Assignment 14: Final Blog

I had a really hard time picking just one topic to write about for my last blog. Every single chapter of Newman's book has truly opened my eyes a little more to the world we live in and given me new perspectives to use in my daily life. I found the sociological perspectives to be intriguing, insightful, and helpful in understanding how our world really operates, why we do the things we do, and how we create our realities through human interaction. After some browsing, I came to the conclusion that the topic that resonated with me the most in this book was the concept of the social construction of our "reality".




Social Construction of Reality: "The process through which members of the society discover, make known, reaffirm, and alter a collective version of facts, knowledge, and truth" (Newman 97).

Social construction was, for the most part, a new concept for me. I thought it was fascinating to think about how humans have created all of these rules, categories, barriers, and ideas and limitations that shape the realities we live in today. It took me a little while to wrap my head around the fact that the world we live in, has been constructed over time, and a lot of what we think is natural, permanent, and inherent are really just by-products of human interaction and choice. Our existence on this earth takes up such a small sliver of time, that it is incredibly difficult to fathom how much things change over time. It happens so slowly that significant societal change is often not even on our radar. It is kind of like how you don't notice kids growing when you see them everyday, but if you are away for a while, you come back and they are all of a sudden taller (if that makes any sense).

There is not much that exists in our reality that is not a result of social construction. Some examples in our current reality include, laws, race, gender, marriage, religion, capitalism, government, countries, and language. These seem like inherent characteristics of this earth and human beings, but they are not. These realities are not only built into and reinforced in nearly ever social institution, group, and organization in our culture, but are the reason these institutions exist in the first place. These rules, ideas, and categories we have created are the base lines for inequality, discrimination, and violence on this planet. Our planet's history is littered with violent wars triggered by hatred, jealousy, and anger over these issues. This is because these socially constructed ideas allow us to stereotype and categorize people as inferior and superior,  giving people the justification-the excuse- to treat them as lesser individuals.

I am going to use the example of money as a social construction to explain how this concept has changed my understanding of the world. Money is our reality. We depend on it to survive. We go to school in order to get a job, so you can make money to survive. Our lives revolve around money. It determines whether you can eat, have a house, buy clothes, have safe drinking water, electricity, and so on. The more money, the more freedom and power an individual has. But, before taking this class and learning about social constructs, I had never thought of money as something that has been created and given symbolic meaning by us! I had never thought of the fact that the little rectangular pieces of paper, in themselves, have no inherent value, but instead their value is given to them by whoever is in charge. This may all seem obvious, but when it is such a prominent part of your culture it is hard to imagine money as something that has not always been there.

This also goes for the other examples I mentioned earlier. There are no real lines dividing countries, states, and cities (hence my first picture). I mean, I obviously knew there are not real lines, but to us border lines are real. These made up dividing lines are built into our minds, onto our maps, and into our laws, and have great symbolic meaning to us. When you cross over a border, you enter into a land of new laws and cultures. For example, if riding a train though the United States, once you enter into Wisconsin...it is illegal to kiss on a train. You could break a law simply by crossing over an imaginary line. Also, if you visit Europe, when you cross over the created line which has been designated as a country’s border, the language, currency, and culture completely changes. Quite amazing that we have entirely created these realities…

This concept has made me curious about what sorts of realities we will create in the future. Will everything as we know it become just a creation of the past as we create new “realities” for ourselves? Will it be legal to walk around naked? Will the concept of marriage exist? Will the earth ever see a time where money is not a factor or where we are able to live peacefully as one without these limitations we create for ourselves and others? Although change is slow, it is inevitable and constant. The reality of our world is constantly shifting, even if we do not feel or see it happening. I have learned that nothing is permanent no matter how much it seems otherwise. Although it takes time and patience, people have the power to change how this world operates. A world without these boundaries,  rules, categories, and ideas is almost impossible to imagine; but I think the sky is the limit on what we can accomplish as a collective whole.  I thought an appropriate way to end this blog would be to include John Lennon's Imagine. He paints a wonderful picture of a world living in peace without borders, religion and all the problems we create with social construction. Wouldn't it be amazing to live in a place where we have socially constructed a world of acceptance, tolerance, peace and sharing? If we have the power to create problems for our world with our choices, we also have the power to create solutions. 

Imagine- John Lennon

Works Cited:

Newman, David (2012). Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life: 9th Edition. SAGE Publications. 

Assignment 13: Immigration

This assignment sparked a night of reminiscing and storytelling for my family. It was interesting to hear about my ancestors and their journeys. Both sides of my family are of mostly of Scandinavian descent. I am mostly Norwegian, along with some German, Irish, and English. My great great grandparents were the first to come to America on both sides of my family. 

I don't know much about the immigration story on my Dad’s side of the family. When I asked him about it he was pretty sure his great great grandparents on his dad's side were the first to come to America from Norway. They came over in the mid 1800's and settled in North Dakota, where my dad grew up.  His great great grandpa's name was originally Mons Yterli, but his children took on the last name of Monson when they were born in the United States. I do not know the details of how or why his mom's grandparents came here. All I know is that they were immigrants from Ireland and England who settled in North Dakota. They met and married in North Dakota.

