Wealth Privileges

In class, the message of class and the growing schisms between them was truly enforced. If I had to come away with anything this week it would be that the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor, and it is nearly impossible to make a change to the pattern. While playing Monopoly, I was the richest of the rich; I had a great time in the game because there was really no way for me to lose. Even when I did lose half my money I was still a longshot from losing much of anything compared to my lower income counterparts. I realize now how big of a difference money really makes in life. As a wealthy person of higher class, there is little to nothing to stop you from whatever you want. We could go on and on about the advantages wealth gives the individual in all aspects of life. Clearly the wealthy have a literal monopoly over the amount of money held by Americans. They have strong political presence and educational services, not to mention the connections and networking that further advances their advantages over the rest of the nation. It is ironic that the people with the most do the least amount of work. The wealthy can afford to pay others to do the work that allows them to stay afloat in their ridiculously vast comfort zone. The privileges granted to the wealthy have become norms for the rest of society. Knowing it to be strongly improbable, fewer and fewer people of lower classes can see how there is a chance at the same kind of prosperity for them. The prided American promise that hard work will get you where you want to go is not necessarily the truth at all.

Class

I think that Shaw's quote is very true because our actions our viewed and defined by the people around us as good or bad. A good conscience and quality character will allow the individual to distinguish between right and wrong; however, how society classifies the action may not necesarily agree with the person's intent. Depending on class, certain actions are either praised or condemned. I think Shaw is trying to explain the fact that good and bad have different meanings amongst the different classes. For example, while some in working class are able to fix their own cars and earn respect for having that talent. However, a rich person may look down at that person and say that they can pay for someone else to do it so why do it themselves. This distinction between what is accepted and respected changes as you take a look through the spectrum of social classes. Shaw was right in saying that it all depends on circumstances.

Deviance

This week really opened my eyes to the social construct of punishable deviance. I believe that it is a social construct because someone at some point decided that when you go out of the norm there should be consequences. While I agree that negative deviance should be punished, it was scary to read the Courtroom 302 article and watch the 30 days episode and see how the deviant people were treated. Our system of penalizing and punishing does less rehabilitating and changing what society doesn't like, but more oppressing and controlling what they do and when they do it. I don't know how a society could avoid punishing negative deviance because then there would be too few consequences to have any control. Without the laws and penalties that stigmatize deviance, there would be far more occurrences of what society shuns. Our penitentiaries show how society wants to control the actions of its people to create a utopian-esque way of life. The ideal community is one without crime or any other acts of negative deviance. By locking them up, society hopes to rid the world of the men and women that would harm that ideal. In doing so, many people are punished harshly as means of prevention rather than in response to a problem. Because of the harshness and intensity of the criminal justice system, I am very thankful not to be a part of the negative side of it.

Socialization/Adolescence Reflection

1. It's ironic that you asked about both what we've decided to wear today and what sports we enjoy because today I happen to be wearing my Stevenson Varsity Poms jersey. This jersey is what we wore to our state competition last year, and I think it represents the nurtured qualities that being part of a dance team has instilled in my character. The competitive spirit and strive to beat rivals is actually pretty relevant in the world of poms. Although we're usually grouped into the "dumb cheerleaders", I think that the values of teamwork, dedication, and commitment that have been nurtured by our environment allow us to overcome the stereotype and achieve great things, like winning state championships for example. However, there are also aspects of nature that have brought me to be able to wear this jersey. Talent and love of dance are things I was born with. My sister and I were both lucky enough to make Junior Varsity freshman year and Varsity sophomore year. This is not a privilege given lightly, and I think I was born with natural talent that I worked really hard to pursue in order to achieve these goals.
2. Social status power is so important to adolescents because it is one aspect of life that they have control over. As opposed to political or economical responsibilities, teens focus on social power because they actually have a say in what they can and can't do. They want to have the most power within and amongst their groups because if they do not succeed socially, there is not much else to succeed in until they get older. This concept is consuming the minds of teens because they always want to be the best.
3. Socialization for children today is dramatically different from past generations to do the advancements in technology and the relentless advertising that companys have imposed on just about everything. Because communication and accessibility have increased tenfold, it makes it that much easier for advertisers to reach children and manipulate them. This raises plenty of concerns because at this rate, it will be nearly impossible to control the consumption of infantilized minds because they will be so impulsive and irrational. When kids are socialized more by the media than by their own families, it should raise red flags that we need to regain control. The nurture part of a child's upbringing needs to be less about what they have and more about who they spend time with and what they do.
4. Gender differences in socialization are prevalent because society imprints certain responsibilities and values that differ between boys and girls. We are pushed towards different activities and passtimes that are more socially accepted. Parents make the decisions for us that girls are more likely to enjoy ballet class and boys are more likely to love Little League. Specifically for me, I chose between my two loves when I was younger. I started dancing when I was three years old, and basketball when I started first grade. I was pretty good at both and always had so much fun. When it came to 7th grade, I did both sports at Daniel Wright, and volleyball too; however, in eighth grade, I had to choose one to focus on because my mom told me that both my favorite sports were during the same high school season. My sister danced, and my brother played basketball and volleyball. Looking to them made my decision even more difficult. I picked dance because it seemed like I should follow in my sister's footsteps rather than my brothers because she was a girl, and my mom pushed for me to dance as well. I don't regret my decision, but thinking about it now I am curious to know what I would've picked if gender differences in socialization were irrelevant.

