Thinking About Diversity and Inclusion free essay sample

Thinking about Diversity and Inclusion Jennifer Smith Garman Soc/315 January 31, 2011 Dana Batzka Abstract This paper addresses the many dimensions of cultural diversity. How these dimensions affect which cultural, ethnic, or other groups people identify with, and how these groups affect our social circles. The difference between diversity and inclusion is identified as well as the importance of diversity training within the workplace and how workplace culture is affected by diversity. Thinking about Diversity and Inclusion There are many dimensions of cultural diversity. These dimensions affect which cultural, ethnic, or other groups we identify with as well as our social circles. Inclusion is a way of bringing these culturally diverse people together in a common way. With the use of diversity training, and implementation of workplace diversity policies, workplace culture is positively affected by diversity. Dimensions of Cultural Diversity Harvey and Allard define diversity â€Å"as the ways in which people differ that may affect their organizational experience in terms of performance, motivation, communication, and inclusion† (2009, pg. We will write a custom essay sample on Thinking About Diversity and Inclusion or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page ). According to Schaefer, cultural diversity comes from a mix of different groups. Racial groups, religious groups, ethnic groups, gender groups, and cultural patterns. These groups then form subordinate and dominate groups in society (Schaefer, 2011). People tend to self group based on any of the aforementioned groups. For example, people tend to marry within the same racial, ethnic, or religious group. They self segregate in a neighborhood like Chinatown and Little Italy (Schaefer, 2011) because the cultural patterns in that area are similar to their own. As I see it, cultural diversity is the blending of these groups, not to create one homogeneous group, but to work together with different experiences and points of view, to create a better society. The Affect of Cultural Diversity on Social Circles When sitting on my front porch, I can observe how people tend to gravitate toward people like themselves. For example, people consider me as Caucasian because of how I look, but I am of Native American and Hispanic decent. I consider myself to be multiracial. I am Catholic, middle income, and I have an education higher than the high school level. I served in the military for 11 years as well. My neighbors are also Caucasian, Christian, middle income families, who have received education higher than the high school level as well. Many of them are active duty or former military, or work as teachers, firefighters, or nurses. On our cul-de-sac, there is one African American family, and one family of Pacific Islanders, but these families are also middle income, active duty military families, who have received higher education as well. People tend to live and socialize with others similar to them in lifestyle and culture. My friends are very similar to me. Many of my friends are military or former military people. Many are multiracial. Most are Catholic/Christian, but a few are Muslim and Jewish. I think the strongest tie that most of us share is either our military service, or our spouse’s service. The military is a culture in itself. Being in the military is like living in a small town or city. People become a â€Å"family† when they have no family around. They understand each other’s circumstances when those who live outside of the military lifestyle do not. The Difference between Diversity and Inclusion Diversity and inclusion are two different things. According to Harvey and Allard, â€Å"being â€Å"inclusive† means that diverse employees feel that they are vital contributors to the organizational mission, not marginalized or tolerated† (2009, pg. 3). Everyone’s ideas, viewpoints, and skills are put to use to meet the goals of the organization. For example, a company may have a problem with absenteeism because of employees having sick children. An employee, who has previous experience with a company that provided sick hild daycare may suggest a cost- effective way for his current company to implement such a program. In turn, saving the company money, and helping employees to be more productive due to lower absenteeism. R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr. states that â€Å"diversity refers to the collective (all-inclusive) mixture of differences and similarities along a given dimension† (Harvey Allard, 2011, pg 12). I nclusion, or prejudice, is therefore an outcome of cultural diversity. Diversity is our different races, ethnicities, religions, genders, and cultural patterns; everything that make us all different, yet similar to each other. Diversity can either cause inclusion to occur, or for prejudice to happen. For example, people tend to have preconceived notions about how men and women manage and make decisions in the workplace because of the stereotypes that have been associated with the genders (Harvey Allard, 2011). For example, men are logical and women are emotional, therefore men should be in managerial position, not women. Cultural diversity seems to naturally occur, based on our different upbringings in different areas around the world. Diversity cannot be controlled. Inclusion, on the other hand, is something businesses can control, based on proper workplace