Madam C.J. Walker, Innovator and Beauty Mogul

Madam C.J. Walker (December 23, 1867–May 25, 1919) was the business and chosen name of Sarah Breedlove McWilliams Davis Walker, who, along with friend and business associate Marjorie Joyner, revolutionized the hair care and cosmetics industry for African-American women early in the 20th century. Madam Walker was a self-made millionaire who leveraged her beauty product company to give African-American women a source of income and pride. Fast Facts: Madam C.J. Walker Known For: Businesswoman and self-made millionaire in the cosmetics industry for African American womenBorn: December 23, 1867 in Delta, LouisianaParents: Minerva Anderson and Owen BreedloveDied: May 25, 1919 in Irvington, New York.Education: Three months of formal grade school educationSpouse(s): Moses McWilliams (1884–1888), John Davis (1894–1903), Charles J. Walker (1906–1912)Children: Lelia McWilliams (known later as ALelia Walker, born 1885) Early Life Madam C.J. Walker was born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867, in a one-room cabin on the former plantation owned by Robert W. Burney in rural Louisiana near the town of Delta. The Burney plantation was also the site of the 1862–1863 Battle of Vicksburg. Sarah was the youngest of five children of Owen and Minerva Anderson Breedlove, and the only one of those children born after the Emancipation Proclamation and therefore born free. Her mother Minerva died in 1873, possibly of cholera, and her father remarried and then died himself in 1875. Sarah and her older sister Louvenia survived by working in the cotton fields of Delta and Vicksburg in Mississippi; her sister eventually married Jesse Powell, who Madam Walker later said abused her. Marriage and Family In 1884 at the age of 14, Sarah married laborer Moses McWilliams, in part to escape Jesse Powell, and she gave birth to her only child, daughter Leila, on June 6, 1885. After her husbands death (or disappearance) in 1884, she traveled to St. Louis to join her four brothers who had established themselves as barbers. Working as a laundrywoman, she managed to save enough money to educate her daughter and became involved in activities with the National Association of Colored Women. In 1894, she met and married fellow laundry worker John H. Davis. During the 1890s, Walker began to suffer from a scalp ailment that caused her to lose some of her hair, a condition likely caused by the harshness of the available products and her profession as a laundrywoman. Embarrassed by her appearance, she experimented with a variety of home-made remedies and products made by another black entrepreneur named Annie Malone. Her marriage to Davis ended in 1903, and in 1905, Walker became a sales agent for Malone and moved to Denver. Madam Walkers Wonderful Hair Grower In 1906, Sarah married newspaper advertising salesman Charles Joseph Walker. Sarah Breedlove changed her name to Madam C.J. Walker and founded her own business. She sold her own hair product called Madam Walkers Wonderful Hair Grower, a scalp conditioning and healing formula. To promote her products, she embarked on an exhausting sales drive throughout the South and Southeast, going door to door, giving demonstrations and working on sales and marketing strategies. In 1908, she opened a college in Pittsburgh to train her hair culturists. Eventually, her products formed the basis of a thriving national corporation that at one point employed over 3,000 people. Her expanded product line was called the Walker System, which offered a broad variety of cosmetics and pioneered new ways of marketing. She licensed Walker Agents and Walker Schools that offered meaningful employment and personal growth to thousands of African-American women. Although she did have some store-front beauty shops, most Walker Agents ran their shops from their homes or sold products door-to-door. Walker’s aggressive marketing strategy combined with her relentless ambition led to her becoming the first known female African-American woman self-made millionaire. Death and Legacy Having amassed a fortune over a period of 15 years, she became an important member of New Yorks Harlem society. She built a fabulous mansion on the Hudson River in Irvington, New York, completed in June 1918 and called Villa Lewaro (a reference to Leila Walker Robinson suggested by friend Enrico Caruso). The 34-room, 20,000 square foot Italianate-style residence was a gathering place for friends and colleagues in the Harlem Renaissance, including W.E.B. Du Bois and Langston Hughes.   Walker also became involved in charities, contributing scholarship funds to Tuskegee Institute, raised funds to help establish a YMCA for black youth, and delivered lectures on political, economic, and social issues for various black institutions. She was, however, growing ill. Diagnosed with nephritis in November 1917, Madam C.J. Walker took ill while on a business trip to St. Louis and was quickly taken home in a private railroad car. She died on May 25, 1919, in Irvington at the age of 52. Her prescription for success was a combination of perseverance, hard work, faith in herself and in God, honest business dealings, and quality products. There is no royal flower-strewn path to success, she once observed. And if there is, I have not found it. For if I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work hard. Improved Permanent Wave Machine Long after Madam Walkers death, her empire persisted, producing