Adolescence

The expectations that society has for the teenage age group are constantly and hypocritically conflicting. The fact that some responsibilities are too much and others are understood and demanded from the adolescence causes the confusion that categorizes those subjected to it. It is interesting to consider the perspective of the teenagers themselves versus the authority that controls, or tries to control them. It is unfair to allow some privileges with reasoning that proves the maturity of teens, but then to also restrict and limit other privileges because they are too young and immature. However, this is exactly what parents and adults do in trying to control the actions and behaviors of this misfit group.
It was also interesting to read about the reproduction theory and how parents are not as vital to the formation of a child's behaviors and personality. The first few pages of the article really emphasize the constant push and pull between nature and nurture. There is a constant struggle between parents and peer groups as the frontrunner for child and adolescent development. On the other hand, some argue that genes determine the personality, and there are few outer affects that have an influence over how a child turns out. Lastly, the reproduction theory was interesting because it points out an obvious truth that we sometimes choose to ignore as a society. The inequality that is present socially and economically is reproduced among generations because it is so difficult to overcome the expectations. The example from the reading is devastating because it shows that no matter how much work someone from a tougher neighborhood dedicates, there is no deciding factor that can assure their success.

Agents of Socialization

Besides my family, the groups that have most affected and formed my view of life would be the several different groups of friends I have encountered, as well as my team. As I've pursued different interests and changed schools, my group of friends has changed drastically several times. The values of one group of people can vary dramatically from those of another, and I have noticed that, like it says in the article, peer groups have an important influence on how younger people live and view life. Specifically, these relationships have given me positive experiences that help define how I define myself. By being a part of groups of what "I am", I can distinguish what "I'm not". More recently, my team had been a strong indicator of where my opinions lie. Because we spend endless hours together, we've become a cooperative unit with identical values. Thus, the behaviors and means to reach the desired ends allow for common goals and ideas among the 24 of us. My team last year and this year have pushed me to my limits and have showed me to prioritize what matters most. This article was really interesting to me because I could relate with each of the "agents" and how my life would not be the same without them.

Learning to Swim Part 3

3. American values that I embrace would be Activity and Work as well as Progress. These values allow me to set goals and work to improve myself and my life. I am always busy, so I think that activities and work have a large significance in how I live my life. Progress is an important value because it is a dynamic word, changing with circumstance. Progress is never-ending because there is always room for improvement and growth. Two examples of values that i creatviely adjust would be Individual Personality as well as Material Comfort. I think that i creatively adjust these values by changing how I act when I realize my own mistakes. I don't try to change my personality to fit in or anything like that, but I know my friends and family have formed the personality I have, and thus I have made adjustments to be the happiest with them. Material Comfort has to do with the choices I make and things i choose to buy. I have adjusted this value to apply to the things I need day to day to live comfortably. By adjusting values to fulfill one's own happiness is what allows us to lead the best lives possible. By understanding what each value means in our own lives specifically, we can focus on what is most important to us.