diversity training, reviewing of company policies, and learning about the employees within a company. Importance of Workplace Diversity Training Cultural diversity is growing in the workplace. Successful organizations need to recognize the need to invest its resources on managing diversity in the workplace. Cultural diversity has many benefits. Greenberg says that diversity gives the organization increased adaptability, a broader service range, a variety of viewpoints, and more effective execution (2011). When a company has a more diverse group of employees, there will be greater ability to solve problems because of their different cultures and experiences. These companies will appeal to a larger customer base, and will be able to provide better services because of a greater understanding of cultures and languages. Diverse companies will be able to provide services on a â€Å"global level† (Greenberg, 2011). Diversity training is important because there are many challenges to implementing diversity policies. According to Greenberg the challenges to diversity are communication, resistance to change, and implementation of diversity in the workplace (2011). Communication is important because people speak many languages and there may be language barriers that can affect how people understand each other. It is important to ask questions to avoid misinterpretation of anything that was said. A company must let their employees know that it is acceptable to ask questions and that their opinions matter. Resistance to change is common in all environments. There seems to be one person who says â€Å"but we always do it this way. † Sometimes it is good to think outside the box and do things differently. Making broad sweeping changes, though sometimes necessary can foster resistance to the changes. If possible, make changes a little over time, and include all employees in the process because their experiences are what make the company diverse. Implementing cultural diversity in the workplace can be difficult. An organization must create policies that have a strategy for using their employees’ diversity (Greenberg, 2011). Constant review of the organization’s diversity policies is necessary to manage cultural diversity. Asking employees is one way to evaluate how diversity policies are functioning in the workplace. Using a customized employee satisfaction survey can do this for the organization (Greenberg). Diversity training is not enough to ensure a successful company. Diversity training should be used â€Å"as a tool to shape your diversity policies† (Greenberg). The Effects of Diversity in the Workplace Today most companies, including the military, are very diverse. Employees are men and women of all shapes and sizes, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in positions that were traditionally held by White men. Because of diversity, organizations are including more diverse groups in the management and function of their companies. In 2003, I worked for a surgery center that was one of six owned by a large corporation. The center I worked in was the first of the six to have a female registered nurse as the administrator instead of having a male businessman (e. g. accountant, MBA, etc. ) in the position. Our administrator had to work twice as hard to prove herself to her supervisors and her counterparts. In 2011, three of the six administrators are female registered nurses instead of businessmen. Women, and registered nurses, are no longer just a part of the company for patient care purposes. Their understanding of how quality patient care is provided, as well as state and local health codes, make them good choices for administrative positions in the company. Is this change a result of the first female making her mark, or is this the result of cultural diversity in the workplace. I think the later is true rather than the former. I served in the Navy from 1992 to 2003. Affirmative action was still in use in 1992. When I enlisted, I was told that I had a high score on my ASVAB, but that there was not a position available to me at that time. The recruited had said â€Å"too bad you’re not a minority. † I just looked at him, and said that technically, I was a minority because my mother was Mexican. I showed him my birth certificate showing my mother’s maiden name of Cervantes. He immediately submitted my package as a â€Å"high scoring Hispanic female. † I had a position offered to me as a Hospital Corpsman starting training in nine months. Today the military is a group of different races, ethnicities, and cultures. People are in positions based on their scores and skills, not their minority status. However, during my time serving on board a Navy vessel, I observed that many people still self segregate themselves with people of the same race or culture. During working hours, everyone works together to form a cohesive team. During meal hours I observed many African Americans sitting together at the same tables. The same went for the majority of Filipinos, Caucasians, and so on. Being on the ship is like living in a small city. In a city you can have a Chinatown and a Little Italy as well as other neighborhoods based on people’s ethnic and culture backgrounds. The military is very much the same way. People come together in their jobs, to bring the best of their diversity to the workplace, but in the end, return home to what is familiar and comfortable to them. Is this a step backward in regard to cultural diversity, or