and selling beauty care products until the 1980s. Marjorie Joyner, an employee of her empire, invented an improved permanent wave machine. This device was patented in 1928 and was designed to curl or perm women’s hair for a relatively lengthy period of time. The wave machine turned out to be popular among white and black women and allowed for longer-lasting wavy hairstyles. Joyner went on to become a prominent figure in Madam CJ Walker’s industry, though she never profited directly from her invention. The invention was the assigned intellectual property of the Walker Company. Sources Bundles, ALelia. On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker. New York: Scribner, 2001.Higbee, Mark David. W. E. B. Du Bois, F. B. Ransom, the Madam Walker Company, and Black Business Leadership in the 1930s. Indiana Magazine of History 89.2 (1993): 101–24.Lowry, Beverly. Her Dream of Dreams: The Rise and Triumph of Madam C.J. Walker. New York: Random House, 2003Stille, Darlene R. Madam C.J. Walker: Entrepreneur and Millionaire. Minneapolis: Compass Point Books, 2007.

Couples Therapy for Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

As many as one in three females have experienced sexual abuse by the age of 18 (Russell, 1986). Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) experience negative psychological symptoms (Browne Finkelhor, 1986; Kendall-Tackett, Williams, L. M., Finkelhor, 1993). These women may later in life engage in relationships. The negative impact of sexual abuse could result in challenges faced by the relationship due to shame and difficulty with trust (Kochka Carolan, 2002; MacIntosh Johnson, 2008). CSA may also result in sexual challenges for the couple (Kochka Carolan, 2002). Research has found that couples therapy can be of significance to the healing of the CSA survivor as well as functioning and growth in the relationship (Kochka †¦show more content†¦The researchers analyzed the results with cross-tabulation, chi square statistics, analysis of variance, and multiple regression. Most of the subjects were able to respond to sexual stimulation and reach orgasm but did not enj oy it. The women who perceived themselves to be adjusted to their abuse still had some sexual dysfunction. Feinauer suggested several implications for practice from this study. She proposed that therapists who work with couples experiencing difficulty with intimacy of both sexual and emotional nature should consider sexual abuse history of the partners involved because without handling the sexual abuse related issues , the intervention of therapy will not be very effective. She stated that if the CSA survivor continued to believe and act out the idea that they have to perform sexually in order to get love, acceptance, security, then they cannot participate in sexually intimate relationships. Feinauer referenced other literature and previous studies of her own to add to the results and concluded that women who have been sexually abused should: deal with their unresolved anger and betrayal around the abuse; accept that they are not at fault for the abuse; externalize the fault to the perpetrator so they can discontinue to have worry and fear of all men; and see their partner as separate from the abuser so they can have an easier time in solving their sexual problems. She ends on the statement that if survivors of sexual abuseShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Childhood Sexual Abuse On Adults Sexual Behavior1521 Words   |  7 Pages The impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Adults Sexual Behavior Jamila Kamara Dr. Lauren Vansluytman Morgan State University Sexual abuse leaves many scars, creating feelings of guilt, anger, and fear that haunt survivors throughout their lives. These traumatic experiences can be detrimental to the victims’ sense of their own sexuality. Numerous individuals who have been abused have trouble pursuing adult relationships and engaging in sex  as an adult. The abuse can color a personRead MoreChildhood Maltreatment And / Or Neglect ) Is Prevalent Concern1582 Words   |  7 PagesChildhood maltreatment (abuse and/or neglect) is prevalent concern. In 2012, the Children’s Bureau reported 3.2 million unique count cases of childhood abuse that were screened. Of those cases nearly 20% where found to be substantiated, indicated or alternative response, which is an estimate of about 686,000 children (unique cases) were victims of abuse and neglect nation in one year. Additionally, nearly 40% of those children did not receive any services. These numbers, again are those cases thatRead More False Memory Syndrome Essay1391 Words   |  6 Pagescoping with everyday life challenges (Freyd 2). When a couple was accused by their own daughter for abuse that had never happened, the couple, Pamela and Peter Freyd, formed the False Memory Syndrome Foundation. This foundation has engaged in an aggressive public relations campaign that has effectively substituted public skepticism of the existence of recovered memories for the initial sympathy and belief in recovered memories. This couples own daughter, a well respected psychologist, brought accusationsRead MoreChildhood Sexual Abuse Is A Global Issue1756 Words   |  8 PagesChildhood sexual abuse is a global issue that has multiple outcomes of dysfunction that an adult may display due to previous experience. There is evidence supporting the magnitude of problems that a CSA surviving adult may go through especially if