Using Renewable Energy In Our Daily Lives Environmental Sciences Essay

Using Renewable Energy In Our Daily Lives Environmental Sciences Essay We all are concerned about our future with regard to the way we generate energy and power. Renewable energy is the process by which we use the radiant energy from the sun, wind, and hydropower etc. Unfortunately we are not using renewable energy in most cases and the methods by which we currently getting our raw materials for power and energy are simultaneously destroying our planet and depleting supplies of natural resources. The damages we have caused might take generations to reverse. Many of us who care wants to do something by raising their voice as we are on a threshold of change. Renewable energy resources are not only our way out of an environmental disaster; they could solve some of our economic woes. Many countries are embracing renewable energy and it has benefited n several ways. These benefits include saving consumers money and reducing unemployment. This is not a luxury that we pursue when the cost of gasoline goes up. Now is the time to convert our mode of transportation to clean electricity that we get from renewable sources. This is a necessity that is going to save the lives of future generations. We can survive the problems which we have created in order to power our world. The climate is changing and we have entire species of animals that are now extinct due to pollution. Lets look at the maximum possibilities as we are in the midst of a crisis therefore we must act according to what will benefit our generations. Aim Finding the main reasons for not using renewable energy in our daily lives. Objectives Literature Review Brief History Prior to the development of coal in the mid 19th century, all energy used was renewable, with the primary sources being human labor, animal power in the form of oxen, mules, and horses, water power for mill power, wind for grinding grain, and firewood. A graph of energy use in the United States up until 1900 shows oil and natural gas with about the same importance in 1900 as wind and solar played in 2010. By 1873, concerns of running out of coal prompted experiments with using solar energy.  Development of solar engines continued until the outbreak of World War I. The eventual importance of solar energy, though, was recognized in a 1911 Scientific American article: in the far distant future, natural fuels having been exhausted [solar power] will remain as the only means of existence of the human race. In the 1970s environmentalists promoted the development of alternative energy both as a replacement for the eventual depletion of oil, as well as for an escape from dependence on oil, and the first wind turbines appeared. Solar had always been used for heating and cooling, but solar panels were too costly to build solar farms until 1980.  The theory of peak oil was published in 1956. By 2008 renewable energy had ceased being an alternative, and more capacity of renewable energy was added than other sources in both the United States and in Europe. Renewable energy is becoming more and more prevalent around the world, but it is still not the dominant energy resource.  Renewable energy is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. In its various forms, it derives directly from the sun, or from heat generated deep within the earth. Included in the definition is electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and biofuels and hydrogen derived from renewable resources. Renewable Energy as a replacement for Conventional Fuel Renewable energy replaces conventional fuels in four distinct areas:  electricity generation,  hot water/space heating,  motor fuels, and rural (off-grid) energy services: Power generation. Renewable energy provides 19% of electricity generation worldwide. Renewable power generators are spread across many countries, and wind power alone already provides a significant share of electricity in some areas: for example, 14% in the U.S. state of Iowa, 40% in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, and 20% in Denmark. Some countries get most of their power from renewables, including Iceland (100%), Norway (98%), Brazil (86%), Austria (62%), New Zealand (65%), and Sweden (54%). Heating.  Solar hot water  makes an important contribution to  renewable heat  in many countries, most notably in China, which now has 70% of the global total (180 GWth). Most of these systems are installed on multi-family apartment buildings and meet a portion of the hot water needs of an estimated 50-60 million households in China. Worldwide, total installed  solar water heating  systems meet a portion of the water heating needs of over 70 million households. The use of biomass for heating continues to grow as well. In Sweden, national use of biomass energy has surpassed that of oil. Direct geothermal for heating is also growing rapidly. Transport fuels. Renewable  biofuels  have contributed to a significant decline in oil consumption in the United States since 2006. The 93 billion liters of biofuels produced worldwide in 2009 displaced the equivalent of an estimated 68 billion liters of gasoline, equal to about 5% of world gasoline production In international public opinion surveys there is strong support for promoting renewable sources such as solar power and wind power, requiring utilities to use more renewable energy (even if this increases the cost), and providing tax incentives to encourage the development and use of such technologies. There is substantial optimism that renewable energy investments will pay off economically in the long term. Primary Source of Renewable Energy With so much dependency placed upon our natural resources to produce our much needed energy, scientists have been evaluating and producing renewable energy as an alternative to traditional energy sources.   Renewable energy is energy that can be reproduced in a short period of time.   The most prevalent forms of renewable energy are solar, wind, biomass, hydro power, geothermal and biofuels. http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTkYfRchpvKxiBs2AOvwdSSJzKy36CT7E2JMhOnxdD18HgVG7uyfw Wind An abundant source of renewable energy, wind power is used as a means of generating electricity.  