is it just human nature to stay with what is comfortable to them. I believe that it is the latter rather than the former. Conclusion There are many dimensions of cultural diversity. These dimensions affect which cultural, ethnic, or other groups we identify with as well as our social circles. Inclusion is a way of bringing these culturally diverse people together in a common way. With the use of diversity training, and implementation of workplace diversity policies, workplace culture is positively affected by diversity. Cultural diversity will continue to grow and be an important factor in business, and society, in the future. References Greenberg, J. (2011). Diversity in the workplace: benefits, challenges, and solutions. Retrieved January 30, 2011, from http://www. multiculturaladvantage. com/recruit/diversity/Diversity-in-the-Workplace-Benefits-Challenges-Solutions. asp. Harvey, C. P. Allard, M. J. (2009). Understanding and managing diversity (4th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Schaefer, R. T. (2011). Racial and ethnic groups (12th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Thinking About Diversity and Inclusion free essay sample Thinking About Diversity and Inclusion Christopher Dale Brooks Cultural Diversity Stephanie Medley-Rath July 25, 2011 Thinking About Diversity and Inclusion What are the dimensions of cultural diversity? Identify and briefly explain the dimensions by referencing both textbooks. The dimensions of cultural diversity are racial groups, ethnic groups, religious groups, and gender groups. Age is also a dimension. Minority groups also share the characteristics of experiencing unfair treatment, sharing likes and dislikes, involuntary membership, group solidarity, and marriage within the group. Each group should be dealt with simultaneously. It is important to focus on them all, rather than approach them in pieces. Components may vary, as it is possible to belong to multiple minority groups. Building a connection is just one dimension of diversity. To create a diverse workplace certain things must be met such as motivation, structure, and skills and training. Measurement of progress can be done through a series of evaluations. With what ethnic, cultural, or other groups do you identify? Describe what members of your social circle have in common. We will write a custom essay sample on Thinking About Diversity and Inclusion or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I generally stay with my ethnic group of white male Caucasians. Working in the military has given me new insights to other ethnic groups which in turn has helped me to realize that we are all people that need some kind of help. Helping people whether it is personal, some kind of customer service, or just information that’s what I have learned to deal with on a daily basis. As for the members of my circle they are all of different cultures and groups. I tend to see a steady idea of what we all have in common is that we all need someone to talk to. Talking helps us all to release our stress of our day to our comrades who may have ideas to help us cope with whatever may be ailing us. Maybe, we just want to make sure that we are having a good day and that if there is something bothering us, we can help each other too. What is the difference between diversity and inclusion? Diversity can be defined as differences between two people, groups, and minorities. These differences can be as small as your looks, the language you speak, or you ethnicity. Let’s just say that I have a difference with my ethnicity because I am a white Caucasian male, I might hold a higher position in a job that someone else thinks that they are better qualified to apply. Only problem is that because the person running against me is African American, then that’s where it’s in the manager’s hand to be decided. Also, let’s just say that the manager has a biased opinion of me, and because he is African American maybe he will give the job to the African American and strip me of my job. Inclusion is defined as to be included. Minorities today want to be included in society. The minority groups today fight with a lot of passion just so they can make a stand and be heard. Ethnic groups want to be heard just as well in society so that they may have an opinion in the world today. Overall, all people want to do is to be accepted, included, and just a part of this world as the rest of us do too. What is the importance of workplace diversity training? Diversity training provides the knowledge, skills and tools to assist team members for behaving differently. This is important for creating and sustaining change that fosters a more creative, inclusive, respectful and productive workforce and workplace. Inclusion and diversity training must be flexible to meet the demands and schedules of todays active working environments. If these demands are not met then there would be an upheaval in the company. The military does not include this with their basic training. Which in reality, why do they need to include it? It is always about â€Å"one team, one fight. † This idea instills the ability of diversity to help each other through their personal issues and problems. What is your experience with workplace culture? Could there be, or could there have been, more inclusion? In most cases, the workplace could have been more inclusive. The reason I say this is that the military has many things to offer, but there is little room for culture. We