Racism

The race unit we've been in has probably been my favorite unit because I feel like i've been made aware of a lot of things I haven't noticed before. I always thought racism could just be explicit and never did I consider all the implicit ways people could be stereotyped and the bias that comes with race. The way we judge each other is terrible and I'm almost ashamed that i've never realized how people can be judged against. Being a cuacasian girl, I'm pretty blind to the racism around me so I never thought about how the media might poorly represent African Americans or how they might be blamed for something more easily just because of their color. One of the hardest things to watch throughout this unit was watching the experiment about the middle eastern women be called "not american"and "terrorist" because of how she dressed and her color. As well, the angry eyes video made me more thankful for my ability to "walk away from racism" in comparasion to most poeple of color who will never be able to. I was surprised in the video that all the african american students said they were judged against everyday. It was eye-opening to me and I think Jane Elliot had to be so mean in order to get her point across that racism still exists and is as bad as ever before. After this unit, i've been trying to pay attention more to the slight forms of racism around me and it's been shocking. I've heard freinds and even a teacher make tiny remarks about people of color such as african americans and hispanics. For this reason, I agree that it's impossible to be "color blind" because we will always notice the color differences; however, we still need to be able to accept all our different colors and see every person as an equal regardless of what they look like.
     My shock at how bad racism still is also comes from watching Crash. For one, I think the movie is very entertaining and moving, however, it's hard to watch at some points becauase the racism is so extreme it actually makes me cringe. Some of the worst parts were seeing how Matt Dillon could treat the African American couple and how much it ended up effected the couple. Also, I think that the locksmith is constantly being unfairly treated just becasue he is Hispanic. It's ridiculous how terrible people can treat each other and it's embarassing that people actually do act like this. I've always known that explicit racism exists but never to such an extent and the most shocking is the implicit and istitutional racism that are so under the radar that people stop even considering it to be hurtful or racist!

Class and Income Blog Post

I found the Movie we've been watching in class very eye-opening and intresting. It really developed on the disparity in social class that most people choose to ignore. I think it's crazy how there can be such a difference between someone like Thomas (WASP) and Tammy (who works on minimum) live. Sociological Imagination is shown because we've learned to respect people that are humble and kind. This is why most people, me included, think Thomas comes off as a jerk since he clearly views the WASP as the best social class. I've learned to find disgust in people that can be so condescending and think that they can be better than anyone else. Tammy, however, seems genuine and I can respect her for her hardwork and positivity. The movie also demonstrated how we see social class based on previous known stereotypes such as seeing the Red Neck Games as low class since they might not have as good incomes or "lifestyles". I think that it is wrong to judge people based off of their social class or income level just because there is much more to a person than a typical sterotype. For example, though I think it's intresting that their are so many differences in social class, I don't think it is necessarily fair. I thought it was crazy that you could even find differences in food such as higher income people eat more wheat bread while lower class eat more white bread. The movie demonstrated how there are so many simple differences and how people of different social statuses view each other!

The 99% and the sociological Imagination

Image 1:
Why desire for economic security is not being met- She works 3 jobs and is still living pay check to pay check. She is also the sole supporter of her household and the only one that has health insurance.
More fair situation- Better pay especially since she is already working 3 jobs all of which require her to use her graduate degree and help to provide for her household so that everyone can have health insurance
Relates to social class- She has a graduate degree and has three jobs so she considers herself to still be one of the "lucky ones" yet she still has to live pay check to pay check and is the only one supporting her household. It shows that she considers herself still to be lucky since she is atleast educated and has a job though she is still under a hard living environment.
Chose this image- I found this almost scary since she has 3 jobs and still is only living pay check to pay check. She has a graducate education and seems to be very hardworking but is still barely making ends meet. It was surprising to see that hardwork and education sometimes isn't enough to make it. This is scary since I always thought that as long as you always worked hard, you would be ok in life.

Image 2:
Why desire for economic security is not being met- Has to live on public assistence because can not get a real job and if she does get a better job than they won't cover her daughters heart condition and NY won't help anymore if she makes more than minimum wage.
More fair situation- Better public assistence program so that doesn't feel like your trapped in a constant cycle of poverty. Also better State programs to cover insurance especially because daughter has heart condition and mom would have no coverage if she was making above minimum wage. Also help and funding to aid her in paying for her childrens college so that they don't end up in same cycle.
Relates to social class- She is stuck in constant cycle because can't get a better job without going to school but can't go to school untill she pays off her loans. She also can't leave public assistence unless she get a better job but that job won't help her care for her sick daughter. Relates to how she see's herself stuck in the same never-ending cycle and that there is no way for her to get out of what she see's as her low-class lifestyle.
Chose this image- This image showed me how hard it really is to get out of this "cycle" once you are already in it. It was scary to think if she'll be able to get a better job or then how she will provide for her children. I choose it becuase it shows how many complications their are and how impossible it seems to be able to change your life around.