 I know a little bit more about my Mom's side of the family. The name Monson is on my Mom's side of the family as well, but there is no relation to my father’s side that we know of. The first of her family to come to America was her great great grandpa on her mom's side, Hans Monson. He came over with his brother in the 1860's from Trevanger Norway to find work in the U.S. and begin a new life. They left their wives and children behind, and worked on the railroads in Missouri for a few years, until they found out there was land for sale in Lamberton, Minnesota (southwest part of the state). They bought land and began farming, which allowed them to bring their wives and children over to the U.S. after three or four years. My great-great grandfather bought a loom for his wife before leaving Norway so that she would have a way to earn a living while he was in America. This is how she supported the family while he saved money and got settled in America.

 

Charles Ford Pooch (1865)
after the Civil War

On my mom's dad's side, her great grandpa, Charles Pooch (Polk) came to America around 1860 from Prussia, which used to be a part of Germany, but is now Poland. Back then, in Prussia, they had a law that once you turned 21, you were automatically drafted into the military. His family left before Charles turned 21 in order to avoid him being drafted. When he arrived here, he settled into Wisconsin, and interestingly fought in the Civil War here. He fought for the North in many of the major battles – Gettysburg and Appomattox among them - and became quite a war hero. He was the only one in his battalion to survive one of the battles, and he went on to continue fighting with another battalion. During the war, he went by the name of Charles Ford. Many soldiers changed their last names in order to protect their families from retaliation from the other side. After serving in the civil War,  he and his family moved to farm land in Lamberton MN, and became neighbors with my maternal Grandma's side of the family. The Monsons and the Polks of my grandparents generation knew one another their entire lives, and this is how my maternal grandparents met.

 Today in the United States, Europeans make up a very small portion of the immigrants compared to those from South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Asia. If my family was arriving to America today, they probably would come across many of the same challenges that they did in their day, including language barriers, difficulty finding work, acceptance by other who arrived earlier in America,and so on. I think, today, it would be easier for a Norwegian family to be accepted and integrated into the population, for example, than a Somalian family. Norwegians are Caucasian, and since my family looks similar to other “white” Americans, there are fewer negative racial stereotypes attached to them. This is sad, but so true in our country. When the topic of immigration pops up, you almost always hear it in reference to the growing Latino/a population crossing the southern borders.  It may be harder for them to find work, education, housing, and live a comfortable life. Today the word immigration holds, for many, a very negative connotation. It is a sensitive and controversial  topic in America. The focus is on “illegal immigrants” that come over the Mexican border and into the United States. Many fear that immigrants are taking away jobs from Americans. It is very much a focus of “this is mine, and it is not for you”. It comes from a place of fear, rather than being willing to reach out to others and welcome the diversity that other cultures bring to our population.

The question of why the subject of immigration is so volatile, in a country where almost everyone's family came to the United States from another country is something I have thought about before. European immigrants came to America, and “conquered” the land and its people; taking it from the Native Americans, and attempting to wipe out the Native American race as a whole. It seems incredibly hypocritical that, in today’s world, some people in our government and certain citizen groups fight so hard to keep immigrants out of the United States.  We are a nation of immigrants. Unless we are Native American, we – or our family members before us – were immigrants to this country. Immigrants of yesterday and today come to the United States of America for the same reasons – the chance at a better life for their loved ones, freedom from tyrannical governments, freedom of religion, etc. How can we slam the doors in the faces of people who, except for a difference of when they arrived in the United States, are seeking the same things in their lives today? Some people feel that the U.S. is theirs, and they know what is right for everyone. It is the same mentality of entitlement and possession that the Europeans used to seize the land from the Native Americans who had been here for thousands of years before them. Now it is being directed in the opposite direction to those who dare think they can enter into the U.S. today. “Some conservative politicians consider the millions of illegal immigrants in the country to be invaders who threaten national security, take away jobs from U.S. citizens, and change the culture by refusing to assimilate.” (Newman 457). Other fears are that immigrants will bring disease, clog our education systems, and "soak up social benefits" (459). These are the assumptions that fuel the volatile attitudes towards immigration in America. Over the last years, government - at federal and state levels- have spent billions of dollars on fixing the “immigration problem”. We have constructed a wall along the Mexican border, increased border patrol, and created harsher laws against illegal immigrants. There is fear that English will not be the primary language, that the Caucasian race will no longer be “dominant”, and that the United States of America will no longer be in the hands of “white” men. These people operate from a place of fear – a fear of losing their importance, their power, their world created in their mind exactly as they think it should be. Let’s hope that voices of reason – of acceptance and tolerance – can be heard over the screaming voices of the strident “Right” who would continue our immigration policies of exclusion rather than inclusion. We have a long way to go.

Works Cited:

Newman, David (2012). Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life: 9th Edition. SAGE Publications. 

 

Assignment 12: Gender as a Social Construction

In our culture, we have a very strict gender dichotomy. At birth you are assigned to be either female or male based on your sex and this is what defines you for the rest of your life. From there on out, girls and boys are socialized to take on the specific gender role that has been assigned. A gender role is a set of behaviors,attitudes, and personality characteristics  expected and encouraged of a person based on his or her sex. Society expects different attitudes and behaviors from boys and girls. Girls are socialized to be nurturing, sweet, wear dresses, and love dolls, while boys are socialized to be adventurous, independent, and love trucks and sports. Now, this is obviously not true for every child, but take a second and think about why you like the things you like, why you act the way you act, and how you have become the person you are today. These attitudes and behaviors are deeply ingrained into every aspect of out society on an institutional level.

