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- Sociology
- Thinking Sociology
- Social Identity
- Culture, Knowledge & Belief
- Social Organization & Control
- Production, Inequality & Social Division
- Digital Stories
WELCOME TO SOCIOLOGY
The Study of Society
Sociology focuses on identifying, explaining, and interpreting patterns and processes of human social relations. This introductory course is designed not just to teach you some of the major findings of sociology, but to help you master fundamental sociological skills, including the ability to think with a "sociological imagination" as well as integrate "technological fluency" with "informational literacy" utilizing basic computer-based data analysis—skils which have broad applicability in a range of educational and work settings.
Our goal in this class is for you to gain a different perspective of a diverse world often taken for granted and to gain new insight into the ways that society shapes people and the way people shape their society. Our objectives are directed at building competence as a critical thinker and change agent so that you will better able to raise relevant questions about the direction in which society is moving, interpret social trends, and examine significant social problems.
It is my hope that this hands-on experience of "doing" sociology will both enliven your interest in sociological analysis and help you develop practical skills that you can use in other contexts as well. We can best understand the process of social interaction when we understand the person in place and in time. Our syllabus sets the place, time and process of this course for you the person.
Welcome to my world, your world, our world.
Dr. Michael Thompson
Posted Improperly, fixed by Admin.
Jeremy Gwinn
Belief is something that my family has a big thing for due to the fact that my dad is a pastor and has gotten a doctorate in theology. I have been raised to believe that the bible is the truth and believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins, and then ask him to come into your life is the only way to go to heaven and spend eternity there. Instead of spending eternity in hell. I know this because he tells us in 1st john 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
Yes I know that there are tons of different beliefs and religions that say is the right way, which while I think about it pretty much all of them say that theirs is the right religion. But I believe and know that mine is the right way. But I know that doesn’t mean that people can’t believe what they want.
In the Bible that I read and study and believe holds the truth brings the words from John 14:6, “Jesus answered,” “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes the Father except through me”. This is saying that the only way you can go to heaven and be with the Father who is God, is to go through the son Jesus and you do that by how I said earlier. People and other religions love to butcher the bible and teach people lies but I believe they are the ones that will pay when the day comes when they have to stand in front of God.
*Resources*
http://biblehub.com/john/14-6.htm
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201:9
Elijah Dean xx
Culture Knowledge And Belief
Would you tell a christan that god isn’t real because you never seen him? Belief plays a strong part in today’s society because everyone believes what they want and often gets into an altercation with someone else over what’s right when really it’s just what you want to be right. A wise man once told me two things you never want to argue about is politics and religion. Believing in someone as a boyfriend or girlfriend that they will stay loyal while you guys are in different states really tells how much belief you have in a person. As you go through life people tell you what they believe and expect you to make it a belief when it’s really your choice if you want to or not. How much belief do you have in things you can’t see?
When I hear the word “belief” the first thing I think about is religion. Having faith is to believe in something you can’t see referring to Jesus. It’s hard to believe in something you can’t see, feel, or hear. I grew up going to church whenever I felt like getting some free candy without really understanding why I was going and what my purpose was. Life is about making choices no matter the choice good or bad you have to be ready for the conseques that comes behind it. Believe in yourself or nobody will believe in you know your worth and keep your beliefs close to your heart and stick to your word.
As a young age I knew what was right and what was wrong but sometimes I wanted to just tryout the wrong becuause my belief was not in whoever told me it was wrong but was in me wanting to figure out on my own. Having belief in something knows that no matter what anybody says you stand behind your belief. At this day in age you really have to have a lot of belief in your spouse and trusting them when you are not around each other. Trust plays a part in belief because if you don’t trust what you believe in then it’s worthless to you as if you don’t have trust in your spouse. Some will argue that’s its harder to believing in a human than it is to believe in god even though you can’t see him because they believe no matter what he will never betray or leave them.
A lot of your beliefs come from your culture or the culture you came from. Tribes in African believe in voodoo which if you ask someone if they believe in voodoo in Colby they will look at you like your stupid and probably walk away. Sometimes instead of saying your opinion about someone’s beliefs you just listen and just see how they think and their outlook on life. As a kid I believed presents came from Santa not because I knew him but because my parents to me that and I believed anything they told me. Sometimes you have to make your own beliefs and you can’t let anyone tell you different.
How much belief do you have in things you can’t see? This question comes back up just to show you that belief has such a big part on society and our culture. Many people go with the beliefs of their parents of the environment around them. Many fail to realize that it’s hard for a child to have a positive mindset while liking in a violent or poor environment. It’s not a lot to look forward to living on earth so people find things to give them a cretin fulfillment and safety.
*Resources*
http://www.ils.unc.edu/~losee/b5/node9.html
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15391523.2010.10782551#.VPKdTvnF9x4
Allie Vigil x
Where I am today is a result of all the factors that influenced my life. This includes the people I’ve met, the places I’ve been, and the decisions I’ve made. It’s interesting to see how people from the same backgrounds end up in completely different places and people from completely opposites ends of the spectrum can end up with similar lifestyles.
