The Concepts Of Equality And Inclusion

The Concepts Of Equality And Inclusion In my essay my intention is for the reader to gain an insight to the effectiveness of legislation and currents Scottish Government policy through various factors. These factors being prejudice, discrimination, poverty, stereotyping, and promoting social justice and inclusion. I have also looked into diversity and how the above factors can influence in an early year setting. With having an insight to multiple identities, I have considered its application to policy and practice in the early years settings. Siraj Blatchford, (2006) describes multiple identities, as Identity formation is a complex process that is never completed. She believed individuals experience of gender, class, and other formative categories will form ones identity. Identity can be described as a kaleidoscope, suggesting children are all individuals and differences in people. Parents views, media images, and the childs own perceptions based on their experiences and the values they have been shown can shape their identity. Children may have had a strong role model in their life absent and have a negative perception of people. Siraj Blatchford, (1998) stresses the importance to avoid stereotyping and the role an early years staff need to be vigilant of this and to take an active role in planning for, that avoid stereotyping supporting and developing individual childrens identities as masterful learners of a broad and balance curriculum. Children at my placement had the opportunity to express their own identity through their own planning. This is evident in Task 1 (Appendix-A:1). Standard 11 from the National Care Standards (2005), Each child or young person has access to a sufficient and suitable range of resources. Point 1 of Standard 11 indicates this should be apparent with providing multi-cultural materials. Legislation such as the Equality Act (2010) provides todays society a law that protects individuals from unfair treatment and promotes a fair and more equal society. Early year practitioners need to be aware of this act. This will then strengthen their knowledge and help towards preventing discrimination and inequality. Early years practitioners are also protected by the legislation. Whilst on placement I researched what resources they had to meet all individual and multiple identities. This is evident in Task 2 (Appendix A:2). This is also inline with Getting it right for every child, (2007) were is states Children and young people should be involved in planning according to their age, stage and understanding. Practitioners then are putting the child needs at the centre and develop a shared understanding within the setting and across agencies. There are eight sub headings that Scotland feels Children in Scotland should have met. These are Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible, and Included. A plan may be put in place if a child is not being able to achieve one of the above. A plan is put in place for the childs goals to be accomplished and to monitor the childs progress. A child with this assessment tool is having their individual needs looked at. In Task 1(Appendix A:1) it is evident demonstrating how the setting dealt with a child who had specific individual needs and who the setting was in partnership with. Staff should be aware how they treat children as individuals to avoid stereotyping what a girl can play with and what a boy can play with. For example a boy should not be discouraged from playing in the home corner as that would be stereotyping it should only be girls. This is outlined in Lindon, (1998). Children should be able to choose and play with what they want. Staff should be aware of their language towards children and shouldnt suggest strong boys or a clever girl to pass on a message. This was outlined in my observations where the children had the choice to choose what they want to play with and what area in the playroom. This is outlined in Task 1 (Appendix A:1) . Early years establishments should consider The Race Relations Amendment Act, (2000). This act protects staff from being racial abused promotion of good equality to all people regardless of their racial groups. Milner, (1983) demonstrated children have shown positive and negative feelings about people from a different race from themselves. As a practitioner ensuring they portray a positive image to all will discourage negative and racial prejudice whilst making children aware not everyone is the same. Planning with Curriculum for Excellence (2009) will encourage for children to be Responsive Citizens which covers respect for others and understand different beliefs and cultures. In early years settings it is predominately females but a mixed work force is an advantage for children and staff. Children should have positive relationships with females and males. There should be a staff employment process and policy to prevent stereotyping and discrimination when recruiting. Staff should also speak to male guardians when they come to collect the child rather than only speaking to the mothers. This would be deemed as prejudice towards the male role of parenting. In my placement they had a recruitment policy, which was visible at the entrance. This is outlined in Task 3 (Appendix A:3). HMIE The Child at the Centre, (2007) indicator 