Family is, typically, the first social institution to influence gender roles. Your parents or guardians are the ones that buy your toys, decide what you wear, and how you will be raised. Often, without even realizing it, parents treat girls and boys very differently. According to Newman, "In a study, 30 first time parents were asked to describe their infants at less than 24 years old. They frequently resorted to common stereotypes. Those with daughters described them as "tiny," "soft," "fine featured," and "delicate." Sons were seen as "strong," "alert," "hardy," and "coordinated" (Newman 148). Also, children's toys are very gender specific. For example, girls are often given baby dolls, kitchen sets, jewelry, princess dresses, nail polish, make up kits, etc. These types of toys socialize girls to be nurturing, learn domestic duties, and care about how they look. 


Another social institution that influences they way genders are perceive is school. This is where girls and boy come together, bringing with them the beliefs, roles, attitudes and behaviors they have been taught at home- Therefore reinforcing gender stereotypes among themselves. For example, a little boy I nanny during the summers used to love to paint his nails with his big sister until he started kindergarten. He quickly learned from his friends that "painting your nails is something only girls do." He was embarrassed and refused to paint his nails ever again, making sure that both his sister and I knew that "only girls do that." This is the way we learn what are perceived as “right” and “wrong” gender roles  We are positively reinforced when we do things that we are supposed to do, and punished, embarrassed, and shamed when we do something that goes against the norm. 



In addition to family, friends, and education, media plays a crucial role in the way children are taught to act. Commercials clearly target genders in very different ways. Commercials for "boy" games and toys generally emphasize action, creativity, building, control, and power, while commercials for "girl" games and toys emphasize beauty, homemaking, appearance and popularity. These messages are very manipulative, and have great impact on self-concept and self-image. Often, these messages are subliminal and absorbed without even knowing it.  The video below illustrates how commercials help create and reinforce gender stereotypes.

Like race, these are arbitrary rules that we have made up over time and have become the realities that shape the way people are perceived and valued.These messages are fed to us through almost every institution, group, and organization in our culture, and they are massive forces behind why we do the things we do. Males and females have diverging paths from day one that lead us towards the roles we are supposed to play in society. Unfortunately, the gender norms that are reinforced to do not always teach and allow equal opportunities for men and women.These types of  subtle messages are the basis for gender inequalities in our society, making men the dominant and superior gender and women the inferior, and submissive gender. Many believe that we have reached equality through the feminist movement, which has allowed women to enter into the paid work field and vote. These are wonderful things, and there is no doubt we have made significant progress in overcoming sexism, but there is still a very long road ahead of us.

The objectification and subordination of women by men permeates the things that many of us find ourselves immersed in on a daily basis.You can find gender inequality in virtually every aspect of our culture. It is depicted in our media, families, religious institutions, educational systems, the work place, and in our laws. The scary thing is that most of these messages about gender are so subtle that most do not even notice. As illustrated above, these ideas are embedded in us from the time we are infants, and dictate the choices we make and the people we become. These issues are far beyond our immediate control- but this does not mean we should stop fighting for equal rights and educating others of the hidden sexism within the ways we operate as a society.

Assignment 11: The Social Construction of Race

Many people perceive race to be an inherent and permanent biological characteristic. But in fact, this is not true. Due to our tendency as human beings to categorize, generalize and stereotype everything in our world, we have socially constructed race overtime. Although, biologically, it has been established that there are no distinct races among humans, the outward appearance of people still plays an important social role in the manner in which different people relate to each other. 

Before reading this chapter, I had only briefly talked about race as a social construction in a couple other classes, but I had never been given examples of how race is perceived differently in different places. The book painted a picture of how what we understand as race in our society is not the same that is understood as race in another. For example, I thought it was interesting that Brazilian's are able to change to different racial categories through educational and economic achievements.Therefore, people with darker skin who are educated and financially successful might be considered "white" and lighter skinned people who are poor or uneducated can be considered a "negro". Also, in Ireland and England anybody who is not white is considered black. These ways of categorizing races are very different from the way we categorize race in the U.S.  According to our 2010 census, our racial categories include; White, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean Vietnamese, Native Hawaiian, Guamanian, Chamorro (Indigenous peoples of Guam), or Samoan (Newman 362). This is drastically different from the census of 1790 when the classifications were simply, Free White Males, Free White Females, All Other Free Persons, and Slaves (Newman 363). The difference between the two censuses illustrates how our understanding of race can change overtime as well.  

These arbitrary rules that we have made up over time have become the realities that shape the way people are perceived and valued. These rules are the base lines for prejudice and inequality which can serve as justification for people to discriminate, dominate, and commit violent hate crimes against others. Racism has been the foundation for some of the most appalling genocides and hate crimes all over the world. These rules and created realities were used to validate slavery in the U.S. for hundreds of years and were also the fuel behind the United State's attempt to wipe out the Native American ethnicity through assimilation and interbreeding. 