It’s interesting to see what direction people will take their lives. There are people who have come from nothing to achieve greatness and there are people who have bet set up to succeed in life but throw everything away. On the flip side of that there are people who will take advantage of everything they are given and press their success to its limits and others who are content with a life that lacks opportunity. So this is the question, what contributes to the direction a person’s life takes? Is it an innate factor that no one has control over? Is it a conscious decision? Or is it the result of a chance encounter with someone who was inspiring?
I can see why people study psychology and sociology. The hope that there is some method to the madness of life can totally alter someone’s outlook on their situation. In addition, if there is a scientific equation that helps determine how people live their lives then this could open up a world of possibilities for society. Aptitude testing could be pinpointed, the American society could determine the best politicians to vote for, and we would be able to pick the best candidates for job selection to prevent bad things from happening to good people.
On the flip side of that, discovering this mythical “equation” would take a lot of the spontaneity out of life. It would be like predicting the future and would take a lot of joy out of meeting new people if you cold tell exactly what decisions they will make from different personality traits they have.
Because I believe there is no such equation, I find it more plausible that a mix of factors contributes to a persons social interactions and maybe the same factors don’t effect all people or effect people in different ways. Because of this I think studying sociology is important because there can be endless discoveries made that people can learn from to better themselves.
The human disposition is intriguing and although we have learned a lot from observation there is so much about people and social interactions that are unknown. However, I think that this is one of the things that is so exciting about life. People are unpredictable and the only person you have control over is yourself. But, I also think that there are something’s that people don’t understand about themselves and that’s why sociology is important, because it’s possible to know yourself without understanding yourself.
References
https://modernsocieties.wordpress.com/2007/09/30/what-do-we-mean-by-thinking-sociologically/
https://www.google.com/search?q=sociology+pictures&bi
Dylan Means x
Sociology
Thinking Sociology Wiki #1
A persons social identity depends on the characteristics and interests that help them fit in. It's how we see ourselves in comparison with other people's similar interests as well as their differences. Social identity is best described as a certain intergroup behaviors on the basis of group differences, and the ability to move from one group to another. Sociologists use the concept of social identity to explain how people understand who they are and why they do what they do. Also sociologists do believe that some extreme behavior comes from different social identities. Some people regard groups a little more like themselves maybe more positively, identifying themselves as members of such groups in contrast to others. Some people identify themselves by religion or a different culture, different jobs relationship differences such as someone’s mother, father, aunt.
Social Identity also depends on gender. Whether male or female, they both see themselves in different ways. The identity of gender is determined long before birth. Boys color is blue, parents get toy cars or planes. More stuff that interests boys, whereas baby girls parents paint the room pink, and buy baby dolls or maybe barbies. Girls are expected to be gentle, more affectionate, and caring. Boys are tough, strong-willed, and rough.
As children grow older they continue to be raised based on gender. Boys start to take interests in sports and become more competitive or aggressive. Girls are more soft, emotional. Sports make both genders feel like they're apart of something. They find pleasure in being apart of a group as a sports team. Athletes have different interests than say, maybe a scholars bowl participant, which means they have two different identities whether theyre the same gender or not. People adapt to those surrounding them, say a basketball player is in a room full of scholars, they're not going to act like they would around his or her team.
Identities also in sports fans. Take two rivals like KU and KSU, they live in the same state, but fans discriminate against each other souly based on their interest in sports teams. Each individual wants to be unique in their own way and try to make comparisons to either up their status or maybe down someone else’s, so that person will still look superior. In one way one sport would bash on the other to make it seem like their sport is the better one.
Social identity can't be ignored or avoided, you are who you are, and will be accepted into different groups your whole life.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_identity_theory
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-social-identity-theory.htm
Athlete Identity
Brittnee Higgs x
What are social identities and why do we have them? A social identity is the portion of an individual's self-concept derived from perceived membership in a relevant social group. Our social identities can be established by the relations we have to others according to what we have in common. There are a lot of social identities and some people have more than one social identity. They don’t have specific ones because people perceive identities differently. There can be social identities associated with sports, school, work, race, hobbies, gender and more. I want to focus on the identity of an athlete in general.
My entire life I have grown up playing sports. All through junior high and high school I played as many sports as I could. It hasn’t stopped either, I’m here at college playing softball. Being an athlete has been a huge part of my life and has shaped me into the person that I am today. There are many factors that make up the social identity of an athlete. Popularity comes with being an athlete. Stereotypically if you are an athlete you are considered popular by demand. It just sort of comes with the title. People also play a big part in pressuring athletes into who they are. Parents, coaches and even teammates have the biggest influence on an athlete.
