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Hi, I'm taking Sociology. Welcome to my blog.

[abitofsociology]

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I definitely enjoyed Sociology. I'm very glad I took this class. It's probably the most interesting class I have ever taken at Delta. I learned more in Sociology than any other class. It was extremely useful information. 

Thanks for being an awesome teacher, Harry. 

[abitofsociology]

Studying and Changing the Social World

I feel like I've definitely learned more about society than I thought I would. I think learning about others can help in the process of learning about yourself. It's impossible not to be even a little different after learning about power institutions, conformity, inequalities, capitalism, individualism, etcetera. Education, if at all helpful or applied, changes perspectives and lifestyle. Schwalbe states (252), "We create knowledge through action. Observing what happens when we act is a powerful way to discover patterns in how the world works." I feel like because I'm starting to understand the way injustices have started and developed and morphed, it makes me obligated to at least let others know I know or think. If anything, I will minor in Sociology. Not only did it make me think about things I would never have thought about otherwise, I think it helped me understand some parts of psychology, my major. While I'm learning about how people develop behaviors and personalities and seeing the individual for what it is, but I also like to think in reference to the masses, what people in large quantities are doing.

[abitofsociology]

Globalization

"Over 1 billion people struggle to survive on less than $1 a day and another 1.2 billion live off of $1 to $2 a day. It is estimated that more than 40 percent of the world's population is currently living under conditions of extreme poverty." (Callero 124) Statistics like this make me think because I probably spent around $10 on lunch and someone else in the world was probably working themselves to the bone to make a dollar. It really puts me in perspective. The sadder fact is that the top executives who are in charge of the corporations that exploit the people who work for less than a dollar a day feel that they have earned every penny. 

In many ways, globalization is fantastic, but in equal measure, it's detrimental to so many people. Corporations take advantage of people who have have very few options and put them to work with the lowest wage possible and with absolutely no benefits. Not only are so many people working for almost no money, they're working in extremely poor conditions, even dangerous. 

If the CEOs and executives were to acknowledge the several people who have pushed them to the top, they'd also have to acknowledge their ill treatment and exploiting overseas companies. 

[abitofsociology]

My closet is 0% American-made clothing. Most of my clothes come from China, India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam and a few from Egypt and Mexico, which is surprising because I thought the US at least did a little bit of clothes-making. I thought at least some parts of my closet would be American-made. It cements the reality of globalization like nothing else. 

I'm very surprised, to be honest. It's hard to imagine something the how much globalization, business-wise, has taken place until you apply it to your own life. 

[abitofsociology]

If I Were a Boy

I’d be very different if I was born a boy. I’d have grown up with a more aggressive attitude because my parents are more aggressive with my brothers than with me. Assuming that rule applies to me, I’d have a more aggressive personality. I wouldn’t be a feminist, considering my many brothers are not interested in what a feminist is or does. Being a woman makes me more aware of what a woman’s roles are. I wouldn’t be so interested in crocheting or baking either. My mom encourages me to learn how to cook, clean, and sew because she thinks every woman needs to know how to keep house. As a member of the opposite sex, my mother wouldn’t be so interested in my skills in a kitchen. Also, I wouldn’t have to worry about makeup, dresses, or curling my hair. I don’t think I’d be insecure about any of the things I’m insecure about now, like my thighs or hair. I’d be more interested in how masculine I appear so maybe lack of muscular definition would be something I’d be insecure about.

My hobbies and whatnot wouldn’t be considered masculine. I like reading, painting, and writing. I don’t think those things would change about me, but maybe my doing them will get different reactions. Sports and video games are what guys are supposed to be interested in and growing up as a boy might mean I’d like them, but it’s unlikely. They’re inane and pointless, honestly. I’ve always found them boring, even as a child.

All in all, I'd find it equally difficult to be of the opposite sex. Each has its set of positives and negatives, but I've never actually thought about how different it would be to born a boy and experience the social forces of that gender. It was an interesting activity and fun to think about.