Learning to Swim Part 2

2. I think that by understanding what makes Americans act in the way that we do, we can learn to navigate the waters. Why do we value certain objectives? Why do we spend our time doing certain things in certain places? When we understand the differences between our answers and they answers of those from other cultures, we can better understand our own. The way sociologists are able to learn why we do what we do is the way we can learn how to swim. An example of the adaptation to our surrounding culture would be how we respond to the media. Like we were talking about in class today, the drama surrounding the "balloon boy" was a perfect example of how our reactions are swayed by media bias. We will just as easily praise someone as we will condemn them. We adjust our behaviors because we expect those around us to feel the same way because heaven forbid we think against the crowd. Nowadays, that's something very hard to do.

Learning to Swim Part 1

1. I believe that the way Stevenson students manage time is a "water" that we usually overlook. Take the past week for example, Homecoming week. I am a part of several groups, as most students are, and each required a lot of time and commitment during this stressful week. Starting on Sunday, I had to be at Sprit Fest to fulfill my duties as a part of NHS, Student Council Exec Board, and of Varsity Patriettes. During the week I worked with Student Council to prepare for the dance itself, and at practice I worked with Spirit Revolution to perfect the halftime routine that we weould peform at the football game. NHS sponsered Spirit Fest, so I had to work once I got there, I had to decorate for Student Council, and practice is daily for poms any week. While I'm not complaining, I want to emphasize that the time management skills many SHS students possess is more advanced than some working adults. In my life especially, I always find it bizarre when I talk to my friends who go home after school, or on the rare occasions I myself am home before six. Commitment to these programs is less of a choice, but more of a neccessity. I don't think I would be able to fill free time otherwise. This is part of my culture and the way I live my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Culture

The discussions of culture this week have been really interesting to me because I noticed an overlap between our class and Human Geography last year. Especially the concepts of material and non-material culture and their significance in the lives and societies of others. I like going more in depth with the individual examples we've looked at because it is really cool to compare the customs and norms country to country. Certain things that Americans take for granted or come to expect would be completely inappropriate or unheard of in the next country over. The difference that culture makes throughout the world is what allows us to grow and develop as individual nations and as a world because if we were all the same, no one would want to change. In Human Geo, we learned about the Lexus vs. the olive tree concept that explains how globalization constantly is challenging and threatening the roots of cultures in societies around the world. I am glad that we are learning about culture because it takes the awareness to rekindle the interest and faithfulness to one's own culture in order to protect it.

Affluenza...the new swine?

These past few days in sociology have really opened my eyes to the reality of our nation's overconsumption. I think everyone has heard that we're "addicted to stuff" as a society, and that the dangers we're overlooking will have disastrous ramifications on future generations. Materialism and competition are becoming understood given factors in life, and that is something that needs to be changed. The United States is more focused on finding the new and improved then finding the solutions to problems we've faced for decades. However, I hope with this recession and the troubles we're facing as a nation, affluenza will get as much media attention as swine flu. Maybe if we raise awareness, we can make changes: slow, progressive changes, but changes nonetheless. It is vital that we change the focus of our lives in order to resurrect our suffering relationships, wallets, and planet.

A BRONX TALE

Collogero lives in a neighborhood unlike anything I, or probably any other teenager in the suburbs, have ever encountered. The sense of everybody knows everybody and everybody's business is nearly impossible within a school of 4500, much less the actual community itself. The reality constructed in his neighborhood is vastly different from what I know. His neighborhood is centered around Sonny and his crew and the power and control they have over the entire town. They have their hands in just about every aspect of the neighborhood, and due to his wealth and power, he has authority. The people of C's community know that Sonny is the boss, and that he, or one of his men, is always watching. I think this unwritten rule changes how the people live their lives because all are wary that they might cross Sonny, and that's not a position anyone wants to be in. The unwritten rules are understood in the neighborhood: that you do what Sonny says. A common theme of the movie is the difference between love, respect, and fear. Does fearing someone mean you respect them? Is fear more powerful then love? I think in some cases both questions are true, but in C's community, they almost have to be. Another social construct is the seemingly required racism. This mindless hatred is made evident through C's friends' actions. I view their racism as a social construct because I think few could stop and tell you why they don't like their African American neighbors. It is a societal expectation for them to be prejudiced towards black people. The racist attitudes are the norm for the neighborhood. C represents how the social constructs can be broken, how racism isn't a given, and how one can forge their own path without regard for what society may deem as "right" or "acceptable".

