Globalization And Its Challenges Marketing Essay

Globalization And Its Challenges Marketing Essay Introduction Globalization is a process of integration and interaction among the people, organizations, and governments of different countries. It is also a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology (Smith Doyle, 2002). This process has significant impact on political systems, on economic development, on culture, on the environment, and on human rights around the world (Smith Doyle, 2002). Globalization is a tool that could help you nurture your business foreign countries (Tapper, 2000). When a company decides to go global, it will often experience an increase in profitability. Nevertheless, not every business will benefit from globalization. Some organizations may experience a healthy growth in global market, but some would have to overcome many challenges before establishing a successful business in a foreign country (Zboch, 2009). Wages, child labor laws and outsourcings effect on sale are salient issues for doing business overseas. Nike is the worldwide global corporation that has its manufacturing factories on contract basis around the world. Although Nike is the global leader in the athletic footwear industry, it has had a great deal of bad publicity due to its labor practice. The scandals involved child labor, slave wages, excessive working hours, forced overtime, and hazardous working conditions. Bad publicity related to Nikes labor practice had ruined its reputation and brand image. Some criticized that Nike did not enforced its code of conduct with the correct procedures. After receiving many complaints of its unethical practice, Phil Knight, the CEO of Nike realized the seriousness of the matter. He visited Nikes contract factories and delivered a variety of speeches regarding his upcoming actions to improve the human right situation (Hobbs, 1998). However, many people doubt his sincerity, and fear that he could not deliver on his promises of providing a healthy environment for workers. Even up until now, Nike still struggling to recover from its negative image as a human rights violator. Would Nike be able to solve this problem in future? Has Nike improved the labor conditions in Asia?    The purpose of this paper is provide an understanding of the various difficulties and complexities companies faces in todays global world. This paper will describe the accusations brought against Nike labor practices and all of the corrections that Nike formulated to produce a healthy and safe working environment effectively. This paper will also provide some recommendations for Nike to improve their performance in future. I. Globalization and Environmental Forces Globalization is commonly understood as the spread of influence of culture, religion language, communication, technology, trade, media, and transportation. That spread of has involved the intertwining of economic and non-economic activity across the borders (Smith Doyle, 2002). Today, many companies move their business operations to foreign countries by going global (for instance, Apple, Coca-Cola and Dell) and they have different reasons for doing business internationally. These reasons include: expand to new markets, diversify business, and increase market shares and brand value. Other reactive or defensive reasons for globalization including trade barriers, customer demands, globalization of competitors, and regulations and restrictions (Okolo, 2008).Reduction of cost is the major reason for companies going to global. Today, production cost has been increasing tremendously in developed countries. Many companies have outsourced its entire production operation to developing countri es or third world, like China, Cambodia, Brazil, India, Vietnam and Indonesia. They believe that production or service offshoring will eventually lower their production, labor and utility costs. However, doing business overseas has its benefits as well as its challenges. Companies may face legal, ethical, and cultural challenges in global business. Since every country appears to have its own law and regulation, companies must understand the standard pay or minimum wage requirement to avoid all conflict of interest. Ethical issues in globalization are those related to environmental protection, and concerning relation between different countries (e.g. industry espionage and hostile take over). When companies operate internationally, most of them are facing great challenges in cultural differences. Cross-cultural issues may arise when people within companies have different culture, language, religion and belief begin working together are not skilled or adept enough to deal with effectively. II. The Athletic Footwear Industry Recent economic crisis has affected the athletic footwear industry. The athletic footwear sales posted a 1.4 percent decline in 2009, and in 2008, sales were down 3.2 percent. (See Appendix A).  