The Rise of Consumer Culture Essay - 1687 Words

Consumer culture has developed over the years for many different reasons such as the demise of the social class and embourgeoisement which are both key factors in capitalism and has therefore led to the argument that consumer society merely reflects the rise of capitalism which I plan to discuss within this assignment. The origins of consumer culture have been discussed by Grant McCracken (1998) who argues that there is minimal agreement in regards to the origins of consumer society. McCracken took on the viewpoint that it would not be beneficial to look at a specific point in time in which consumer culture arose but to primarily focus on patterns of changes within culture and how these pattern of changes led to the reformation of society.†¦show more content†¦However the works of Neil Mckendrick (1982) led him to the viewpoint that consumer culture began in eighteenth century England with the commercialization of fashion which led to a mass change in people’s taste. So according to McKendrick the sudden change in people’s taste in relation to fashion during the eighteenth century meant that terminology such as ‘style’ developed and represented the shift in demand for items of clothing that was produced on a larger scale by new technology within the textile industry and marketing to a mass audience through improvements in printing technology which allowed and supported mass advertising to all members in society. The third was the development of the department store. According to McCracken the Department store changed the nature of purchasing activity because department stores essentially institutionalized consumption and changed the way in how consumers were influenced and to how much influence they were subjected to in relation to purchasing goods and services. From looking at the work of McCracken and McKendrick it is clear that the development of the consumer society came from an increase in the supply and demand mindset which is a key factor or element within a consumer society. Also the change in meaning in relation to consumption is another example of the development of the consumer culture because the term consumption was ignited through a new sense ofShow MoreRelated Consumer Culture Essay830 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"What is consumer culture?† In the late 19th, early 20th century a new phenomenon arose. Along with the development of industrial advances and urbanization of the emerging American culture was the growth and subsequent domination of the â€Å"consumer culture†. Consumer culture is a term that goes hand and hand with the American way of life today, but in those days it was a new and unique experience. Along with the development of the mail order catalog, advertising became a focal point of AmericanRead MoreConsumer Culture Film Analysis - Wall E Essay1131 Words   |  5 PagesMarina Souza ICS 392: Consumer Culture - Hildebrand 10/29/2016 Assignment #2: Consumer Culture Film Analysis – Wall-E In short words, Wall-E is the story of a robot who was designed to clean up an extremely polluted Planet Earth. This animated movie has a much larger meaning than expected – it explains what can happen to our planet if we keep consuming the way we do. As indicated by the movie, big corporations and greedy consumers destroyed our ecosystem. A planet that was full of nature, waterRead MoreThe Rise Of Social Media1248 Words   |  5 Pagesthey didn’t always put the customer first. But the technological revolution has changed the way businesses need to look at customer service. The above benefits have become even more relevant and getting the customer service culture right can make or break a business. 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This development of a high value placed on self-treatment resulted in the rise of a consumer culture that entailed the rise of industry and the manufacture of goodsRead MoreStrengths And Weaknesses Of The New Zealand Owned And Operated Essay1298 Words   |  6 Pagesdue to the fact that do not have the manufacturing, marketing or financing capabilities, but consumers who chose to find a ‘better’ alternative to Mountain Dew are less likely to switch back to the brand to fulfil wants and needs, as Six-Barrel products make a satisfactory substitute for traditional carbonated drinks. See the summarised strengths and weaknesses of this minor competitor below. Strengths and weaknesses: Six-Barrel Soda Strengths †¢ Niche market positioning †¢ New Zealand Owned and operatedRead MoreAmerican Apparel Swot Analysis : American Clothing1281 Words   |  6 Pagesconscious individuals between the ages of 16-24. Taking a look at the company’s marketing and advertising it is clear that it’s linked to young consumers, using text on their ads to get across the values and messages of the company. Young consumers in Thailand make for good business opportunities making up a third of the population. This group of consumers also has disposable income that they are willing to spend on leisure, such as shopping. American Apparel is passionate about the ethical treatmentRead MoreThe Impact Of Long Term Trends On A Company s Core Focus On Coffee888 Words   |  4 Pagesslightly causing consumers to cut back on spending, Starbucks services might be one of the first things cut out of a budget. For example, when the financial crisis hit in 2007 Starbucks shares dropped eighty percent over a two year span (Perera et al., 2012, para. 1). Our daily behavior can also have an impact on Starbucks long-term trends. The cultural and social environment refers to â€Å"how and why people live and behave as they do† (Cannon et al., 2015, p.69). This affects consumer spending andRead MoreHannah Hoch and James Rosenquist --Insiders and Outsiders of Consumerism and Gender 1551 Words   |  7 PagesWith the rise of industrialization, globalization, and mass production, the manufacturing productivity has been dramatically increased and accordingly the availability of consumer goods. And with the rise of the mass media, various products have been targeted on broad groups of consumers. Consumerism, which is propelled by a system of mass production and high levels of consumption, has been one of the themes in art works from twentieth century till now. In regard to consumerism and genderRead MoreThe Portrayal Of Heterosexual Love1669 Words   |  7 Pagesexploring the power that romantic fiction in pop culture has on society and it role it plays in sex. Next, the phenomenon that is known as, love at first sight will be dissected looking at why this type of storyline is so popular. Following, submission in relationships as portrayed in film will Leading into the cycle of repression based on Sedgwick’s model of repression. Research Questions: Why is romantic fiction so popular among women? How is pop culture so influential on society? RepresentationRead MoreThe And Dissemination Of Cultural Values, Ideologies, And Hierarchies832 Words   |  4 Pagescultural values, ideologies, and hierarchies is as varied as the historian. Again semantics and semiotics, important issues to understand the full web of the â€Å"word-concept† culture, dominate much of the theory and practice. The most common debates are over naming eras and redefining terms like popular, culture, popular culture, etc. Despite the debate, the historiography maintains four important foci for the construction of cultural values: industrialization and the Progressive Era, the influence