While reading this chapter, I immediately thought of the mass genocide in Rwanda between the Hutus and the Tutsis. The conflict between the two groups has been going on for much of the 20th century. The Tutsis for many years were a thriving aristocracy who had a monarchy dating back to the 15th century. In the 1960's with the arrival of Belgian colonizers, the Tutsis were overthrown by the less wealthy Hutus. In 1972 between 80,000 and 200,000 Hutus were killed by the Tutsi army in Burundi. The Belgians also introduced the two groups to classified ID cards, which worked to deepen a rigid racial concept of group identity where it had not previously existed. This led up to the assassination of the the Hutu president of Rwanda, Juvénal Habyarimana in 1994, sparking the well-organized extermination of Tutsis by Hutu militias. An approximated 500,000-1,000,000 people were murdered in the span of 100 days. This genocide had nothing to do with language or religion. Both Hutus and Tutsis speak the same Bantu tongues as well as French, and generally practice Christianity. Moreover, geneticists have been unable to find marked ethnic differences between the Hutu and the Tutsi, besides the fact that Tutsi are said to be taller. The racial stereotypes of the two groups are that Hutu people are dark-skinned, short and thick-set with a big head, and have wide noses and enormous lips, while the Tutsis are fair, very tall, thin, and have fine features: a high brow, thin nose and fine lips. It is also said by German rulers that Tutsis are well turned-out people in relation to Hutus, who are shy and timid. I found this to be a telling example of how differences are created among people and it can be any random thing. 

In the example above, two groups of people who share language, religion, skin color, and land were still able to find differences in physical characteristics and social behaviors and categorize them as superior and inferior. These differences served as rigid dividers when hatred developed between the two, and meant the difference between life and death. The Rwandan Genocide is just one example of how racism is socially constructed by human beings. Prejudice and discrimination based on race is still a huge problem today all over the world. Many countries, including the U.S. have made laws against the discrimination of others, but racism is still a very prevalent issue today on a global level.

Works Cited:

Newman, David (2012). Sociology:Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life: 9th Edition. SAGE Publications.

http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-hutu-and-tutsi/

http://www.monitor.upeace.org/archive.cfm?id_article=707

http://worldnews.about.com/od/africa/f/tutsihutu.htm

Assignment 10: Poverty In America

In the United States the poverty line identifies the amount of income a family requires to meet it's basic needs. In 2011, the official poverty line for a family of four (two parents, two children) was an annual income of $22,113 (Newman 335). For this assignment we are to make a list of all the goods and services the family of four below would need to function at a minimum subsistence level, i.e. the poverty line, and calculate what these costs would amount to in a year.

Hypothetical Family: There are two working parents, and two children. One child is seven and goes to elementary school, and the other is three and needs child car during the day.

Food- Food can be very expensive, and little things can add up. For this family of four, I would estimate the monthly grocery bill to be around $250 per month. 

Housing- In this situation, renting a house or apartment would probably be the only option. A two bedroom, one bath house or apartment (kids sharing a room) costs on average around $1,000 per month in rent and around $500 in utilities expenses. This would come to a total of around $1500 per month.

Transportation- 

Trying to figure out transportation is a tricky. There would probably only be enough for one car, at most. Gas prices fluctuate often but, with today's gas prices, I would assume that the cost is around $200 per month. The other parent would either have to car pool, take a bus, ride a bike, or walk to work depending on the location. Bus fair is around $1.50 one way, which adds up to around (assuming 6 days of work), $216 per month. Transportation costs would total to around $430 per month.

Clothing-  I think that clothing would be an easier thing to manage, but with two little kids who are constantly growing, the cost of clothing can be expensive. Second hand stores such as Goodwill and Salvation Army sell clothing essentials at low costs. Also, with two children hand-me-downs are always an option. New clothing is probably the last thing on the parents mind for themselves. I would estimate clothing to be around $20 per month. 

Medical Care- I asked my mom about this one because I had no idea what to say.  She said for a family of four with two kids, medical insurance would probably be around $8-900 dollars a month, unless it is covered by and employer. Therefor, it is unlikely that this family would have health insurance. Out of pocket medical expenses would be on average around $200 a month, just guessing. There might be some government assistance available, but I do not know what the family would pay out of pocket for that. 

Child Care- Child care can be extremely expensive. In the state of Minnesota, child care costs, on average can range from around $500 per month to around $800 per month. For a family who is living on around 22,113 per year, this is something that would be very difficult to afford. If there is a grandparent or other family member who is able to care for the three year old during the day, this would be the cheapest option. Some family members are even willing to watch children for free. My estimate for the monthly child care cost (at a day care center) for one child is around $600 per month.  

Entertainment- Entertainment is not a necessity. Things such as toys for the children, television, dining out, movies, are unnecessary costs that a family living at the minimum subsistence level would probably not spend too much on. From personal experience, I know that children can entertain themselves pretty easily, and make toys out of anything. All it takes is a little imagination. For entertainment I am going to say around $10 per month. Tops!

Other- This category includes costs for things such as toiletries, household items, etc. I would estimate around $30 per month 

Average Monthly Total: $3,040

Average Yearly Total: $36,480

After completing this exercise, my estimates ended up totaling to $14,367 more than annual income for families living at the poverty line. This number was extremely eye opening for me. I tried my best to come up with average costs that I thought would provide the bare minimum for a family of four. I can see from my results that I was extremely off on how much a family who is living under these conditions has to sacrifice to live.  I can not even begin to imagine how a family of four is able to live off of and annual income of $22,113. 