Footwear is considered less cyclical than apparel when consumer spending is under pressure. Analysts are expecting the footwear market will continue to grow over the next few years (PRlog press release, 2009). The retailer market of sporting goods is very competitive and highly fragmented. Intense competition will easily drive weak companies out of the market. Thus, many retailers reducing their presence in underperforming markets or restricting store growth in saturated markets. The costs of production have been rising in the U.S since 1990. The rapid rise in production costs has resulted in many U.S companies move theirs manufacturing works to Asia. Countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and China has become a major outsourcing destination for the U.S. apparel and footwear manufacturers (Locke Siteman, 2001). Nike and Adidas have dominated the global branded athletic footwear markets. Market leader Nike has a significant lead over Adidas in footwear market for the last few years while other competitors like Reebok and New Balance is still lagging behind in the sales. (Locke Siteman, 2001) III. The Globalization of Nike Nike was founded in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. The company initially was an importer and distributor for Japanese specialty running shoes. The companys profits grew quickly and it opened its first retail shop in California in 1966. While other footwear companies still manufacturing their own shoes in high-cost countries, Knight decided to outsource its shoe production to lower-cost Japanese producers during the 1970s. By the early 1980s, as costs continued to increase in the U.S, Nike closed all its U.S and Japan factories, and it outsourced its production to Korea and Taiwan. When these countries began to develop and the wages increased significantly, Nike urged its suppliers to shift their production to even lower-cost countries like Indonesia, China and Vietnam. The company found that these countries have no protective labor laws and labor union at that time. Moreover, these countries provided huge supplies of cheap labor. By 1992, Nike sourced almost all of its shoe p roduction from Asia. The company has placed its employees at its outsourced factories to help monitor production processes and product quality (Locke Siteman, 2001). Today, Nike has successfully established an intensive network of footwear factories throughout China and Southeast Asia. Nikes operations are divided into three product lines: footwear, apparel and equipment. Their products are manufactured by nearly 600 supplier factories, employing over 800,000 workers in 46 countries around the world (Nike, Inc., 2010). In addition, Nikes sales have grown over 50% since 2005 to and reaching US$19 billion in 2009. (See Appendix B). Footwear is Nikes largest product category, 30% of shoes are sourced from China and Vietnam, 22% from Indonesia, and 6% from Thailand. Nike has manufacturing agreements with independent factories in India and Latin America like Brazil, Mexico and Argentina to produce footwear for sale primarily within those countries (Nike, Inc., 2010). Nike contracted 618 factories to manufacture its products in 2009, only 71 out of its suppliers are producing footwear. Most of these suppliers are located in North Asia. (See Appendix C). In contrast, Nike apparel products are made in 391 factories and the majority of these factories are distributed in Southeast Asia. These differences are due to both to the rules governing international trade in the industries (Locke Siteman, 2001, pg7). In the mid-late 1980s, footwear quotas were eliminated whereas trade in garments is still control by the Multi-fiber Agreement (Locke Siteman, 2001). Nike has also developed and markets footwear and apparel products under the Converse, Umbro Inc., Hurley International, and Cole Haan brand names. The company sells its products through its own retail in over 180 countries worldwide as well as through internet sites (Nike, Inc., 2010). Today, Nike has become the world leader in the design, distribution and marketing of the athletic footwear (Locke Siteman, 2001). The swoosh logo has become one of the most recognized in the world. IV. Nikes Unethical Labor Practices Are you willingly to work more than 70 hours every week, or send your young children to work in a factory? Many of us will not do that, but for many people who want to eat, the obvious answer is Yes.. That is a reality Nike faced when it first started outsourcing the production of sports apparel and shoes to external companies in the third world. There are many controversies over its labor practices in Asia. In the 1980s, Nike was accused of exploiting cheap labor and exposing them to destructive working environments. The company had also faced criticism for use of children to make its sport gears in Pakistan factories. As a result, Nike was labeled as forcing children to slave away in hazardous conditions for below-subsistence wages (Hill, 2009, pg2). In what follow, the paper will provide an overview of the various abuses of which Nike and its suppliers had been criticized in the past decade as well as the problems that the company has confronted. Child Labor in Pakistan Child labor is spread all over Pakistan. Sialkot, a city in Pakistan, is also a centre for the production of export-oriented goods, particularly sporting goods (Locke Siteman, 2001). About 70% of the worlds soccer balls are made in Sialkot and companies like Nike, Addidas, Reebok and Mitre imports soccer balls from this city. In 1990s, Nike contracted for its soccer ball production with SAGA Sports. Both companies benefited with the access to child labor in Pakistan (Haider, 2007). In 1996, Life magazine published an article about child labor that occurring in Pakistan, which