Being an athlete on a sports team, whether it is in high school or college, comes with its perks. Everyone knows who you are because they watch you play every game. Make a great play in a game and sooner or later word gets around about you and you become the talk of the school. You are not only popular with the students but also the faculty and administration. You work your way to the top and then there is no going back. The people at school are the ones who make it all happen. They talk about you and make you into the popular kid in school. I know popularity wasn’t a big deal to me but sometimes you can’t do anything about it. Being well known and popular isn’t a bad thing, just depends on how you handle it.
The identity of an athlete is not only shaped because of popularity but also because of people that are closest to you. You parents, for example, pressured you to start playing the sport when you were little and eventually you grew to love it. Your coaches pressure you every single day at practice to run faster and lift harder. They teach you lifelong lessons that you will never forget. Your teammates are there to push you and help you achieve greatness. They make you better every single day and help you become the best athlete and person that you can be. The pressures that surround an athlete make them who they are and shape them into the athlete that they never knew they could be but ended up being.
The social identity of an athlete is shaped by the people and influences that are around them. Being popular just comes with the title of athlete or jock. For both girl and boy athletes it is the same. The people that watch there game and talk about them make them known to everyone in the community. People start to know who they are and then tell their friends. The pressures of mom and dad or coach are a huge influence. The mentality of an athlete is built by others pushing them such as their teammates during practice or even in a game. This is just one subcategory associated with social identities. There are many of them and they can be formed by many different influences. I have the social identity of an athlete as well as most athletes here on campus.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_identity_theory
http://www.thesportinmind.com/articles/athletic-identity/
On Manhood
Steve Nelson x
Today our young men and boys are receiving conflicting messages on what it is to be a man. These often fall along the lines of “Manhood is what you make it” “Don’t let anyone tell you that you aren’t a man” If you were to ask people today, what is a man? You would get a myriad of confused, unclear answers. It hasn’t always been like this. So why is society so conflicted about manhood? To answer this we must go back to the beginning.
In primitive times, man’s primary functions were providing and protection.Men were hunters. They fought fierce beasts with little more than sticks. To be a man was to be strong, daring and unafraid. They were also called to defend their tribes from other tribes regularly. When the men of the tribe were unable to provide, the tribe simply did not survive. As agriculture began to spread, and there was an abundance of resources, there was very little need for men to protect and provide. Instead men were able to focus on more “civilized” skills. Men were no longer singularly required to be warriors and hunters. Instead these men were able to branch out into many different careers and life paths. As this transition occurred, society’s pressure on a male transformed from being good at being a man to being a good man. Unlike the primitive man, the traits that describe a good man are not all that unlike that of being a good woman.
There is a correlation between the readily available resources in a society and pressures on men to have manly values such as courage, strength, responsibility and competition.When resources are more limited and survival was not guaranteed, there is a firm division between the roles of men and women. This correlation is shown in the Strauss- Howe generational theory. When there is an abundance of resources, there is little need for men to be men.
Today in America, we live in the most resource-rich period in human history. There is a government safety net for those who are not able to provide for themselves. Although we may be exposed to loads of violence in the media, there is very little seen in our day-to-day lives. Food is so abundant that there is a major obesity problem. Manual Labor is all but gone from the daily lives of most. Man’s strength is largely an unnecessary quality. Society, for the most part, doesn’t need men. The counter culture movement of the 60’s ushered in an era where it is socially acceptable for men to refuse to grow up. Waves of men can stay in their parents basement into their 30’s without any real repercussions. The lack of social accountability has lead to many men and women shedding all responsibility. Despite this, society keeps chugging along.
Despite the lack of real need for men in society, there is still a desire and celebration of real men. Even though there is little societal pressure to be a “man” I believe that there are many great reasons to embrace the manly virtues of the past while at the same time living bu some of the more civilized traits. To choose the hard way. To look out for one’s neighbor. To be able to protect one’s family. To be kind. To be self reliant. To take risks. To get action. Just because we live in a society of moral relativity does not mean we have to abide by it. We can live in this society without being of it.
Resources
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/04/23/why-are-we-so-conflicted-about-manhood-in-the-modern-age/
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/06/09/semper-virilis-a-roadmap-to-manhood-in-the-21st-century/
—-
Friends Make You
Layton Leydig x
Dr. Thompson
Sociology
February 27, 2015
Social identities are something that everyone falls into, even if you ae not trying. I remember back in middle school it was important to not have cliques and to try and include everyone. This is something that sounds good in theory, but it is just a fact that not everyone will fit in together and get along. I do believe it is important to always be kind to one another, but it is also important to find yourself and become the person that makes you the happiest.
