Social Classes

During this past week in sociology, we have been watching a really interesting movie about classes in America. It is interesting to see what we define as normal in our social class, and to see what others define as normal in theirs. My parents have always told me that I can be anything I want to be when I am older. The movie portrays otherwise, and it was really eye opening. Even if some people move up in social class, people do not necessarily let them in and think of them as their equals. Poor people could work so hard in their life to move up in social class, but they may never truly fit into their new lifestyle. It was also very shocking to see the lower class people almost kind of give up in getting a better life. People who grow up poor either want a better life, and may get it, or they stay in a class they have always known. The movie also portrayed the wealthiest people in America. Some of the people they interviewed were some of the rudest and most materialistic people. They judged people on the car they drove or what their last name is. This shows that in America, people judge others everyday on things that may or may not seem important to you or me. I really liked this movie, and I am excited to finish it in the next couple of days.

Jail is a revolving door

This week in class, we learned about one of the most shocking and disturbing things that our society deals with daily, jails. When I think of a prison, I thought of a place a lot like how Law and Order or any of those cop shows portray it as being; They are dirty, the guards are mean and violent people, and the prisoners hurt one another. I thought this was television making an over exaggeration, but I was wrong for the most part. Some jails in America treat people with no respect and think locking them up for a few months will solve the crime problem. We read a disturbing article about how guards in a jail would not care if their prisoners were sick, because they thought they were just going through withdrawal. The guards treated these people inhumanly, and did not recognize they were citizens as well fighting for their lives. It is really sad to think that in a country that other countries look up to, that we are treating people horribly and do not care about them. Instead of sending drug dealers or other criminals back to the same neighborhoods they grew up in (they are surrounded by the same exact things), we should give them counseling and help them find jobs. This is what some jails are starting to do, but I honestly think that it is ridiculous that jails are just starting to do that. Jail is suppose to be a place where criminals go so they can fix their mistakes and think about what good they can eventually do in the outside world, instead, it turned into a place where they are treated like caged animals. Criminals are leaving jail and going right back into another usually within months, but I think if we really continue with the counseling and helping these people get back on their feet, it will make a significant difference. Because anyway, in the land of the free, our jails should not be overcrowded and new ones should not be continuously being made.

Who are the saints?

This week, we read a really interesting article about saints and roughnecks at school. The saints were the kids at school who were always thought of as being the 'good' kids and the most respectful. These kids were well liked by others and they were upper class. Whereas the roughnecks were lower class, and teachers continuously looked down upon them. Everyone always thought the roughnecks were up to something, when in actuality, no one ever gave them a chance to be the people they could have been. In this story, the community was very deviant to the boys. Deviance is relative to time and place, and it is also someones perception. Since the teachers perceptions of the saints were that they were amazing kids, the teachers never thought they were doing something wrong. The teachers and the community perceived the roughnecks to be bad kids, so they automatically got in trouble for the same things the saints did. I really think this occurs a lot in communities and in schools. Sometimes, kids dressed a little different or have a certain group of friends are categorized as bad or good kids. This is very deviant of schools and communities, because people have no idea what kind of kids or people they are and want to be. It is really hard in life to go somewhere and not get judged by your clothing or how you look. Every can be have wrong perceptions of people, but I think that in this case, the fact that teachers and the community already decided the fate of the young roughneck boys is very wrong. When the community always put them down and always thought they were going to get in trouble, the boys thought they really had no future and that was who they were. Maybe if the community gave every person the same kindness, those boys could have ended up with a better life (most ended up dropping out of school or in jail).

Advertising women

This week in soc, I learned a lot more about commercials, magazine articles and school behaviors than ever before. It is really scary to even think about how commercials influence how we each want to live our life and how we want to look, without realizing it. I don't think I don't know anyone who is happy with the way they look. Everyone is constantly watching what they eat, what they drink and how much they work out, based on the fact that magazines and commercials tell us we need to. Every girl wants to be beautiful and every guys dream. Accomplishing this goal in America basically means that a girl has to have a certain body type. The real question is who decided that being thin and having certain qualities makes you beautiful? Girls worry constantly about their weight or how they do not look like the girls on billboards or commercials. The reason they do not look like them is because those models do not even look like that. They are photo shopped and cut and lengthened. What's so wrong about being naturally beautiful? Girls and boys have to stop thinking that there is only way to be beautiful in someones eyes, because that is not true. Dove commercials are really starting to help women see that they are beautiful in their own skin no matter what shape or size. More commercials should be made like this.