The quality of life for this family would be very poor. Everyday would revolve around trying to figure out how to make ends meet.They would be forced to sacrifice even the basics such as food, clothing,medical care in order to meet the more immediate needs such as shelter, bills,  transportation to get to jobs, and child care. Entertainment expenses do not exist. It is subsistence living. They would be forced to choose which items to cut out in order to afford others. For example, a family may sacrifice buying food to have dinner, in order to pay for gas to go to work the next day, or which utilities bills to pay. More affluent families take for granted things such as snack foods, cable television, computers, internet, cars, new clothes, toys and so on. Families living at or below the poverty line do not have the privileges many of us do not even give a second thought to. Adding to this stress, sudden expenses, such as medical emergencies or a broken down car, would be extremely detrimental to a family in this fragile financial state. A bill for a trip to the hospital could be an entire month’s grocery bill, or rent. I considered not including entertainment as an item, because it is not a necessary expense, but I figured with two kids it might be important to include things such as books (or going to the library, which may use gas), and inexpensive toys. 

Living in poverty in our society can have great impact on children and their access to opportunities later in life. Children growing up in poverty do not have much of a chance to live a different life in the future. According to Newman, "the lowest performing school districts typically have the largest percentages of students from poor families." This means that the children will most likely go to a school where funding is low, and teachers are paid poorly, therefore affecting the overall learning experience. "Without adequate resources, teachers become frustrated and do not teach, children become cynical and do not learn" (Newman 340). This can result in decreased motivation, lowered grades, and higher drop out rates of students growing up in poverty, making it harder for them to get into college, resulting in reduced job opportunities later in life. Other opportunities these children will have less access to is quality food and medical care, which go hand in hand. Unhealthy foods are a main cause of health related issues. An unfortunate reality of our society, is that healthy food is generally off limits o the poor since it is much more expensive. This leaves families to buy low quality foods that can have a significant impact of their health. Newman states that "among children, rates of chronic illness, injury, ear disease, asthma, and physical inactivity all increase as socio-economic status decreases" (Newman 339). Ironically, the families who are most prone to illness and disease, have little or no money to spare besides day to day living expenses, meaning medical issues may be put on the back burner. This is a sad and vicious cycle. 

It is a real eye-opener as a middle class person who takes for granted that I can do this blog on my laptop while eating a snack out of the refrigerator, waiting for a text on my iPhone.  We are so privileged to have the income to live comfortably, and an exercise like this reminds me how grateful we should be every day for our good fortune. We have a warm comfortable home, a car to drive with money for repairs and gas when needed. It is nothing to swing into Starbucks for a coffee, or Target for a new mascara. Meanwhile, families – people just like me except for being born into different family – can barely afford to put food on their table or take their crying baby to a doctor for treatment. It breaks my heart, and I don’t understand how in a world with so much affluence we cannot take better care of one another.  It is a shame. We –all of us living comfortably, should be ashamed. Our shame should make us go out and make a difference to help lift one another up – to help the less fortunate. Where do we start?

Assignment 9: The Structure of Education in the Contemporary U.S.

My school career began when I was three years old, when my parents chose to enter me into preschool. Their decision to put me in preschool was mainly because they wanted to me be socialized before I entered into the elementary school as a 5 year old. They chose a preschool that would be less focused on actual curriculum, and more focused on teaching children how to behave, make friends, and work with others. I was incredibly shy during my preschool years, and, at one point,teachers feared I would have a difficult time adapting to the elementary environment.

Gladly, preschool did it's job, and when I began  kindergarten I had come out of my shell, at least a little. I went to a school that was located only a couple miles away from my house at the time. My parents not only liked the convenience of the location, but also chose the school because it was very culturally diverse and, as my mom says, had an overall "good feel to it". She liked the diversity, because she thought it would prepare me for the real world and allow me to experience all different kinds of people and cultures. Throughout elementary school, I enjoyed school for the most part. I had a large group of friends, was well behaved, and did a good job in all my classes. I was apart of an advanced spelling group called "Benicula" in second grade, and starting in 4th grade, I was chosen to be a part of Challenge (advanced) reading and math. At the time I did not give much thought to why exactly I was in school. I did the best I could to get good grades and behave well but I took school for granted as just a part of life, and did not connect it to the fact they it was preparing me to succeed in the real world.

Standardized Testing

Throughout elementary school and junior high, I basically went through the motions of the system. I tried hard on my work, and was well behaved, simply because I had been taught that that was what you are supposed to do. The first time I really started to have a grasp of the entire point of school was in 9th grade, when grades began to count. I remember being nervous that I would not do well in my classes and it would affect me in the future. I knew that from this point forward, every homework assignment, quiz, project, paper, and exam would be permanent and affect possible opportunities for my future; the most important opportunity being college. It was a little bit scary that a number (my GPA) and a few standardized tests would be major factors in how my future plays out. College was always a part of my plan. My parents and I share the cultural belief that "education is the principle means of achieving financial success" (Newman 279). And even though financial success does not always mean happiness, it certainly opens up opportunities and can make living more comfortable.

Me on Graduation Day

 In high school, teachers emphasized financial differences between those who go to college and those who only complete their high school diploma or GED. Nowadays, competition in schools is a lot more intense that it used to be. There is a lot more pressure to succeed, given the current job market. I was never overly stressed with high school, but still felt the pressure to succeed in my classes. I worked very hard in my classes, and took CIS (college in schools) courses to get a head start credit-wise and save money. I did not feel, personally, that loading up on AP courses was the right thing for me. I took classes I felt would challenge me, but not completely stress me out. I have always believed that balance is important in any situation.  I feel fortunate and grateful for the fact that I was able to receive scholarships, grants, and take out loans which allowed me to go to the university of my choice, Hamline. 