critical periods of development have been altered because of trauma. The negative effects are psychologically, physically, behaviorally and interpersonally harmful to the victim’s overall health. With con tinued research and bringing an awareness to theRead MoreSexual Abuse Definition, Effects and Recovery3261 Words   |  14 Pages Sexual Abuse Definition, Effects and Recovery xxxxxx Liberty University Abstract This paper presents a clear definition of sexual abuse, pinpoints vulnerable conditions for somebody to become a victim of it, as well as finds relation between abusers/offenders and victims; this paper explains some factors of sexual abuse and its longer-term effects and also outlines phases for recovery. Introduction Sexual abuse can beRead More Impact of Child Abuse and Neglect on Victims Essay1823 Words   |  8 Pagesemotionally and mentally as well. Child abuse can be described as many different things. One of the more common forms of abuse is neglect. As stated by James W. Vander, in the book Human Development, neglect is defined as the absence of adequate social, emotional, or physical care. (Vander, 1997). This could include undernourishment, a mother not paying attention to a sick or hurt child, or even a guardian not sharing happiness with his or her child. Physical abuse is defined by Vander as nonaccidentalRead MoreTrauma And The Trauma Healing Intervention1520 Words   |  7 Pages   The case study is focused on a couple; Amupanda and Jonas that has recently started with couple’s therapy. During the therapy Amupanda revealed symptoms of that affected their relation and indicated past sexual abuse, this showing that Amupanda has been traumatized by a certain event that has taken place in her life that has caused a disturbance in her life. Amupanda has not received any treatment helping her cope with the trauma. In the assignment I will be discussing what trauma is as well asRead MoreDifferent Styles Of Attachment : The Level Of Care, Attention, And Type Of Relationship2012 Words   |  9 Pagesresponse. They’re comfortable with separating from the caregiver and exploring the world knowing that the caregiver is a reliable secure base. They can also be easily comforted in times of distress, knowing that their caregiver is a good safe haven. As adults, this attachment style tends to result in the individuals begin able to have long and trusting relatio nships, good self-esteem and self-image, and a calm disposition. Ambivalent attachment leads to insecurities and clingy behavior. This is the resultRead MoreSolution Focused Brief Therapy an Introduction4085 Words   |  17 PagesMake a personal evaluation of Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Identifying concepts and techniques which will facilitate you practice of CBT. | Within this essay I shall provide a personal evaluation of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). I shall endeavour to outline the main principles, processes and strengths. I will also explore some of the weaknesses of the approach demonstrating some of the limitations in terms of application to specific issues and problems. Additionally, the essayRead MorePtsd1401 Words   |  6 PagesI would end up having to shoot someone in my own home. Everyone around me told me I shouldn’t feel bad that the perpetrator died because I was protecting my family. Though it sounded perfectly logical, the guilt was eating me alive. For the first couple of months after the shooting, I operated in pure fear. I became paranoid and hyper-vigilant. Every noise I heard in the night made me jump even though they were the same familiar sounds I heard every night, such as the refrigerator motor turning off

Gender Stratification Women Free Essays

string(86) " they did not complain or disagree with their husband as they were oftentimes beaten\." Gender stratification and women in developing nations is a serious issue women struggle to overcome. They are not respected by their own husbands let alone others within their communities. Women are forced to work in deplorable conditions with no financial rewards. We will write a custom essay sample on Gender Stratification Women or any similar topic only for you Order Now They are denied jobs, education, healthcare and resources to provide good healthy homes for their children. Even in the United States where women are independent and hold many male-dominated professions there are still situation of gender discrimination. Developing† nation is a word often used to describe underdeveloped, peripheral, or less developed countries. Women constantly struggle to hold their own in these developing nations. The responsibility to care for and support their families along with the added burden of finding the resources to accomplish it makes life hard on women in these countries. In 1960 The Modernization Theory was introduced to these countries encouraging the change from traditional, technologically simple to the modern industrialized nation. The theory was to provide these nations with the technological knowledge to develop â€Å"Western-style institutions and market-based economies. † Policymakers based their theory on statistic from Europe and the United States as a basis for establishing standard economic and political policies. The developing nations found the theory to have little association with the experiences of their countries. In response to the push for modernization theory, the development of the dependency theory came about. Clearly