Social identities start before you even have a choice to make for whom you would like to associate with. Back when I was little my parents had friends, and I by default would hang out with their children. This is something that is common but as time goes on you start to really notice who you are and begin to choose your own friends and can distance yourself from who you use to associate with. The people I have always associated with have been others who have showed an interest in athletics. I have played basketball, baseball, and football for as long as I can remember, and my best friends have always been the ones who have shared the same experiences as me with athletics. I feel like being in a group where you feel comfortable helps with socialization as well. This thought is proven true in my everyday life. I am on the basketball team, so if I am doing a school project, the first person I will look for in class is a fellow teammate. Another example would be if I am trying to find a seat in class or at the cafeteria, I will always sit by a teammate if they are in my presence. Being in a group I can feel comfortable around brings out my confidence and allows me to be more social with other people outside my group and makes me feel a lot more comfortable to be myself.
Social groups can also stem out of the area you were raised or how you were raised too. This is especially true on the basketball team. Even though I love everyone on the basketball team, I find it a lot easier to associate with the in state guys than the out of state guys. All of the in state players on the team live in Northwest and we all hang out almost twenty four seven. Then you have all of the out of state guys, and they all live in the North dorms. They all hang out more often and do their own thing over there. This is probably due to our environment preferences. All of the in state guys are from small town Kansas. We all enjoy country music, we are used to being bored and making the most out of nothing and creating our own entertainment. This is different to the out of state guys. They are all from big cities, will only listen to rap music, and are not use to the lifestyle that we have become accustom to in small town USA.
Although cliques may not be the best thing to encourage, it is important to find your social identity and find yourself. People will change over the years and I think that people’s social identities will forever be changing as time passes. I am not the same person today as I was when I was ten years old. I do not expect to be the same person I am now when I am thirty. Perspectives on life and what is important change as we grow and mature into our social identities.
Resources
http://people.howstuffworks.com/what-is-social-identity.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_identity_theory
Blair Norris x
Sociology
Social Identities
There are ways people identify themselves, and then there are ways people identify one another. When people describe someone they always talk about the way they look, where they’re from or the group/ team they belong to. People usually do anything they can to improve their self-image and enhance their status. Usually people describe their successes in life when talking to others. Not many people go around proudly talking about how they failed a class or lost a game, but they’ll do anything to talk about the game they won or they class they aced. They try to improve their own social identity so others will perceive them a certain way.
Now when others describe someone they start categorizing them so they can fully understand their social environment. When we start putting people into categories we don’t only start figuring out things about other people, we start finding more things about ourselves. Like others, we identify who we are by the people we surround ourselves with and the activities we engage in. There are many different categories people fit into, such as, athletes, nerds, musicians, and choir singers. Everyone fits into a different category. People can also be categorized by where they come from. For example, many people categorize Coloradoans as marijuana smokers since that state has been legalized. Others categorize New Yorkers as high class snobs, or Texans for all being members of the NRA, the south as being racist. It doesn’t matter where you are from, you’ll always be labeled.
With social categorization comes a division in the world. People put others into social groups dividing “them” from “us”, for example, stereotyping “jocks” and “band geeks”. When being put into a social class you start labeling yourself as that category. Like if you became a pitcher for the softball team you will start labeling yourself as a pitcher on the softball team. The one thing about being in a social class is that it’s never consistent. Social classes change throughout your life time. Those who are in school label themselves as a student, those who play a sport label themselves as an athlete and those who play music label themselves as a musician. Doesn’t mean this is the only thing they will be labeled as for the rest of their life. No one can be in school forever, or stay an athlete their whole life. The labels and categories people get put into change vigorously throughout life.
Being identified socially will never change. People will always put others into different categories. They will always stereotype and judge no matter how much or how little they know. Categorizing others helps us to understand what we have in common with each other. For example, we can identify ourselves giving the type of sport we play or the type of sport we like to watch. Once we figure out what activities we like to do or what we find entertaining, we can then figure out who else has those same interests. Most of the time categorizing others isn’t a bad thing, it just makes it easier to figure out who we’d get along with better by figuring out all we have in common. Having a social identity helps us to figure out who we are and who other people think we are.
References:
http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/definitions/social-identity-51
http://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html
** Stereotypes**
Kylie Minish x
2/28/15
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “never judge a book by its cover” I was taught that in elementary school. It simply means, you may see a person from the outside, but it’s always on the inside that matters. As I have gotten older, beauty is becoming more noticeable and personalities aren’t as noticeable. There are all sorts of stereotypes that go around on campus. There are the stereotypes that all women basketball players are lesbian. I know a lot of people that are women basketball players that aren’t lesbian, an example is I.
Now, social identities are a concept of how to understand who they are and why they do what they do. According to social identity people classify themselves and others as belonging to a specific group. Most often people regard people of similar heritage or beliefs more highly than those groups of different beliefs, breeds, character, and life style.
A characteristic is the way people present themselves. If I were to walk into a classroom and start telling jokes with the teacher you would assume that I am a teacher’s pet. People will judge you for being a teacher’s pet and will automatically come to the assumption that you will have a good grade because of that. People don’t assume that you are just an outgoing, funny person.