do support other cultures with their holidays and special events but to what good are we if we are not fully aware of what their culture entails? I would like to see more support from our military to support other cultures with these events because I think that this would bring about the change in diversity for our military. Not only would it do the military justice, but maybe it could start something world-wide and of national interest too. I have worked in many jobs, and by far inclusion is the one thing that all company’s lack in the long run. I have worked with many cultures who thought that because they were a minority they didn’t have a chance to get to the top of the business. I know this because I saw many people walk away before they even began their climb because they did not think that our society would accept them for the position they could hold. References Harvey, C. P. , ; Allard, M. J. (2009). Understanding and managing diversity (4th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Schaefer, R. T. (2011). Racial and ethnic groups (12th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

My World Essay

My World Essay My World Essay My World My personal world that I live in today is not all that different from most people. It does have its unique moments that make it worth while though. My family, school, and community all play a big part in my life. All the things that go on around me constantly change my mind. It definitely affects the decisions that I make in my life. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without these life changing factors. First and foremost, my family is my number one life changer. My family was at a time considered middle class. We weren’t rich but we weren’t poor either. My mom graduated from college and has a job as a teacher. My dad didn’t go to college but he was and still is considered one of the best workers at his previous and current job. We were well off for a while until my father lost his job. Since he didn’t have a degree and the job market was plummeting he couldn’t find work. It was like that for three years. In that time span we went from good middle class to borderline poverty. During those three years my mind was set on a better future. A future where neither my future family nor I had to struggle the way I did. This is a major driving force in my determination to get accepted into college and get a degree. My community is another reason for my determination to get into college. The city that I live in now is not a bad one by any means. It provides a very good setting for all the youths growing up here if you live in the better parts of town. There are other parts where it is not so amazing. I happen to live near some of those parts. Nothing really major happens, but you can tell that there are things that go on. One of the biggest things that I know of is drug dealing. There is a huge love of the medicinal herbs showing up recently, if you catch my drift. It’s all that everyone talks about and it truly annoys me. I couldn’t care less about everyone and their love of it. I just want to go and mak e something of myself. Another thing is that there has been an escalation in the fights happening around here. Nothing really serious, but there happening more

Covering Letter (Jobs) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Covering Letter (Jobs) - Essay Example As I am a graduate in International Accounting from the Shanghai Maritime University, I have knowledge of the key accounting processes along with their legal requirements and managerial applications. I have also completed one year Pre-Master Program on International Finance and Business from Renmin University of China. This program helped me to develop business communication skills and understand the global business standards better. I am quite comfortable in a multicultural environment and appreciate the essence of globalization from a practical point of view. I am fluent in both English and Mandarin, and the university life at Keele has helped me to develop ample team spirit and research skills. Last but not least, I have job experience at Dong Xing Stock Company, Beijing through the internship programs conducted by Shanghai Maritime University. Here, I acquired practical knowledge of stock market analysis and various accounting operations. I am looking forward to optimally utilize and implement my academic knowledge and professional experience so that I can embark on a winning career in financial management. I am available from Monday to Friday (full time) for an interview and I will be greatly obliged if I am given a full time opportunity at your organization. Hope for a positive response from

Conservation managment Plan for Lancaster University grassland Essay - 1

