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12- Are People of Minority Groups Living in Worse Conditions?

Specifically, the minority groups which I am talking about in the title are people of color and of low socioeconomic status. It is observed that often times that people of these minority groups are living in environments which are either dangerous or have potential hazards. There are two major examples which immediately come to mind when thinking of environmental racism, hurricane Katrina and the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. In both of these situations the people who are being negatively affected are largely, but not exclusively, black Americans and people of low socioeconomic status. Obviously, individuals who are wealthy are going to be living in environments with nicer and more luxurious conditions. However, is it fair to let people who are less wealthy to live in conditions that are deemed unsafe just because they have little money or are a certain race? The immediate answer should be no, but it is a reality that does exist and according to Introduction to sociology, “…African American children are five times more likely to have lead poisoning (the leading environmental health threat for children) than their Caucasian counterparts” (Griffiths et al.). This is due to locations in unwealthy environments often times having playgrounds which have lead paint in them. Also, there is a highly disproportionate number of African American to white American individuals who are living in these unfit environments in the United States. I think that this is definitely a type of racism that is not as heavily addressed as it should be and that in the future the government and states should take a better initiative at creating and keeping safe and healthy environments for people of all backgrounds and economic status.

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11- Coming Together for a Change

Social movements are something which we have been seeing all throughout history and is often times a powerful method for enticing some sort of wanted change by a large group of people. By definition, a social movement is typically thought of as a large organized groups of people who are working or fighting towards accomplishing a common goal. Today, there are two major social movements which are happening in the United States, the Me Too and Black Lives Matter movements are some of the most prominent and are both fighting for a social goal. The first, Me Too, is a women’s movement which ultimately aims to end sexual violence and sexual assault of women, as well as provide support for victims. The movement has blown up and gone viral within the past few years thanks to social media. It is now a widely discussed and known topic and has even prompted a plethora of women, including celebrities, to come forward as having been victims of assault. This movement has led to many assailants being called out and put the hot seat to face the consequences of their actions. I think as this movement continues to grow, we are going to see victims of sexual assault in the US being taken more seriously as well as offenders being more greatly punished. With that being said, the other major social movement happening right now is the Black Lives Matter movement which aims to end violence and racism which is often held towards black individuals by the United States criminal justice system. Much like the Me Too movement, gained a massive following and backing due to it going viral on social media. Much of its focus is to end the onslaught of police brutality we are seeing towards black individuals and how people of color are often times treated unfairly in the criminal justice system. With this movement, I feel as though it is inevitable that police brutality will begin to be taken more seriously as well changes being made to the police force and criminal justice systems. Both the Me Too and BLM movements began as small national movements which have now spanned into global movements which are gaining power and influence.

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10- Cyber bullying: An Endemic in the Age of the Internet

In the world today, the era of the internet and social media, the act of bullying has taken on an entirely new and menacing form, cyber bullying. However, before getting into this it is worth looking at how the dynamic of bullying has changed throughout the past few decades. It was once that bullying would primarily occur at school or in isolated areas and was even arguably at one point considered something “cool” to do. Bullying largely takes on the form of face to face verbal or physical harassment of an individual from another or group of other individuals. This was extremely common in schools for a long time and was largely dismissed without much punishment. Although, within about the past two decades, bullying in schools today is now quickly shut down and often leading to the offenders facing severe repercussions. Many schools have even adopted zero tolerance policies that remove bullies from the school environment after even one offence. With that being said, bullying in schools has by no means been eliminated, but I do think it is more under control and that most people would agree that it is not something “cool” to do. However, the entire dynamic of bullying changed once the rise of the internet and social media came about. This was the birth of cyber bullying, and bullies are now able to hide behind a screen, being completely anonymous and without any fear of facing repercussions. I think that we are seeing a rise in the cyber bullying problem because bullies now have anonymity and think that their comments, threats, or anything else has no consequence on the person or persons they are attacking. This is where they are wrong though, there are potentially extreme consequences to cyber bullying, and any other form of bullying for that matter. Many people think that if they post a mean or hateful comment online that it won’t actually do anything or hurt anyone, but it can tear apart someone’s self-esteem and has many times now driven victims to commit suicide or hurt themselves because they feel a lack of self-worth. With this being said, research taken from Bullying Statistics has shown that about half of youth has experienced some form of cyber bullying at one point and that between 10-20% of youth are being regularly bullied online (“Cyber Bullying Statistics”). These numbers are alarming and as the ease of access to technology continues to grow, so will the number of cyberbullies. Combating the problem is going to extremely difficult since people are able to be anonymous online, but I think it is entirely possible if people are more educated on the repercussions of cyber bullying and also if social media sites and apps take a better initiative at preventing or stopping bullies on their platforms.