Wind turbines  are capable of harnessing the power derived from the wind, converting kinetic energy into mechanical energy. A source of clean, green renewable energy, favourable climate conditions in Europe means wind energy is a highly viable method for electricity generation. And none more so than in the UK, with 40% of all wind energy in Europe blowing over the country. Solar In one form or another, solar power has been around for thousands of years. As a renewable source of free, green energy, technology has found a way of harnessing the suns energy via solar panels which are used either to generate electricity (solar photovoltaics) or to produce heat to warm water (solar thermal). A popular choice in a growing renewable energy market, solar technology doesnt generate greenhouse cases and is environmentally friendly. Biomass Biomass energy is produced from organic materials such as plants and animals, but the energy that is produced in this fashion is originally provided by the sun.   For example, plants absorb the suns energy through a process called photosynthesizes.   This energy is then passed on through the organism that eats the plant, creating biomass energy.   The most common forms used to generate biomass energy are wood, crops, manure and some rubbish. When these substances are burned, they give off energy as heat.   For example, if you have a  wood fuelled heating, you are generating renewable biomass energy.   This is not the only method of generating biomass energy; you can also create biomass energy by converting these substances into methane gases, ethanol and biodiesel fuels which can be translated more easily into our current methods of energy use. Geothermal Geothermal energy comes from the original Greek word Geo which means sun. Geothermal energy is derived from the heat that is given off by the Earth.   For example, steam energy or hot water that is generated by the Earth can be used to generate energy.   It is considered to be a renewable source of energy as the water in the Earth is replenished by regular rainfall and the heat used is regularly produced by the planet. Hydro Power Hydro energy is derived from the movement of water.   One form of  hydro power  is generated through the movement of water through turbines, such as water running through turbines in a Dam.   Hydro power is considered a renewable energy source as the water is continuously cycled back through the plant or into nature. Biofuels Biofuels are a form of renewable energy derived from burning plant or animal substances, otherwise called combustion. One of the challenges to biofuels has been that it is not easily transferred into a liquid form which is the primary method used to fuel most cars and homes. Two of the most common strategies that are seed to produce biofuels includes: growing crops to produce ethanol and growing plants that produce biofuel oils. While these methods are effective sources of renewable energy, they are challenging to produce and maintain on a large scale. The basic feature of renewable energy is that it has the capacity to be regenerated and, as such, is virtually inexhaustible, besides being environmentally friendly. These are the two major properties that distinguish it from traditional energy sources. In recent years, these two features have pushed renewable energies to the forefront since, if current fossil fuel consumption rates are maintained, they would only be able to meet our energy needs for a few more decades before running out. The damage to the environment, on the other hand, caused by the burning of fossil fuels and the resulting climate changes, force us to consider alternative energy sources if we want to preserve the planet and guarantee the well-being of future generations. Advantages The advantages of renewable energy over traditional energy sources are many and are receiving ever greater recognition. Technological progress in recent years has contributed to making renewable energy ever cheaper and efficient in generating electricity. The main advantages of renewable energies are: They are inexhaustible, whereas fossil fuels are limited. They have less of an environmental impact than fossil fuel energy sources (coal, oil and gas), since they do not produce carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. They are less of a risk than nuclear energy. They provide energy independence to a country, given that their use does not depend on the import of fossil fuels (which only exist in certain regions of the world). They allow a country to develop certain areas within its borders. Disadvantages It is easy to recognise the environmental advantages of utilising the alternative and renewable forms of energy but we must also be aware of the disadvantages. One disadvantage with renewable energy is that it is difficult to generate the quantities of electricity that are as large as those produced by traditional fossil fuel generators. This may mean that we need to reduce the amount of energy we use or simply build more energy facilities. It also indicates that the best solution to our energy problems may be to have a balance of many different power sources. Another disadvantage of renewable energy sources is the reliability of supply. Renewable energy often relies on the weather for its source of power. Hydro generators need rain to fill dams to supply flowing water. Wind turbines need wind to turn the blades, and solar collectors need clear skies and sunshine to collect heat and make electricity. When these resources are unavailable so is the capacity to make energy from them. This can be unpredictable and inconsistent. The current cost of renewable energy technology is also far in excess of traditional fossil fuel generation. This is because it is a new technology and as such has extremely large capital cost. Research Methodology Findings and Results Reasons of not Using Renewable energy in Daily Lives   Time and time again, we have to explain to them why their reasoning is unfounded but still we find the same excuses wherever we go.   So we thought wed take a little time to dispel the four most common excuses for not utilizing solar power. Its Too Expensive Everyone seems to know that federal and state governments have significant financial incentives in place to help promote the adoption of solar power.    Even after these incentives, the average residential solar system costs between $10,000 and $30,000 and for most people, this represents a major capital investment.   As a result, most people stop there and say, I cant afford it.    