[abitofsociology]

Nickel and Dimed

Barabara's Ehrenreich's account of living as a member of the working class has been, by far, the most interesting thing I've read in Down To Earth Sociology. A reputable, upper middle class woman actually experiencing the lifestyle of the working class is definitely an eye opener to the gap between social classes. The people she interacts with (Gail, Lionel, Joan, Claude, Annette, Marianne, Jack) are all like any other member of the working class and it's clear to the reader that "working hard" isn't going to help them rise out of their class. Even while Ehrenreich juggles two jobs and tries to manage herself the best she can, she only has $22 left over after paying for food, gas, toiletries, laundry, phone, utilities, and  rent. The thing that got my attention was that she was by herself. She didn't care for older family members and had no children to raise. She also had a few advantages, like the $1300 she started out with, which most working class members don't have. It's mind boggling how so many can have time for anything other than work. 

[abitofsociology]

After hearing the lectures on privilege and reading about race and all that comes with it, it's safe to say that what happened concerning the murder of Michael Brown at the hands of Darren Wilson was a very powerful event concerning the reality of race and what it means in the United States. Police brutality is only the tip of the iceberg, what it means to be of color is enlightened. My twitter feed blew up with so much criticism of general beliefs, inequality, government failings, mass media (like shown above), and so much more. So many people are looking and opening their eyes to some harsh realities of being part of the minority and underprivileged. People are working to change what they see as common. Clarence Page (Henslin 368) in showing my color, "The ancestral desire of my ethnic people to be 'just American' resonates in me. But I cannot forget how persistently the rudeness of race continues to intrude between me and that dream. I can defy it, but I cannot deny it..." Page's statement holds for many people of color. Inequalities exist but it doesn't mean we can't work to rise above them.

[abitofsociology]

On Becoming Male Reflections

My younger brother, 14 years old and still learning the ways of the world, screams out "I'll rape you, faggot!", clearly angered by someone who isn't killing the enemy the way he should be, while playing Call of Duty. Because the online stranger isn't playing by the rules, he uses dehumanizing terms like "faggot" to give the other several strangers listening to the interaction a reason to eliminate their teammate. Not to mention, the usage of rape, extreme humiliation, is commonly used. It's to exert power and domination. It's harsh and disgusting, but it clearly points out several different parts of society that many don't like to look into. 

Similar to the interactions of pubescent boys on COD, our society points out the black sheep and make him "other", rather than a "man". A man has to be dominating, aggressive, heterosexual, etcetera. If he isn't the way a man should be, then he's not considered masculine or a man. He's ridiculed by peers. "We call him sissy. We say, 'Shame! Shame!' We call him gay, fag, and queer. We tell him he is a girl and not fit for us." (Henslin 167)

Gay is a label that can be identifying, but is more often than not used to insult another. Using my brother as an example since he uses the word to describe anything and everything he doesn't like, it's not surprising to hear him say, "Wow, that's gay," Or, to his friend, "You look hella gay." It has an extreme negative connotation. It isn't used to identify a sexual orientation, but to describe something revolting or wrong. 

I thought it was interesting how a "girl" is also not fit for the "us" mentioned in Henslin's statement. A girl or a woman is also not equal on some level by society; it's not openly acknowledged but it's an accepted idea. Like Henslin mentioned and also reiterated by Harry in class, this norm is obviously seen in all powerful social institutions. From politics to the everyday household, men tend to dominate the field. While women have gained rights and opportunities in recent years, the social ideas that we give young girls, to be fragile and pretty and wait for Prince Charming, are destructive in many ways. Young girls grow up to be women who think they need a man to get them out of any sorts of situations. This belief somehow creates a ripple effect and have the general society, men and women included most of the time, thinking that women are lesser in some shape or form. 