Society looks down upon people who have tattoos that are visible. Many people describe body art as dirty, and gross. Applying for jobs these days can be difficult if you have body art that is visible, employers may not hire someone who has tattoos. Having tattoos can lead to ending up unemployed. With having tattoos people think that they are tough like bikers. Many girls are ending up having tattoos at a younger age, sometimes with meaning or just because. If a girl has a tattoo on her lower back people believe that you are a tramp, hint: why it is called a tramp stamp.
Women are judged by how they look in society. If a girl wears sweat and a hoodie, she is an ugly tomboy, if a girl is wearing a tight dress or crop top people say you are a slut or just looking for attention. Also, as women get older their skin starts to wrinkle due to multiple purposes. Many women end up getting Botox to tighten them and change their appearance. When women are in their forty’s they end up getting Botox and have to continue doing this to keep up with the appearance they have maintained so far. The people who don’t get Botox woman and men judge the ones who do get it. Everyone in society thinks of their appearance different, more try to maintain their appearance tip top shape others let nature takes its way.
The way women are looked in society is different with what type of class they may fall in and what they surround themselves with. When judging a book by its cover you will never know what is inside of a person, you will only know what you think they may be like by having tattoos on themselves. Everyone falls into his or her own category in society, and once they allow people to judge them they never follow what they think of themselves
Resources
http://www.ghanafilla.net/the-negative-effects-of-body-art-tattoos/
http://people.howstuffworks.com/what-is-social-identity.htm
Jay Ziegelmeier x
Social Identities
Dr. Thompson
February 28, 2015
Sports and Identity
In high schools across America there are several opportunities to participate in different and diverse sports. Most teens have many opportunities to participate in sports, but they are not required to at most schools. So naturally there is a division between kids that do sports and the ones that don’t. Those differences help to make up the kids social identity. Social identities are defined as, “the portion of an individual's self-concept derived from perceived membership in a relevant social group.” Of course there are several sub groups in the groups of sports and non-sports. In sports for instance you could belong to football, basketball, baseball, debate, scholars bowl, wrestling, and many other teams if the sports programs are available at your school. Each of the teams have their own benefits for participation. Some help build endurance and some can help build intelligent even. In high school I played football and wrestled and that was a large part of my social identity.
There are several benefits to doing sports in high school. For instance by participating in sports teens learn the importance of working as a team. Along with that they gain a sense of belonging to a group and making lifelong friends. Sports can also help kids develop discipline. Also as the issue of childhood obesity takes on more prominence, sports provide a way for kids to stay active. Studies from the University of Missouri show that kids that participate in sports are less likely to do drugs and that teenage girls that participate in sports are less likely to get pregnant in high school. Sports can also help teens with their future. Some colleges offer scholarships for certain sports, thereby helping to further teen’s education at a lower cost to them. By doing sports teens can gain public recognition which makes them more confident and gives them a little more pride. All of this helps shape their social identity.
There are some downfalls to sports as well. Some teens feel a large pressure to win, which can cause a lot of stress on students. There is also the risk of injury that is always prevalent. Serious injury and even death have accrued in the past. Pressure can also cause academic grades to drop because the athlete focusses more on the training and the competition than on getting their school work done. Some tournaments last till very late on week nights, and many athletes will choose to miss school the next day, which puts them further behind on their school work. On the other hand from being too successful athletes can become egotistical or “big headed” adding negativity to their social identity. There have been a number of studies on the benefits and downfalls of doing sports, but the fact that they have a defiant impact on your social identity is certain.
Resources
http://www.muhealth.org/services/pediatrics/conditions/adolescent-medicine/benefits-of-sports/
http://www.upmc.com/Services/sports-medicine/newsletter/Pages/pros-cons-youth-participation.aspx
Julie Schroeder x
Dr. Michael Thompson
Sociology
5 April 2015
Youth Depression and Suicide
There is one death by suicide every 13 minutes in the United States alone. As if this isn’t enough to shock you: suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in America for every age. The words that should really surprise you in that sentence is the all ages. Sad isn’t it? Just for young people, suicide is the fifth leading cause of death and specifically for 5-14 year-olds. Five year-olds? How is that even possible you may ask? That’s not all: suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students with only accidents ahead of it. You see, suicide is more deadly than homicide, cancer, and diseases. The suicide rates have all but skyrocketed these last few decades and scientists battle and search for the answer of the question, why? What are the sociological reasons for suicidal thoughts and actions? Is it a personality trait, a mental disorder, an earlier event that causes it, or something completely different? One man, Durkheim who is considered the founder of empirical research in suicidology and sociology, hypothesized that suicidal behaviors were caused by the negative aspects of social integration of individual groups. He also emphasized the importance of religious and family circumstances. When looking at suicide victims, you find that the statistics of suicide are substantially less in people that have good religious values, a loving family, and a close group of friends or even one true friend.