this push for development was to come at the expense of the host country. These countries began producing their own goods so they were not dependent on the developed nations. The view of the dependency theory was that developed nations found it beneficial for these countries to remain underdeveloped. Whereas big corporations often relied on the natural resources and cheap labor, found in these countries, to maximize their profits (Wermuth Monges, 2002). The role that women play in developing nations, such as Africa, is very important. However, women are not given credit for their contribution to the development taking place. Unrecognized as full partners either in the family or in society, women have been denied equal access to education, job training, employment, health care, ownership and political power† (Anunobi, 2003, p. 62). The effects of economical and political problems in Africa make life difficult for men and women. The societal concerns of their community include the lack of opportunity, poverty, and inequality within their countries. The female is generally the main supporter of the family, she is responsible for the children and making sure they are fed and cared for. The increased establishment of commercialized agriculture has added to the burden of these women. The men were provided with commercial opportunities by selling their crops for money, and acting on their rights to land and the labor of their wives for their own benefit. In some areas men have many wives to work their land as free labor, and they are not obligated to share their profits with the family. â€Å"Gender bias is especially pernicious in African nations where most of women’s activity takes place in the non-wage economy† (Anunobi, 2003, p. 9). Womens’ work was basically for survival and not wage earning therefore they were not seen as being economically productive. The men used their wives and children as laborers in their family fields to produce crops taken into town and sold from money. The wife was forced to perform the domestic duties for her husband and yet she was not able to claim any share of his income. This gave further opportunity for men to expand their land ownership and financial stability. However, the burden of caring for the family was placed on the female. Unable to obtain jobs of their own many women resorted to selling sex, food, or other domestic services to other men to support their families. â€Å"In parts of the region, rural tribal authorities were given the right to prevent unmarried women and children from moving to the towns, and urban authorities had the power to send those who defied such restrictions back to the villages† (Anunobi, 2003, p. 67). This left women virtually helpless against the stronger more powerful men of their nation. Unable to own property or be a part of decision making for their families, these women themselves have become a orm of property to be controlled. It was purely a survival tactic for women to stay with their husbands because, if divorced, they had no rights to the wealth that she helped her husband to obtain thus further compounding her economic vulnerability. â€Å"Gender bias or gender discrimination is thus a fundamental cause of poverty in its various forms it prevents hundreds of millions of women from obtaining the education, training, health services, childcare, and legal status needed to escape from poverty† (Anunobi, 2003, p. 69). This bias against women is a major contributor to the high birth rates in the developing nations. Unable to control their family income or have access to productive resources, the children are forms of social status and economic security for these women. To reduce the number of children being born into poverty is to increase the womans’ productivity and give her control over resources. â€Å"In poor households, women and girls are generally allocated less food than men and boys; two thirds of the world’s illiterate adults are women. Women tend to be more malnourished, less educated and less involved in public decision making than men† (Alvarez-Castillo Feinholz, 2006, p. 115). It is clear to see that women in poor developing countries have very little command over productive resources. Women are not able to obtain title to land in their own name and have no legal right to the land of their husbands. Even upon the death of a husband, the widow has no legal right to the marital property. It is the combination of all these disadvantages against women in developing nations that keep them from gaining independence and self control. Women were seen and not heard, as they did not complain or disagree with their husband as they were oftentimes beaten. You read "Gender Stratification Women" in category "Essay examples" In an effort to combat these inequalities the poor and peasant women formed self help groups to aid one another in their efforts toward equality. It is these groups that provid economic assistance, credit for farming, childcare and, assistance toward business ventures. The husbands were powerless over these groups of women, unlike the power they hold over their wives. The women’s groups made huge strides in improving the lives of women and the welfare of their families and communities. The greatest problem for these groups was the lack of challenging the gender roles that kept them subordinate to males, and because of the gender division the wealth and power remained primarily to the men. â€Å"Development should