Conservation managment Plan for Lancaster University grassland - Essay Example The institution is known for its extremely catchy setting and environment. The biodiversity of the campus is breathtaking (Cameron & White, 5). This enhances the quality of education since the image of high quality environment enhances good education outcomes to the lecturers, students and staff of Lancaster University. This article is going to survey the Conservation management plan for Lancaster University. The site that is chosen as topic is the universities grassland. Therefore, the article is going to name factors affecting the grassland at Lancaster University, features involved in the grassland, management objectives and rationale for features and/or factors and management action plan and order of priority. Grassland can be described as places where most of the vegetation is grass. Grassland is generally found in all continents since it grows by itself. The only place where there is no grassland is the Antarctica because of the chilly conditions, and mostly the ground is covered with snow thus hindering grass growth (Rich, 28). The University of Lancaster however, has very good climate which encourages the growth of a vast grassland area. Lancaster University sits on a large 264 acre piece of land. The land tenure is slightly above 50m elevation (Cameron & White, 10). The soil that encourages grassland growth at the institution is clay soil. The clay soil is good since it is rich in nutrients however, the soil is impermeable thus water is retained at the surface (Cook, 11). This means that plants that do well are ones that do not have long searching roots like plants. This is the reason why grass does well in this region. In addition, clay soils are heavily saturated in rainy climate w hich means shallow water tables thus water bodies can be easily made through craters. A well known crater is Lake Crater (Rich, 40). Grassland at the University of Lancaster can be said to be improved that is, it has been taken care of unlike

Perception Towards Successful Brand Essay Example for Free

Perception Towards Successful Brand Essay Rev. of â€Å"Building Brands Without Mass Media.† Joachimsthaler, Erich, and David A. Aaker. Harvard Business Review 3 March 2009: 4-6. Print. In this article, the authors emphasize that a company must have a clear brand identity with depth and texture so it will not convey confuse messages to customers. Also, they provide some marketing strategies for the brands to set up a clear and effective brand identity. Besides, they illustrate six companies that have a strong and clear brand identity in which The Body Shop and Haggen-Dazs are examined in detail. Apart from these, they use various examples to demonstrate the operations of The Body Shop and Haggen-Dazs. Last but not least, they have compared The Body Shop and Haggen-Dazs with their competitors. Lastly, they discuss the advertising methods of Haggen-Dazs in which they think the Farggi strategy that can confuse the customers the most. (Melanie) Hartman, Cathy L., and Caryn L. Beck-Dudley. â€Å"Marketing Strategies and the Search for Virtue: A Case Analysis of The Body Shop, International.† Journal of Business Ethics 20.3 (1999): 253-257. Print. In this journal, the authors use some historical examples to discuss three organizational virtues—excellence, integrity and judgment in which they think that the virtues are now defined and extended to community, membership and holism. Most importantly, they believe that the virtues are now widely applied in the companies. However, they agree with the researchers that it is difficult to theorize the concept of community. Besides, they use the founder of The Body Shop—Anita Roddick as the main example to illustrate the virtues can be utilized in a big company in multifarious aspects. (Melanie) Salver, Jessica. Brand Management in the Hotel Industry and its Potential for Achieving Customer Loyalty. Germany: GRIN Verlag, 2009. Print. In this book, the author mainly discusses some product requirements for a brand to become successful. Although it is not her intention to suggest that a brand will not become successful without the listed requirements, she examines numerous factors that can build up a successful brand in detail, such as high and differentiated demand for product class, the product is easy to identify and product quality is easy to maintain. Also, she has used The Body Shop and McDonald as the examples to explain her factors in detail. Besides, she believes that if the brand offers a reasonable price for the customers, they will certainly buy the products. Rev. of Starbucks: Delivering Customer Service. Moon, Youngme, and John Quelch. Harvard Business Review 10 July 2006: 3-4. Print. In this book, the authors have used Starbucks as an example to evaluate the value proposition and they use â€Å"live coffee† to describe the national coffee culture of it. Also, they use three components to illustrate the branding strategy of it. For example, it imports the best coffee beans from the world, develops a close intimacy with the customer and creates a good atmosphere. Besides, they discuss the locations of the Starbucks in which they are usually located in high-traffic and high-visibility places, such as commercial centers and universities. In addition, they investigate different products and the welfares of the employees in the Starbucks. Adubato, Steve. You Are the Brand. Canada: Rutgers University Press, 2011. Print. In this book, the author uses his personal experience to show Starbucks is not an accidental brand and it does not really keep a connection with customers. However, he agrees that Starbucks has built on â€Å"comfortable† and â€Å"familiar† for him in the end of the chapter. Besides, he believes Starbucks’ reputations are built on the word of mouth from the customers and excellent services from the employees. In addition, he has cited the book from the original chairman and CEO of Starbucks to demonstrate the objectives of the company and the reasons that it starts to lose customers. Lastly, although he laments the Starbucks has become more commercial, he still enjoys his leisure time in it.