Earlier, when mentioned that more suicides occurred in the youth of ages 10-24, you may have been surprised. Here’s why. As people grow up they go through a stage called Social Identity. In this stage, the youth finds out who they are, where they belong, and who they belong with. For many, it is easy to find this out because they were told and show who they are by those around them. However, for another great many people, it is not that simple: they feel like they don’t know who they are, where they belong or who they belong with. In schools especially, where there is cliques of this and that. Things like, “You don’t belong in the popular group because you are goth,” are said and shown. People don’t feel like they fit in or are bullied so what do they do? They go through depression and the only light at the end of the tunnel is the end of the barrel or the loose cap on the pill bottle.
However, bullying and not fitting in are not the only cause of suicide in youth. Depression can be caused, especially in young people by physical and sexual abuse, change in residence or social class, sexual orientation (“coming out”), alcohol and drugs. All of these may cause people to get into a mindset that life is miserable and not worth living because it will never get better. When this thought sets in, it is nearly impossible to clear it. But don’t despair, there are prevention methods. If you are a bystander of the terrible fate of suicide, let others know their worth. Let them know that they are not alone and that their life is worth living. Don’t just stand and watch our country and our people get dragged down by the monster of depression and suicide.
Do something.
References:
1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3367292/
2. http://jasonfoundation.com/prp/facts/youth-suicide-statistics/
Ami Ronvelia x
Dr. Michael Thompson
Sociology
10 April 2015
Social Identity
A social identity is something that is very important in everybody’s life. It relates us to how we identify ourselves to others. Also, it’s something that influences behavior and can give people a certain sense of self- esteem. So, that is what a social identity is, but there is also something called a social identity theory. What that says is that we define ourselves in terms of our group membership and we seek to have our group be valued as much as the others. A good example of this would be nationality. For instance, everyone has a specific nationality, and so that person would want their country to look good compared to the others. There are many different types of groups that can be formed, but also many different behavior changes within that group.
Socialization is what makes people acquire their culture, their specific skills, knowledge, and abilities of what kind of people they really are. So for example there are many different types of people everywhere, obviously nobody is the same. So let’s take school for example. Schools have many diverse kids and they all have friends, although not everybody is friends with the same person. Some people may not be able to fit in or maybe because their social identity does not appeal to that person or the other way around. Everybody has their own little or big group in which they are comfortable and don’t have to pretend to be someone else. Social identity can also be misunderstood sometimes, meaning someone can appear to be selfish and arrogant, but they actually are not. It’s just a mater of time to understand that person and look at their inner personality, where you can truly identify that person. Also, there are many times when people will try their best to fit in that group, yet cant, but still will keep trying to force themselves. Forcing themselves, they probably will become a part of that group, but not fully and full- heartedly. Their mind will be somewhere else, because they just forced themselves to fit in which is not right. Everybody should be with those people who they know they can be themselves with and don’t have to pretend to be somebody they are not.
Another way to look at social identity would be how you view outsiders or just other people in general that are not inn your group. For instance, believe it or not people form judgments about a person just by looking at them. Basically if you are in your own group with your friends, but you see another group too, you want to feel different from them. Meaning social identification can occur when a group discriminates another one, trying to be different. This is not just one person; this is as a whole with several people who would want to feel that way. They’d all want to feel better about themselves in being in the group they are in. So, even if there are trivial differences within that group, they’ll sort it out and favor their own group.
There are so many ways to look at social identity. Although, it all comes down to who you are or who you seem to be to yourself. It’s important to remember that forcing yourself to be a part of a group you don’t belong in won’t ever make you feel good; it’ll make it worse. It’s better to be with the people you know are the people who understand you. Also, there is nothing wrong in viewing other people and getting ideas about them, but it’s not important to make them all judgmental and just base it off of how they look. Everyone has a social identity, and it is just something that helps us in truly finding ourselves.
References:
1. http://www.bbcprisonstudy.org/resources.php?p=59
2. http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/11/why-groups-and-prejudices-form-so.php
Tanner Lee Xx
Dr. Thompson
Sociology
12 April 2015
Friendships make people the way they are. As a child everyone begins with their life by making friends and joining social groups. This is the cycle of life. As they grow older they gain different friends and transition into new groups. So, the big deal about these social groups is that they give people a sense of pride and self esteem. It also gives them something to want to improve and gives the person a sense of belonging. The way people feel who they are based on their social group is known as social identity.
Social identity was mostly contributed by Henri Tajfel. Henry Tajfel proposed the “Social Identity theory”; groups, teams, family, and social class made people feel proud about their groups and makes them feel like they belong in the world. Tajfel’s theory also states that “group members of an in-group will seek to find negative aspects of an out-group, thus enhancing their self-image.” This part of the theory is more of the negative side of it stating that social identities could be a bad thing too.