encourage more cooperation between the sexes with the goal of ending poverty, reducing fertility, and securing the environment† (Anunobi, 2003, p. 74). Improving the status of women and allowing them to be a vital part of improving the economic and industrial aspects of their nation will benefit and establish an environment in which women and men can prosper together. The front line in the struggle for women’s rights appears to lie in the poorest, most patriarchal, least democratic nations† (Walker, 2005, p. 32). The Women’s rights campaign focus mainly on the underdeveloped nations. Women are beaten in the Middle East for not adorning the traditional Islamic clothing. In Afghanistan women are abused and deprived of their legal rights with or without the Taliban. The Pakistani women endure domestic violence and â€Å"honour crimes† in which they are attacked with acid. (Walker, 2005) This is a continuous struggle to establish universal women’s rights within these poor developing countries. The sad truth is â€Å"developed countries hardly offer a good example in their treatment of women – in fact they help make things worse† (Walker, 2005, p. 32). In Japan, pornography and its display is a common site in the mainstream of their society. Men are known to frequent bars offering expensive sexual service of women. These women are typically being trafficked from the Philippine nations in hopes of alleviating the poverty of their families at home. The control of men over women’s sexuality goes beyond that of social behavior and employment. Contraception was not legal for women until the availability of the pill in 1999, and still many physicians refuse to prescribe it. The Japanese nation may be a technical pioneer and one of the biggest global aid contributors but the treatment shown to the women in this nation is far less advanced (Walker, 2005). Examining the United States and its support of human rights; the United States is labeled as the world leader in this area. Women represent two thirds of poor Americans, and the majority of households living below poverty level are headed by females. Many American women are deprived of healthcare and those who do have coverage are 68% more likely to pay more out-of-pocket expense (Walker, 2005). â€Å"According to Amnesty USA, guns in American homes increase the risk of someone in a household being murdered by 41%, but for women the risk increases by 272%† (Walker, 2005, p. 33). These statistics are not that surprising as 85% of women in the United States are victims of domestic violence (Walker, 2005). Unfortunately, these instances of abuse on women’s ights are generally seen as isolated instances in the United States, unlike the widespread abuse of women’s rights in developing countries. The unbalanced relationship seen between women themselves is somewhat disturbing. This is displayed when women hire cheap foreign nannies to care for their children or buy clothing made in sweatshops. If women play a role in the gender-bias system they are just as capable of fighting to change it. The familiar image of poor women is seen as very similar, yet approached somewhat differently. The women who live in the third world are seen as victims of poverty in a developing country. The other women live in America and are referred to as the â€Å"welfare queen† (Mehta, 2009). These images both portray women of poverty and powerlessness, yet each images paints a different picture of their lives. The United States foreign policy makers and international development institutions strive to remedy this image of Third World women by encouraging them through empowerment; so they can be an asset to their families and community. Development policies have supported women’s rights and increasing their economic and educational opportunities. Local community centers were developed to provide poor women with education and job skills to start their own business. On the other hand, a completely different message is sent about the image of the welfare queen. She is seen as being lazy and unwilling to work and a burden on her family and community. The reform laws did little to build their level of education, or potential to be leaders within their communities. Instead there were limits on the single mother’s receipt of aid, family caps on additional children born while on welfare, and taking away benefits from those mothers who are attending school. The goal was to get these women into work, and it did not matter if it was a low paying dead end job, at least they were working (Mehta, 2009). It seems in the developed nation more attention should be given to pushing for higher education and building of work skills so that these women could be a beneficial part of the growing economy. â€Å"U. S. policy evinces skepticism that U. S. women could be affected by the same kinds of oppressive economic and cultural forces that keep women in poverty in the developing world† (Mehta, 2009, p. 68). American poor women are denied the potential of becoming strong leaders within their communities, unlike the opportunities for success given to their sisters in developing countries (Mehta, 2009). The negative image of the welfare queen has stunted the U. S. Welfare Policy to create laws that punish poor women. â€Å"The United States loses out on the positive effects of women’s empowerment that are already accepted and highlighted by the United States as sound policy abroad† (Mehta, 2009, p. 69). The potential that the developing nations have by empowering their women is very beneficial to their economic growth. Women always have been the strongest contributing influence on the family unit. Future development should encourage cooperation between men and women with the ultimate goal to end poverty, reduce population growth, and secure the environment. It seems obvious that not capitalizing on the talent and skills of women to protect men’s privileges is a waste of human resources (Anunobi, 2003). Hillary Rodham Clinton said, â€Å"Supporting women is a high-yield investment, resulting in stronger economies, more vibrant civil societies, healthier communities, and greater peace and stability† (USAID, 2009). How to cite Gender Stratification Women, Essay examples