9.1 looks at promotion of positive attitudes to social and cultural diversity. By talking to both female and males parents the vision is shared and all are working together. This means all involved with the setting have a shared knowledge of the setting aims and values. In point 9.1 is also describes the importance of celebrating diversi ty and inclusion. This is a key point as it may then promote positive attitudes in which will have a knock on effect on the child perception of what is acceptable. Whilst having protection for children and their rights, each child should be treated as an equal whilst getting their individual needs met. All children should be treated fairly regardless of their home circumstances. Children have a better prospect to a brighter future in life if legislation is in place. Pre-school is important for children to receive positive messages and learn values of others. If children are in a minority in a nursery class they are more likely to find it difficult if labelled or stereotyped. This is in-line with what Dowling, (2010) believes children will learn from the message received from the adults in their life and through modelling. Acts are put in place to protect children and others. The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 protects the welfare, safety and rights of the child. Childrens participation in family, community and culture makes a particular contribution to their life (Waller, 2005). Early year settings should be making it their duty to work well together with parents, authorities and agencies to tackle issues against class, poverty and discrimination. Also staff should be aiming for all childrens outcomes to be achieved regardless of their class, so children dont fall into a low class society due to lack of opportunities. As a practitioner I have a responsibility to use legislation in my practice and portray positive images to children about all being equal and treated fairly which is in-line with National Care Standards, (2005), Standard 8, point 1. The Equality Bill, (2009) is to reduce socio-economic inequalities. It gives each individual opportunity to succeed to build a modern prosperous society, tackling any barriers that hold people back. If people receive help they wont begin to have a sense of hopelessness. Services should be aiming for all childrens outcomes to be achieved regardless of their class, so children dont fall into a low class society due to lack of opportunities. Equally Well, (2008) is The Scottish Government approach to tackling poverty and to improve the health in Scotland. It covers points, which will influence a child opportunity in life. Childrens circumstances in the earliest years of life are critical to future health inequalities. If work can be put in place at the earliest stage possible it achieve to an ending of the cycle of todays health inequalities which is what the parents passes onto the child and affecting their future. Equally well, (2008) is also in line with the Scottish Government policy, Early Years Framework, (2009). Through this they hope to change the focus from crisis intervention to prevention and early intervention. Achieving Our Potential (2008) also is a framework, which is trying to tackle poverty in todays society. The Government through this policy is aiming to support those who are in poverty or any individuals that in risk of falling into poverty. In Scotland they found 17% of Scotland population was affect ed by relative poverty. The Early Year Framework, (2009) aims to provide children the best start to their life through the support of families, communities and services. Further more if all working together it should help to improve the state of people health through, less stress for parents as receiving support, safer housing and environments for children to develop and learn. It will also improve engagement with children and families. The framework works along side the UN Convention on Rights of the Child, (1989). One of the points which is important for early years setting to be aware of is Article 27 Children grow up free from poverty in their early years and have their outcomes defined by their ability and potential rather than their family background. This applies to all children regardless of their age, gender, race, culture beliefs and social status. According to Bennett and Moss report, ( 2009) Working with Diversity: summary of a discussion paper for Children in Scotland. They believed some children services help contribute to social justice. One of the key themes being working with ethnicity and poverty They believed that children with a lower socio-economic groups are statistically likely to have poor outcomes on a wide range of measures. These outcomes include the childs family stability, attendance in class, health and employability opportunities. Children from an excluded ethnic background will be even more likely to have poorer outcomes due to be socially excluded. Additionally they also felt the government should give children a fair start in life which is very similar to what the Early Years Framework, (2009) is trying to achieve. Services for children then have an important role in looking at children at individuals and promote their learning regardless of any ethic background. This is evident from my placement in Task 1 (Appendix A:1). The placement also offered praise to the children through various ways and is inline with the setting prompting Positive behaviour policy. This is evident in Task 2 and Task 3 (Appendix A:2 and A:3). This promotes the identities of the children and is a fair process for all promoting inclusion. Point 1.1 of the Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers, (2002) is to treat each person as an individual. The codes is an agreed document which is active as services Workers are adhering to working in services to provide the best possible care to the needs of others and following a conduct of practice. Point 1.6 Respecting diversity and different cultures and values. This point is valuable to be respectful of individual identities and their backgrounds. Early years staff on my placement all held a enhanced disclosure from Disclosure Scotland, (2002), which is where adults working with children are vetted against any convictions and details any list they are on which inhibits them to work with children. It means the person working with a child is safe to do so and plays an important part of the recruitment process that all individuals will undertake due the nature of work. This is line with the placement policy on Selection Process For Staff and is in-line with HMIE Child at the Centre, (2007) indicator 1.2. The indicator implements what is the lawful requirement for the setting whilst following legislation and codes of practice. Maslow hierarchy of needs is a triangle of needs he believed human beings have to work through. According to Maslow one stage had to be satisfied in order to process to the next stage. A child in poverty will struggle to move from the physiological needs stage as poverty will inflict on the amount of food and warmth they have. The next stage takes into account of safety, which may not be ideal for people living in rural areas due to poverty. Carneiro, (2007) showed that parental interest has a strong impact on the development of cognitive and social skills. Parents with high interest for preschool education will send their child to a good learning environment. According to Sammons, ( 2005) children who have no pre-school have lower cognitive scores and social abilities. This will then have a knock on effect to the child abilities to succeed as they grow. Parents are encouraged to take an active role within the setting I was on placement at. This is evident in Task 3 (Appendix A:3). By involving themselves they are working alongside the team and provides the parents the opportunity to build positive relationships. With all parents being welcomed they will feel valued and are being treated as an equal. It also gives parents the opportunity to find out information about the childs home life. With thinking about my placement and its stage of understanding social justice and inclusion I began to think of Siraj Blatchford, (1996) stages of equality practice. With the 6 stages I feel my placement lies within Stage 4. They do celebrate different cultures and follow policies around equal opportunities, Partnership with parents and promotion of positive behaviour. With the partnership policy all parents are welcomed and individual talents are also encouraged for the children learning. This is outlined in Task 2 and Task 3 (Appendix A:2 and A:3). There are no male members employed at the moment within the setting I was placed at, so dads and other significant male figures are encouraged to play their role within the setting. This too then set out equalities within the setting and offers a different kind of learning for the children. They have a wide range of cultural activities in which the children can choose they are not only set out when its the time of a particular festival. The setting has a wide range of learning materials for the children learning around different cultures. This is evident in Task 1(Appendix A:1) Children can also explored new resources with their own choice; this is evident in Task 2 (Appendix A:2). The general ethos of the setting is to respect all and is this evident throughout the setting. This is evident throughout Task 1-3(Appendix A:1-A:3). As stated in Malik, H (2003) within my role I should be providing the best possible care and a high level of service in my practice as it reflects equal opportunities policies and practices. This is where it is logical to have a clear understanding of policies and the government initiatives to make Scotland a better society for the future of todays children. In practice today practitioners need to be able to treat children as individuals and demonstrate a positive attitude to abolish negative traits such as stereotyping, prejudice and judging others social class. By offering a good learning environment for children such as pre-school, school and open play areas, it will give them the opportunity for the best start in life. This is in-inline with an approach from Achieving Our Potential, (2008). Legislation and policies in this piece of writing play a crucial role in early year settings. Equality and fairness should be a robust significance throughout a setting to promote inclusion an d multiple identities. All involved in a setting are treated in a non-discriminatory and respectful manner. This is in-line with HMIE The Child at the Centre, (2007) Point 5.6.