Maxs Perseverance In Native Son Essay - 1129 Words

Unblinding White America: Max’s Perseverance in Native Son (2011) Human tendency fosters animosity. Especially in society, hostility allows judgement to bloom based on rumor and speculation. Once an unfavorable opinion is spread about a social group, these stigmatized fears manifest themselves through a community-wide stereotype. Consequently, this mindset accepts over-generalized expectations of others: a concept that easily led to racism in the mid-twentieth century. While most people in the 1940s conformed to standard expectations imposed by the upper class, Richard Wright sought to expose the inner workings of this falsely presumed injustice in his classic novel, Native Son. Wright displays this through Bigger Thomas’s lawyer, Boris†¦show more content†¦Even though Max’s perspective is not taken seriously by the court, he does effectively urge greater advocacy for proper justice. Max’s dedication to justice and his ability to share Bigger’s deepest feelings may not win him the trial; however, his attempt to understand and combat injustice is important. Max’s argument fails primarily to the major unpopularity of his opinions on racial divisions. When appealing to a courtroom full of white, upper-middle class citizens that are conditioned to see the black community in a negative light, their confirmation bias allows them to easily discard Max’s concrete evidence. Consequently, their stubborn opinions makes it nearly impossible for Max to reverse their core, unconscious stereotypes that black men viciously prey upon white women. The jury also remains less susceptible to believe Max’s criticisms of their race simply because taking responsibility for the tragic murder of such an admired, young woman seems absurd to them. Another source of Max’s failure in court is Mr. Buckley’s powerful rhetoric. His use of emphasis on societal stigma effectively turns the jury Bigger and the African American community as a whole. Buckley’s scare tactics, vivid descriptions of Mary’s murder, and his use

Volar free essay sample

In Judith Ortiz Cofer’s essay â€Å"Volar†, the author describes that both her and her mother dreams of being able to fly. The author portrays the problems faced by many immigrant families, and shows the reason why they want to fly. She also shows her and her mother’s secret desire through their dreams. The author’ obsession with superheroes is her desire to fit in to the culture where she lives. The author shows that she with tight curls and skinny arm and legs is not happy with way she looks. She feels different from people surrounding her. She dreams that as she turns into super girl her† legs would grow long† (para 1, line 7) her â€Å"arms harden into steel†(para 1 line 8) and her† hair would magically go straight and turn a golden hair† (para 1 line 8). Escaping into her dreams, the little girl is trying to avoid a reality of not fitting in her new world. We will write a custom essay sample on Volar or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She feels â€Å"incongruous† waking up in her body. She wants to fly. The author’s mother is homesick for her country. Her dream is to go back to her country and see her â€Å"familia on the Island† (para 2 line 8). She understands that it is financially impossible for her to go back and it hurts her. She looks out from her kitchen window and has a view of the sky. She wishes to fly to her family and says â€Å"Ay,si yo pudeiera volar†- all she could do is wish she could fly. Both of mother and daughter’s dream symbolizes many immigrant families that they are hard to melt in new culture. They all want to fly and to have magic and ability. Their desires shows that they are disappointed in this new society. The only difference between both of their dreams is that the author’s mother’s dream is more realistic than her daughter’s dreams, which is being super girl.