The negative side of social identities is discrimination, such as racism. The very worse of racism in history has probably been Germany and the Jews during World War II. Having that nationalism causes too much pride and discrimination. Another part of the social identity theory is that stereotyping is caused because of the human behavior of putting things together and grouping things based on the worse they see. Stereotyping is everywhere and happens all the time. Stereotyping may be very wrong and immoral but in some ways it can be right. The reasons they may be right is that the group someone is in creates there personalities and traits. The way we stereotype is that we look at the differences between groups and the similarities. The more differences the more we tend to dislike the opposing group, as if we see that our group is the best group and anything different is wrong. In way it’s like when we are prejudice of people based on their looks, instead we base on the people we hang out with.
A neat thing with social identities is that as time goes on, different groups become the “in groups” and some groups become the “out groups.” In this time period,2015, the “out group” is Muslims in the middle east. In America we look at stereotypes such as all Muslims are terrorists. Now, being human we like to group them in that category because we look at all the bad Muslim terrorists that have harmed the United States. The only problem is being a predominantly white country we forget to look how equally threatening we are. Taking a look from the other side of the table, us as Americans in some way have attacked other countries so the other countries sees us as the bad guy too. The root of this whole problem is social identities.
To conclude, social identities can be a good thing but could be a bad thing. The good way in which I see it is that being in the group of friends and sports teams that I am in have made me the person I am and have given me a sense of belonging in the world. Now the stereotyping and prejudice in social identities have caused many outstanding disasters in the world such as the holocaust, but it will never fade out and cease to exist. Just like all sociology studies, social identities will always be a occurring through time.
References
http://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html
http://www.jstor.org/stable/258189?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Kamryn Forrest xx
Dr. Thompson
Sociology
Social Identities
The main idea of social identity deals with the social groups someone belongs to, which are influenced mainly by parents until about middle school. Once someone finds the group(s) they “belong” to, they start to make their group more powerful by dividing things into “them” and “us”.
The Social Identity Theory explains this very well. There’s three mental processes we use to figure out us and them. The first deals with categorization, we place others and ourselves into categories we fit into, such as skin color, religion, educational standing, etc. People’s behavior can be considered normal and appropriate to them if it is a norm of that group. The second process is social identification, where one takes over the image of the group they have placed themselves into. Their self-esteem is now based partially on group membership. The last stage is social comparison. After you have realized what group you now relate and belong to, your group begins to compare itself to other groups. In order for everyone in your group’s self-esteem to be upheld, they must feel they rank higher than the other groups. In many cases, two groups will consider themselves rivals and continually compete to maintain self-esteem.
Social Identity starts when you are born, but at this point it is more of you adapting into the “groups” your parents belong to since you cannot yet decide for yourself. For instance, if your parents are Christians, republicans, or avid San Francisco Giants fans; you are technically all three of those until you are old enough to find your own social identity. I would say around seventh or eighth grade is when most kids start branching out from their parents groups and start figuring out their own. I think this because this is usually the grade where kids are able to be on the school’s athletic teams and therefore they become part of a group in that sense. In high school, they start to think about their future and what they want to be, so they become part of groups with common interests. When they have to take a government class or reach the age of 18 is when they start to think about whether they are a republican or a democrat. Then it keeps progressing as they age, people keep finding new groups throughout their whole lives, like when they’re old and join a bingo club or something.
Social identities shape and define who people are. The different group’s people belong to give them a sense of self-confidence and make them feel important to that group. Social identities will only continue to broaden and multiply from here on out.
References
http://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html
http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/definitions/social-identity-49
Brianna Klein xx
April 30, 2015
Dr. Michael Thompson
In the world today many people feel more comfortable searching for love online instead of meeting people the old fashioned way through friends and going out. The total number of people in the United States who have tried online dating is 41,250,000 people, which is a large amount. Some may find the love of their life and some,find problems and even get themselves into bad situations. There are possibilities that the person who you think you're talking to isn't really who they say they are. Other times they may say that they have good intentions but end up trying to hurt you. Not all online relationships end up this way but it happens more then people think. According to an online dating statistic 10% of people on dating websites are sex offenders, which can make online dating very unsafe.
There is a TV show called Catfish which shows the stories of people going through an online relationship, they help the people meet and see if they are who they say they are. There are eight types of catfish on Catfish, opposite gender, revenge seeker, right gender (wrong face), right picture (wrong bio), a friend that means well, pickup artist, catfished is also the catfish, and lastly they are who they say they are. With all of these except the last these people can talk to others for months or even years and never meet due to "unexpected things", but in all reality they do not have the confidence to meet or they are not who they say they are.
Many people feel that they are not pretty enough or muscular enough, they just aren't enough. This mindset makes them change things about their online profile to deceive others into thinking they are more pretty or younger or some other thing that they are unhappy with about themselves. They think that it's okay because they will never meet this person they are talking to online but then they end up talking for so long that they both end up falling in love. And then the bad part is that the other person is angry because when they meet that's not who they thought they were talking to. After they actually meet, things fall through most of the time and then the person who initially deceived others is hurt because "no one loves them", but if they made their profile honest they would find that there is someone that likes them for who they are.
