Sociology Semester Ending Essay

Could not double space on here it is type correctly on Google docs link at the end of the essay.



As a freshman in college I can't in knowing I wanted to be a psychologist with this I wanted to takes social science classes that would help me understand people, so I to psychology and sociology. I found that much of what we learned in sociology I had already suspected before even taking the class, and found the factual information that I was told from my professor and I read in the text quite interesting. We went from Sociology In A Changing World to Class and Global Inequality in the text.

In the beginning of the semester we began with Sociology In A Changing World. I learned that sociology is the "systematic study of the relationship between individuals and society." (Croteau/Hoynes p.5) I also learned about how sociology begun in the 1800's as a result of the dramatic change taking place in society. The definition of sociology is the connection I had with this class in relations to psychology, I first had to understand people and their place in society and how they obtain that place and who assigns them the roles they play in society, before I go straight to picking the brains of my future clients. We then moved on to Understanding the Research Process "the two key components, theory and data act together in social science research" (Croteau/Hoynes p.39) This let me know how information is collected that influences the theories that sociologist come up with after much experimenting and the peer-review process. This was extremely close to what I was learning about the research methods of psychology which will come in handy if I would find thy I have come up with a theory of my own when evaluating clients in my future profession. Society puts individuals in groups according to how similar their lifestyles are; one of the most important parts of the grouping is culture which I learned in the Culture chapter that "culture is the collection of values, beliefs, knowledge, norms, language, behaviors, and material objects shared by a people and socially transmitted from generation to generation" (Croteau/Hoynes p.59)

As we got deeper into the semester I got a sense of the social structure which "is recurring patterns of behavior." (Croteau/Hoynes p.87) Through a sociological lens one might observe how an individual responds to simple interactions and their action which may go against or follow the structure. The Power chapter was rather simple and too the point it was about who has power in society and those that abuse their power and exploit others. A lot of this I had already known because of a class I took in high school. Although this did not have too much to do with psychology it is valuable information to know for me to know and understand personally. The next topic we studied was the chapter of Socialization. "Socialization is the process through which people learn their culture's basic norm, values, beliefs, and behaviors." (Croteau/Hoynes p.137) This start to touch on identity and how your identity is molded by agents of socialization. This will help me have a broader sense and a better understanding of how the life-course perspective comes into play when evaluating clients.

Later we moved on to Deviance and Social Control where I learned how the norms are set, by the people in power and who they are set based off of which are the people in power. "Deviance is the behavior that does not conform to basic cultural norms and expectations" (Croteau/Hoynes p.191); deviance can become a norm through a process called medicalization of deviance and will no longer receive stigma or be a subject of the labeling theory. This chapter is very interesting to me because I feel like it screams the production of psychology taking "deviant" behavior and making is a medical disorder which you'll need psychologist to step in. Finally there is Class and Global Inequality much of this I was aware of because of the class I mention earlier that I took in high school. The class system that was brought up I was aware of a lot of what was discussed in regards to this system; but the global inequality I will admit I was not completely aware of in regards to the core nations periphery nations but I did know about the relationship with the semi-periphery nations and I feel like I didn't know about this because then the core nations like the United States would look like bullies, and it's doesn't seem as bad when it's a semi-periphery nation like China because they are better integrated, have a stronger base, and are middle income nations. This helps me understand the difference in different kinds of health issues. This chapter also influenced me to strive to do my best to achieve my individual mobility.

This class truly helped me. I learned new things, I talked and heard about things I already knew about, I got a lot of insight on people that will help me better in psychology. I even got to go to the Apollo Theater for the first time in my life I've lived in New York all my life I've even lived in Harlem on 140th and Frederick Douglas even now that I live in Brooklyn I go visit my friends on 140th and Broadway and the first time I went to the Apollo was because of this class. I really enjoyed that experience I will take the information I learned in this class with me in life especially why I learned in the chapter on Class and Global Inequality. This class really helped me develop a broader perspective which was one of my main goals when I enrolled in this class.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12yc0TI9ZbGPot2j7r2qR0DnECwUfMwKj2RNZxDV6w7o/edit


Signed; The Outlook Blogger.

Segregation and Integration.