Image 3:
Why desire for economic security is not being met- She went for her associates degree but is unemployed with 10,000 in debt so she has to depend on her parents again who, themselves, are struggling.
More fair Situation- Jobs for all especially with a program to help recent graduates find work so that they can begin to pay off their debts/loans and so that they can set themselves up for a strong future.
Relates to social class- because she can't find a job and has to depend on her struggling parents again she says she feels like a "failure". Shows that though she says she went to school to pursue her dreams and says that she has talent, she still feels like a failure because she can't support herself and feels like its all gone to waste.
Chose this image- I chose this image becuase I felt like I could easily be this girl. About to go to college, it scares me to think what might happen after I graduate. I, too, would feel like my "talents were going to waste" if I couldn't find a job and if I had to depend on my parents again. It startled me to think that just going to college, is not enough to easily succeed in society.

positive deviance

   The idea of positive deviance is committing an uncommon behavior that benefits another member/group of society. It's a "random act of kindness" that someone wouldnt expect to see on a normal day. An example of this positive deviance was Julio Diaz who instead of fighting or reporting being mugged, he offered his coat to his robber and than took that boy out to diner. This was a shocking thing to do since most poeple would be focused on themselves after being in a dangerous situation  (especially if it's being mugged), however, Diaz decided to treat the boy to dinner, which was incredibly kind and might have greatly impacted the boy.            
   In an attempt to do my own act of positive deviance i bought a meal for the car behind me at Mcdonalds. I went through the drivethru and after paying for my own meal, I asked for the amount of the car behing me and than covered that charge so that they wouldn't have to pay. I think this was a form of positive deviance because it's uncommon to ever have a random stranger pay for a complete meal for you. In fact, I've never gotten free food unless I had some sort of coupon or the company was doing a promotion. My act was, therefore, deviant but it was also positive because it allowed for the people to get a free meal and see a random stranger complete a kind task.
    I enjoyed completing this task because it was scary to do something that was deviant and broke the rules yet it felt good because I knew it was a positive act. Since I was at a drivethru, I didn't get to completly interact with the car behind me but they seemed shocked and almost confused when the workers told them their meal had been completly payed for. I felt nervous at first comleting the tast since it just felt strange paying for a random stranger but after it was exciting to know I might have really impacted their day. Thinking about it, if i had been the car behind me, having someone pay for my food would have not only made my day but would really brighten my week too! I think this experiment showed me how our culture and social norms make us reserved and we usually never go out of our way to help strangers. I realized that if I tried a littler harder to help those around me, I could really make an impact on someone's life and maybe even cause a chain reaction of positive events. Completing acts of deviance show how easy it is to do the uncommon thing and just help someone without focusing on yourself!

Gender differences movie blog

We watch a lot of movies in school but this movie was one that I actually felt impacted by. It was upsetting and disturbing to see how media will portray females and males. I was angry, especially, by the "commercial realism" because it's advertisers that try to portray these gender stereotypes in the real world. It almost feels like the ads are trying to sell to us, not only products, but how to think and act as well. The commercial intrusions communicate to create quick gender codes that are basically rules on how we should act. For example, media can actually create a difference between what is considered a "male's hand" and what is a "females hand". It's shocking that men can be portrayed as controlling while females appear weak and delicate just by looking at a picture of a hand. Another shocking part of the video was how it explained that models get "touched up" and no person, in reality, looks like they are portrayed through the media. The quote by Cindy Crawford that even she "wishes to look like cindy crawford" made me realize how much advertisers try to create this fake world and to make that "perfect person"- who in reality does not exist. Knowing people that struggle with their confidence and body issues made me realize how comparing themselves to the media could hurt their self-esteem. I think its important that people are educated on the differences between reality and advertising so it doesn't have has much influence especially on gender norms and how people perceive their own appearance.

Blog for Friday Oct 28 socialization

I didn't get to go on the field trip because I was already on one that day. However, regarding what impacts me the most I would say my parents and peers socialize me the most. My parents have taught me my morals and attitudes. They've let me grow up by learning from my mistakes and to recognize when I'm in a good or bad situation. My peers also influence me because there actions can start to become normal. I know i've been in situations where people are making bad decisions and, though, I'm never outright told to follow them, it seems as if the only natural thing to do is follow along. Thankfully, those morals my parents enforced upon me when I was younger prevented me from making a mistake. I think it works almost like a "checks and balance system" because I'm gravitated to act like my friends but I have a voice of reason in the back of my mind telling me what's right thanks to my parents. I think now by my senior year of high school, I've learned what type of friends I want to be around and to trust. Now my friends impact can be a positive thing because we encourage each other to keep up our grades and get into a great college. I think all factors around us help to socialize us, but as long as I circle myself around positive people and follow my parents teachings, this socialization is actually a good thing.
     I thought the movie we watched on media showed how our values are influenced even when we are young. The fact that so much time and effort goes into researching children is actually really creepy. I think it stops kids from growing up slowly or interacting "naturally" since children are being marketed to what's the cool instead of what they want. The more children are exposed the more they will find value in money and owning lots of material items. I think the movie showed how socialization works in media-especially how powerful it can be at a younger age.