I am now in my second year at Hamline University, working on getting a degree in Health Sciences, and hoping  to get into a Holistic Healing grad school. My educational career has been a major part of my life; each step opening up new opportunities for my future. Although, I did not always know why school was important, my parents always pushed me to do my best and stay true to myself. I am hoping that my hard work in school will pay off, and I will be able to fulfill a career in something that I am passionate about. 

Works Cited:
Newman, David (2012). Sociology:Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life: 9th Edition. SAGE Publications.

Assignment 8: Labeling Theory and Deviance

Deviance is behavior (how people act), ideas (how people think), or attributes (how people appear) that some people in society—though not necessarily all people—find offensive, wrong, immoral, sinful, evil, strange, or disgusting" (Newman 242). Deviant acts in our society can range from smoking in a public place, getting into fights, and cheating on a significant other, to murder, child abuse, rape and drug dealing. The last three labels clearly have more severe implications and, in most cases, will result in greater punishments. A person who is labeled a "deviant" not only suffers from the initial penalties of doing something others consider to be wrong, but from the stigma that may follow. Committing an act that is considered deviant can drastically impact  the reputation of a person, and these reputations can be extremely difficult the shed depending on the severity of the offense. 

The labeling theory in sociology characterizes a deviant person as someone to whom the label "deviant" has been successfully applied (Newman 252). When a person is singled out and defined as deviant, it changes the way that others view and act towards them as human beings and can also change the way the so called deviant views him or herself. Labels inevitably bring along with them stereotypes and overgeneralizations, and can be very misleading.  Once labeled a "deviant," you are often automatically assumed to possess the undesirable characteristics attached to that label even though those characteristics may not be accurate. As a result, others in that society may start to treat the deviant with fear, disrespect, distrust, and suspicion forcing them to become outcasts of that society. The labeling effect can cause major harm to people, and also act as a self fulfilling prophecy, causing the deviants to take on the roles of their label.  

Reading this chapter made me think of the Mankato State football coach, Todd Hoffner. In August of  2012, Hoffner was accused of one of the most heinous crimes considerable after one of his colleagues found naked videos of his children on his work cell phone. The videos were interpreted to be sexual and inappropriate, and caused immediate concern.  After the videos were brought to the attention of authorities, Hoffner was escorted off of the football field during practice and taken into custody under the suspicion of using underage people in a sexual performance and possessing child pornography (publicly shamed). Hoffner and his wife objected to these charges and called the felony child porn charges a "rush to judgement," saying the clips found on her husband's cell phone are just "normal, typical family videos" of their kids "in all their craziness." The coach was on paid leave throughout the investigation and trial, as he awaited the possibility of being sent to prison. A search of his home computer found no evidence of child porn, and social workers found no evidence that the couple's children had been abused. He eventually was cleared of these charges in late December after the judged ruled the videos as children simply acting silly after their baths. 

These allegations will, most likely, haunt Hoffner and his family for many years to come. One innocent mistake has changed the way people view him as a person. Labels like "child molester" "child abuser", and "child predator" cause deep hatred within our society. Todd Hoffner has been publicly shamed and humiliated for his actions. He will probably be considered a deviant in the eyes of many for the remainder of his life even though his intentions may have never been what they were interpreted as. 

This case clearly shows how societal norms can be blurred, disagreed upon, and misinterpreted. While the Hoffners viewed the naked videos of their children as "normal, typical, family videos," others interpreted them as the disgusting sexualization of minors and charged him with the monstrous crime of child pornography.  Even though his name has been cleared by authorities, his name will forever be tainted by the misinterpretation of an innocent family video gone awry. As stated in Newman's book, "All ex-offenders experience the stickiness of labels to some degree, despite the legislative efforts to help them" (Newman 253).

 I think it is very important to recognize the affects labeling deviance can have on people and society. We live in a world where labeling is automatic and of second nature. Labeling is quick, easy, and holds a great power that is used to keep societies in order by upholding and reinforcing social norms. Although the labeling of deviance can be beneficial to society, we must also be sure to recognized the negative outcomes that can occur when powerful labels are falsely applied in order to avoid cases like the one above. 

Works Cited:
Newman, David (2012). Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life: 9th Edition. SAGE Publications. 
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2012/08/todd_hoffners_wife_says_her_husband_is_innocent_of_child_porn_charges.php
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8765090/minnesota-state-mankato-coach-todd-hoffner-no-longer-leave
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/21/todd-hoffner-college-football-coach-child-porn_n_1820324.html

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Assignment 7: Divorce

Divorce is something that has become a very common thing within our society. Many people automatically assume the rising divorce rates over the past few decades are a result of more unhappy marriages. There seems to be the belief that the happy, thriving, perfect, lifelong image of the American nuclear family of the past is simply fading away, which is upsetting to some. The statistics surround divorce can be unsettling for couples who are thinking about entering into a lifelong partnership or are already in one. Infact, in this day in age "about 23% of marriage not to mention 55% of cohabitations end in divorce or separation within the first five years . The figure jumps to 33% after 10 years and 43% after 15 years (Newman 223)." However, there are many overlooked variables that have contributed to the drastic change in our societies acceptance and availability of divorce including changes in law, growing independence of women, and the overall changing attitudes toward marriage and divorce.  