The Dream Act free essay sample

Yes, â€Å"You can say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one† (Lennon, 1971). The DREAM Act will not excuse an individual for breaking the law; it will provide a minor who unknowingly broke the law at the hands of their parents with an opportunity to earn U. S. citizenship, which will ultimately benefit our country’s economy, our national security and our nation. History of the DREAM Act Before we can address the legislative background and the overall benefits this bill will have for the American people, I think it is important to understand the conditions in which the DREAM Act was formed. Imagine for a moment, if you or someone close to you grew up in America, only spoke English, received public education, celebrated the fourth of July every year with family and friends and by all means considered yourself an â€Å"American†. Then suddenly around age 16 your parents break the news and tell you that you are not an American citizen. You discover that your parents came to the United States illegally when you were a child and you realize that by being in the U. S. illegally, you are now breaking the law as well. At that point you realize that you’re stuck between a rock and hard place. If you continue your education and graduate from High School and even college, more than likely you won’t be able to find a job that will utilize your education or pay you a decent wage. If you leave the U. S. , you’d be forced to leave your family and friends and live in a country where you don’t even know how to communicate with other people. If you stay you’re forced to live your life lurking in the shadows while running the risk of being caught breaking the law and getting deported. Unless you fall in love and marry another U. S. itizen there’s not much hope for you to gain U. S. citizenship status. Imagine having to live your life like this, being forced to pay for your parent’s actions. Is this fair or just? The Requirements The DREAM Act was formed for these very reasons. It will enable individuals like this with a chance to become something great and help support our great nation. Some people believe that the DREAM Act will provide th ese individuals with amnesty by handing out a free ticket to U. S. citizenship. However, in reality the DREAM Act will not guarantee U. S. citizenship. It will provide an individual with conditional residential status and allow them to further their education and/or serve in the U. S. Military during a ten year probationary period. At the end of that ten year period an individual can then obtain permanent residential status as long as they have either served two years in the U. S. Military without having received a dishonorable discharge, earned a two or four year college degree or completed at least two years of college toward a degree with good standing (Hoffman, 2010). The DREAM Act also has well defined requirements that must be met before an individual can be considered eligible under the bill. Individuals must have entered the U. S. when they were under the age of 16, have lived in the country for 5 consecutive years, graduated from a U. S. high school or obtained a GED, display good moral character and pass an extensive background check, which shows no record of arrests and prosecution (Palacios, 2010). Legislative Background According to an a recent article written in the Congressional Digest (2010), the DREAM Act was first introduced back in 1995 by Richard Durbin, a Democratic Senator from Illinois. A similar bill was also introduced around the same time by a Republican State Representative in Florida by the name of Lincoln Diaz-Balart. Even though Lincoln Diaz-Balart introduced the bill as the â€Å"American Dream Act† both bills were formed to appeal a provision of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), which required that children of undocumented immigrants pay out of state tuition when pursuing a college education even if they lived in state. This provision has caused a road block for several undocumented students. It has prevented them from furthering their education and becoming an innovative member of the U. S. workforce that our country so desperately needs in order to stay competitive in our global economy (Legislative Background on the DREAM Act, 2010). Since the bill was first drafted in 1995, there have been several revisions and appeals to congresses decision to prevent the bill from passing into law. The latest version of the bill, S. 3992, was introduced on November 30, 2010. Under this most recent revision, the conditional period was changed from six to ten years to help gain Republican support (Hoffman, 2010). The bill was presented and passed by the