included a photo of a young boy sewing a Nike soccer ball. (See Appendix D). This article drew the public attention to all human rights and fundamental freedom. Various activists groups, trade unions and NGOs called for boycotts Nike soccer balls because of using child labor. The Atlanta Agreement has signed by The Sialkot chamber of Commerce with the ILO, UNICEF and several leading sports goods associations to implement a program to stop using child labor in Pakistan (Locke Siteman, 2001). However, the government carries lack of willingness to do anything. Consequently, the same problem still exists in the country and Nike is still importing its soccer balls in million quantities from Pakistan. Slave Labor in Asia More than 80% of Nikes supplier factories are located in Asia. The Asian governments prohibited workers from forming independent unions and set the minimum wage at rock bottom. Labor activists criticized that the workers in Nike factories were being paid below the minimum daily wage. For example, Nikes suppliers paid workers in Indonesia less than US$3 a day (Medea, 1998), and the wage did not meet the basic needs of one individual. In 2006, the Worker Rights Consortium calculated that a livable wage in Indonesia is about US$8 per day (Bose, 2008). Global Exchange, an international human rights organization published a report on working conditions in four Nikes supplier factories in Southern China. The report found that children aged 12 to 13 years old who worked in one of the supplier factories (owned by a Korean company) earned only 10 cents per hour. These children were forced to work up to 17 hours daily and were not allow talking during work. Supplier paid Chinese workers US$1.80 a day that was lower than the Chinese minimum wage of $1.93 for an eight-hour day. The report stated that Nike labor practices had violated Chinese labor law but Nike denied the accusation and claimed that the report incorrectly stated the wages of workers (Locke Siteman, 2001). In Thailand and Vietnam, workers earned even lesser (less than US$1.5 a day) compared to the workers in Indonesia and China. According to Vietnam Labor Watch, a livable wage in Vietnam is about US$3 a day whereas the minimum wage in Thailand is US$4.50 a day (Medea, 1998). Health and Safety Problems in Vietnam IN 1994, the Ernst and Young conducted audits on Nikes contract factories in Vietnam. According to its report, Vietnamese workers at the Tae Kwang Vina factory were often exposed to chemical, 77% of them had serious health and safety problems. Workers with breathing or skin problem had not been transferred to departments free of chemicals and most workers who dealt with dangerous chemicals were not provided personal protective equipment such as masks or gloves (Zboch, 2009). This report revealed that workers were exposed to toluene (a chemical solvent can cause permanent damage to brain, nausea, and skin irritations). Toluene concentration had exceeded 177 times acceptable standards in parts of the factory. This report had tarnished Nikes image since the report came from Ernst and Young, an auditing firms hired by Nike to assess its suppliers factories. In addition, Nike commissioned former Ambassador to the United Nation Andrew Young to assess working conditions in its contract fact ories. In Youngs report, there is no mention of serious health and safety issues in the Tae Kwang Vina factory. This reports had casts doubt on Nikes honesty and commitment to labor and environment standards (Locke Siteman, 2001). Although Indonesia, China, and Vietnam have minimum wage laws on the books, the government of these countries was still allowing Nike to pay wages well below the minimum rate. Nike further circumvented wage laws by paying new employees an apprentice rate for several months into an employees tenure (Turner, 2008). In 1997, more than 10,000 Indonesian and 1,300 Vietnamese Nikes contract factories workers went on strike to protest low and unpaid wage. In 2000, 3,000 Chinese workers from Nikes contract factories protested dangerous working conditions and low wages. All of these protests took place in spite of the fact that these sorts of worker strikes are illegal in these countries (Turner, 2008). In addition to labor protests issues, numerous critics of Nikes practices had created a major public relation problem for the company. (See Appendix E traces the number of negative articles about Nikes practices.) The company has become a target for the anti-globalization and anti-sweatshop mo vements. The Anti-Nike campaign that organized by consumers and human rights groups has raised the awareness about sweatshop labor in third world countries. V. Nikes Response At the beginning, Nike denied all the violations of labor rights and they blamed their suppliers or the host government for its failures of enforcement. The company claimed that workers rights were respected despite the fact that Nike had failed to pay its workers with fair wages as well as to provide a safe working environment. In addition, Nike reluctantly to take responsibility for the labor, health and environmental problems found in its supplier factories. Nike claimed the company does not own these factories; therefore, it has no responsibility towards the workers (Avery, 1999).    