Rare Earth Element free essay sample

Lanthanum is a crucial rare earth element to our modern economy because it plays an integral component in modern technologies such as: laptop computers, electric automobiles, and hand-held electronic devices such as cellular phones. Lanthanum basically acts as a battery source to the above devices modern technologies. Lanthanum is also make glass and lastly to reduce the level of phosphates in patients with kidney disease. Geologists obtain Lanthanum through the process of solvent extraction of light rare earth minerals such as bastnaesite, monazite, allanite and cerite. Lanthanum is also found in felsic igneous rocks and to a lesser extent, lower ultramafic rocks. Lanthanum has a complex multistage extraction process in which the extraction of monazite is involved. There are three main steps which are implemented in the extraction process. First step is the extraction of lanthanum hydroxide from monazite by using caustic soda, second step is the digestion with nitric acid and precipitation with ammonium hydroxide and the final step is calcination of Lanthanum oxalate to Lanthanum oxide. We will write a custom essay sample on Rare Earth Element or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The leading producer of REEs in the world is China; they account for more than 48 percent of the world’s REE reserves. More than 70% of light rare earth elements (which includes Lanthanum) are supplied from one mine in China; Bayan Obo mine. China’s stronghold over the REE industry compels us to have good relations with them. Other producers are Brazil, Malaysia and India. There may be other places in the world that may have Lanthanum but they do not use it in a particularly capital intensive way. For instance high values of Lanthanum (gt;36 mg kg-1) is found in the sub soils of northern Portugal and Galicia in Spain, in the Italian alkaline magmatic province and in karst of Slovenia and Croatia. Through reasonable diplomatic deliberation the U. S can coerce these countries to allow them to turn their values into a capital intensive industry. Lanthanum plays a crucial role in our economy, however if we cannot find enough of it, we could use cerium as a backup REE. Cerium can also be used as a battery supply and can be used to produce glass similarly to Lanthanum. Aluminum can be used as a supplementary medicinal element instead of Lanthanum. Aluminum is a common element and it is accessible so the U. S has nothing to worry about as it regards to patients with Kidney problem In order to obtain cerium, the U. S does not need to import cerium from China or any of the other countries that have considerable REE resource because Cerium is produced at home. Cerium is produced at Molycorp in California.

Symbolism in Things Fall Apart. Imagery Symbols [Essay]