Scholarship, Practice, and Leadership in Motion

Research is field where many stakeholders are involved. These stakeholders can be at the level of community, the government sponsors, research institutions and in general the research community of the researchers who are spread across the geographies. When a community of researchers share the knowledge with each other there are often instances where some part of knowledge transfer does not happen completely. This raises a situation of lacuna in knowledge transfer where some team members within the project are unaware of some aspects of the project. This happened with our group as well. We were undergoing through a long period of a lack in knowledge share where team members were finding it difficult to communicate the recent development to each other. The shortage in time and involvement with other commitments also made it difficult to update the peers on the research activities – both internal and external. As social theorists have said that learning is a lifelong process and it takes a whole life time in learning the social interactions and mastering the art of interaction. By this they have also postulated that the art of interaction can be understood most effectively when one is within the social domain and has opportunity to have a conversation (direct) with the significant others (Graham, 2004). This theory somehow contradicts the theory where the experts say that the computer managed interaction or CMI is also to an extent able to replicate the communication process. The boom of social networking sites has made it possible to replicate the social structure over internet. An added advantage of this kind of a model is that it allows one to communicate with the user generated content and allows oneself to give the comments and feedback without necessarily feeling comprehensive about getting an immediate interaction. This way people can connect with each other in the cyber space and also connect at one to one level at a later stage when they can meet. Our Approach – Analysis As is a commonly stated fact that complex learning’s are often associated with groups and addressed more effectively at the group level, even we tried the same strategy while learning in our group. Burdett (2003) postulates that learning in groups provide opportunities for students to negotiate meaning, manipulate ideas, and create their own knowledge – skills that correspond to those needed in the wider society. We initiated the group learning by first organising a group and defining the group membership in order to increase the group cohesion (Hirokowa, 1999). The next step was to define the group goals. For doing so we together formulated the group goals based on the available information, resources and incorporated them with the ways we can achieve the goals by using these resources. The next step was very crucial which was to regulate our performance continuously. This regulation was important in terms to know the direction we are progressing with the right and realistic aims and goals and if are able to achieve the desired goals or not. This was also a stage for us to reiterate on the accomplished tasks and goals and to forms new deadliness and also to update each other on each other performance by the means of giving the feedback. This strategy worked the best out of the other two strategies of communication and interaction as well as this was the strategy where maximum amount of communication of involved. The online system also worked very well with our team. The computer managed interaction (CMI) as it is called also did set a greater level of communication up to a certain level. This communication was through the mode of computer mediated interaction which though not being a direct form of communication was highly popular. This enabled the group members to share the thoughts and share the knowledge in the more virtual form which enabled the group members to be in par with the new development and also a much better knowledge transfer was enabled by this way. Conclusion From our experience we found that the most effective way of keeping a communication was a direct way of communicating where face to face interaction was involved. This also helped the team members to remain in personal contacts with each other.

China Pestel

Analysis 1. Political Factors Peace and development are the main topics of world; China keeps stable and harmonious relationships with all of countries. Government Encourages Entrepreneurship The government encourages the citizen to create the enterprise and cooperate with foreign-funded enterprises; it is a good opportunity for all of people and develops a new business. Such as preferential policies for setting up business, decrease the sales tax and income tax, offer free training course for high school graduate or unemployment, no individual guarantee for the enterprise loan below 70000 Yuan and etc.Decreasing in Import Tax One good thing for our business are the import tax of cream material goes down from 19% to 6%, moreover we have more choices to select the ice cream machines, and it will reduce our cost and make the produce process easier. Impact on Open Economic Policy Albeit the competition will be strong as the foreign brands swarm into Chinese market this few years, we dis cover that there is still a gap for our business to fit in and it is also a chance to develop the Chinese brands and enhance the existing ice cream industry to compete with foreign brands.On the other hand, it lays a foundation for Chinese ice cream brands enter into the international market in the future. QS Standards Certificate Ice cream industry QS (Quality safety) standards certificate is a passport for running ice cream factory. It requires every factory to prepare a freezer which can keep the ice cream under the degree 30; the freezer will cost 5 million Yuan. But this rule doesn’t apply to the foreign ice cream brands and some of home-made ice cream shops. Tax Policy It depends on the place and general industry sales amount, the tax department stimates the sales amount of the store, and then we need to pay for 5. 