I used to think that things you like, like sports or shopping helped make up who you are, and to some degree they do. But why is it that I am a cubs fan? Why do I prefer to go to Northbrook Court over Hawthorne shopping center? Why do I value the things I do?Where I grew up makes me who I am. How I was raised makes me who I am. The American culture, and the subculture of my friends and my community make me who I am. My race and my social class even play apart. Taking Sociology has helped me understand more about myself and my surroundings. I've learned that everything around me has had some sort of influence and has helped shaped me into who I am today.
One factor that I think shapes me the most as to who I am today, is my social class. I learned that in every social class, each one values something else. Because I am not at the top of the totem pole, I value hard work and motivation to better my social standing. I basically follow the American Dream.
Another social factor that has really shaped me into who I am today are various aspects of culture. Overall, American culture values a large media outlet. Therefore I enjoy being instantly gratified by the internet, or watching the latest episode of my favorite television show. It is rare to be in pure silence without a TV or iHome on in the background. The subculture of where I live, also makes me value different things that someone who lives in Austin or Sacramento. The subculture that has shaped me has made my value nice things, and because of my social class, I have the hard work and dedication to achieve what I want.
The newest part of me is the appreciation and realization, that there are all different types of people out there in this world. Before sociology,I was always looking up, comparing myself to more wealthy people and seeing what I don't have. Now, however, after serving the impoverished at a soup kitchen, it made me see how fortunate I am. I did not only get a good feeling doing something for someone else who really needs it, but I got a self-esteem boost as well. It also made me realize that these people on the streets who are in need are people. What I mean is that they have feelings and needs and wants and realizing that has made me a more open minded and giving.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Behind the mask
Wouldn't it be nice that even though you completely bombed your geology test, you still got an A- on it because you tried hard? Better yet, you and your teacher have a bunch of inside jokes and likes you enough to bump up your grade just so you can pass? School would be a piece of cake. If you're a "Saint," life is just so.
During that week in class, we read an excerpt from "Saints and Roughnecks." The Saints, were upper class, handsome, had a good family background and seemed like perfect little angels to the community. In reality, however, they were ditching classes and being hooligans. Although they were not following the laws of society, they never got in trouble for anything because they were always super polite and had good manners. The yang to the Saints were the Roughnecks: the lower class students that were rude and vulgar. Even though they were both participating in the same deviance's, like cutting class, the Saints got off the hook while the Roughnecks were sitting in detention after school.
Saints and Roughnecks have no ceased to exist. They are still around today. In fact, there are definitely S&R's in any school. If an all-star football player who just won state for the school arrives to English Class 10 minutes past bell along with the school "bully," it is more likely the teacher will give the detention slip to the meanie.
If everyone is born equally, why isn't everyone given the same chance to show their true colors? Instead, we are all masked by social factors, like class or background.
During that week in class, we read an excerpt from "Saints and Roughnecks." The Saints, were upper class, handsome, had a good family background and seemed like perfect little angels to the community. In reality, however, they were ditching classes and being hooligans. Although they were not following the laws of society, they never got in trouble for anything because they were always super polite and had good manners. The yang to the Saints were the Roughnecks: the lower class students that were rude and vulgar. Even though they were both participating in the same deviance's, like cutting class, the Saints got off the hook while the Roughnecks were sitting in detention after school.
Saints and Roughnecks have no ceased to exist. They are still around today. In fact, there are definitely S&R's in any school. If an all-star football player who just won state for the school arrives to English Class 10 minutes past bell along with the school "bully," it is more likely the teacher will give the detention slip to the meanie.
If everyone is born equally, why isn't everyone given the same chance to show their true colors? Instead, we are all masked by social factors, like class or background.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Spreading Holiday Cheer for the Habitat to Hear!
So instead of freezing my bum off hammering in the cold winter winds, I wrapped in the nice toasty confines of a Barnes and Noble where all the donations went to Habitat for Humanity.
Okay, so it wasn't all jolly red cheeks and merry people, and after two hours and nine presents later we only raised $40. I was surprised we even reached that.
On the way there, I was thinking that I had it in the bag. The location of the book store was in a wealthy town in a very popular shopping center. I thought there might even be a line for all the people that were willing to give a few bucks to have their presents wrapped.
When we got there though, after fifteen minutes, I started to freak out a little. No one was coming up to the booth. Being antsy I walked around, trying to talk to people and get them to stop by and reminded the cashiers to let customers know that there is gift wrapping going on and that all the donations are going to Habitat for Humanity. I even made a sample gift wrap to show everyone I had some mad skills when to wrapping and finishing with a bow.