In response to the ongoing criticism, Nike formulated its code of conduct for its suppliers. Every supplier must agree to abide this code in order to get a contract. (See Appendix F for the latest version of this code). The Code of Conduct in theory condemns and prohibits child labor, requires that workers be paid fair wage, imposes caps on the days and hours that a worker can be forced to work, prohibits mistreatment or discrimination of workers in any form, and states that factories must implement programs that benefit workers health and safety, and recognizes and respects the workers right to freedom of association (Avery, 1999). In addition, Nike has trained its internal monitoring team to ensure all suppliers comply with its code of conduct. The company has also hired auditing firms to assess and monitor its suppliers regularly. Recommendations The majority challenges Nike has to overcome involved ethical and cultural issues. Even up until now, Nike is still facing allegations and criticism from labor groups and human right about its overseas labor practices. In response to these criticisms, Nike should work closely with its suppliers to improve working conditions and create safe and healthy environments for its workers. Workers should be provided some type of health insurance or protective wear. Nike can offer strong incentive to its suppliers, to ensure they adopt companys code of conduct. Lack of worker awareness of basic code of conduct provisions is a major challenge for the company. Hence, Nike should provide human rights training to workers, to raise their awareness of their rights. Communication problem arose in Nikes overseas factories due to language barrier and little knowledge on cultural. In Vietnam, all factories are owned by Korean and Taiwanese suppliers, thus they may not understand local language and culture. To overcome communication challenges in workplace, Nike should encourage its suppliers to recruit local manager or people in multiple language ability. Furthermore, training program should be provided regularly to both management and workers in order to improve communication between workers and management. The recent suicides of Foxconn workers in China are raising concern about ethical issues in supplier factories. (Foxconn is a key supplier to big tech companies.) In June 2010, a dozen of Chinese workers went on strike over wage violation. The Chinese government has increased the minimum wage due to the strike in many provinces (Kang, 2010). In future, China may not be the most attractive low-cost countries for foreign companies as more and more Chinese workers urge their employer to increase wages. This in turn, may cause a rise in manufacturing wages in China and that would substantially increase Nikes costs of production as most of its products are made in China. Nike can urge its suppliers to relocate their operations to other low cost countries in Latin America without compromising product quality. Nike assures the public that its suppliers pay the countrys minimum wage; however, in many countries minimum wage does not equate a living wage. The Indonesian government has admitted that the minimum wage only covered 70% of the basic needs of one person (Locke Siteman, 2001). Some countries like Vietnam and Indonesia arbitrarily set minimum wage low to lure foreign investments. Being an ethical employer, Nike must ensure every worker is being fairly paid. In addition to providing livable wages, the company should take the long-term cost of image damage into account rather than pursuing low cost strategy. After all, brand name is their greatest asset and Nike should take immediate action to clean up its mess instead of blaming the host governments or its suppliers. The development of a strict monitoring system in its factories overseas is still a challenge for Nike. Nikes factories are controlled by absentee owners, so the company should continue to hire independent firms to do the regular monitoring of the factories. Conclusion Today, more and more companies expand their business by going global. Globalization has brought a culture of free labor. Nikes linger sweatshop stigma is a case in point. The companys worldwide image was tarnished after a wave of public criticism for its labor practices. Many human rights groups felt that Nike was using slave labor as a tool to lower their production costs, and the workers were not receiving proper wages. Moreover, Nike had also been accused of using child labor in its factories and had failed to provide a safe working environment for its workers. In response to these criticisms, Nike formulated its code of conduct that required its suppliers to observe some basic labor and environment standards. The company also expands its internal and external monitoring to keep up with factory base. In summary, most companies may face legal, cultural, and ethical challenges when doing business overseas. These environmental forces are perceived as uncontrollable and could pose cha llenges for your company if they have not been well handed. The case of Nike demonstrated how difficult it could be for company to survive in global business market because of the different culture, laws and regulations of the host country. Therefore, increasing globalization of business is requiring managers to have global perspective and an understanding of the environment forces of the markets in which they operates (Dr C, 2005).