45% tax every month. There is no relationship with the invoice. Employment Policy For employments, they must have health certificates. The enterprise must si gn the contracts with them and pay the four insurances which the government asked for. Include the old-age insurance, medicare insurance, unemployment insurance, and child-bearing insurance. Allowance for Farmer Who Plant Organic Products Organic materials are now more expensive than the average products in the market.Hence, the government supports and encourages the farmer to plant the green and organic agricultural products. We believe that the price will go down, and people will enjoy the green and organic products more than before. 2. Economic Factors 2. 1Macro economic factors Growth in Population In shanghai, the area covers 6340km? , separate 18 districts. the population is about19 million and 6million families. The best business area is Xuhui (1060,000 population), Huangpu (570,000population) and Pudon district (2400,000 population). The high density of population will have a positive impact to our business. GNP Trends and National incomeAccording to the first quarter report s of this year, national economy maintain a growing trend, achieved 657. 45 billion Yuan which rise 6. 1% compare to last year. The per-capita disposable income of urban residents is 15781 Yuan and the per-capita net income of rural people is 4761 Yuan, rise 8. 4% and 8% in real terms. It is estimated that the growth target for this whole year can be reached 8%. 2. 2 Micro economic factors Based on the first quarter report of this year in Shanghai, The disposable income per-capita of urban residents is 26690 Yuan and the per-capita net income of rural people is 11400 Yuan, rise 6% and 6. % in real terms. According to the report of The People's Bank of China in May 2009, the saving breakthrough 4 trillion, growth rate meets 23% and the amount rise 48. 3billion Yuan. House rent income and other property income rise 2%. Employment pressure keeps increasing trend, the university graduate is 158000, rise 6%. The government pushes many of policies to solve the problems. People’s in come, bank saving and employment status are affecting our business directly, all of the data shows the increasing trend in each factor; therefore, we believe that our business prospects is optimistic. 3. Social FactorsCross-Culture Shanghai is a modern and international city. Due to the globalization, young people’s thinking and lifestyles are getting closer to western culture. They are like a sponge which can easily accept the new and strange things. Ice cream is part of their life in Western country, which has a significantly impact to the ice cream industry today in China. Ice cream is not only for kids’ enjoyment nowadays but also become an indulgence of young generation and a satisfaction for old generation. The new consumption format leads ice cream business to a bright future. More Aware of Having a Healthy LifestyleSince eating ice cream has become part of people enjoyment, they are seeking for high-nutrition ice cream which can keep them healthy and slim while they are having their enjoyment. Doctor Qikeming from Beijing Children hospital said the obesity issue happened in 7-18 years old children,meet 5%boys and 3% girls in 100 people, the trend is growing very fast, the main reasons are they eat too much fast food, carbonated drinks, dessert, ice cream. Thus, parents are more aware of their children’s health and also purchase organic foods for them. High Expectation Due to the intense competition nowadays, people are expecting more than the past.They care not only about the products but include its packaging, color, taste, price and even the advertising words and image. 4. Technological factors Produce Ice Cream by Using Latest Technology Along with the improvement of the consumption level, people’s requirements on food are unceasingly enhance. Meanwhile it is a trend which develops new products and fit the consumer’s needs. Experts advance â€Å"three lower and one higher plan† for the ice cream manufactorie s, low salt, low fat, low sugar, and high protein. More and more scientists are dedicated in studying and developing organic products.Thus, develop health and function ice cream against the traditional ice cream recipe by using the technology today will be a success in business. 