Most people who walked by were into the free gift wrapping part but not so much about the donation part. Pretty Grinchy, eh? When walkers walked past, they didn't even make eye contact with us. I think that is because the idea of the American Dream is to be successful on yourself and yourself only and maybe when they saw what we were doing, they felt ashamed that people were lending a hand to help someone impoverished. That they were even scared that it could be them someday.
Although, on the other hand, some people were super giving! One person just wanted to give money, and didn't even need anything wrapped. Another woman and her son dropped a $20 just for wrapping two gifts! She knew that her donation was going to go to something much bigger than her, and she explained to her son why giving is so important. I thought that it was nice that she was telling her little boy that, because even though not one person can make a huge impact, people coming together can. Everyone who donated left with a smile, and not just because the gifts were wrapped perfectly, but because they truly got a good feeling for doing something so thoughtful. I even gave a couple of dollars because Habitat for Humanity does such a good thing for the community, I really felt inspired to give. After the time, I know I might not have made the largest impact, but I do know that the money I did raise is going to be used for supplies that is going to give someone in need a roof over their heads, and that is what is going to make a huge impact on their life.
Okay, so it wasn't all jolly red cheeks and merry people, and after two hours and nine presents later we only raised $40. I was surprised we even reached that.
On the way there, I was thinking that I had it in the bag. The location of the book store was in a wealthy town in a very popular shopping center. I thought there might even be a line for all the people that were willing to give a few bucks to have their presents wrapped.
When we got there though, after fifteen minutes, I started to freak out a little. No one was coming up to the booth. Being antsy I walked around, trying to talk to people and get them to stop by and reminded the cashiers to let customers know that there is gift wrapping going on and that all the donations are going to Habitat for Humanity. I even made a sample gift wrap to show everyone I had some mad skills when to wrapping and finishing with a bow.
Most people who walked by were into the free gift wrapping part but not so much about the donation part. Pretty Grinchy, eh? When walkers walked past, they didn't even make eye contact with us. I think that is because the idea of the American Dream is to be successful on yourself and yourself only and maybe when they saw what we were doing, they felt ashamed that people were lending a hand to help someone impoverished. That they were even scared that it could be them someday.
Although, on the other hand, some people were super giving! One person just wanted to give money, and didn't even need anything wrapped. Another woman and her son dropped a $20 just for wrapping two gifts! She knew that her donation was going to go to something much bigger than her, and she explained to her son why giving is so important. I thought that it was nice that she was telling her little boy that, because even though not one person can make a huge impact, people coming together can. Everyone who donated left with a smile, and not just because the gifts were wrapped perfectly, but because they truly got a good feeling for doing something so thoughtful. I even gave a couple of dollars because Habitat for Humanity does such a good thing for the community, I really felt inspired to give. After the time, I know I might not have made the largest impact, but I do know that the money I did raise is going to be used for supplies that is going to give someone in need a roof over their heads, and that is what is going to make a huge impact on their life.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Does Race Exist?
Does race exist? I'm not so sure...
Why does race exist? How is it possible to draw a fine line between white and black, literally, when a person has so much background to them. A person is so much more than their skin color.
Race is just a social construction that we created. We grew lines in the sand as to what makes a person African American, or Asian etc; We essentially are the ones that created races and eventually stereotypes because we love to categorize and put people into groups just by a glance.
When we did that placement game in class today, I thought for sure I wasn't that far off in putting people into what race I thought they belonged in. Out of 20, I only got 2 correct! In real life, I can only imagine how many people I mis-categorize.
Why does race exist? How is it possible to draw a fine line between white and black, literally, when a person has so much background to them. A person is so much more than their skin color.
Race is just a social construction that we created. We grew lines in the sand as to what makes a person African American, or Asian etc; We essentially are the ones that created races and eventually stereotypes because we love to categorize and put people into groups just by a glance.
When we did that placement game in class today, I thought for sure I wasn't that far off in putting people into what race I thought they belonged in. Out of 20, I only got 2 correct! In real life, I can only imagine how many people I mis-categorize.
Middle is Middle right?
Americans would like us to believe that there are three social classes: upper class, middle class, and lower class. We like to think that being put into a social class is easy, but in reality, where is the line drawn for each class?
The hardest class to be ranked in to me, is the middle class. Even though someone could be making 20,000 a year and another could be making 50,000 a year, they are still considered to be in the same social class even though one is making considerably more than the other. That's harsh.
Besides the money factor that determines what social class someone is in, there is also a certain subculture one must follow in order to be accepted into that class. Take for example the upper class. They all talk a certain way, dress a certain way and are a certain way. Even if you are at their party in your finest and you are middle class, if you don't walk the walk and talk the talk you are screwed. They are going to see right through you.