What they dont know is that there are a number of financing options available to help ease the cost of solar.   For example, a number of solar installers offer  financing programs  , similar to small loan or mortgage, where there is little to no up front cost and finance the balance of the purchase price through a loan.   As a result, the homeowner does not have to come up with cash upfront but can amortize the cost of the solar system over time.   Whats great is that when you factor in a your reduced utility bill from solar and the amortization cost of the panels, this amount is most likely still less than your electric bill without solar power.   So you save immediately and that savings grows over time as electricity rates increase. There are also programs where you can  lease the panels  Ã‚  for little to no up front costs and you pay a small, manageable monthly fee over the term of the lease.   Again, the savings on your electric bill from the solar panels plus this leasing fee is still likely to be less than your current electric bill without solar.   There is also a mechanism called a  power purchase agreement  , which is a great option for larger projects, where the solar installer installs and owns the panels on the roof of your home/building but provides you electricity and simply charges you a flat fee for that electricity over the life of the agreement (typically 15-20 years).   That way you are guaranteed a set rate of electricity over a long period of time (protecting you from annual rises in electricity rates) and there is no up front cost to you. The moral of the story is that there are a lot of options for people to pay for solar panels. Gone are the days where you have to come up with all the money for solar panels up front. There are simply more ways than ever to finance and make the cost of solar work out beneficially for residential and commercial consumers alike. Solar Wont Work in cold climate Another really bad excuse. The average temperature in a climate region does not have an effect on solar panels.   In fact, solar panels are actually slightly more efficient at producing electricity in cold temperatures. The critical factor for solar panels is a concept called solar isolation which is the amount of sunlight that the solar cells receive. Obviously, the more the better so even if you live in a colder climate that is further north and receive ample amounts of sunlight, solar should work just fine for you. (If you want to learn more about how solar panels work, you can click  here  .) Remember, Germany, is which is farther north than just about any state in the U.S., is the world leader in solar photovoltaic energy with over 9,000 Megawatts.   Thats almost enough to cover the roofs of 2 million U.S. houses!    So dont worry if you live in a cold climate, just make sure that you receive plenty of sunshine. No Power if its cloudy A reasonable concern, but again, not a good reason to avoid solar power.   As stated above, its not temperature that affects the performance of solar panels, rather it is the amount sunlight received.   And even in the sunniest of locations, there are going to be days where there is cloud cover or rain (not to mentioned nightfall) and your solar panels performance may be compromised.   Not to worryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦you will not be left in the dark. Residential and commercial solar panels these days are almost always connected to the utility gridà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it is called a grid-tie.   So, while your solar panels are exposed to the sun, the electricity they produce powers your house or building.   But when it is cloudy or nightfall, you will still be able to draw power for your home or building because you remain connected to the electrical grid. Another cool concept is what is called net metering.   In states that allow net metering, if your solar panels produce more electricity in a day than you are consuming, that extra electricity is fed back into the electric grid and can actually spin your electric meter backward.   As a result, at the end of the month, the electric company will take into account the electricity that you fed back in to the grid through your solar power system and you will only pay for the net amount of electricity that you consume. People do not know Where to Start Getting Solar The worst excuse of them all!   First of all, there is a tons of information on the Internet related to solar, so for starters you can get educated that way. However, we understand that there may be so much information that you are overwhelmed. Never fear, sites likeMyEnergySolution.com  Ã‚  take the mystery out of the solar process.  MyEnergySolution.com  contains all the information you need to know about how solar works, what to expect and even ideas to help finance your solar power system. With sites like  MyEnergySolution.com  , there is no excuse not to understand the key elements of going solar. But what about getting a solar installer?   How do I know who to pick?   Another great question.   You can obviously talk to friends who have installed solar power systems in their homes and ask for a reference.   But if you dont have references, solar energy matching services can also take much of the guess work out of selecting a solar installer.   There are several free matching services that connect you with pre-selected and highly reputable solar installers based.   The process is simple: you provide basic information on your location and project type and within minutes or up to 1-2 business days the qualified solar installers will contact you to bid on your project.   These services have saved homeowners time and the headache of dealing with poor quality installers.   For example, see  www.solar-energy-installers.com  . Critical Evaluation Conclusion and Recommendation We know that people have other reasons for not going solar and that is fine.   Choosing solar is a personal/business decision that can only be made by you. However too often, we have seen a number of friends and business associates avoid solar power based on the excuses above yet solar power could have been so value-added to their home or commercial project.   Our goal here is to hopefully de-bunk the biggest excuses that we have seen and help show that there are answers and solutions out there for your concerns.  