5. Legal factors Food Safety Law This law is used to protect, monitor and limit the industry of developing and lead the right way for business. It has conducted since June, 2009. The new law shows the food exempted from inspection canceled and the food additives which are not in the list of catalogs cannot be used in any food. Once the consumers’ rights meet loss, they can ask for 10 times compensation money compare to price of goods.All of goods must have a clear components list on the packing and mark unsuitable people, function explanation. How to Register a Company? First, we need to prepare several names of our company, then we will go to The Administrative Bureau of Industry and Commerce to pick up one name which is not similar to other company in order to avoid confusing. Next, prepare at least 2 people which are the company stockholder, one must be the legal representative. There are several choices to decide the company format: Sole Proprietorship, Limited Liability Company, Company Limited by Shares. Each of them has different law responsibilities.For our business, we will register as a sole proprietorship company. Following by the detail of our business and open a bank account. The bank capital is at least 100000 Yuan for a small-scale business. To register a General taxpayer, the cash in bank must be at least 500000 Yuan. After that, The Administrative Bureau of Industry and Commerce will check through all the details. It takes around 15 days to get the operating license. We can start the tax process after getting the operating license. We need to apply for an enterprise code to department of technical supervision which is a Tax ID Code of the business.It will take 3 0 days for the tax department to process before we can get the Tax Registration Certificate. The tax department will then confirm the business tax rate, items of taxation, levy time and method. 6. Environmental factors Government Policies Protecting environment is a hot topic in current society. The government establishes many policies for one-off packing in food industry. For our business, the main packing materials are cups, scoops, straws. We will choose disposable paper products and degradable plastic to reduce the environment damage. Increasing Awareness of Environmental ProtectionSince people nowadays are more aware of the importance of the environment and becoming â€Å"green consumers†, they prefer goods and services that are â€Å"environmental friendly† and which have less impact on the environment. We will strive to be carbon neutral, green, clean and pristine. In addition to producing inconceivably delicious organic ice cream, we will try to operate in a su stainable manner. We use fully organic ingredients, offset our emissions, use compostable serving dishes and also compost our waste. This gives our business a clear advantage over our competitors who are not doing well in this field. References Website:

Biography of Dorothy Parker, American Poet and Humorist

Dorothy Parker (born Dorothy Rothschild; August 22, 1893 – June 7, 1967) was an American poet and satirist. Despite a roller coaster of a career that included a stint on a Hollywood blacklist, Parker produced a large volume of witty, successful work that has endured. Fast Facts: Dorothy Parker Known For: American humorist, poet, and civil activistBorn:  August 22, 1893 in Long Branch, New JerseyParents:  Jacob Henry Rothschild and Eliza Annie RothschildDied:  June 7, 1967 in New York CityEducation: Convent of the Blessed Sacrament; Miss Danas School (until age 18)Selected Works:  Enough Rope (1926), Sunset Gun  (1928),  Death and Taxes  (1931), After Such Pleasures  (1933),  Not So Deep as a Well  (1936)Spouses:  Edwin Pond Parker II (m. 1917-1928); Alan Campbell (m. 1934-1947; 1950-1963)Notable Quote: â€Å"Theres a hell of a distance between wise-cracking and wit. Wit has truth in it; wise-cracking is simply calisthenics with words. Early Life Dorothy Parker was born to Jacob Henry Rothschild and his wife Eliza (nà ©e Marston) in Long Beach, New Jersey, where her parents had a summer beach cottage. Her father was descended from German Jewish merchants whose family had settled in Alabama half a century earlier, and her mother had Scottish heritage. One of her father’s siblings, his youngest brother Martin, died in the sinking of the Titanic when Parker was 19 years old. Shortly after her birth, the Rothschild family returned to the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Her mother died in 1898, just weeks before Parker’s fifth birthday. Two years later, Jacob Rothschild married Eleanor Frances Lewis. By some accounts, Parker despised both her father and her stepmother, accusing her father of abuse and refusing to address her stepmother as anything other than â€Å"the housekeeper.† However, other accounts dispute this characterization of her childhood and suggest instead that she actually had a warm, affectionate family life. She and her sister Helen attended a Catholic school, although their upbringing was not Catholic, and their stepmother Eleanor died only a few years later, when Parker was 9 years old. Parker eventually attended Miss Danas School, a finishing school in Morristown, New Jersey, but accounts differ as to whether or not she actually graduated from the school. When Parker was 20, her father died, leaving her to support herself. She met her living expenses by working as a pianist at a dance school. At the same time, she worked on writing poetry in her spare time. In 1917, Parker met Edwin Pond Parker II, a stockbroker on Wall Street who, like her, was 24 years old. They were married fairly quickly, before Edwin left to serve in the army during World War I. He returned from the war, and the couple were married for 11 years before she filed for divorce in 1928. Dorothy Parker went on to marry screenwriter and actor Alan Campbell in 1934, but kept her first married name. She and Campbell divorced in 1947 but remarried in 1950; although they had other brief separations, they remained married until his death. Magazine Writer (1914-1925) Parkers work appeared in the following publications:Vanity FairAinslees MagazineLadies Home JournalLIFESaturday Evening PostThe New Yorker Parker’s first publication came in 1914, when she sold her first poem to Vanity Fair magazine. This publication put her on the radar of the Condà © Nast magazine