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9- Elder Abuse: It’s Uncomfortably More Common Than You’d Think

In many societies elderly individuals are regarded and treated with respect. With that being said, most people I know are very close to and respect older individuals or their grandparents, and it would come as a surprise to them that nearly one out every ten elderly individuals in the United States has been the victim of some form of elder abuse (Griffiths et al). This is broken down into six main forms of elder abuse which include the following: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional/psychological abuse, neglect, financial, and self-neglect. Typically elder abuse occurs when someone who is close to the older individual neglects to care for or even abuses the individual. This can be anyone from a relative, caretaker, hospital, nursing home, etc. The fact that abuse is happening to one in every ten older persons is extremely unfortunate and I feel as though there should be more intervention to prevent this. Currently, government run organizations such as APS (Adult Protective Services) deals with situation in which there is elder abuse. However, I think that there should be stricter laws and requirements which dictate who and how people care for elder citizens. If they are in a nursing home, then I think the employees should not be inexperienced and come qualified to care for individuals. If an elder person is not in a nursing home, then I think more options should be made to house and care for elder adults who are unable to care for themselves. I feel that largely in our society that elder adults are left responsible for themselves if a family member does not intervene, and to deal with this, I think that there should be more government assistance for elder adults that are on their own.

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8- A World in Anarchy

Throughout the United States, there are many people who are against government and desire for it to have less control or simply not exist. This in theory may sound like a pretty desirable outcome due to the fact that individuals would have no limitations and absolute freedom to do as they like. That sounds great, but that also means that the United States would be turned into a lawless land without any structure or organization to keep things in check. In other words, there would be no laws or authority to enforce any rules or regulations. This is turn means that almost all negative formal sanctions would be entirely removed, and sanctions are typically what keeps us from doing things that are considered wrong or against the law because there is consequence to our negative action. This total absence of government or any authority in a country is what is known as anarchy. Though many people may strive for a governmentless society, I personally think that it would lead to utter chaos and violence. Take the purge movies for example, for one day a year all laws and government and authority related figures are removed. The result of this is absolute chaos and extreme violence due the fact that there is no punishment for actions. Now, imagine this, but as an everyday reality. Obviously less over the top, since it is a film, but this would be an absolute nightmare to live in a society with no structure or government to hold it together. This is even agreed upon in Introduction to Sociology as it mentions the following, “…anarchy, or the absence or organized government, does not facilitate a desirable living environment for society…” (Griffiths et al). I completely agree with this and think that the government is never going to be able to make everyone happy, but it is crucial to keep things structured and organized and preventing things from falling into chaos or anarchy.

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7- That’s A Man, Maury! Breaking Gender Norms and Social Deviance Associated with Drag