The novel Things Fall Apart takes a central role in the changing system of contemporary literature in Africa. The author refutes a widespread stereotype claiming that before colonization, Africa did not have a culture. It represents political and social background in a detailed realistic method. The foundations of African oral tradition, which include proverbs, tales, and symbols are frequently used in this novel. The essay shall provide the analysis of symbolism in Things Fall Apart.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Symbolism in Things Fall Apart. Imagery Symbols [Essay] specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is an exhilarating novel that uses vast literature styles, such as symbolism and motifs, to illustrate the principles of African cultural erosion as a result of embracing western culture. By the use of symbols, the author shows how the African culture was shattered by the European style of life when Christiani ty was adopted in the African society. In this book, numerous symbols are used, as discussed below. Symbolism in Things Fall Apart: Analysis of the Main Themes Yams Yam is a crop that is commonly grown by men. Raising of this crop requires intensive labor, and the work ethics of a man can be measured by the portion of the field and harvest obtained. In the African setup, the sole objective of growing yams is to acquire wealth and feed the family. They symbolize a man’s ability to provide. In this novel, a man who had bulk yams was portrayed as not a failure like Unoka-he had a large barn full of yams (Chinua, 1958, p. 4). Nwakibie refuses to give the young men yams citing that they would dump them on earth rather than taking care of them as a man would do for his family to flourish. Yams are very precious and would only belong to hardworking individuals. The central positioning of the yam highlights the defining traits of the tribe. The symbolic meaning is illustrated by its use as a source of satisfaction. Due to the intensive efforts needed in cultivating it, bulk harvest represents yearly achievement gained from nature. A yam’s image is brought out as a necessity of the culture. Folktales According to Okonkwo, most of the folktales in the novel featuring small animals symbolize women’s behavior, for example, the Ekwefl’s tale that talks about the birds and the tortoise who were invited for a feast in the sky. This blocked out the tortoise since he had no wings to fly, and the birds were aware of his ungratefulness and cunning behavior, thus could not help him out. The tortoise was starving and had to sweet talk the birds to nurture his hunger. In their journey, the tortoise claims of a custom that demands them to take new names though the idea was to acquire the most respectable position. Since the women were all inferior, they gave in, and the cunning tortoise ended up feasting on the best food leaving leftovers for the birds. T hough the animal imagery in Things Fall Apart, the author   depicts the indecisive character of women and also provides useful morals in society.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Fire Okonkwo is compared to fire by other characters and the narrator; he is branded â€Å"Roaming Flame in the town† (Chinua, 1958, p. 122). According to him, fire is a symbol of strength. While seated in his hut after a quarrel with his son Nwoye, Okonkwo stared on a log fire and felt a strong feeling to rise, take up a machete and clear the Christians who Nwoye was associating with. Whenever Okonkwo would gaze at flame, a wild feeling of strength would fill his body. Mother of the Spirits The Mother of the spirits can be viewed as personification by the clan of Umofia and the Mother of Egwugwu. At this juncture, the style of life of Umuofia is deeply disregarded, and the damage committe d is irreparable. The Mother of spirits mourns her son’s death loudly after the unmasking night. A comparison between the clan and Mother of spirits is drawn, â€Å"†¦it seemed as if the very soul of the clan wept for the great evil that was coming its own death† (Chinua, 1958, p. 145). It is imperative that the Mother of spirits does not revenge her son’s death but rather mourns and weeps. People of Umuofia would not avenge for crimes committed against them. Okonkwo When analyzing Things Fall Apart symbols, Okonkwo should be mentioned as well. He symbolizes masculinity, a character deeply opposed to the Christian belief of love. The spirit of African people is represented collectively by his personality. Just like the Igbos, he is a very independent and strong person. Weinstock and Ramadan (1978) pointed out the following regarding Okonkwo: Okonkwo is consistently associated with masculinity, and he virtually always mistrusts, opposes, and attacks anything feminine or linked with femininity. Christianity embodies and stresses the qualities Okonkwo considers to be womanish, such as love affection, and mercy, and he characteristically valuates the missionaries as a ‘lot of effeminate men clucking like old hens (p.128). The story’s summary evidences Okonkwo fighting courageously against ideologies opposing what he valued, and his downfall is the result of his opposition to colonization.Okonkwo’s death symbolizes the death of African culture. Achebe decided to illustrate the hands of Africans’ giving in to Christianity to take charge by the act of Okonkwo committing suicide rather than being killed and subsequently wiping out the culture of Africa. It is a conspiracy to have written a whole book about the negativity of colonization that the last statement in his piece of writing could belong to the Britain District commissioner. He remarks the suicide act by saying it was possible to dedicate Okonkwo a paragrap h in his book. This fact slightly contradicted the theme meant by Achebe since portraying Africans as primitive differed from what Achebe wanted to demonstrate. By using the symbol of Okonkwo’s death through suicide, Achebe points out that Africans should also be blamed for letting in foreign ideologies to develop in their land.