company, and she was soon hired as an editorial assistant at Vogue. She remained there for about two years before moving over to Vanity Fair, where she had her first full-time writing job as a staff writer. In 1918, Parker’s writing truly took off when she became the temporary theater critic for Vanity Fair, filling in while her colleague P.G. Wodehouse was on vacation. Her particular brand of biting wit made her a hit with readers, but offended powerful producers, so her tenure only lasted until 1920. However, during her time at Vanity Fair, she met several fellow writers, including humorist Robert Benchley and Robert E. Sherwood. The three of them began a tradition of lunches at the Algonquin Hotel, founding what came to be called the Algonquin Round Table, a circle of New York writers who met almost daily for lunches where they exchanged witty comments and playful debates. Since many of the writers in the group had their own newspaper columns, the witty remarks were often transcribed and shared with the public, helping garner Parker and her colleagues a reputation for sharp wit and clever wordplay. Members of the Algonquin Round Table, including Parker (bottom right), in 1938.   Bettmann / Getty Images Parker was dismissed from Vanity Fair for her controversial criticisms in 1920 (and her friends Benchley and Sherwood then resigned from the magazine in solidarity and in protest), but that wasn’t even close to the end of her magazine writing career. In fact, she continued to publish pieces in Vanity Fair, just not as a staff writer. She worked for Ainslee’s Magazine and also published pieces in popular magazines such as Ladies’ Home Journal, Life, and the Saturday Evening Post. In 1925, Harold Ross founded The New Yorker and invited Parker (and Benchley) to join the editorial board. She began writing content for the magazine in its second issue, and she soon became noted for her short, sharp-tongued poems. Parker largely mined her own life for darkly humorous content, frequently writing about her failed romances and even describing thoughts of suicide. Over the course of the 1920s, she published over 300 poems among many magazines. Poet and Playwright (1925 – 1932) Enough Rope (1926)Sunset Gun (1928)Close Harmony (1929)Laments for the Living (1930)Death and Taxes (1931) Parker turned her attention to the theater briefly in 1924, collaborating with playwright Elmer Rice to write Close Harmony. Despite positive reviews, it closed after only running 24 performances on Broadway, but it did enjoy a successful second life as a touring production renamed The Lady Next Door. Parker published her first full volume of poetry, titled Enough Rope, in 1926. It sold around 47,000 copies and was well-reviewed by most critics, although some dismissed it as being shallow â€Å"flapper† poetry. Over the next few years, she released several more collections of short work, including both poetry and short stories. Her poetry collections were Sunset Gun  (1928) and  Death and Taxes  (1931), interspersed with her short story collections  Laments for the Living  (1930) and  After Such Pleasures  (1933). During this time, she also wrote regular material for The New Yorker under the byline â€Å"Constant Reader.† Her most well-known short story, Big Blonde, was published in The Bookman magazine and was awarded the O. Henry Award for the best short story of 1929. Portrait of Dorothy Parker, circa 1920.   Bettmann / Getty Images Although her writing career was stronger than ever, Parker’s personal life was somewhat less successful (which, of course, only provided more fodder for her material–Parker didn’t shy away from poking fun at herself). She divorced her husband in 1928 and subsequently embarked on several romances, including ones with publisher Seward Collins and reporter and playwright Charles MacArthur. Her relationship with MacArthur resulted in a pregnancy, which she terminated. Although she wrote about this period with her trademark biting humor, she also privately struggled with depression and even attempted suicide at one point. Parker’s interest in social and political activism began in earnest during the late 1920s. She was arrested on loitering charges in Boston when she traveled there to protest the controversial death sentences of Sacco and Vanzetti, Italian anarchists who had been convicted of murder despite the evidence against them falling apart; their conviction was largely suspected to be the result of anti-Italian and anti-immigrant sentiments. Writer in Hollywood and Beyond (1932-1963) After Such Pleasures  (1933)Suzy (1936)A Star Is Born (1937)Sweethearts (1938)Trade Winds (1938)Saboteur (1942)Here Lies: The Collected Stories of Dorothy Parker  (1939)Collected Stories (1942)The Portable Dorothy Parker (1944)Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman (1947)The Fan (1949) In 1932, Parker met Alan Campbell, an actor/screenwriter and former Army intelligence officer, and they married in 1934. They moved together to Hollywood, where they signed contracts with Paramount Pictures and eventually began doing freelance work for multiple studios. Within the first five years of her Hollywood career, she received her first Oscar nomination: she, Campbell, and Robert Carson wrote the script for the 1937 film A Star Is Born and were nominated for best original screenplay. She later received another nomination in 1947 for co-writing Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman. Dorothy Parker and husband Alan Campbell, circa 1937. Evening Standard / Getty Images   During the Great Depression, Parker was among many artists and intellectuals who became