In case it is unknown, drag is a type of performance art typically done by homosexual or gay males by which exaggerated makeup and female clothing is worn for a performance. However, drag is very diverse and can be done by both genders and differs from drag queen to drag queen. With that being said, drag and drag queens have become a momentous part of both the LGBTQIA+ community and even pop culture. Take Rupaul’s Drag Race for example, this television show which showcases male drag queens in a reality competition has become a pop culture phenomenon, skyrocketing many drag queens into fame. It has also sprung a rise in drag related events and media such as Rupaul’s Drag con (A drag queen convention), touring performances of queens both from the show and not, related shows such as The Trixie and Katya Show and Drag Race Thailand not to mention so much more. However, even though drag has become widely accepted and recognized it is still considered a deviant action for its breaking of gender norms in society. From a young age we are socialized to act and dress in a certain way which conforms to our gender. Drag is considered a deviant action because it rejects this conformity to gender norms with performers wearing clothes unassigned to their gender and taking on an exaggerated appearance of the opposite sex. Keeping this in mind, one might wonder why people perform in drag or like to watch if it is a deviant act. The book Introduction to Sociology brings this up stating to following, “Much of the appeal of watching entertainers perform in drag comes from the humor inherent in seeing everyday norms violated” (Griffiths et al.). This is an excellent example as drag does violate and break down gender norms and stereotypes often in a very comedic way. This in turn is able to make for entertainment as an audience member is viewing something humorously mundane or deviant from regular norms. Additionally, from a personal perspective as an individual who does drag regularly, it is also an immense platform for personal expression of art and self. I perform in drag as a form of self-expression and because it is something which makes both myself and others happy. It is mundane and odd and not accepted by everyone, but drag is a growing art form which challenges the norms of gender and society, but is fully here to stay. `

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6- The Heteronormative Society of the United States

“So when did you know you were gay? How do you know you’re gay?” As a gay individual, these are questions which I have faced from straight or heterosexual peers more than a plethora of times of times in my life. Typically, if I know the person, I fire back with, “Well, when did you know you were straight?” or “How do you know your straight?” This usually creates some friendly banter that goes back and forth on the topic, but most homosexual individuals know that this is a questions that they will be asked more than a comfortable amount of times in their lives. This is largely due to the fact that the United States is primarily a heteronormative society. What this means is that many people assume that we fall into specific roles or norms that align to our gender. For instance, a man or woman should inherently be straight from birth and only date people of the opposite gender. Any people who are gay, lesbian, bi, etc., are breaking away from this heteronormative belief and not following what a large portion of society thinks should be followed based on their gender. Heteronormativity is a really a belief that homosexuality is not something which is natural. We however know that this is not true and more and more acceptance is very slowly beginning to become more common. However, even there is much more acceptance of homosexuality today, there is still a problem with heterosexism. Introduction to Sociology explains it as the following, “institutional practices that privilege heterosexuals and heterosexuality over other sexual orientations. Much like racism and sexism, heterosexism is a systematic disadvantage embedded in our social institutions…” (Griffiths et al.). This is something which I have personally experienced in the past, being treated differently or even discriminated due to my sexual orientation. As I mentioned though, heteronormative beliefs and heterosexism are both slowly beginning to go away. This is of course due to a growing acceptance from the population, but also due to laws and regulations in support of equal opportunity, same sex marriage, and much more. I do not think that heterosexism or heteronormative thoughts are anything which will ever go away completely, but there is definite support against it which is growing more and more creating the belief that no one sexual orientation is a norm.

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5- What’s Really Keeping You from Doing Everything You Want?

Have you ever had the urge to steal something that does not belong to you? Harm someone because they were being mean? How about cheat on test? What is stopping you from doing these things? What is stopping anyone from doing anything that might be considered bad or disapproving? The answer to this is sanctions, or otherwise known as rules or laws that govern what is considered to be right and wrong. With that being said, there are two primary types of sanctions: Formal and informal, both of which can either be positive or negative. For example, take formal sanctions to start with. These are things which are more official such as laws or rules. So, when someone does something such as steal a car, they are punished with a negative formal sanction by being either fined or sent to jail for having broken the law. On the opposite hand, a positive formal sanction could be looked at as something like a reward for doing something good. Take for instance an employee who has worked for a company for a few years. They have worked hard and shown tremendous improvement and productivity, as a formal positive sanction for their good work the employee get a raise or even a promotion. In other words, positive formal sanctions are things we tend to strive to achieve or work towards. Now, what about positive and negative informal sanctions and what makes them informal? Informal sanctions are things that are largely more unofficial and only create minor consequence. Think about when you do something nice for someone or do something good, this will typically garner a “thank you” or any other compliment or small token of gratitude. These are known as positive informal sanctions. As you might guess, negative informal sanctions are the opposite. These could be disapproving glares or body language from people around you to a mean or negative comment to show condemnation of an action. All in all, we largely rely on sanctions to keep things running smoothly and in an organized and safe way. Without any sanctions to govern what we can and cannot do, people would be running around doing anything they please and chaos would ensue.