[abitofsociology]

In Chapter 11, Callero states,”If a difference leads to exploitation, unfair advantage, domination, or some other kind of harm, then it is more than a difference. It is a form of inequality and not worth celebrating.” Like Callero’s students, I did have some confusion between the difference of “difference” and “inequality”. Some things, like color and origin, are celebrated, but are also frowned upon at the same time. I did't get that. 

Like speaking Spanish is celebrated, but looking Hispanic (clothing, accent) isn't? It's confusing where the appreciation and the not so appreciated  line lies. As soon as someone is no longer giving the appearance of integrating in American white society, then they're not seen as foreign or other, not exotic or exciting. 

[abitofsociology]

I read a blog post on cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. I feel like there isn’t a clear line between the two because I can’t tell the difference between them. Is it offensive or appreciative when developed countries adopt certain elements from other places? Is it offensive because they reject others? Is it appreciative because they adopted a norm or idea? I’m genuinely confused.

[abitofsociology]

I liked the exercise we did in class on November 12, 2014. It was astonishing how many people have experienced the same things as me. The lecture after that exercise was interesting. Privilege and inequality within classes, races, and genders is just a few of the elements of society I learned in my Women In History course. If I were to categorize myself, I would definitely lean towards the less privileged group. I'm a woman, Muslim, of Middle Eastern origins, have a immediate family members in jail and/or addicted to alcohol and drugs, under the age of 21, and learned English as a second language. I understand how brutal oppression can be, even looking solely at my ethnic group. Afghanistan is a country dominated by aggression and oppression. Groups like the Taliban dehumanize women, children, and people from other backgrounds. The mentally ill and disabled are thrown on the streets. The homeless are ignored. LGBTQ people are shunned or stoned. Racism, sexism, and other forms of inequality are not only tolerated, but expected. In the United States, we're just more subtle in our approach. While, race and gender doesn't matter in the general population's belief system, we still have "minorities".

[abitofsociology]

I work at the Child Development Center and I’ll occasionally have situations where one child will say something race oriented to another. For example, one girl told another that she couldn’t be a princess because she was black and princesses are always white (like Elsa, Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Ariel, etc) during lunch last week. It was so heartbreaking to the girl on the receiving end of the conversation.

It’s upsetting when young children infer ideas like that from things they see around them; in this case, movies. I know many argue representation doesn’t bring about a strong affect on large groups, but it does. Representation in mass media, government, and other social structures can lessen (and, hopefully, completely erase) the feeling of “other” and implement the fact that we’re not so different. Physical attributes, which we have no control over, should not determine our worth.

In other words, anyone can be a princess, “race” and EVERY ASCRIBED LABEL doesn’t matter.

[abitofsociology]

Race

I’ve always thought identifying one’s race was to track where everyone originates from or something of that nature. It’s more than upsetting to hear it was and is constructed to dehumanize what makes our human beings different. 

What's really sad is when I think something that can definitely be labelled "racist". I feel ashamed immediately afterwards. In The Racist Mind, Ezekiel (Henslin 374) mentions that students feel the need to state that they're color blind and I probably would feel the need to do the same thing, but an issue like racism is a learned behavior. My parents do make racist remarks about Indians, Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, etcetera when driving or watching a TV show. I remember when my cousin was getting married to a Mexican guy she met in college, half my family didn't attend because they felt it was disgraceful. I'm very sure many people have a similar situation, so to deny the lack of its presence isn't smart.

Ezekiel wisely notes, "It doesn't matter whether or not you or I can call ourselves good folk. Our actions are what matter. Real people get hurt badly on our society by poverty and racism. We can alter the institutions that do the damage. We can be fully conscious of our influences; we need to know ourselves."  Keeping that in mind, to change something that is negative and destructive means that one has to accept it first. 

