Assignment 4: Going Against The Norm

For this blog, I did an experiment to see how people would react if I did something that goes against our cultural norm. Tonight turned out to be the perfect night to do this, seeing as though my grandmother, who is very conservative and old fashioned, came over to join us for a family dinner. My dad made a delicious lay out which included a brown rice dish, beets and green beans, and baked chicken (none of which are considered finger foods in our culture). I plated my food as I normally would and took my place at the table waiting for the rest to do the same. As soon as everybody was seated I began eating, but instead of utilizing the utensils sitting next to me, I grabbed small portions with my fingers and ate it. At first, nobody noticed that I was doing this because they were enticed in their own food and the ongoing conversation; but eventually, my grandma took notice of my behavior. She looked at me in a puzzled manner and said, "Kathryn (my family all calls me Kathryn), why on heavens are you doing that? There's a perfectly fine fork sitting next to you." I looked at her and shrugged it off like it was not an odd thing to be doing and continued to pick up rice and vegetables with my hands. Now that I had caught the attention of everyone at the table, people began to look at me with furrowed brows. I acted as if I didn't noticed and asked a new question to keep the conversation going. My mom looked at me and laughed a little in confusion and said. " Kathryn, what are you doing? We have a guest, why are you eating with you hands?" It was difficult to keep the charade going with everybody glaring me down and asking questions, and I cracked a little bit of a smile, but continued on with what I was doing and turned the attention yet again to another topic. This time my topic change did not work, and people continued to ask me what I was doing. I then smiled and told them that it was all just an experiment for my sociology class, and they laughed and found it to be very interesting.

In the culture we live in, eating non finger foods with you hands, especially in public or in front of guests is considered against the norm. People look at this behavior as barbaric, rude or dirty. Using utensils is expected of people sitting around at a dinner table, and you are bound to get some stares if you refuse to do so. However in countries such as Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan eating with your hands is the accepted norm.

I had a lot of fun both eating with my hands and observing my families reactions. I did feel a bit uncomfortable and rude behaving this way in front of my grandma, but I knew that I would have a chance to explain myself after the experiment. Throughout the experiment I felt a lot of pressure to conform to the norm because I could feel how uneasy it was making everyone. Afterwards I asked my family what their thoughts had been when I was eating dinner with my hands and refusing to use my silverware. My grandma laughed and said " I thought you were deliberately acting out and being rude on purpose and found it to be very inappropriate for the occasion." My mom said that she felt embarrassed that I was behaving this way, especially in front of a guest and that she probably would not have cared as much if it was just the immediate family sitting down and having dinner. This type of behavior may not be looked down upon as much or considered rude if with close friends or family, but may still be thought of as strange.

 It would be interesting to see how my immediate family would have reacted if my grandma was not there or what the reactions would be among other groups of people ( friends, fancy restaurant, by myself in public, and so on) Did the fact that there was a guest at my dinner table cause greater tension to the situation? My guess is yes. Overall, going against the cultural norm of using silverware to eat non finger foods at my family dinner clearly showed the power that these invisible rules hold in our lives.

Assignment 3: Personal Billboards

My Personal Billboards

Writing this blog allowed me to sit down and think about who I am, what I stand for, and what I think is important. I really like that this blog gives me the opportunity to express myself and put it into words.

I chose this first image because, as cheesy as it sounds, I believe that one of the most important lessons in life is that true happiness can only be found within you. I think that many people search for happiness from places outside of themselves, through things such as material possessions, status, and popularity (these provide only temporary happiness). When a person is able to truly get in touch with their inner self, it allows them to find a calm center in which can shape how you see and interact with the outside world. This is a lesson I have been working on, and I have found that is has brought positive change to the way I perceive myself and world around me.

Every day I try to take some time to simply do nothing. It is not always as easy as it sounds. I clear my mind of all of the days worries and stresses, and simply sit and enjoy some peace of mind. I think this is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and many forget to do it. It is valuable time to recharge, and just to be.  I chose a picture of tea, because I usually have a cup of tea when I do this because of its ability to sooth the soul and aid relaxation.

Texting and driving is one of my biggest pet peeves. I absolutely hate seeing drivers next to me looking down at their phones, not paying attention to the road or being in a car with someone who chooses to text. One poor decision can lead to great consequences , and in the scheme of things, texting while driving is not worth it in the least bit. Wait until you are at a stop or at your destination. 

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I believe that personal billboards are very important because it allows people to have a voice and get their messages out there. People can express their beliefs and values through things such as bumper stickers, clothing, signs, tattoos, art, etc. Everyone has their own unique likes and beliefs and no matter what those are, it is important to people have the opportunity and freedom to express them.