Freedom Summer comparisons with Era of Reconstruction :: essays research papers

Freedom Summer comparisons with Era of Reconstruction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With the end of the Civil war, many blacks felt that they would start reaping the benefits that had been denied from them for years. Being able to vote, own land, have a voice in political affairs were all goals that they felt were reachable. The era of Reconstruction was the â€Å"miracle† they had been searching for. But the South wasn’t going down without a fight and blacks would have to wait at least 100 years for Freedom Summer to arrive to receive the â€Å"miracle† they wanted. 100 years it took for equality to become more than just a word but a way of life for blacks. But they did enjoy some privileges that weren’t available to them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Voting is one thing that was still around when Freedom Summer came; and when I say around I mean available. Let me explain†¦ during the Reconstruction era blacks were able to vote. But most of them didn’t due to a number of factors. A couple of these being: poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses, etc. And if that weren’t enough you still had the Klan that would destroy any black polling booth and/or shoot, intimidate, and kill any black person trying to vote; especially in Mississippi. In the months leading to Freedom Summer the same thing was going on except the rules had changed. These new rules, to keep the black community from voting, were the same as the old except very vague. In document 2 it details these new requirements to become a registered voter. Some of these requirements included being able to read and write a section of the new Constitution, are able to demonstrate a reasonable understanding of citizenship, make a sworn w ritten application for registration. So as you can see just like in Reconstruction, the voting power shifts back to the white race. Even if every black could read and write, who’s to say what a â€Å"reasonable† understanding of citizenship is.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Civil rights is another aspect that didn’t change. During Reconstruction, blacks were often seen not heard. It was usually the white man’s word over the black man’s word. Even if there was a crowd of people that saw what happened, unless they were black, they sided with the white man. But if these actions involved a white man getting hurt or killed for supporting the black community, that’s when the government stepped in to put and end to it.

Emily Carr Research Essay

Emily was accepted by the Group of Seven, and by far is British Columbians favorite artist. Emily Carr was a rave girl who strode to be different and was not afraid to show off her unique style of art. Her interest and talent for art was recognized when she was still just a small girl. Emily was born on December 13, 1871 , in what was then, the small provincial town of Victoria, BC. She was the second youngest in her family Out Of the six children. Both Of her parents, Richard and Emily, were English; therefore, English manners and values were followed in Scars family.Emily had a pretty good relationship with her family during her childhood. Her mother although was almost always sick, and that left her eldest sister [Edith] to raise and discipline the younger children along with Email's father 1. All in all, Emily respected and loved her siblings, which is clearly demonstrated in her writing in â€Å"The Book of Small. † â€Å"My sister Alice was two years older than I and kn ew a lot. Leslie was two years older than Alice and thought she knew it all. My big sister did know everything. † 2 1- Maria Tippet, Emily Carr: A Biography, peg. 2- Emily Carr, The Book of small Emily began art lessons while she was still in school, receiving instructions from some resident artists of Victoria. While still a teenager her parents passed away, and finances became tight. Art was really the only thing that separated her from her sisters who couldn't understand her work or desire to pursue It in spite of their financial problems. Out of all her sisters, Emily was the only one who took art seriously. Carr didn't find school to be of any appeal to her, and she didn't want to follow in her sisters' footsteps.So at age 17, after getting permission from her legal guardian Edith, she attended the San Francisco Art School. San Francisco turned out to be just the start of Car's journey. Although it med like she learned a lot, Emily still wanted more. â€Å"l had not lear ned very much, not half what I had intended to absorb once I got into the Old country. † 3 After spending more than three years in San Francisco, Carr returned to Victoria. For six years Emily taught art to children in Victoria, while saving up enough money for her to travel to England and continue her studies.This wasn't the only thing that Emily did over those couple of years. Carr had a fascination with Indians from childhood, and it grew with her as Emily matured into a woman. After returning from San Francisco, and spending mom time in Victoria, Emily set off for a real life adventure in Clientele to spend some time living with Natives on their reserve. 