Ebooks vs books Essay

Paper and electronic books both make an excellent and effective way of reading, although paper books allow more of a precise effective reading while electronic books is often quicker and more convenient. Reading has always been one of our important and educational element. Since childhood, reading and books has always been exposed to us. Society evolution of books has completely changed and restructured our way of reading. Paper books are described to be â€Å"traditional books† whereas electronic books are described to be â€Å"modern†; but no matter of its  differences, both paper and electronic books are essential functions of reading. In difference of the fact that readings traditional and modern have many similarities, they also have some differences. Between Paper and Electronic Books, there are loads differences as well as similarities shared. Paper Books, for example affects the reader more differently than electronics. Though they both serve the same purpose in the matter; reading traditionally, increases the reader’s way of thinking and education. It impacts the readers on how they express themselves; improve  communication skills and opening their mind to new ideas. It offers more of an escape to the readers, thus broadening their mind and creativity. Whereas electronic books, has the advantage to change their lightning so that it is easier for the readers to read. Like a computer, it allows the reader to have the ability to translate any given book, look up information about the book and retrieve books quickly. Based on earlier research, many people assume the price of eBooks is more or less better than buying books. Generally each book has a different price depending on if it is hard or a paper  copy. Reading electronically, there are many of websites that could give the reader books for free and some that sells them at a cheaper price. Nevertheless, paper books at least have its advantages and reasons in their price. Despite their price in new books, bookstores can offer discounts and other benefits for books of usage at lower prices than eBooks. According to publishers, printing paper books are usually accounted for only eight percent of its cost based off the publishing. However, electronic books are often cheaper because of none printing fees. A clear difference is also the space and weight between each other. Coming in different bulky sizes, books often take more than enough space and are heavy. Carrying more than two or three around can become like a work-out. One the other hand, studies show that readers like some of the weight. With the given weight of the books, it allow readers to make sure that their items are not misplaced (Kevin O’Kelly). Despite the weight, books are known to be reliable equipment. Withstanding abuse form variations of temperature, moistures, falls and tearing, they are often known to be strong. Even more so, they give off an appealing yet elegant look and do not involve a need of power to function. Whereas eBooks are often thin and created to weigh the amount of a smart phone. EBooks are more of viewing hi-tech software, which can carry dozen to hundreds of books. Although they are able to withstand traveling without weight, eBooks also are able to break easily. Not being durable enough, eBooks has more of a chance breaking when dropped or wet. Still rather than being an easy usage, eBooks often need connection and can only produce a reader one book at a time. This can be problematic for a student that needed to study. In contrast, accommodating either paper or eBooks, each has their own disadvantage and advantage in reading. Each is somewhat of an advantage or disadvantage to different readers but they are both materialistic of the same thing and purpose. Similarly, both paper books and eBooks serve the purpose, for the reader to enjoy books. The decision is ultimately up to the reader to decide. Some people find that technology is convenient and reliable; while other fined that there is no reason to change things. They just each have ways of being an advantage and a disadvantage but are very similar in ways SOURCES Couts, Andrew. â€Å"IS THERE ANY REASON TO OWN PAPER BOOKS BESIDES SHOWING OFF? NOT REALLY. † Web. 26 October 2013 Mandly, Leah. â€Å"Nook vs. Book. † Daily Collegian (2010): Web. 21 Nov 2010. O’Kelly, Kevin. â€Å"EBooks vs. Print: Actually a Nonissue†. Web. 25 February 2014. Rlaforme. â€Å"Kindle vs. Nook vs. Book. † Genera=on the Alterna=ve Voice 1984. SBI. 12 January 2010. Web. 21 November 2010. Slater, Marc. â€Å"EBooks VS Printed Books: Which Is Preferred Now? †.