I used to think that class structure was all mental. That if you wanted to be in a certain class, if you worked hard to be upper class, you could. Sure that might be true in some cases, but the majority of cases don't work out that way. Unfortunately, you're class determination starts before you were even born- it starts with your parents...and that means there is very little wiggle room as to what class you can jump to.
The hardest class to be ranked in to me, is the middle class. Even though someone could be making 20,000 a year and another could be making 50,000 a year, they are still considered to be in the same social class even though one is making considerably more than the other. That's harsh.
Besides the money factor that determines what social class someone is in, there is also a certain subculture one must follow in order to be accepted into that class. Take for example the upper class. They all talk a certain way, dress a certain way and are a certain way. Even if you are at their party in your finest and you are middle class, if you don't walk the walk and talk the talk you are screwed. They are going to see right through you.
I used to think that class structure was all mental. That if you wanted to be in a certain class, if you worked hard to be upper class, you could. Sure that might be true in some cases, but the majority of cases don't work out that way. Unfortunately, you're class determination starts before you were even born- it starts with your parents...and that means there is very little wiggle room as to what class you can jump to.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Social Classes
Part of being an American is always striving to do better, to be richer, to be happier. Americans are always reaching for the American Dream. In the movie we were watching in class, it was interesting to see all the people that consider themselves middle class since they all had such different life styles. People who made $20,000 and people who made $50,000 were both considering themselves middle class, however, 30,000 is quite a vast difference! Social classes really depend on where you live and what people you surround yourself with. When my parents were looking to move when I was younger, I remember them saying that it costs more money to live where we do compared to places like Carol Stream or Rockford even though it was a similar house in both areas. Another way people put themselves into social classes is always comparing themselves to others, always trying to keep up with the Jones'. Americans are always admiring people who have more than them, always wishing they had what someone with a little more money had. However, Americans never look down and see what they do have compared to others. A lot of being put into a social class is more of a mentality, and that mentality turns social classes into a reality.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Random act of kindness
Okay, so you're crying in the bathroom stall. Tears streaming down your face, buggers everywhere. You don't think anyone is in there, but you open the door to see that you are not alone.
No I wasn't the person that was crying in the bathroom, I was the person washing my hands, hearing sniffles coming from a stall from a person who didn't think anyone was in the bathroom.
Normally, I would just go on and dry my hands, pretending that I wasn't hearing somebody weeping, but it sounded like something really bothering this girl. I could hear it in the way she blubbered.
So, I waited to see if this girl would open the stall door. In a few minutes she did and was almost startled to see me standing there. This wasn't my usual place to make conversation. I felt so awkward. I contemplated if I should say something or not, and then I just blurted out, "Are you okay?"
I thought for sure she would've replied, "ya everything's fine," and I would've been on my way- but she didn't. She told me that she failed her second psychology test in a row. I asked her if she was a senior, she said yes. I then said, "Well, why do you care?! Relax." She then reveled that she stayed up all night and studied so hard to try and ace this test. I really tried to put myself in her shoes and understand where she was coming from. I consoled her until she stopped crying.
I have never seen this girl before in my life, and even after this, I don't know her name. However, she was so grateful just to have someone to vent to. This is just one example how deviance doesn't have to be a negative zing to society. On my way back to class, I felt good that I helped someone. In the end, what's five minutes of your time to help someone out?
No I wasn't the person that was crying in the bathroom, I was the person washing my hands, hearing sniffles coming from a stall from a person who didn't think anyone was in the bathroom.
Normally, I would just go on and dry my hands, pretending that I wasn't hearing somebody weeping, but it sounded like something really bothering this girl. I could hear it in the way she blubbered.
So, I waited to see if this girl would open the stall door. In a few minutes she did and was almost startled to see me standing there. This wasn't my usual place to make conversation. I felt so awkward. I contemplated if I should say something or not, and then I just blurted out, "Are you okay?"
I thought for sure she would've replied, "ya everything's fine," and I would've been on my way- but she didn't. She told me that she failed her second psychology test in a row. I asked her if she was a senior, she said yes. I then said, "Well, why do you care?! Relax." She then reveled that she stayed up all night and studied so hard to try and ace this test. I really tried to put myself in her shoes and understand where she was coming from. I consoled her until she stopped crying.
I have never seen this girl before in my life, and even after this, I don't know her name. However, she was so grateful just to have someone to vent to. This is just one example how deviance doesn't have to be a negative zing to society. On my way back to class, I felt good that I helped someone. In the end, what's five minutes of your time to help someone out?
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