[abitofsociology]

My cultural capital has definitely increased since I began college. I started attending San Delta Joaquin College at 14 because I was a Middle College High School student. For one, I was surrounded by extremely intelligent peers. My entire simultaneous high school and college social experiences involved extracurricular activities like Dragon's Den Art Magazine editing, coastal cleanup and environmental information, culture club events, etcetera. My friends read the Grapes of Wrath and The Catcher and the Rye over weekends and thought learning Latin was fun. You are who you spend time with and so it's not surprising that I started to join in on what my friends were doing. Second, I love the humanities and social science classes I've taken so far. I've read and analyzed from Shakespeare to Charles Bukowski in my English classes, contemplated Frida Kahlo's paintings in Art History, gave a speech on what makes Picasso's work so appealing in Color and Design, learned the fundamental ideologies of Buddhism in my Eastern Religions, and so on and so forth. I've had a rich experience with learning the cultural capital that's both appealing and praised by upper social classes.

[abitofsociology]

Family Matters

It’s upsetting how things like our parents provide - things we have no control over - determine our entire life. For example, in Chapter 4 of The Myth of Individualism, Alexander and Tyrec are both bright boys, but one has more opportunities than others. Alexander’s parents are able to provide more learning experiences for their son. He's living in a household that rewards creativity, whether that be shown in making valid arguments or thinking of different alternatives. He has a far more "useful" culture capital than Tyrec. In turn, he’ll probably maintain or rise from his position in the upper middle case. Tyrec, equally talented and full of potential, doesn't have the means to rise from his social class. He isn't given the same opportunities as Alexander. In face, whatever talents and behaviors that can lead to a better social standing are either not tolerated or aren't supported by his single mother. His entire upbringing keeps him from climbing the social ladder.

Alexander and Tyrec, who are easily relatable and not so different from my many peers, put me in perspective. After reading the statistics on how important being born into wealth is according to country, I couldn't believe the irony of it all. While the mobilization between classes is slowly nearing the point of impossible, more and more Americans think simply “working hard” is the key to wealth and success. What could be the catalyst for this idealization of working hard leads to wealth among Americans? Personally, I think it has something to do with popularizing success stories. The rags to riches movies and books draws Americans like nothing else. It isn't surprising that everyone has these ideas after reading about or watching movie on the success stories of billionaires like Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. 

[abitofsociology]

“Politicians Discussing Global Warming” by Issac Cordal in Berlin. This statue is probably one of my favorite public displays. It depicts several rich older white men drowning a single person, race and gender unknown. Obviously, this single person represents the majority, the everyday individual. Clearly, the discussion that is said to be occurring isn't really a discussion. It's a struggle and the winning side doesn't look like they're struggling too much. In fact, the politicians look like they're pulling that one person down alongside with them. 

To me, it's the perfect representation of the power institution that is the Unites States' national government. “Politicians Discussing Global Warming” ties in with our class discussions on the upper class, which funds so many parts of the government with support and donations, influencing the government to shift away from topics like environmental awareness. The rich want to get richer, despite the consequences and how many people those consequences effect. Cordal plays on the issue with a very thought-provoking style. 

[abitofsociology]

Callero could not have been clearer on the differences of upper and middle class children rearing. While I was unsure of the dynamics of why the upper middle class and lower middle work the way they do, I definitely know now. Chapter four of The Myth of Individualism, Callero clears up the issue of hard work versus born into money. From economic capitol to child rearing to to the privileges of class, I learned exactly how the upper social class works. 

The most interesting concept was cultural capital and which ones were considered valuable in whichever social classes. For example, reading and analyzing Shakespeare when having lived in the ghettos of Chicago all your life isn't likely to happen and, if it does, isn't considered valuable by family or peers. Cultural capitol and the value of that cultural  capital depends on the environment. 

Callero gives the example of Nick Bromell, who upon being a new student of a renowned private university, found that there was a high level of competition and judgement on something as simple as socks. Knowledge of expensive socks and which brand names are admire-worthy of peers seems like a good cultural capital in that situation.