Here is a brief history of divorce laws in the United States:
One of the biggest factors contributing to the higher divorce rates of today's world is the fact laws have changed that have made divorce a more accessible. Up until the late 20th century divorce was something that was relatively taboo and unheard of. A law in 1857 called Matrimonial Causes Act made it legal for "ordinary" people to divorce (whatever that means). Before this, divorce was not really an option for women, and was incredibly expensive, making open only to higher class men. Under this new law women who wanted a divorce from their husbands not only had to prove adultery, but also had to additional faults such as rape, incest, or cruelty. In order to get a divorce, adultery had to be proved up until 1937 when a law passed allowing divorce under circumstances of drunkenness, insanity, and desertion. This presented to be a daunting task, and many women simply put up with their broken marraiges instead of having to go through the complicated divorce process.The Divorce Reform Act of 1969 brought on huge social change, allowing couples to divorce if they had been separated for two years (or five if only one wanted a divorce. This made divorce much less complicated, since women no longer had to prove the wrongdoing of their husbands. The marriage simply had to be "broken" in order to terminate it. After the passing of this law, divorce rates skyrocketed. It was a revolutionary period in the history of the United States and has had a great influence on our societal norms we have today surrounding relationships, marriage, family, etc. 

Along with the passing of these laws, women's liberation acts  have given women the opportunity to be independent and support themselves without a husband. During the late 1900's the feminist movement was in full swing. Women were being accepted more into the working world, and finally had access to the tools they needed to support themselves financially. Previously, women simply did not have the option to get an education, get a job, and live independently. Husbands were relied upon to be the breadwinners, and the financial support for the family, while women were constrained to household duties and child care. The conditions of these times for women were extremely restricting making it difficult for women to leave unhappy or abusive relationships, since they really did not have much of an option to live independently from their husbands and survive on their own. Nowadays, these roles are much less prevalent and women have the options and freedoms to live independently and support themselves and children on their own. 

Overall, the stigma surrounding divorce has been reduced over time. People's values have shifted and marriage no longer holds the same importance to many. Tolerance for a greater variation of families has also increased, and our norms around family are changing. As result of these changes, societal views and availability of divorce have been transformed. It is very common for a child to grow up with divorced parents, for children to have step parents and step siblings, and for people to even get multiple divorces. As it says in the book, "In the past, when economic needs—not to mention constraints such as parental expectations or religious norms—held couples together, people “made do” with loveless, unsatisfying marriages because they had to. But when these constraints do not exist, people are less willing to make do (Newman 224-225)." I do not think that the actual relationships have changed much at all, instead the normalization of divorce is the product of structural, societal and historical processes. On a personal level,or micro level,  people tend to look at personality differences, and personal flaws for being the reason for divorce. But from a sociological standpoint, we can look at how divorce is a reflection of societal events such as changes in law, and values, a reduced stigma around divorce and the emancipation of women.  


Works Cited:
Newman, David (2012). Sociology:Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life: 9th Edition. SAGE Publications.


  

Assignment 6: Impression Management

Everyday we as human beings use the tool of impression management to influence how others think about us. In order to be viewed how we want to be viewed  we are constantly putting up a front in order to "sell" a particular image we believe others would find acceptable. This front changes depending on the role that is being played, and the audience you are presenting yourself to. Each person you interact with brings on a slightly different persona in order to pander to what you think the other person wants to see. Often we do this automatically without even thinking about it. I found it to be very interesting to view the world as a stage where we are constantly being actors and actresses. Like in a play, the front stage is where you become a character that the audience expects of you, but the back stage or behind the curtain can reveal a very different scene. 

Depending on the audience, people may exaggerated or fabricate positive qualities, and conceal or camouflage qualities we believe will come across as unappealing. For example, as a student in front of a teacher you may exaggerate qualities such as responsibility, willingness to work, and politeness through things such as facial expression, posture, eye contact, participation and so on. On the other hand, students might try to hide the feelings of boredom, sleepiness and disinterest in order to maintain the image of an ideal student for their own benefit. 

Reading about impression management got me thinking about times where I have put on a front to gain acceptance and fulfill a role. One example of a time where I used impression management was the first time I met my boyfriend's family. I have always been a very shy person, and the idea of meeting them made me nervous. It was very important to me that I gave a good first impression, because, bottom line, I wanted them to like me. That day, I remember spending extra time on my appearance because this is often the first impression people have about others. I picked out a nice outfit, and even bought a sweater to wear, because I couldn't decided on one from my own closet. I also took the time to dry and straighten my naturally wavy and frizzy hair, because I wanted to feel like I was at my best. It was important for me to feel confident and good about my self, so I would feel confident presenting myself to my boyfriend's family. If I would have rolled out of bed and thrown on some sweatpants, I would have felt extremely uncomfortable  unacceptable, and would have probably come across as an unsuitable girlfriend. Once I was satisfied with my appearance I headed over to their house. In my head on the way over I was telling myself to be respectful, polite, and friendly. I began role playing in my head and practicing what I would do in different situations. I like to think that I am naturally respectful, friendly and polite but the importance of these attributes was heightened since I was meeting them for the first time and this impression would have a lasting effect. When I arrived at their house, I was feeling very nervous inside, but outwardly, I don't think they saw me that way. I put on my biggest and warmest smile, shook hands with the dad, and the mom gave me a hug.They showed me around the house and they asked me the typical questions, which I had already practiced answering in my head. The dinner was the hardest part where everybody was sitting around and making conversation. I felt very shy, and did a lot of smiling, nodding, laughing, and agreeing to avoid stuttering or saying something awkward. I didn't contribute a lot to the conversation but I did my best to seem charming and likable. First impressions are the most important and can have lasting effects on how others view you. Often, extra effort is put into making sure we conduct ourselves in an appropriate manner, in order to gain immediate acceptance and overtime we can allow our backstage selves to show through more and more. 