Freaks and Geeks "The Party"

This week in class, we watched another amazing episode of Freaks and Geeks! In this episode, Lindsey was forced to have a party when her parents were out of town. People wanted to drink and have a good time, but after Lindsey's brother saw an assembly about how drinking is harmful and dangerous, he was very worried. He got fake beer and switched it with the real keg. Even though the people at the party were not drinking real beer, they acted like they were drunk and blaming their bad actions on the fact they were drinking. Lindsey and other people were being loud and outgoing, just because they thought they were drunk. Groups that influence our emotions, attitudes and behaviors are referred to as agents of socialization. Lindsey's parents influenced her to be good and responsible while they were away. Lindsey's parents influence on her has decreased since she began hanging out with the wrong group of people. Now, Lindsey's new group of friends has a great influence on her, because they convince her to throw a party she didn't want and ditch class. Just because her friends thought they were at a party, they thought they had to be out of control and drunk, just because of they environment. Millie, Lindsey's old math friend, used to have a great influence on how Lindsey acted, but now Millie's influence has decreased a lot. Also, the influence of school has made a big difference on Lindsey's brother, because school influences him to be a good kid and not drink. After the school assembly, Lindsey's brother tries to influence her not to have an alcoholic party, but it did not work. Group influences are very significant in each persons lives, and sometimes people do not realize how much others influence our own actions.

Tuesdays with Morrie and Genie

In class this week, we watched the movie "Tuesdays with Morrie." I found the movie to be really good and sad, and it taught me a lot about how I want to live my life. Morrie spent the time he had left by cherishing it and having fun, instead of dreading that one day that will come. I found that this was really important, because I want to live my life, instead of me worrying about what will happen next. Also, Morrie really showed me that in order for people to move on with their lives and be happy, they need to show emotion and feel dependent on people. I know many people who live their life feeling like they do not need others, and never showing emotion. Allowing yourself to open up and feel a need of others around you is very important, because it allows a person to grow. I also learned this week that human interaction is one of the most important things in a persons life. Without human interaction, we would never learn how to chew, walk, talk, or learn properly. Isolated people live a life full of wonder, and they never truly experience the great things. Genie grew up in a California home never leaving the room she was tied up in until she was 12. She never met people and her father gave her food under the door. She could not speak, could not stand upright, and could barely walk. After people found her, she went to a home with people who could not take care of themselves and learned to walk and use simple sentences. She still does not have a very high IQ and probably struggles with her life. This shows that early interaction to establish close bonds needs to happen at an early age. People need to interact and form relationships with each other to become intelligent and happy. This article and Tuesdays with Morrie showed me how important the bonds we make with others will really help us grow in the future.

Vegimite or Butter?

This week in sociology, we discussed how people from other countries view us and our lifestyle. At my overnight camp, I have been fortunate enough to work with people from England, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and more. This past summer, I was co-counselors with a girl Claire from Australia. She could not understand at all why we have bagels with butter or cream cheese. In Australia, they eat everything with Vegemite. It was so weird to her that in our culture, we would eat peanut butter and jelly as often as she would eat Vegemite. I learned that it is hard to look at other countries or cultures without judgment. Also, Claire told me that in Australia, water is so low that they can only shower for a certain amount of time and they actually get fined if someone sees them leave on the water while they are brushing their teeth. I found this out one time when she caught me leaving the water running as I was brushing my teeth. I found that this was so weird, because most people I know leave on the water and think this is normal. It was interesting to find out what things were different where she lived. Each culture is so different, that we wonder how those people could possibly be doing what they are doing, like eating toast with butter and not Vegemite. Also, I taught sailing with a girl from New Zealand. She told me, that they grow up mostly learning that when you finish school, you travel and explore the world first and then find a job. I found this very interesting, because we are so programed to graduate high school and then go straight to college. If a person were to tell you that they are traveling after college, that person will probably think that you will never go back to school. Camp allows me to meet all these new people and learn about their way of living.