Native American Literature Essay

This piece of literature, â€Å"Superman and Me† by Sherman Alexie, reflects what it means to be an Indian in today’s culture written in first person. Alexie utilizes memories from his childhood to develop his thesis: reading and writing saved his life and allowed him to overcome poverty and be successful. They were an Indian family and his father owned an enormous amount of books. He learned to read at an early age with a Superman comic book. He writes about the stereotypes of Indians expected to be stupid and fail in the non-Indian world. He, on the other hand, declined this pity and refused to fail; he was a smart Indian that read as much as he could. He grew up to be a writer and visited the schools unfailingly to save the lives of Indian children. The purpose of this article is to improve the lives of Indian children. LaFarge, Oliver. â€Å"Myths that Hide the American Indian. † Historical view point. New York: John A. Garraty, 1991. 3-5. Print. In this essay, Oliver La Farge writes about the true civilization of the American Indian in â€Å"Myths that hide the American Indian. † Europeans made inferences without understanding them. La Farge describes the impact of the white men’s negative perception of Indians as ruthless, faithless, savages, drunken, and lazy good-for-nothings. The most important influence the Indians had on western civilization was their political economy where they had one ruler. Later, England formed a constitutional monarchy. All in all, this article’s purpose was to illistrate the Europeans’ views of Indians as savages was wrong; they were merely advancing to civilization. â€Å"The World on Turtle’s Back. † McDougal Littell Literature: American Literature. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2008. 34-40. Print. â€Å"The World on a Turtles Back† describes the world before land, creatures, or people. The Sky-World consisted of multiple gods, a great ocean, birds of the sea, fish, creatures of the deep, and most importantly the Great Tree that grew right in the middle. The author states that a couple was expecting a baby in the Sky-World the man went to fetch some bark from the roots of the Great Tree. He accidently dug a hole through the Sky-World and his pregnant wife fell through capturing a piece of the bark’s root. The woman planted the roots, and as she walked around the earth it grew into nurturing food. Later, the lady gave birth to a baby girl, and when the girl got older she had twins. the right handed-twin appeared to be god-like, while the left-landed twin comply with the devil. Both twins possessed their own powers; however one twin would use it to perform kind acts, and the other used it to pursue evil. They fought till the end, but both had to exist to maintain balance in the world. The purpose of this story is to show there has to be evil in the world to balance with the good. Momaday, N. Scott. â€Å"The Way to Rainy Mountain. † McDougal Littell Literature: American Literature. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2008. 52-58. Print. N. Scott Momaday’s â€Å"The Way to Rainy Mountain† utilizes imagery to enhance the impact of his deceased grandmother’s life and old customs while he makes his journey to her grave in Rainy Mountain. Aho, Momaday’s grandmother, belonged to the last tribe that migrated to North America. The Kiowas made a legend that explained that seven sisters form the Big Dipper. Aho honored the sun by attending the Kiowa Sun Dances. Prayers kept her memory since she was always praying even when she died. Momaday believes his grandmother’s death was whole and eternal for her to have lived and died in the same place: Rainy Mountain. The purpose of this story is to inform the reader about the cultural history of the Kiowa Indians. Tempus, Allie. â€Å"A Tribal Tragedy: Suicide Rates Soar Among Native Americans† New America Media November 29 2010 Posted. Web. Native Americans’ suicide rates are evaluated in Allie Tempus’, â€Å"A Tribal Tragedy. † They have the highest rate of all other ethnic and racial groups. The suicides are traced back to their mental health, including depression. Poverty and family issues resulted in depression which led to drug and alcohol use. Many users experienced an abusive childhood and turned to drugs to alleviate the pain. Native Americans involuntarily lost the balance in their lives as their traditions and customs died out, but today there are prevention efforts made to reduce suicide rates. The purpose of this news is to inform the reader about the history and hopeful future for Native Americans’ suicide rates. Popick, Jacqui. â€Å"Native American Women, Past, Present and Future. † Lethbridge Undergraduate Research Journal. 2006. Volume 1 Number 1. Jacqui Popicks’s â€Å"Native American Women, Past, Present, and Future† is an informative article that evaluates the different generations in the life of a typical Native American woman. In the past, women were treated equal and with respect because they have the power to give life. In present day, a drastic changed occurred because women face sexism, racism, and they are not generally respected as well as before. The Bill of Rights finally gave women their rights after a long, hard battle but that was not enough. As time progressed, Native American women initiated programs of awareness, AIDS, suicide, violence, prevention, and education to renew lives and overcome the feeling of hopelessness. The purpose of this journal is to show a comparison of the treatment of Native American women in the past and present, as well as goals for the future.