Article 2: Fences and Neighbors: Segregation in 21st-Century America

This article is about how there is still segregation within living and how although the amount is decreasing there is still segregation in living conditions and the neighborhoods that different races live in. How it is more likely that in Southern and Metropolitan areas there is more integration rather than in Northern areas where integration is processing slowly. Also how money is the popular cause of segregation, due to the fact that people with similar money situations usually live amongst each other.
Personally I find this to be true because I know people that like in the metropolitan areas in New Jersey and Ohio. I know people that live in the south in Florida.



Segregation rates for other rates are rather low less than half these minorities are Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Asian Americans and the 1/3 of Native Americans that's do not live on segregated reservations. " No other minority group faces the extreme segregation in housing  that African Americans do other groups face segregation of varying levels and have not seen significant downward trends." (Farley and Squires pg.2)
I found it interesting that our segregated living situations are honestly the worst of all minorities I've always had that idea in my head about that but I figure it was Hispanics too and I didn't know that any Native American lived off the reservations and that even their living situations are less segregated than ours.



"Although African American have long been and continue to be the most segregated group, they are notably more likely to live in integrated neighborhoods than they were a generation ago." (Farley and Squires pg.1)
This quote stuck out the me because I can relate to it on a personal level. I have a friend that lives by eastern parkway, I live in Bushwick for a long time my friend was telling me I lie in the hood what not until my friend came to visit me and when my friend was waiting for me at the train station I went to meet them and when we were walking to my house my friend said "I didn't know so many white and Spanish people live over here" I said "yeah so what does that mean", "that you don't live in the hood" I said "but I told you that I don't live in the hood." my friend said "I didn't know so many of white and Spanish people lived over here though." So because of the kind of people that live in my integrated neighborhood this means I dont live in the "hood" at least according to my friend. Which I found interesting.




Signed; The Outlook Blogger.

Class and Global Inequality

Chapter 9

This chapter is about the structure of the class system and the role it plays in society and the role the different roles play in society. It speaks about Marx's theory of relationships to production; and Weber's theory on people's "life chances: the likelihood a person has of obtaining valued economic and cultural resources." (Experience Sociology p.234) and "individual mobility: a change in a person's class position that occurs without any change in the larger class structure." (E.S. p. 229) I find this chapter to be factual evidence of information I was told for most of my life. While Professor A. mentioned while he was growing up he was under the impression that he was middle class, when in fact he realizes as an adult that he was a part of the working class. This was enforced in my house hold growing up my mother would continuously remind us (my two big brothers and I) to do well in school, and put education first so we can be better. She did not want us to be a part of the working class, struggling living paycheck to paycheck and working two jobs to make ends meet. Although society is not equal, through education and hard work individual mobility can be achieved. As a woman  brought up in the working class. This chapter is easy for me to connect with my life, there are factors like the definition of the "working class: those who survive on the wages they earn." (E.S. p.222) The association between women and poverty; "feminization of poverty: a trend in which women made up an increasingly large share of the poor." (E.S. p.234) While there is not true equal opportunity through life chance "cultural capital: various types of knowledge, skills, and other cultural resources." (E.S. p.235) can be used towards "meritocracy: the notion that people are rewarded and are able to advance because of their abilities." (E.S. p.234) which can influence individual mobility.



Cause of Death: Inequality

The author Alejandro Reuss starts out by discussing the inequality that is not broadcasted in death and how the less educated, less fortunate, and African Americans, seem to suffer more then and are not as healthy as well educated, more fortunate Whites. The lower your rank in society "the worse your health and the shorter your life are likely to be" (Cause of Death: Inequality p.1) While the less fortunate people in America have more materialist advantages than other less fortunate people in different countries; the suffering in health is equally as bad. I do strongly agree with the health disadvantages associated with class, race,  gender, education, and income is extravagant. I feel personally connected to this because, my grandparents Black immigrants from Jamaica that have lived here for over 30 years of their lives. All have extreme sickness heprobably kidney problems, high blood pressure,  glaucoma and/or diabetes. This is in all four grandparents, three out of four have high blood pressure and diabetes; and the other has all the listed sicknesses. With all these health issues it will be difficult to experience long lasting life.