more vocal in social and civil rights issues and more critical of government authority figures. Although she may not have been a card-carrying communist herself, she certainly sympathized with some of their causes; during the Spanish Civil War, she reported on the Republican (left-leaning, also known as Loyalist) cause for the communist magazine The New Masses. She also helped found the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League (with the support of European communists), which the FBI suspected was a communist front. It’s unclear how many of the group’s members realized that a good portion of their donations were funding Communist Party activities. In the early 1940s, Parker’s work was selected to be part of an anthology series compiled for servicemen stationed overseas. The book included more than 20 of Parker’s short stories, as well as several poems, and it was eventually published in the U.S. under the title The Portable Dorothy Parker. Among all of the â€Å"Portable† sets from Viking Press, only Parker’s, Shakespeare’s, and the volume dedicated to the Bible have never been out of print. Parker’s personal relationships continued to be fraught, both in her platonic relationships and in her marriage. As she turned her attention more and more to left-wing political causes (such as supporting Loyalist refugees from Spain, where the far-right Nationalists emerged victorious), she became more distant from her old friends. Her marriage also hit the rocks, with her drinking and Campbell’s affair leading to a divorce in 1947. They then remarried in 1950, then separated again in 1952. Parker moved back to New York, remaining there until 1961, when she and Campbell reconciled and she returned to Hollywood to work with him on several projects, all of which went unproduced. Because of her involvement with the Communist Party, Parker’s career prospects became more precarious. She was named in an anti-Communist publication in 1950 and was the subject of a large FBI dossier during the McCarthy era. As a result, Parker was placed on the Hollywood blacklist and saw her screenwriting career come to an abrupt end. Her last screenwriting credit was The Fan, a 1949 adaptation of the Oscar Wilde play Lady Windemere’s Fan. She fared somewhat better after returning to New York, writing book reviews for Esquire. Literary Styles and Themes Parker’s themes and style of writing evolved considerably over time. In her early career, her focus was very much on pithy, witty poems and short stories, often dealing with darkly humorous, bittersweet subjects such as the disillusionment of the 1920s and her own personal life. Failed romances and suicidal ideation were among the running themes in Parker’s early work, appearing in many of her hundreds of poems and short works early in her writing career. During her Hollywood years, it’s difficult to pinpoint Parker’s specific voice at times, since she was never the sole screenwriter on any of her films. Elements of ambition and ill-fated romance show up frequently, as in A Star Is Born, The Fan, and Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman. Her specific voice can be heard in individual lines of dialogue, but due to the nature of her collaborations and of the Hollywood studio system at the time, it’s harder to discuss these films in the context of Parker’s overall literary output. As time went on, Parker began writing with more of a political slant. Her sharp-edged wit didn’t disappear, but it simply had new and different targets. Parker’s involvement with left-wing political causes and civil rights took precedence over her more â€Å"witty† works, and in later years, she came to resent her earlier reputation as a satirist and wise-cracking writer. Dorothy Parker in 1937.   Hansel Mieth / Getty Images Death After her husband’s death from a drug overdose in 1963, Parker returned once more to New York. She remained there for the next four years, working in radio as a writer for the show Columbia Workshop and occasionally appearing on the shows Information Please and Author, Author. In her later years, she spoke derisively about the Algonquin Round Table and its participants, comparing them unfavorably to the literary â€Å"greats† of the era. Parker suffered a fatal heart attack on June 7, 1967. Her will had left her estate to Martin Luther King, Jr., but he only outlived her for a year. Following his death, the King family bequeathed Parker’s estate to the NAACP, which, in 1988, claimed Parker’s ashes and created a memorial garden for her at their Baltimore headquarters. Legacy In many ways, Parker’s legacy is divided into two parts. On the one hand, her wit and humor has endured even in the decades after her death, making her an oft-quoted and well-remembered humorist and observer of humanity. On the other hand, her outspokenness in defense of civil liberties earned her plenty of enemies and damaged her career, but it is also a key part of her positive legacy in the modern day. Parker’s very presence is something of a 20th-century American touchstone. She’s been fictionalized numerous times in works by other writers—both in her own time and up through the modern day. Her influence is not, perhaps, as obvious as some of her contemporaries, but she’s unforgettable nonetheless. Sources Herrmann, Dorothy. With Malice Toward All: The Quips, Lives and Loves of Some Celebrated 20th-Century American Wits. New York: G. P. Putnams Sons, 1982.Kinney, Authur F. Dorothy Parker. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1978.Meade, Marion.  Dorothy Parker: What Fresh Hell Is This?. New York: Penguin Books, 1987.