Part Time Jobs for Students Essay

There is much debate nowadays concerning students and part-time jobs, whether they are a good thing or bad. Part time jobs can take time away from schoolwork, true, but students who work 10 to 15 hours a week during the school year earn higher grades than students who don’t work at all. I strongly encourage students to seek out part-time employment. Part-time jobs for students are good because they teach time management, responsibility and set students up for the world of work. Part- time jobs for students helps teach young people good time management. Learning how to manage time in respect to keeping plans, school schedules and work schedules organized, and forcing them to follow a steady schedule and be places on time, with consequences in a way that no other experiences may teach them, is best taught by a part-time job. I personally have a part-time job; I work at a farm at 6am every weekend morning. Having a part-time job has taught me time management like nothing else has before. Forcing me to prioritize plans and extracurricular activities has turned out to be quite an asset, and helps me in my everyday life, as it will in my future. Along with time management, part-time jobs teach students responsibility. Responsibility is a very important trait which is taught by part-time jobs. Students with part-time jobs learn how to be responsible. Steve Jobs accredits his success in the world of work to his part-time job at McDonalds in his youth. Part-time jobs give students a duty and obligation to satisfactorily perform and complete tasks and take responsibility for their actions. Students will learn to better handle their time and money at a younger age when faced with the responsibility that part-time jobs provide and ask for. Unlike school, part-time jobs demand a sort of trial based idea; with school, students may get away with tardiness, or absences, while with jobs, students will be faced with docked pay, or perhaps even being fired- a much more grave, eye opening consequence than school provides- and teenagers learn to be responsible as a whole, thanks to this. This type of responsibility sets teenagers up for the world of work. As well as teaching time management and responsibility, part-time jobs set young adults up for the world of work. Most part-time jobs ask for little to no experience, are easy to obtain and add to your future rà ©sumà ©, for when you do apply for jobs that require previous experience, later on in your career. Part-time employment teaches  you skills and experience which you could learn nowhere else, such as: how to fill out an application, how to interview well, how to work responsibly, and how to get along with co-workers and superiors, as well as many other qualities that will set you apart from other applicants while applying to more important jobs, farther along in life. Part-time jobs are as essential to further you in your future career path, as watering a plant is for its growth. In conclusion, part-time jobs are highly suggested for students in high school, or University. Part-time jobs teach students many assets such as time management, responsibility, and sets young adults up for the world of work.