Signed; The Outlook Blogger.

Norms v.s. DEVIANCE

What are the norms? Norms are a culture's rules and expectations for "appropriate" behavior. Norms are set  by those with power in society and are not fixed. Behavior that violates the norms of a culture is often labeled as DEVIANT.
   Deviance is the behavior that does not conform to basic cultural norms and expectations. Chapter 8 is about Deviance. This chapter goes over the forms of deviance and what contributes to deviance and causes one to evade deviance also, agents of social control and what can change deviance.

Chapter 8 made me think a lot about my brothers. I have two older brothers. The eldest A, was the "good" one and then the younger one R was "bad". Throughout childhood R would always get into trouble, and was labeled as the bad child, he would steal, fight, and lie; he cause a lot of trouble. While A was quite, more involved with school with extra curricular activities such as sports. As R got older he continued to be known as the bad child this is referred to as the labeling theory; the theory that deviance is the result of how others interpret a behavior and that individuals who are labeled deviant often internalize this judgement as part of their self-identity. As he got older things only got worse dropped out of school, gangs, selling drugs, jail. The deviant behavior continued until the last time he was incarcerated, he stopped the life of crime; but instead of going back to school he settled for low rate, dead end jobs and months at a time of unemployment spending his days sleeping and gaming, being supported by the state welfare and unemployment, while he discontinued his life of crime, he continued the deviant behavior. Although R does not do illegal activities anymore his behavior as a unemployed man that can not support him self financially is not the norm, therefore this behavior is deviant. Meanwhile as A gets older although he continues to be known as the good child graduates from college moves out of the house is employed and supports him self financially he works two jobs to support himself, his family and his younger unemployed brother that lives with him. Being hard working and finishing school is the norm. My point if it is not clear is the labeling theory and the idea of norms versus Deviance is a working theory, and is experienced as a part of our everyday life.


Then there is the article that speaks on deviance and how class and race play an important role regarding power in society and in the justice system. They use example how class triumphs race using the OJ case of a prime example of how  if OJ was poor he would have not been acquitted and the case would not have received any publicity. Even with drugs crack which is more affordable receives more time in prison rather than cocaine which is the pure more expensive substance. "Cocaine and crack differ only in the sense that crack is a mixture of cocaine and other materials, usually not controlled substances, that serve as a filler."(GetSmartAboutDrugs.com) In society deviant behavior and the stigmas that are attached to the behavior or the punishment given for violating norms vary in retrospect to race and class. I find that this true that class comes before race. If you are wealthy, you are usually better off when it comes to acts of deviance. Deviant behavior is often over looked, or the punishment is more lenient rather than as harsh, as poor and the people that live in poor communities which are predominantly black and brown people. The following quote with factual information confirms this "African Americans are victimized by robbery at a rate 150% higher than
whites; they are the victims of rape, aggravated  assault, an armed robbery 25% more often than
whites. Homicide is the leading cause of death among young black men. Because we live in segregated
communities, most crime is intraracial; the  more black crime there is, the more black victims
there are. But at the same time, the more law enforcement resources we direct toward protecting
the black community from crime, the more often black citizens, especially those living in the inner
city will find their friends, relatives, and neighbors behind bars." (Cole p.3) These are facts about how race and class prevent equality in the justice system and how stigmas, and punishment vary according to race and class.





Signed; The Outlook Blogger.