A Brief Biography of Victorian Author Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe’s importance as a main stature in literature is based upon his dark and thought provoking poems. His difficult life influenced his melancholy writings. Edgar Allan Poe was born January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. His parent’s occupation was traveling actors. At the age of two, his father abandoned the family leaving young Poe without a father figure. Poe’s mother was poor, which resulted in him having an extremely hard childhood. His mother passed away as he was growing up and his foster parent John Allan, a wealthy Richmond tobacco merchant, took Poe into his household. Poe did not have the best relationship with John Allan, in fact he felt very uncertain about it. When Poe turned seventeen he attended the†¦show more content†¦The constant answer of â€Å"nevermore† sent the narrator in a frenzy, just as Poe knew Virginia would no longer come back and he turned to alcohol. At that moment the situation was made worse. The narrator is hoping when he dies he’s going to see Lenore in Heaven as Poe is hoping to see Virginia. When the raven says nevermore it gives the narrator idea that she possibly did not make it to Heaven, and he would not see Lenore anymore. Since Virginia was also known as Lenore, one could believe that Poe is relating to the poem to him seeing Virginia again in Heaven. Poe’s â€Å"The Raven† is the poem that stands out the most because in it, Poe determines it is some kind of messenger coming to Poe to answer whether he will ever see his love Lenore. Poe had many great poems and short stories such as â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher†. This portrayed a dark and gloomy theme of the Usher family. The narrator approaches the house of Usher on a dark and quiet day at midnight. The narrator sees the house; it looks to have been absorbed by a wicked spirit and contaminated atmosphere from the rotting trees and unclear tarns in the area. Roderick was also the cause of the bad vibe the narrator got when he arrived at the house. He lost communication with the outside world and buried his sister alive. Their family had a hidden secret, which was incest. In the article Sprits of the Dead, Poe states, â€Å"The breeze—theShow MoreRelatedRomanticism in American Literature2283 Words   |  10 PagesGetting to Know Thoreau Poe Within this paper will be an explanation of the ideals of Romantic writers in Early American Literature. We will also look at some aspects of Romanticism that were uniquely understood by the writers and artists in the United States. There will be a brief discussion of â€Å"bright† and â€Å"dark† Romantic writing and it is there that we will look at the lives, and one poem each, of Henry David Thoreau, a â€Å"bright† romantic writer and Edgar Allan Poe, a â€Å"dark† romantic writerRead MoreSeminar: Literary Theory Applied to H.P. Lovecraft-Notably â€Å"the Beast in the Cave†6821 Words   |  28 PagesBuena VistA university | A Theoretical Analysis of H.P. Lovecraft’s â€Å"Beast in the Cave† | Senior Seminar | | Cory J. Dahlstrom | 7/28/2012 | H.P. Lovecraft has been called â€Å"one of the best, worst authors of our century.† In the following paper, I will explore his earliest work, â€Å"The Beast in the Cave,† a story written when he was around fifteen years old. I will explore its meanings and context through the lenses of reader response, deconstructionism, newRead MoreVictorian Novel9605 Words   |  39 PagesTHE VICTORIAN NOVEL SPIS TREÃ…Å¡CI INTRODUCTION 1 I THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NOVEL 2 II KEY AUTHORS 3 III KEY TEXTS 3 IV TOPICS 3 INTRODUCTION Many associate the word â€Å"Victorian† with images of over-dressed ladies and snooty gentlemen gathered in reading rooms. The idea of â€Å"manners† does sum up the social climate of middle-class England in the nineteenth century. However, if there is one transcending aspect to Victorian England life and society, that aspect is change. Nearly every institution of society

And Doing Them Well, Huldy Was Met With Disproval.After

and doing them well, Huldy was met with disproval. After watching Huldy take on the minister’s household many of the women of the parish raised brows to the living arrangement of a single girl and a widowed man, believing and telling her that the relationship would only be appropriate between a married couple. The story came to a resolution with a marriage between the Parson and Huldy. This story further evidenced the plight of women, even a woman who did the tasks deemed acceptable was still met with opposition and questions of propriety (Beecher Stowe 22-32). Some women dared to go against the grain regardless of the way that society would view them, they chose to pursue their own desires, rather than feign propriety. A Church†¦show more content†¦Celia believed that becoming someone’s wife was the only way that she would matter. Celia is an example of a character from the time period who bought in to the belief that a woman’s only opportunity for fulfillment in life was to become a wife. Celia did not see any worth in herself and said â€Å"†¦you might as well be a dog as an old maid (Cooke 94). Celia accepted marriage proposal from Deacon Everts, hoping to procure a position for herself in the world. Shortly after the marriage that Celia believed would make her happy Celia realized that she had made a terrible mistake. Prior to her marriage of convenience Celia was a self-sustainable woman, she had accomplished something most women thought impossible, living and providing for herself. It did not take long for Celia to realize that the grass was not greener on the other side. After four years of marriage Celia became a widow, she did not mourn the loss of her husband, but instead celebrated getting her freedom back. Celia was an independent woman and seemed unsuited for marriage, but because society made her feel worthless without a husband she entered into a union that only brought her turmoil, she may have gained the title of Mrs., but it came at a great cost. This is a representation of many women who found contentment in solidarity, but gave in to societal pressures to marry (Cooke 93-110). How Celia Changed Her Mind served as a cautionary tale to women looking to marry for