The Victoria Secret Industrys Influence on Women in Society - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1213 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2019/04/26 Category Society Essay Level High school Topics: Social Media Essay Did you like this example? Popular culture has portrayed a large influence on society for decades now. It defines how we as human beings perceive reality and the outlook we have on body image. The effect of popular culture helps us establish a bond within our community and strengthen the interaction with others. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Victoria Secret Industrys Influence on Women in Society" essay for you Create order In todays generation, we are surrounded by pop culture. Things like TV shows, movies, music, or even magazines are all factors that hold a society together and gives a sense of shared identity and meaning that encourages people to live their life a certain way; however we see more of a negative impact that pop culture has on todays humanity. The media industry portrays how women should be viewed in size and beauty. Social media and shows like the Victoria Secret fashion show influence how women should perceive their bodies. The Victoria Secret Fashion Show is an annual event that takes place in cities around the globe. Within every year of the show, you have models like Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner walking down the runway with either lingerie or the signature clothing of Victoria Secret the angel wings. You have models going down the aisle with bras that emphasize their breast and underwear which highlights their thin waists and long legs. The models in the show are portrayed as angels because according to society they have achieved the perfection of how beauty is perceived in todays society. For example, according to Americas Terrifying Beauty Standards, Serena Fix explains what society thinks the ideal beauty standard should be interpreted as. In her article she states how, a woman should have big breasts and a big butt. She should also have a flat stomach. Fix explains that society and social media try to convey to females that being skinny and tall is the definition of beauty. She tries to show the audience that in order to achieve that perfect body, females have to lose weight and have the average height of five feet and ten inches (Fix, 2018). In most religions, angels are defined as spiritual beings that serve God. However, throughout popular culture, they are represented in different ways. For instance, in childrens television shows/cartoons, a toddler with wings is known as cupid. In movies like Cinderella, the fairy Godmother symbolizes a caring, affectionate idol to the princess that mostly focuses on allocating the soul purpose of helping Cinderella. She is not perceived as what todays society defines angels as. On the contrary, in the Victoria Secret fashion industry, the angels are slim females with a curvy physic, which is what the media now thinks the definition of an angel is. The models in Victorias Secret are referred as angels because according to social media this is how you should define beauty. Angels are looked upon as role models to many; nevertheless , mass media twists the definition of what an angel should be portrayed as. Instead of being all about good behavior and the good morals a person should have, the media tries to emphasize their image as sexy goddesses. Females around the country adore the show, and many of their fans consider the models as idols they look up to. According to Veronica Granja-Sierra, women tend to compare their bodies to visual flawless figures of the Victoria Secret supermodels. (Elite Daily, 2013). This statement essentially describes how social media has a huge role on how females interpret how their body should be perceived. The media emphasizes the importance of Victoria Secret only because it underlines the ideal womens body to people across the globe. This makes the female viewers more diffident about their bodies because they believe that they should look a certain way which is what the media wants. When women turn on the television to watch this show, they start to ask themselves how they can achieve the perfect body like the stars on the show. Granja-Sierra states that, by the end of the show, the self esteem of female viewers is mostly out the door. Meaning that when they look at these supermodels, the f emale viewers start to believe that they are not beautiful and they can never reach the high status of a supermodels body. Social media continues playing a central role in the lives of females. For instance, shows like Victoria Secret fashion show try to portray women as a sexy, tall, and slim female with thin curves and less body mass. According to a Today Show article written by Rheana Murray, 60 percent of women from all age groups said that they wouldnt post a photo of themselves on social media unless they loved the way they looked. Nevertheless, looking at these statistics, you see how social media plays a crucial role on a females life. Every day, women across the country are being pressured by the media because of the expectations that they publicize for women. For instance, females at a young age are already feeling pressured to look a certain way. Author Veronica Granja-Sierra states that, after the age of 14, girls increasingly become their own worst beauty critics (Elite Daily, 2013). Media overall, like movies and magazines encourage females to lose weight because being overweight is not con sidered attractivethis only harms them and lowers their self-esteem. For instance, according to Meredith Watkins, 20 million American women experience an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime (ProjectKnow, 2018). This basically shows how popular culture today affects the way we think, behave and act. Many women across the country are surrounded by thin, curvy females constantly in magazines, billboards, advertisements, and newspapers. These things exploit unrealistic depictions degrading womens bodies and a sense of how they should appear in public. The Victoria Secret Fashion Show is known as an American identity that Americans claim as their own. The show has American raised models, for example, Adriana Lima. The annual shows take place in different countries each year; however, it embraces the American beauty standards throughout the world. Going back to how Americans define beauty, the standards are different outside of the United States. In contrast, Koreans believe that along with a tiny psychic, they focus more on the face rather than the body. The author of Womens by Aghavni declares that, Koreans will consider you beautiful if you have clear, light skin and a small face with double eyelids. Thus, Korean standards are different than what Americans distinguish beauty as. The American Victoria Secret models leave their mark when on the runway because of their angel wings that represent their American self identity. The wings symbolize beauty, power, and fulfillment of what the media standards of allure are. To conclude, the Victoria Secret industry puts an image in societys head of how a women should be perceived as. Everyday, the media exploits certain expectations of how a female should be distinguished in society. American media and culture have echoed a way of thinking for American society. They have influenced women nationally through them constantly looking at billboards, magazines, newspapers that convey a certain status of looks that a woman should have. It affects females drastically and their mental and physical health. We are surrounded by the unrealistic American beauty identity which causes females to doubt themselves, thus causing them to pay thousands for a plastic surgery that would meet American standards.