Assignment 2: When I Was 12

I turned twelve years old in the year of 2005. Throughout this year some major events took place which helped shaped the society we live in today. During this time the United States had a fairly stable and good economy. Jobs were increasing more than enough to absorb the growing workforce, and the underemployment rate had declined. Although things were not perfect, the good economy allowed most to live free of the stress of not being able to get a job, or support a family. Jobs were abundant; contrasting greatly from what we have been dealing with in today’s world.

Beside from the good economic state of the U.S. during 2005, some very important events took place, which helped shape our culture, including the launching of the popular Internet site YouTube, the devastating blow of Hurricane Katrina to the Gulf Coast, and the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I will use my newly discovered sociological imagination to explore how these events have helped shape how people perceive and act upon today’s world. 

In February of 2005 the tremendously popular Internet site, YouTube, was launched and quickly opened up a new world of online video sharing. It is used for a wide array of things including entertainment, self-expression, documentation, news, research, music videos, television shows, movies, DIY videos, educational programs, autobiographies, mind-numbing pointlessness, and much more. YouTube makes it possible for people all around the world to share videos and connect with millions, allowing people to learn about different cultures, places, people, and ideas. News travels fast with YouTube, and videos can go ‘Viral’ in a matter of hours, making it home to a number of YouTube insta-stars such as Carly Rae Jepson and the Gangnam Style guy. These videos can have a major impact on pop culture and are important tools in starting fads and trends. The way people do things has been forever transformed, making virtually any sort of video instantly accessible in a click of a button. In addition, this site has a very strong potential to begin to take the place of televisions, since a lot of shows and movies are available to watch for free on computers and mobile devices.  In fact, according to 10 Fascinating YouTube Facts that may Surprise You, more video content is uploaded to YouTube in a 60 day period than the three major U.S. television networks created in 60 years. Before YouTube, people had to plan schedules around favorite television programs, record it via DVD or tape, or plan to sit down and watch it when it aired; but recent technology is beginning to pander to individual needs and schedules. I can’t tell you how many times I have watched shows that I have missed, looked up how to do something, or used YouTube for educational purposes in my life. YouTube has undoubtedly made a major societal impact on a global level and is truly reshaping the way we operate as a society.

Another major event in 2005 was natural disaster Hurricane Katrina that rocked much of the Gulf coast, from Louisiana to the Florida panhandle, leaving more than 1,836 dead and causing over $115 billion in damage. This was the most devastating and costly disaster to occur in the United States. When major disasters such as these occur, it immediately brings communities closer. Directly after Hurricane Katrina stuck on August 29^th of 2005, people rushed to help the victims of the storm.  I remember watching the news coverage of this event, and seeing footage of people stranded on their roofs waving for help and rescue boats going by looking for anyone they could find. People flooded to the area to help the thousands left homeless bringing with them drinking water, food, and clothing and helping to clean up and rebuild. This storm was eye opening for many in the United States. People tend to believe that they are invincible to disasters like this one, but this particular catastrophe struck fear in many. It made people feel grateful for what they had, and reminded them not to take anything for granted. From a sociological standpoint, this disaster had many impacts. The natural disaster undoubtedly changed the perspectives people had on their own lives. It gave many a sense of gratitude, set into motion prevention and safety plans for the future, and brought communities closer together. I remember thinking about how cool it was that so many people dropped everything they were doing in their busy lives to help others in need. Even though I was only twelve years old, I remember wishing I could help as well. Though the government and many others helped with the aftermath of this event, something that has impacted us even to this day is that many did not think that the government was doing enough to help. This is one of many events that has caused the American people to lose faith in our government and have distrust in our leaders.  For those directly affected by Hurricane Katrina, jobs were lost, homes were destroyed, family, friends, and neighbors were killed and injured and home as they knew it had been wiped out forcing them to have to restart and rebuild their lives. For them, the life they had before was shattered and many were left with nothing but the people surrounding them.  

Other events that were taking place during this time of my life were the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. By this time in 2005, I had grown accustomed to the constant stories on the news, and video footage of what was going on overseas. I remember the day that my mom told me that we were going to war in Iraq, and how fearful I became that everything as I knew it would change. I remember thinking about the movies and videos of war I had seen and imagined my own nation in ruins and constant fear. I did not quite grasp what exactly was going on at the time, but I watched the news often and remember being frightened that the chaos I was seeing on television was going to make it over to where I was and everything would turn to shambles. From a sociological standpoint, people were living in fear of future terrorist attacks, and the threat of war moving to American soil. Patriotism for the country seemed to be revived, and there were many campaigns supporting the U.S. troops. These wars, along with 9/11 also sparked racial profiling against Arabs and Muslims deeming them as terrorists. This blatant racism is still very prevalent today, and has caused many issues within our country. This is a direct example of how historical events can drastically change people’s perspectives of other people. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which are still going on today, will unquestionably affect society as a whole for many years to come.