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Symbolism in Things Fall Apart. Imagery Symbols [Essay] specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nwoye’s Personality Nwoye’s personality was a symbol of Christianity. His father always fought against feminine behavior. His conversion to Christianity was to strengthen the symbol created by Achebe. Okonkwo’s family was his joy and pride, while Nwoye’s conversion to Christianity was the last pain he would endure. Due to his son’s rejection of his lifestyle, the only option left was to cease living. Nweoye’s Adoption o f a New Name His decision to take up a new name, Isaac, with the importance it carried, confirms his loyalty to Christianity religion. Though the exact name that he picks implies significance beyond the immediate sense of personal salvation, it brings out memories of the Biblical story of Abraham, where an animal was substituted for his son, Isaac. The adoption of this name by Nwoye portrays the complete meaning of his conversion, which was the critical sign of liberation from the limitation of the family creation. Weather Weather takes up a crucial role in the lives of Nigerians, especially the Igbos. The availability of rain or its unavailability illustrates that the tribe was dependent on weather for survival. Weather limits the extent to which their crops grow and the flow of the rivers, which in turn influence their water and food supply. On sunny days, the sun is utilized by the plants and in warming up things. Nevertheless, excess rain or sun is likely to cause damage (Rand, 1966). Locust Invasion Invasion by locusts symbolizes a grand attack with devastating destruction. Two important events are considered to establish the locust link. In the text, â€Å"†¦At first, a fairly small swarm came†¦Ã¢â‚¬  implying that â€Å"†¦they were the harbingers sent to survey the land†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Chinua, 1958, p. 43). He pointed out the first arrival of whites and others on the way. This link of events was done deliberately. The cognition gulf is linked up by the myth of locust through the establishment of the unknown and known. People were not aware of insects though it was the myth behind them and the danger of economic failure. The author illustrates the locusts that invaded the village using allegorical phrases that foreshadowed the coming of white men in African land. They intended to exploit all the resources of the Igbo tribe. Because Igbo consumed locust, it shows that they are not offensive. In the same way, individuals who were simulated to Christianity overlooked negative impacts; the white people’s culture would impact their lifestyle. The language used by Achebe in describing the locust invasion depicts their symbolic reputation. The use of repetitive style draws emphasis on the pervasive presence of locusts and a hint in the manner in which the white settlers would occupy Igbos’ land by surprise. It is noted that the insects were too heavy, and that was the reason they broke the branches of a tree. This was a symbol of how the traditions and culture of the Igbo would fracture on the attack by colonialism as well as white settlement (Oyekan, 1993).Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More What Does Okonkwo Death Symbolize? The death of Okonkwo is a heroic death that is analogous to a warrior who is attached to his people. This symbolizes the catastrophic demise that great people face. This is because committing suicide is regarded abomination contrary to the earth and thus should not be buried by clansmen. But in the right of African style, Okonokwo’s death could not be considered as a heroic death; rather, it can only be seen as a shameful death. Unable to deal with his failure, he acts in the way that leads to his death, and he is the one who should be blamed for this.The irritating final words Obierika cast to the District Commissioner hold certain ambiguity within Igbos point of view, in memory of heroism and shameful act of killing himself (Okonkwo). From the novel, he was portrayed as the greatest man in Umuofia and was forced to commit suicide and buried in a disrespectful manner (David, 1998). Conclusion Things Fall Apart symbolism essay shows that thi s is a thrilling novel that uses a symbolic literature style to demonstrate the credo of Africa’s cultural erosion by embracing the western culture. Most of the Africans were not ready to give in to the white man’s way of life, and as such, Okonkwo would rather cease living than adopt the white man’s way of life. Colonization plays a more prominent role in society, and the culture takes up a central role. Symbolic events and characters are used to help the reader have a deeper understanding of society. References Chinua, A. (1958). Things Fall Apart. New York: Heinemann Education Books. David, K. (1998). The African Novel and the Modernist Tradition. New York: Peter Lanng publishers. Oyekan, O. (1993). A History of Twentieth-century African Literatures. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska. Rand, B. (1966). Contributions in Afro- American studies. Greenwood: Greenwood press. Weinstock, D., Ramadan, C. (1978). Critical Perspectives on Chinua Achebe. Washington D. C: Three Continents Press. This essay on Symbolism in Things Fall Apart was written and submitted by user Jazlynn H. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

