexual object is to fail to respect their worth as human being. Of course, many jobs are degrading and are still considered morally acceptable. For example, cleaning people’s toilets or working as a servant can be regarded as degrading. Working in a sweatshop is also degrading. In fact, a case could be made that most employment involves some attack on human dignity. Of course, the degree of degradation varies widely. But, if some degradation is morally acceptable, then prostitution that falls within that range would also be acceptable.

It might be argued that having sex with people for money is inherently degrading. There are two replies to this.

First, there is the fact that all jobs involve a person selling himself/herself. A person who does manual labor is selling her body. A person who writes for a living is selling her mind. A person who performs is selling his talent. Of course, one might reply, these people are doing something less intimate. Hence, there is the difference.

An easy reply to this is that people sell very intimate things. A writer sells her intimate thoughts. If these sorts of jobs are acceptable, why prostitution is not?

Given the above discussion, it seems reasonable to accept that in our current society prostitution can be morally on part with acceptable professions.

Even as a prostitute, Are they hurting you? Are they cheating you? If not, don't contempt on them and giving a respect. They are just same like us, doing a job and wish to have a better life. If you think that they are the one who spending venereal disease, CONTROL YOUR MAN but not scolding on them. Because they do not wish to.

Stereotyping and Discrimination

Recently, one of my friends has been crabbing about her boyfriend to me. The things that pissed her off are likely because of her boyfriend can’t hit her expectation. She mumbled about how weak and stupid is her boyfriend who doesn't know how to change a light bulb or got lost during drive. Hmm….I understands why she pissed off these small stuffs and where are the displeasures from. Well as Asian girls, or maybe not only asian, we have the stereotype of men, or gender. We treat men as our ‘backbone’, think that men are strong and able to do all hard work. So, her complain make sense now.
Stereotype is basically a thought or belief of certain type of people, individual or social group. We heard about ‘stereotype’ for a long time ago. And most of the people criticized that stereotype is bad to society. Stereotype happens when people have not enough time to understand certain thing, individual or group. Once the stereotype has been created, it is hard to be changed and may cause distress to that type of people who will be judged by stereotype. It is easy to find some stereotype and cases in our daily life. For example, people might think that ‘guys with tattoo and cigar are gangsters’, ‘girls who wear little are sluts’, ‘Korean have small eyes’, ‘boys like blue and girls like pink’, ‘old people are stubborn’, ‘Singaporean like to complain’, ‘gays are easier to get AIDS’, ‘student who always skip class is lazy’ and etc. See, look around and you will find stereotype is everywhere. However, are they incorrect? Is the problem really from stereotype itself? In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with stereotype but it is fault TO BE stereotype.
Can we say that discrimination is led by stereotype? Both of them seems alike, however, the biggest difference within both are, discrimination is sanctioned by law but stereotype is not.
I get some research from the website that discrimination is when you treat someone less favourably that others, in the same or similar circumstances (direct discrimination) or when you impose a requirement or condition with which most people can comply but with which is difficult for people in particular groups. If the requirement is unreasonable in the circumstances, you may be guilty of indirect discrimination.Of course, not all stereotypes are covered by the Anti-Discrimination Act. It is unlawful to discriminate against people because of their sex, race, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, homosexuality, transgender or carers responsibilities. It is also unlawful to discriminate against someone because they are a relative or associate of a person in one of those groups.Public acts designed to cause serious contempt, hatred or ridicule of a racial group, people with HIV/Aids homosexuals or transgender people, is vilification and that too is unlawful, as is victimizing someone because they have complained about discrimination. While in the job field, you think you know that men are better at the job you are seeking to fill. Or that older people are more mature and responsible than younger ones. These are stereotypes and it may be true that more men than women or more older people than young one’s have the attributes you are looking for.You could never say, however, that all women or all older people are better than men and young people for the job. If you use a stereotype to decide who to employ, not only could you be discriminating against the others, you could be losing the best person for the job. Non-discriminatory selection practices involve deciding what the job requirements are, and what attributes a person will need to meet the job requirements. Sometimes, race or sex or whatever will be a necessary job requirement and, if so, you can apply to the Anti-Discrimination Board for an exemption. In most cases, however, these things are not relevant.You might find that a 25 year old applicant is more mature than a 55 year old. It is the quality you are looking for, not the age, sex, race, disability etc. of the applicants.It’s in everyone’s interests to try to look past stereotypical beliefs and to assess people as individuals with individual strengths and weaknesses. While all stereotypes are generalizations, not all generalizations are stereotypes. People used to judges a person by using stereotype and sometimes it can be very harmful. Just like my friend’s boyfriend, because of he is a man, so, naturally he must know how to change a light bulk or have to familiar with the road? It is just so stereotype and unfair to him. What is the necessity of a man should do all the work especially when people are fighting for gender equality. Stereotype is generalization and most of the time it is based on truth. Even so, not everyone is same. People are different even they have same nationality, race, gender, age, interest, job and etc. Don’t judge people by cover. You won’t be happy if someone judges you without knowing you, it is same to other as well. 

Well, this is my very ever first blog, thanks for spending your time for reading. 

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