In A World of Socialization

Killing Us Softly- Jean Kilbourne

I agree with most of what Jean Kilbourne spoke about, and I do motice these thing myself. Although most times I never say anything I do take heed to what is happening. While I have my fair share of insecurities wanting to be thin is not one of them. I think my body, skin tone and hair are just fine as is and I am in my own was 'Perfectly Imperfect.' I do notice that ads influence a lot of thing is women, wanting to be thin, wanting to be prettier, ashamed of their skin color; so we're lightening our skin. For me it's my style as opposed to my physical features. I don't wear make up, because I rather wash my face for clear skin rather than cover it up. I know women that have done "corrective surgery," gotten breast implants, reductions, and a nose job. I know two women that have gotten breast reductions for health reasons, which is something I would do if necessary. I also know a woman that has gotten implants and a nose job, she did this to be more appealing and less AFROCENTRIC, this woman wears about a size two in the abdomen. While I do admit she is very sexy I personally wouldn't do either because I am not my cup size and I take pride and dignity in my heritage and all that comes with it. I also agree that there is an increasing sexualization of little girls. There are naughty school girl costumes for Halloween. Little girl are being made up, faces caked with make and all and put into pageants. Their shirts tied up at the bottom, showing skin. Dancing provacatively is being encouraged at a young age. The media is supporting women being objects, valued more for their bodies and used for sex. This can be understood as a form of oppression. Women should take part in the media and encourage women to love themselves as they are. Movies like 'Phat Girlz' do this, they show the value of thin and thicker women in their own positive ways although leading star Monique had an unhealthy insecurities and an obsession with being thin, she comes to realize her worth and how beautiful she really is. I think Kilbourne's 'Killing Us Softly' is a great example of how the media uses advertisements as agents of socialization that defin the socialization of women invoking women's sense of self and looking glass self.



A Call To Men- Tony Porter

Tony Porter talks about what it means to be a man, or what he was taught, it means; tough, strong, courageous, no pain, emotion or fear, that men were superior and women inferior. Porter has realized that this is wrong, and I agree. He wants to make a change in how men raise their sons that will interact with the daughters, that will become lovers that turn into to mothers. No one want to be with a man that is violent, disconnected, or mistreats them, because they think they're being a man and that they are superior so they treat women as inferior. Porter is encouraging the resocializtion of the socialization of men.



What Does It Mean To Be Human? Human Nature, Society, and Culture.- Joel M. Charon

This immediately caught my attention because Joel M. Charon related the thought process of what it means to be human and how we are socialized to 'The Twilight Zone.' I used to love that show, although I am more familiar with the one hosted by Forest Whitaker and prefer this one as opposed to the 1959 series. I find it interesting that Charon repeatedly refers to humans as animals, and uses our similarities to establish this. In my Psychology class we are discussion Human Development and one of the things my professor mentioned was that we naturally know how to swim, and that if an infant was put into water the child would swim, I was shocked and amazed she always warned us NOT TO TRY TO PUT AN INFANT INTO WATER TO TEST THIS, but this is one of the many instinctive traits we know how to survive, as opposed to those we must learn. That we are dependent on others and naturally social. We develop human and individual qualities through socialization. While there are biological things that make up a individual, socialization plays a great part in the anticipatory socialization.



Chapter Six

I find that in every chapter I have read there is truth to what I was already aware of, while there is alos knowledge. We are taught about our culture through socialization; the process through which people learn their cultures basic norm, values, beliefs and behaviors. This chapter makes me think of all the ways I have been socialized as an individual and as part of a group. Through, school, the media, my family and how Mead's I; the part of the self that is spontaneous, impulsive, creative and unpredictable will resocialize in small way through my peer groups and family.

Boys should be tough. They should hurt people and have fun doing it show no remorse no feeling.

Girls should be housewives they should stay home and cook and take care of the home. They are getting this practice from childhood.




Signed; The Outlook Blogger.

POWER.

Chapter five is about power. Power is, the ability to bring about an intended outcome, even when opposed by others. The chapter touches on power in everyday life, all the forms of power , the way power is enforced, ways in which power is used. I feel I can't relate to this chapter because power is in our everyday life has been since the beginning of time; I also believe I can relate to this chapter because I am looked upon as a leader and I use power in an influential manner, although I try to the best of my ability to be a positive influence I do know that if I were to do some or encourage something negative it would be followed through thee same as if I influenced or encouraged something positive.
The reading talks about the five forms of oppression, oppression is the exercise of tyranny by ruling a group. Oppression is a way of enforcing power and the authors of 'Five Faces of Oppression' discuss the five method of oppression that are used to enforce power, violence exploitation, powerlessness, and cultural imperialism. These five methods are used by government and the higher class to oppress and maintain power over the lower class, the powerless. Another way I ca relate to this is that Black and Brown people are oppressed through violence, such as hate crimes and powerlessness of being the 'have not's' as opposed to those that have power those of us in the Black and Brown communities that complain but don't vote because we feel our vote doesn't make a difference we feel this way because of a form of oppression, I am going out on election day to vote for the man I want to represent the country I live in, and my elder brother told me he doesn't vote because his vote doesn't count my brother has an oppressed mind state and it is best that he realize it now when his vote is necessary to keep change active and not reverting back to the same old song and dance.
I found the video too be interesting that out of 12 people only three of them refused to go to 450 volts even when a woman thought she had killed the man prior to 450 volts she still continued to the end, yes although many of them felt bad about going to the end they still continued with no real concern for the health of the test subject (actor) in the other room. The doctor knows best and because he said the effects will not be long term they continued to the end unconcerned with the short term effects that he me be unconscious in the other room. with the thought that science is providing a system for good and the power of authority they continued with the torture. If it were me I'm not gonna say for sure but I would probably have been one of the three that did not go to 450 volts because I would have felt like it was a fair draw of who was the teacher and who was the learner and I could have been the one to draw leaner and if it were me in the other room I would not have wanted that person to go all the way to 450 volts and I would have stopped.