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4- Special Education: Mainstreaming vs. Inclusive Education

When it comes to parents of students who have a children in special education, there is often a desire to have their child in a least restrictive environment. Often, individuals in special education are segregated and kept away from the rest of students who are a part of the general education. Many parents strive to have their child be included in general education because they think it will be better for them in the long run. This is entirely possible, but there is much debate as to what people think is best. If a child with special needs is going to be included in a standard classroom there are generally two predominant options, mainstreaming and inclusion. According to Introduction to Sociology, “‘Inclusion’ is a method that involves complete immersion in a standard classroom, whereas ‘mainstreaming’ balances time in a special-needs classroom with standard classroom participation” (Griffiths et al.). What this means is that if a student is included in a classroom through immersion, then they are being placed into the classroom as if they are a general education student without any intervention or support. However, mainstreaming involves being part of both a standard and special education classroom. In my opinion of these two, this is the better option for a student.

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3- Know Your Groups and Why They Matter

As I’m sure most people know, they belong to or have various social groups in their lives. This is completely true, however, you social groups are categorized into two major types. They are broken down into what is known as your primary and secondary groups, each with very different characteristics. Your primary group is largely what you would consider to be your peer or friend group as well as family. This is usually a relatively small group of people with whom you are closest with. They do serve a crucial role in your life though, as these individuals are those who are there to support your emotional needs or what is referred to as expressive functions (Griffiths et al). In other words, you can think of these individuals as those who are there to support you and have a major influence on your socialization and life. Your secondary group however, is much different in its functionality and your interaction with them. The secondary group is often much larger and made up of individuals who you may see on a regular basis but have a much less personal relationship with. For example, people in this group are likely to consist of your classmates or coworkers whom you regularly see, but have more of a professional relationship with. According to Introduction to Sociology, “These groups serve an instrumental function… meaning that their role is more goal- or task-oriented than emotional” (Griffiths et al). Essentially, these are the individuals who you are acquainted with and work alongside, but do not necessarily interact with outside of your work or school setting. Keeping this in mind, your primary and secondary groups are constantly changing, growing and shrinking as you meet and befriend and socialize with new individuals.

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2- Here’s What You Didn’t Know You Were Learning at School: The Hidden Curriculum

A hidden curriculum sounds like there is something ominous or secret going on at your school. However, what it is, is actually all the informally taught things which you learn from attending each day. For example, simple habitual practices such as the repetition of attending each day and doing homework is one thing learned. Although more complex matters about both life and culture are learned informally in school as well. This specifically is brought up in the textbook Introduction to Sociology as it mentions the following, “When children participate in a relay race or a math contest, they learn there are winners and losers in society. When children are required to work together on a project, they practice teamwork with other people in cooperative situations. The hidden curriculum prepares children for the adult world” (Griffiths et al.). This “curriculum” is predominantly seen and learned throughout elementary and high schools. It also varies from culture to culture, as countries also have different hidden curriculums that may teach children values and skills related specifically to them. All in all, it seems like your teachers actually were right when they said that you would be using what you learned in school in the future, you just never knew it!

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It’s in Your Genes, or is it?

Not the kind of jeans that you wear, but the genes that make up your genetic code for who you are. This leads into the debate which is largely known as nature versus nurture. At some point most people have heard of this or are somewhat familiar with it. Many researchers argue that we behave and are the way we are due to our genetic code present from birth, stating that it is our nature to behave the way we do. In this way, it is argued that the way we are socialized growing up does not have any direct impact on our personality, temperament, behavior or even abilities. However, a great deal of people, as well as researchers, disagree with this. Many state that how we are nurtured or socialized growing up does directly have an impact on all of the above. Perhaps some parts of us are in fact determined by our genetics or nature, but others are due to nurture and socialization. Do you think that who you are is due to nature, nurture, or a combination of both?

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