Another example of a time where I put on a front in order to be accepted and selected, was during my high school volleyball tryouts. During tryouts, it is important to fit the role of a volleyball player. This means you must have the proper volleyball attire, have knowledge of the game, be good at taking direction,  and have strength, endurance, and communication skills. It was very clear from the start who had played volleyball and been through these tryouts before simply from their appearance. This was not my first tryout so I knew the role I had to portray but I was still very nervous stepping into the gym. I knew that this day would be a deciding factor of if I made a team or not. I made sure I looked the part by wearing a volleyball shirt, spandex, knee high socks, volleyball shoes and a pony tail with a headband. I most likely would not have been taken seriously if I arrived to the gym in jeans and flip flops with my hair down and stepped on the court to play. In fact, I may not have been allowed to even try out. I wanted the coaches to take me seriously so throughout the drills it was very important that I appeared focused and confident. I needed to be taken seriously as a skilled volleyball player even though in reality I was sometimes nervous, tired, and unclear on what the directions were. If I found myself to be confused I would often look around at what others were doing, especially the older more experienced players, and follow their lead. This was no time to goof around, and give poor efforts. I did my best to put on a front that would be considered acceptable enough to be chosen as a part of a team.

Every single day people portray what they think others want to see. We do this to protect ourselves from rejection and to be viewed as an acceptable person in whatever role we find ourselves. From the time we are very young we are socialized to know what is acceptable behavior and what is not, and it becomes an automatic response to put on these fronts without even thinking about if we are being true to ourselves. A lot of the times, being ourselves can actually be a detriment to our success as human beings. If we always did exactly what we felt like doing, we would be looked upon as not really fitting into society as a whole in most cases. Bottom line, sometimes it is necessary to play a role to be successful we just need to be aware that this is what we are doing. 

Works Cited:

Newman, David. Sociology Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life: SAGE Publications, Inc. California: Los Angeles, 2012. Print.

Assignment 5: The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

While reading David Newman's, Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life, my favorite chapter so far has definitely been chapter 3; Building Reality: The Social Construction of Knowledge. This chapter was, at first, a little hard for me to wrap my head around. It  forced me to think about my own reality, and how it has become what it is. Truths and realities are constantly changing along with culture and historical context, and can be different for everyone. 

The most intriguing part of the chapter for me was the part on self-fulfilling prophecies. A self-fulfilling prophecy is an assumption or a prediction that, purely as a result of having been made, causes the expected event to occur and thus confirms the prophecy's own "accuracy" (Newman 64). In other words, these are cultural beliefs that come true simply because you believe it is true.


 I believe this is a very important concept for people to be aware of.  I really like this concept, because I am a huge believer that the attitude, energy, and intention you put out into the world, is what comes back to you, and is therefore what makes up your reality. Self fulfilling prophecies can have both positive and negative outcomes depending on the truths you have created within your own thoughts. Thoughts are incredibly powerful forces in the outcome of any situation. 

In the Building Reality chapter, Newman demonstrates how powerful self-fulfilling prophecies can be by using the examples of placebos and nocebos. The "nocebo effect" is the inverse of the placebo effect where people create expectations that make people worse. I was truly blown away by the poison ivy experiment explained in the book. Here is a recap: the experimenters rubbed one of their arms with a harmless leaf and told them with poison ivy and rubbed the other arm with poison ivy and told them it was a harmless leaf. Incredibly, all thirteen broke out in a rash where the harmless leaf had touched their skin, and only two reacted to the real poison ivy leaves. Amazingly, their preconceived expectations caused a physical reaction where there should not have been one and stopped the real reaction from happening. If this does not prove how powerful the mind is, I don't know what does. This really makes you think, how much of what happens in life is simply your mind creating it. 

Also, while reading this chapter I started to think about my own self-fulfilling prophecies. One example of how I used my attitude, expectations, and thoughts to create a better outcome for myself was in my high school pre-calc class. I had been listening to people complain about how horrible and difficult this class was for an entire semester. When I looked at my schedule and saw the words Pre-Calculus on it, my stomach dropped and I felt a rush of nervousness and dread as I tried to picture myself surviving the next few months. After a couple days of drowning in my own negative thoughts, I made what I now know to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. I swore to myself that I would go into the class with a positive attitude, and maintain it throughout the course of the class, and that is what I did. It was no always easy to think positive thoughts about complicated formulas and my monotone teacher, but the more I practiced, the easier it became. Consequently, I actually ended up understanding and really enjoying the class in the end. Once I saw that positivity brought me success, I started going into all of my classes with the same attitude, and I actually ended up significantly improving my grades. This proved to me that going into things with a good attitude truly does make for a better experience.

Reading this chapter has definitely made me pay more attention to my own outlook on life and the expectations I set for myself. There is no denying that thoughts, attitudes, preconceived expectations and intentions create the world we see around us, and recognizing this can be life changing.

Works Cited:
Newman, David (2012). Sociology:Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life: 9th Edition. SAGE Publications.