The chapter and the reading closely relate to one another because the chapter discusses power and the reading describes the methods used to enforce power and the chapter and the reading correlate with the video because they give insight as to why it is that these people didn't stop and what form of power is involved.

Signed; The Outlook Blogger.

Chapter Four; The Meaning of Social Control.

Peter Berger, the author of The Meaning of Social Control; speaks about social controls. He states "Social control is one of the most generally used concepts in in sociology. It refers to the various means used by a society to bring its recalcitrant members back into line," (p. 1). He goes on to mention three methods of social control, politico-legal system, economic pressure, and ostracism. The mechanisms of control keep the balance between the roles and actions of society/groups. Mechanisms of control vary pertaining to the purpose and character of the group in in question. I agree with mostly all of what Berger discussed, about violence being the oldest means of social control, and that it relates to the politico-legal method which is the method that I have been exposed to the most living in America this and; economic pressure, which is connected to how the economy would judge and ridicule you if you were to be disobedient in regards to organizational structure. The last is ostracism, where one is shunned for going against their groups beliefs this conventional (p.93) form of control was explain through given example of the Amish; and how if and Amish person was intimate with someone that was not Amish they would still be a part of society but no one would be aloud to speak to them. In chapter four the organizational structure (p. 93) connects to all three forms of mechanisms of control, because the organizational structure also varies depending on what group is being addressed, and  are the different rules and roles set for people to follow. Their rational actions (p. 99) are what decides if they are subject to any of the three forms of social controls. I find that these methods of control are needed just as organizational structure is needed because the two keep things balanced.


A statement made by Berger that caught my attention was "Society antedates us and it will survive us," (p. 4). After reading this line I thought, "what does this mean?" Society came before us and it will survive us; does this mean that our actions are against what society has organized for us to follow and thus we would be destroying our society, but society will not cease because the generation does not make society, but instead it is society that molds the generation. He continues with "It was there before we were born and it will be there after we are dead. Our lives are but episodes in its majestic march through time. In sum, society is the walls of our imprisonment in history." Leaving me to wonder what is ones actual worth to society?



Signed; The Outlook Blogger.

Body Ritual Among The Nacirema.

People are most likely to react differently in similar situations because no two brains are a like, which means no ones brain works the exact same way; so it is not guaranteed that any two people will think to react to a similar situation the same. Naciremas believe the body is ugly, meanwhile others believe their body is their temple. Each morning family members must show respect to the charm box, in my household we get up in the morning and shower, brush our teeth, dress and go.Naciremas perform what would seem to outsiders as sadistic task to rid themselves of the evils they believe are possessing their bodies. I know as a Christian we get baptized in 'holy water' to wash ourselves free of sin, and therefore we are "reborn" and "pure" again. Horace Miner writes, "Our review of the ritual life of the Nacirema has certainly shown them to be a magic-ridden people. It is hard to understand how they have managed to exist so long under the burdens which they have imposed upon themselves. But even such exotic customs as these take on real meaning when they are viewed with the insight provided by Malinowski when he wrote (1948:70): Looking from far and above, from our high places of safety in the developed civilization, it is easy to see all the crudity and irrelevance of magic. But without its power and guidance early man could not have mastered his practical difficulties as he has done, nor could man have advanced to the higher stages of civilization." I completely agree when going into the reading I told myself I would keep an open mind and refrain from judgement but, once I got further into the reading and learned of Nacirema sadistic rituals I couldn't help but to pass judgement because of the cruel and unusual punishment that they bestow upon themselves and they continue with tradition no matter how painful or unsuccessful the rituals are. To my outside point of view their way of life is unrealistic and sadistic, but for Naciremas it's normal everyday life; maybe our way of living is wrong, unrealistic and impure, in the eyes of a Nacirema.