U. S. House of Representatives on December 9, 2010 (Barker, 2010). Then it went before the Senate on December 18, 2010. The bill received fifty-five of the sixty required votes. A mere five votes prevented the bill from being signed into law by the President. The fallout was a huge disappointment for several people including President Obama (Rodriguez, 2011). President Obama was so disappointed in fact that he brought national attention to this issue again on January 25, 2011 during his state of the union address. In his own words he described his support as follows: Today, there are hundreds of thousands of students excelling in our schools who are not American citizens. Some are the children ofundocumented workers, who had nothing to do with the actions of their parents. They grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet they live every day with the threat of deportation. Others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities. But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us. It makes no sense. Now, I strongly believe that we should take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration. And I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows. I know that debate will be difficult. I know it will take time. But tonight, lets agree to make that effort. And lets stop expelling talented, responsible young people who could be staffing our research labs or starting a new business, who could be further enriching this nation. (para. 4) Economic Benefits Now that we know what the D. R. E. A. M Act can do for exclusive members of the undocumented youth in this country, let’s talk about what these individuals can do for our country. By allowing these bright and talented individuals to receive a college education or serve in the U. S. armed forces as a pathway to earn citizenship, we will have created an unprecedented incentive for these individuals t o live up to their fullest potential. These Dreamers, as they have begun to refer to themselves as, will stimulate the economy in several ways. According to a 7 year study conducted by Pew Hispanic Center the approximate number of high school graduates that are prevented from furthering their education or serving in the U. S military due to their undocumented status is estimated at an astonishing 65,000 per year. In addition to this study, a more current study was conducted by the Migration Policy Institute that estimates overall; approximately 2. 1 million individuals could qualify for conditional legal status. However, only about 825,000 out of the 2. million would be likely to satisfy all of the requirements clearly documented in the proposed bill [ (Hoffman, 2010) ]. One way the Dreamers will improve the U. S. economy is by increasing taxable income. They will be required to pay state and federal income taxes, just like the every other legal resident of the U. S. The amount of money that is expected to generate from this alone is projected to cut the national deficit by $1. 4 billion and increase revenues by $2. 3 billio n over the next ten years based on information provided by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office [ (Miranda, 2010) ]. Another way the Dreamers will improve the U. S. economy is by increasing our market strength in the global economy. Once the law is enacted, the U. S. is expected to have the most college graduates in the world by 2020 [ (Locke, 2010) ]. We must take into consider the fact that it was immigrants that came to the U. S. and started up large corporations, such as Pfizer, DuPont, Google, Procter and Gamble and Intel, which employ millions of Americans [ (Locke, 2010) ]. It’s hard to imagine where the U. S. would be today without companies like these. Even harder to project is the endless possibilities the U. S. stands to receive from the investment of these 65,000 undocumented youth per year by allowing them to further their education or serve in the military and reach their fullest potential. National Security Impacts In addition to the economic benefits, the DREAM Act will also benefit our country’s national security by allowing the Dreamers to serve in the U. S. military. It will help support the Department of Defense’s 2010-2012 strategic plan through enhancing the civilian workforce for the armed forces [ (Miranda, 2010) ]. Furthermore, it will provide the Department of Homeland Security with additional resources by allowing them to focus more of their time, energy and money on finding the undocumented individuals that are committing serious crimes that are a true threat in our communities [ (Miranda, 2010) ]. Opposing Views As a result of not passing the DREAM Act, some Americans may feel as though they have found a way to prevent illegal immigrants from taking away another job from a U. S. citizen. However, most of the jobs that undocumented workers get pay very little that most Americans wouldn’t take them anyway. Americans are likely to collect more money from unemployment or other government aide than they’d make taking one of the low paying jobs that an undocumented worker is willing to take. It is also important to take into consideration the number of U. S. workers that have been put out of work due to company outsourcing, which has become a necessity for many American businesses in recent years. Several manufacturers have moved their facilities to Mexico or other neighboring countries in efforts to lower their overhead cost just to stay in business.