Stereotypes

This week we talked a lot about stereotypes versus generalizations. We compared labor to business, and I realized that the connotations of specific words are easily swayed by stereotypes. The quote we read about the difference between business and labor was kind of a reality check because I don't think we as a society realize how we categorize. There are little to no labor studies programs while high school teenagers are cut throat competing to find the best business schools in the country. Stereotypes dominate our culture, especially in teens and children because we have opinions and biased views thrust onto us by the media and by our environment. It is nearly impossible to avoid these stereotypes because they are so often viewed as the norm. Stereotypes are misunderstood as generalizations. I think this is a really interesting topic to explore, and I hope we can learn more about it.

Titanic Take Two?

The activity we did in class that dealt with the lifeboat situation revealed a lot about social constructs and societal expectations. It was really interesting to see how my classmates dealt with the circumstances they faced. Knowing that those who were rejected from the lifeboat were "killed" didn't really seem to faze anyone. Facing the real situation would probably be completely different. I was shocked as a "sociologist" observing to see the pregnant woman character leave the boat. I originally assumed she was a given to stay. I probably thought that way due to society's value on safe pregnancy. It was funny to watch how everyone reacted to other characters, as well as took on their own role. Acting to fill the roles seemed to change who became a leader and who stayed on the boat. I think experiments like those give us an insight as to why people act the way they do.

FREAKS AND GEEKS

so I originally wrote this after Freaks and Geeks, but I pressed save now instead of publish post so I thought it'd been up this whole time even though it hadn't.

I've really enjoyed watching Freaks and Geeks so far, and I'm really excited to see how it ends. I think the characters are really interesting and easy to relate to even though it's supposed to be the 80s. I have question 2 to do, and it's made me realize that all relationships have some focus on power. There's going to be a party aggressively searching for power, and another passively avoiding it. Or there could be a conflict between two groups striving for power. In that sense, I agree with the Conflict Theory. I think the creators of the show had a great idea, and it's annoying that the series wasn't a success because it would've been really interesting to learn about what happens to the characters as time goes on.

Me...

I don't know how interested anyone would really be in my defining exactly who I am...I mean that might be kind of creepy, but no big deal. I'm Hayley and yes I am a junior. I'll enjoy being the outlier for the year, yup I did just try to connect my life with this class. Pathetic maybe? idk.

Anyway, I'm on poms and it basically takes over my whole life. I've considered that this class will probably show me how bizarre sociologically my team is. We're kind of obsessed with each other. I love being on VP, and it's taught me a lot about myself. I've been dancing since I was three years old and I love it more than anything else.
I have an older sister who is a junior in college and an older brother who left for college this morning. My family is really important to me and without them, I definately wouldn't be the person I am.
I'm completely OCD about a lot of things and definately a perfectionist, but I'm usually laid back and having a good time. I don't know what else really there is to know about me. I wake up come to school go to practice come home eat do homework and sleep. Then I wake up the next morning and start it all again. Yup. That's about it. Peace :]

First Day

Our first day of class was unlike any other I've had in high school so far. It was very out of the ordinary to have a teacher sit silently in the front of the room instead of an enthusiastic welcome. I was already uneasy, knowing I wouldn't know very many people in the class because of my age. The added awkwardness of complete silence wasn't very helpful; however, it was interesting to see how people reacted. As the year continues, it's far less awkward in class, and I am looking forward to the rest of the year.
As for the electrocution experiment, I would like to say I know for sure that I wouldn't knowingly shock another person, but I don't know myself well enough to know what I would do in that situation. Hopefully, it would never arise. I don't think my conscious would be able to handle that scenario. I'm excited to learn why we do what we do, our interaction with society, and what kind of impacts society has on us that we may not even realize.