5 Cases of Extraneous Hyphenation with Numbers

5 Cases of Extraneous Hyphenation with Numbers 5 Cases of Extraneous Hyphenation with Numbers 5 Cases of Extraneous Hyphenation with Numbers By Mark Nichol The combination of numbers, spelled out or in numerical form, and hyphens is a volatile mixture that often confuses writers. Here are five sentences in which hyphens are erroneously inserted into constructions that do not require them, with explanations and corrections. 1. â€Å"Four-percent of adults may have ADHD.† There’s no reason to combine four and percent. The writer might have incorrectly extrapolated from the use of fractions in the same type of construction (â€Å"One-third of respondents agree with the statement†), but the sentence should read, â€Å"Four percent of adults may have ADHD.† 2. â€Å"Astronomers say an object five-times bigger than Jupiter is the first planet outside our solar system to be imaged.† The reference to the exoplanet’s magnitude of size in comparison to Jupiter requires no linking hyphen. The misunderstanding perhaps arises from the fact that â€Å"five times† modifies bigger, but bigger is an adjective, not a noun, and words combining to modify adjectives are not hyphenated. The correct form is â€Å"Astronomers say an object five times bigger than Jupiter is the first planet outside our solar system to be imaged.† 3. â€Å"This monk began his vow not to speak with a 2-1/2 year walk up the coast.† Writers often erroneously insert a hyphen between a whole number and a fraction in a mixed fraction. It’s not necessary, but it is required between the mixed fraction and the noun that follows when they combine to modify another noun, as in this example: â€Å"This monk began his vow not to speak by taking a 2 1/2-year walk up the coast.† (2 1/2 is considered a single element, so omit the intervening hyphen.) Note, too, the slight revision to eliminate the suggestion that the monk conversed with a 2 1/2-year walk up the coast. 4. â€Å"The electrified border, 10-feet-high, is to be completed across the border with India.† If this sentence used the phrase â€Å"10 feet high† as a modifier preceding â€Å"electrified fence† (â€Å"a 10-foot-high electrified fence†), the hyphens linking the elements as a unified description would be valid. But in a simple reference to physical dimensions, no hyphens are necessary: â€Å"The electrified fence, 10 feet high, is to be completed across the border with India.† 5. â€Å"You must have a keen sense of how to capture the attention of the 18-34 year-old news junkie.† This sentence tries to observe the basic rule about connecting the numbers in a range (preferably with an en dash rather than a hyphen) but errs in its failure to recognize the special case of suspensive hyphenation that overrules that usage. The sentence refers to a demographic cohort consisting of 18-year-old news junkies and 34-year-old news junkies and all news junkies in between. When using a range involving a number compound, elide most of the first element, retaining only the number (spelled out or in numeral form) and a hyphen, followed by a letter space: â€Å"You must have a keen sense of how to capture the attention of the 18- to 34-year-old news junkie.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:85 Synonyms for â€Å"Help†Capitalization Rules for Names of Historical Periods and Movements20 Names of Body Parts and Elements and Their Figurative Meanings

The Younger Years of Grace Murray Hopper

The Younger Years of Grace Murray Hopper Computer programming pioneer Grace Murray Hopper was born on December 9, 1906, in New York City. Her childhood and early years contributed to her brilliant career but also showed how she was a typical kid in many ways. She was the oldest of three children. Her sister Mary was three years younger and her brother Roger was five years younger than Grace. She fondly recalled the happy summers playing typical childhood games together at a cottage on Lake Wentworth in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Still, she thought that she took the blame too often for mischief the children and their cousins got into on vacation. Once, she lost her swimming privileges for a week for instigating them to climb a tree. Besides playing outdoors, she also learned crafts such as needlepoint and cross-stitch. She enjoyed reading and learned to play the piano. Hopper liked to tinker with gadgets and find out how they worked. At age seven she was curious about how her alarm clocked worked. But when she took it apart, she was unable to put it back together. She continued taking apart seven alarm clocks, to the displeasure of her mother, who limited her to taking apart just one. Math Talent Runs in the Family Her father, Walter Fletcher Murray, and paternal grandfather were insurance brokers, a profession which makes use of statistics. Graces mother, Mary Campbell Van Horne Murray, loved math and went along on surveying trips with her father, John Van Horne, who was a senior civil engineer for the city of New York. While it wasnt proper at that time for a young lady to take an interest in math, she was allowed to study geometry but not algebra or trigonometry. It was acceptable to use math to keep household finances in order, but that was all. Mary learned to understand the familys finances because feared her husband would die from his health problems. He lived to be 75. Father Encourages Education Hopper credited her father for encouraging her to step beyond the usual feminine role, have ambition and get a good education. He wanted his girls to have the same opportunities as his boy. He wanted them to be self-sufficient since he wouldnt be able to leave them much of an inheritance. Grace Murray Hopper attended  private schools in New York City where the curriculum focused on teaching girls to be ladies. However, she was still able to play sports at school, including basketball, field hockey, and water polo. She wanted to enter Vassar College at age 16 but failed the Latin exam, She had to be a boarding student for a year until she was able to enter Vassar at age 17 in 1923. Entering the Navy Hopper was considered too old, at age 34, to join the military after the attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the United States into World War II. But as a mathematics professor, her skills were a critical need for the military. While Navy officials said she should serve as a civilian, she was determined to enlist. She took a leave of absence from her teaching position at Vassar and had to get a waiver because she was underweight for her height. With her determination, she was sworn into the U.S. Navy Reserve in December 1943. She would serve for 43 years. Her younger years shaped her path to the computer programming legacy for which she is famous. Later in life, after her time in the Navy, she invented the Mark I Computer with Howard Aiken. Her early math talent, her education, and her Navy experience all played a role in her eventual career. Source and Further Reading Elizabeth Dickason, Remembering Grace Murray Hopper: A Legend in Her Own Time, The Department of the Navy Information Technology Magazine, 27 June 2011.