Interview with my parents!

The main expectations my family had for me, before i was born, was to have good life skills such as being tidy and organized. They also planned for me to be smart and studious so that i would get into a good college. They expected me to be the best that I could possibly be. The lessons, values, and ideas they tried the hardest to teach me was Honesty. They truly beleived that "honesty is the best policy" and won't respect anyone who cheats their way to the top. The most important tradition in my family are that we always have to spend holidays together, especially christmas and thanksgiving. For these days, our immediate family is always together. It doesn't matter where we go or what we do but we have to spend that time with each other. When trying to figure out how to raise me, my parents never had a specific disiplinary idea but they decided that I always had to learn from my mistakes. If I ever got in trouble, I would have to reflect on what I did, apologize, and than learn from the experience. Habits that I have that are similar to my family are that I'm sometimes messy like my father but I can be really organized with very specific things like my mother. For example, my mom and I like to organize our closets the same exact way. Parts of my personality that are also like my parents are that I always try my hardest and will put 100% effort into whatever it is that I do.

Reflecting on the interview, what shocked me the most was all the different ideas that my parents had actually planned to install on me. I never knew that they talked about having an educated daughter or that they had always wanted me to go to a good college before I was even born. I learned that a lot of my thoughts actually, originally, come from my parents. For example, I cheerish honesty which was what they said was one of the most important values to them. I think that I try my best and put effort into everything I do, which were traits I must have picked up from my parents. I, also, learned that my family is very goal-orientated and driven. As well, we all value and enjoy spending time together!

Ted Talk Glog

Link to my Glog!
http://abach31.edu.glogster.com/gender-differences/

Material vs. Symbolic culture

A material culture is all things realated to a given culture like clothes or food while a a symbolic culture is based off of a nonmaterial culture whose central components are symbols like gestures and language. The movie god grew tired of us which we were shown in class, serves as an example of these cultures. The different clothing styles in africa, for example, is different from what typical culture is back in America. It's so hot in sudan that the people there are used to wearing less clothing than someone from America would be used to wearing. Another material culture example is the difference between how those eat in america and in sudan. The lost boys, for example, had never even heard of potato chips before they came to the US. Here, however, potato chips are a very commonly consumed product. Americans, also, are almost always used to having a full stomach while in a war torn country like sudan the boys had less food and smaller portions making them more prone to starvation. Some symbollic culture shown in the movie was the different in langauge. Here in the US we grow up naturally speaking english. The lost boys, though, had to go to specific school in Kukama where they had to be taught english. The lost boys also were exposed to differnt american gestures that they wouldn't have known back in africa like the way americans wave hello or gesture with their hands.
Theres a relationship between symbolic and material culture becuase we use both to make up one specific culture. For example, in my own life, I know I have a very different culture than one of my friends, summer, who lives in england. Our difference in material cultre can be seen by the differnt clothes, jewlery, and even food we eat. For example, she would think fish and chips put together is normal while I think that combining the food together is just werid and gross. The symbollic culture could be any nonmaterial thing that serves as a symbol of our culture such as langague. An example of this could also be how english use the word "chips" to mean "fries" when saying fish and chips. Therefore, we use different aspects of our symbolic and material culture to create our own natural environment that would be different from those not used to it!

Ethnocentrism

   This summer, while I was at summer camp, for one of the activities we went to help out on the south side of chicago. We visited Garfield Ridge which is made up of mostly African Americans and was very run down. When we first got there we were being stared at and stood out since my camp was made up of mostly caucasian kids. I felt out of my element and was scared that I was in danger just because it was such a different type of town than the north suburbs of chicago. It surprised me how different the south and north side of chicago are despite only being so little miles apart. I realized, though, that I couldn't feel unsafe just because the people dressed and acted differently. After meeting some of the children and helping out in the park I saw that the people were just as nice as anyone I would meet in the suburbs where I live. I also found myself judging the town because so many people were in the street and I thought that everyone was just lazy instead of working. However, after talking to the people I saw how little the job market was especially for the people who didn't have as good as an education. I was being ethnocentric for assuming that the people didn't want to work instead of realizing most of the people didn't have a choice. There was so much work to be done in the town and with such poverty it's impossible for the town to be able to fix itself. I was grateful for the chance to go to Garfield Ridge because it showed me that just because it's different from where I'm from, it doesn't mean that I'm in "some dangerous ghetto". Now, I'm actually very interested in going back to the south side and volunteering again.