Signed; The Outlook Blogger.

Sense and Nonsense About Surveys.

Howard Schuman, speaks about the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of surveys. I do think that some survey can be very effective it depends on what is being tested and how broad of a search the tester is giving his survey. Your population, are based off of what exactly you are surveying. Schuman believe that focus groups and online surveys are ineffective ways of testing and gathering information. The effectiveness of how a survey is answered can also be effected by the way questions are worded ; if people don't exactly understand what the questioner meant by the question asked then their answer will not be accurately expressing what they feel, think, or believe. Surveys are only as effective as the questions asked, the way questions are worded and the population that the survey applies too. The qualities of an effective survey are very strict. To better understand people, society and the diversity in how people think it is best to, and the changes that will occur through the reaction that people will have through the responses they will give. Surveys measure the opinion of the public through broader search or test theories and ideas.

Signed; The Outlook Blogger.

Quiet Rage: Stanford Prison Study..

I've heard about this experiment in my AP English class, my senior year in high school.. I do not remember exactly what the lesson was but I do remember that is had relation to how people behaved when they were given power. The teacher mentioned that college students were chosen to play the role of guards and prisoners; when given power over the other students the, students in charge (guards) treated the other students (prisoners) inferior and sadistically. 
Coming to college and having to watch this video as part  of my lesson I found it to be very interesting how these people were brought from natural environment, with little to no psychological differences and no criminal history, but portrayed this experiment as well as they did. I have never personally had any negative experience with the law, but I do know people who have and they have told me about there experiences and what I saw in this experiment was very similar to the stories I have heard.
In chapter two  it is  explained that experiments are one of the variety of research methods that sociology uses to understand the relationship of individuals and groups to society. In this experiment the goal was to study the behavioral consequence of becoming a prisoner or prison guard. In the beginning the experiment was conducted just as chapter explains; as the experiment goes on it become unethical, with the way the "prisoners" are treated.
I found it interesting the way the experiment guards became sadistic like real prison guards would and that the experiment prisoners would become hysterical and feel that had they stayed longer they would leave the experiment filled with hate, like some prisoners would when leaving a real correctional facility. This experiment became real and all the test subjects including the conducting psychologist became involved in the experiment as if it were a real thing and no one realized the situation was unethical until they were told by a graduate student that came to observe the experiment. The experiment was successful although unethical the goal; of studying the behavioral consequences of becoming a prisoner or prison guard, that was intended when the experiment begun was acquired through the reactions and treatments of the prisoners and prison guards.

Signed; The Outlook Blogger.

Who Am I?

My personality makes me the person I am; a few characteristics I posses are that I am, easy going, kind, fun, intelligent, ambitious, enthusiastic, etc.. My biggest influences in life is the drive I have to become better, and to become successful at what I decide to take up as a career. I want to lead by example for my younger siblings, and make myself and loved ones proud. My goals in life are to gain as much knowledge as I can pertaining to the things I wish to aspire toward, graduate college, pursue a career as a psychologist, to own my own practice and to have my novels and a autobiography on my life published. I believe my main purpose in life is to make a change in my family to go to college and become successful in what ever career I choose to pursue, I also believe my purpose in life is to be a role model for my younger relatives. My life will not turn out as a pattern continued on by my previous generations, I was born into this world for a purpose; I will make a change.

The greatness of the human personality begins at the hour of birth. From this almost mystic affirmation there comes what may seem a strange conclusion: that education must start from birth.
— The Absorbent Mind (1967) by Maria Montessori, Ibid.

Signed; The Outlook Blogger.