4 The native people accepted her easily in their homes and lives, and she developed a special relationship with them. Emily preferred to live a different lifestyle than most Victorians; she was more interested in learning the indigenous way of life.She often traveled by boat, and spent nights alone, sleeping in a tent. As she deepened herself in the native spirituality and grew stronger relationships with the Clutter people, they named her Kale Wick, The Laughing One. Maria Tippet, Emily Carr: A Biography, peg. 63-4 4 – Maria Tippet, Emily Carr: A Biography, peg. 30-31 After a few years Carr took her savings and finally continued her formal studies in England at the Westminster School of Art, and also in private studios of a number of British watercolors. Later she traveled to France, which turned out to be more inspiring for her.Finding Paris too stressful for her, she chose to tramp through the French countryside. Staying in small towns and villages she painted, and this is where her art journey started to take on a more Post-Impressionist style. In the small town of Creche-en-Erie and later on in SST. Flame, Carr studied under Philae Gibbs. It was from him that she finally found her true art passion, learning to translate the landscape from a realistic impression to a new, abstract realizat ion, influenced by the Fauves and Cubists, then in vogue in Paris. 5 Although Carr learned a lot in France, she did not feel that she wanted to stay there for long.She was not respected by many, and she struggled to communicate with most French people, especially men. Most importantly, Emily felt homesick in this foreign land. So after spending about 14 months in France she returned to Victoria in 191 1. As it turned out, Car's art wasn't appreciated in the more traditional, strait-laced artistic world of Victoria and Vancouver. In the summer of 191 2, Carr created a great amount of watercolors paintings using her new French style. Her work didn't sell well, and she received lots of negative criticism.After that Carr almost gave up art, but her spirit changed as did her luck when an ethnologist bought two of her paintings. That same ethnologist came back 12 years later to show Email's painting to the director of the National Gallery n Ottawa. 1927 was the official year that everythi ng changed for Emily; it was the year that she traveled to Ottawa to attend the December opening of the Canadian West Coast Art show at the National Gallery. There she met the members of the Group of Seven. Even before Emily arrived, she could already feel that she was heading towards some sort of destiny.The trip did become a huge event for Carr that spun her whole life around. The painting that the 5 – http://BMW. Besmirches. Gob. BC. Ca/exhibits/teammate/gallery 1 Frames/ Carr. HTML Group of Seven presented to her caused a great impression on her. Words weren't necessary; the sight was enough to change Car's whole view on what she needed to do, and even on what she could do. That night in her diary Emily Carr confidently wrote: â€Å"Oh, God, what have seen? Where have I been? Something has spoken to the very soul of me, wonderful, mighty, not of this world. The lingering memory of Harris' art was still â€Å"surging through my whole being the wonder of it alarm like a g reat river rushing on, dark and turbulent, and rushing and irresistible, and carrying me away on its wild swirl like a helpless little bundle of recharge:† 6 Lawyer Harris later approached Carr and declared to her â€Å"You are one Of us,† welcoming her into the ranks of Canada's leading modernists despite her own self-deprecating attitude. 7 With that statement Emily Carr got associated with the group of seven. After this successful trip Carr returned to Victoria where the most fertile period of her career as an artist began. Until 1931 , she generally used aboriginal themes in her paintings. Then, taking Harris' advice, she stopped focusing so much on native art, and began to focus more on what her inner elf wanted to create. With that, her love of trees, forests and the nature of coastal skies was transferred onto her paintings. The last ten years of Email's life were her most successful as an artist. Although life started to be good to Emily, those ten years were th e ones where Carr started to experience major health problems. Still Emily didn't lose spirit, and as she worked she could finally feel that she was satisfied with her paintings.She could see clearly the main purpose of her life, and so those ten last years became the happiest for her. – Susan Cream, The Laughing One: A Journey to Emily Carr 7 – http://rust. Ca/history/Carr. HTML In 1 937 Carr experienced her first angina attack. Her doctor restricted her painting activities, and so she focused more on her writing. The following year though, Emily life showered her with happiness when her first solo exhibition took place at the Vancouver Art Gallery. In 1939 Car's health took another blow when she suffered a serious heart attack.That same year, Air Dilators, who was a teacher, editor, and conductor, agreed to edit Emily Car's stories for publication. The year later after her heart attack Carr moved in with her sister Alice, right behind their old family home. Emily Sca rs first book â€Å"Kale Wick† was finally published in 1941. It was met with great success and won the Governor General's Award for Non-fiction. Shortly after ‘The Book of Small† was published, and Emily went on her last sketching trip. During the last few years of her life, Emily felt weak, tired out, and feeble. Her poor health conditions restricted her from painting very much, but she still wrote books.Recognition of her work grew steadily as her paintings were Ewing exhibited in London, Paris, Washington, Amsterdam, and as well as in major Canadian cities. In 1 943 there was a major exhibition of her art in the Art Gallery of Toronto. Her books kept on being published one after another. Emily Carr passed away on March 2, 1945 in Victoria, shortly before she was to be awarded an honorary doctorate by the university of British Columbia. She died at peace with herself, happy to have achieved her dreams as an artist. More importantly for her was that she died hav ing discovered her true self and her main purpose in life.