Unit One Post!

    The sociological imagination has to do with personal problems being connected to the public into a greater good and history. For example, currently, I am stressed about keeping up my grades and still finding time to apply to colleges. Though I'm still in my senior year of high school, Competition for colleges has been increasing so it's imperative I keep up my good grades. I think students around the nation are feeling more and more stress and pressure about applying and getting accepted into that dream college. Not only do I feel like i have to spend countless hours finishing schoolwork and balancing activities, but all my other friends, who live right by me or across the country, also complain about not always being able to handle the pressure of keeping up in school. I think that compared to a century ago or even a decade ago, the requirements for getting into a good college and well paying job have been increasing, making everyone feel like they have to work harder, especially in this economy and bad job market.
    The social constructionism of reality is a general idea that is maintained by a society that all agree that it exists. This idea relates to the concept we did at the beginning of Sociology, when we had a classmate spit into a cup. The class recognized spit as much grosser than saliva. By using this general concept of social constructionism i can apply it to my understanding of the world. I think that generally everyone wants to work to be the best that they can be and their motivated by their chance of success. By using social construction, you can see how everyone accepts the idea that certain schools like Yale or Harvard are considered to be more "respected" or the "ultimate school to go to" since they are Ivy League. I think people recognize these types of schools exist and thats why people try so hard in school. We want to better ourselves, and are motivated by the idea that we can reach our highest potential at these colleges. The generally accepted idea that everyone should work for a "bright future"pushes everyone to be the best that they can be whether it's students working for college or just a person working to improve their future conditions.
     Social Mindfulness is tuning in to see how our social world works. It's being able to learn and accept our society and just paying attention. I think to be truly socially mindful people need to contribute to society by volunteer work. In helping their community, volunteers are exposed to how others live. community service prevents ignorance because it shows all different aspects of society, not only the glamours parts. For me, community service has made me so much more aware of my own society and how thankful I am for my values, family, and health.

First weeks blog about what society values

 I thought the "abandon ship" assignment we did earlier this week was really insightful in showing what society places value in. By placing 16 different stereotypical people on a ship and having to choose to "kill off" 7 people it quickly showed what our class finds value in. For example, it was obvious our class thinks youth is a necessary trait in survival since some of the first people to be killed off were the elderly couple while the younger characters such as the football player and cheerleader got to stay. Other values that our class took into consideration was intelligence (particularly to science over arts), usefulness, patriotism, morality, individuality, and control. I think our class might be somewhat biased, since its a room full of teenagers, therefore we'd favor certain traits such as youth over experience or wisdom. However, i feel like the traits that our class found important would still reflect a common americans perspective. We put much more value into strength, youth, and a person's ability to survive or usefulness in a deadly situation. This connects to my own life because i have family members that are disabled and elderly and it makes me wonder what i would do if i was in a situation in which i had to kill off one of my own family members. Even though they might not be young and in "full health" i would still be able to find value in my relatives and wouldn't be able to justify kicking them off the ship. I really enjoyed the ship activity because it made me aware of my own values and made me question what i would do if i was in that situation. I would probably follow the common ideal that society values on youth and strength however i think i would feel guilty for kicking the "weaker" off of the ship.

Do Nothing Blog

    I conducted my experiment of "Doing Nothing" at the outdoor mall by my house. I went to the center of the mall where the main square is and stood by the Gazebo. This location affected my experiment because it put me in the center of the mall and made me the center of attention. I went at 7 o'clock which was later in the day and was not the most popular time for shopping. Therefore the mall's center was not as crowded as it would be early in the day such as at 12 o'clock. However, there were still constant shoppers that would walk past the gazebo or be sitting down on the benches around the center. Though I stood out because I was standing "doing nothing", i still think my appearance as an individual was pretty common so i didn't stand out as much as if i had been wearing more outlandish clothing or an irregular hairstyle. I was wearing just a regular sweatshirt with jeans and fit in with the other common girls walking around at the mall. I didn't have many strange reactions from common people walking by because they seemed more focused on shopping and getting to the next store. However, the people sitting on the benches seemed to be more aware of me. There were a group of younger girls standing across from me that were running around and after a few minutes looked over and stared at me a few times. There was also a teenage boy waiting on another bench also across from me that stared over at me a few times but no one came up to actually talk to me. Also, there was no one who seemed to be overly observant of me. I still felt awkward while doing the experiment because I thought people would judge me for just standing outside and doing absolutely nothing except observing. Since i felt felt weird just standing i found it difficult to just "do nothing" because I would absent-mindedly want to reach for my phone or for something to do. This experiment was different than how i usually act because i usually pretend to look busy by playing with my phone or Ipod. By doing nothing it forced me to be observant and pay more attention to others.