The world right now is obsessed with perfection, we need our bodies, lives and everything to be perfect and if it's not then you aren't good enough. This alone will hurt peoples confidence and when it's so easy to fake something online people find a way to be perfect, even if that means hurting people in the process.
References:
http://www.statisticbrain.com/online-dating-statistics/
http://www.vulture.com/2013/08/eight-types-of-catfish-the-tv-show.html
Shelby Grosberger xx
Sociology
April 30, 2015
Dr. Michael Thompson
I Thought a Subway Was a Sandwich Shop
Coming from a small town, some people don’t realize what an actual subway is. Let’s be real, it’s not just a subway shop, but it’s also an underground electric railroad. Words can have different meanings to people who live in different areas. Whether or not you live in a small town or a big city, you’re social identity is part of where you come from because of the people you’re around.
People of smaller towns have that one factor of everyone knowing everyone. If something would happened to someone, everyone would know in a few hours. School size has a large impact based on a person becoming friends with many of their peers and how you are identified as being with those people. Also, small towns may make it more of a challenge to find the friends you want to be with because of the school population. When being in a small town, people become comfortable with their surroundings and tend to oppose change rather than embracing it or trying anything new. With very little change, people may live a couple of generations in the small town and still have the same views from a long time ago. These people feel that if you don’t like the way they are, than you shouldn’t come there and can move elsewhere. They have their own mindset on how things get done, because that’s how they’ve been doing it for years.
Choosing to live in the urban environment, which makes up cities, reflects human needs and values. Each city has a different vibe, which is the spirit of the city. For cities to retain both private and corporate citizens, they must maintain safety and security. This must be done through tackling and preventing criminal activity, or by providing safer streets for motorists and pedestrians. In these larger cities, there are icons like the Eiffel Tower, Times Square, and Big Ben, which are all lit at night for the world to enjoy. We associate certain feelings and thoughts with cities when we see these icons. Lighting icons, streets, and cities in general contributes to a city’s branding and ultimately, identity.
References:
http://www.bbcprisonstudy.org/resources.php?p=59
http://amerids.blogspot.com/2008/01/on-sports-small-towns-and-stereotypes.html
http://thisbigcity.net/urban-identity-citizens-cities/
Derek Queen xx
Dr. Thompson
Sociology
Parents and Social Identity
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Everyday as we go about our daily routines we interact with one another. Often times how we interact with our friends or strangers is much different from how how we behave with our family. We call this our social identity. The definition of social identity is the portion of an individuals self concept derived from perceived membership in a relevant social group. Religion, political affiliation, and race all play a major role in our social identity. Along with numerous other labels and beliefs. Social identity isn’t just influenced by one thing however. It can be multiple, and in most cases it is. For example, we’re all members of a race, probably members of some religion, and belong to some group. All of these factors help us define our social identity.
So, when do we start categorizing ourselves into social groups? Our identities begin to form at a very young age. I’m sure all of us can remember different times in kindergarten or day care when we played games and began to grow closer to the children we liked. Without realizing it we were forming our own social groups. As we grow older our ties to certain groups and our overall social identity changes many times. Very rarely as an adult will we associate ourselves with the same people we did as a child. As we begin to learn about politics, religion, etc. We begin to cut ties with those who don’t agree with us, and make new ones with those who do.
Parents play a very large part in our social identities as well. As we age we see our parents do different things, and lean different directions with their political views and outlooks on certain issues. What our parents believe in and what social groups they belong to largely influences us as kids and helps us decide what kinds of social groups we want to belong to. However, sometimes people completely oppose the views of their parents. Especially if one's relationship with his or her parents isn’t a good one.
Often times our social identity says a lot about us. Some common things that can be conveyed from our identities are financial status, education, and so on. This often causes a competitive nature around people. After all, most of us would like to be known as the next Bill Gates around our peers. The largest group that affects our social identity in most cases is our religion. Religion influences our morals and many other aspects of life from a very young age. Although its influence on us often isn’t direct it still affects our everyday decisions. As a child our parents may decide what activities and groups we will belong to or partake in but chances are that their religion influenced their decision. I know there were certainly times in my childhood when I didn’t want to partake in an event but I didn’t have any say in the matter. As I’m sure most of us have experienced at some time in our lives.
After researching social identities and how they're influenced by others I’m convinced that a good home life and good peer influence is very important when determining the overall identity of a person. I think it’s important that children are encouraged by their parents at a young age to partake in a religious group of some sort and partake in good-natured social events. In our early teen years we’re very vulnerable to peer influence and it’s important that we have a good foundation of values and morals. As a future parent I find this to be very important and I’m going to try my hardest to positively influence their social identities.
Resources
http://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html
http://www.utexas.edu/courses/stross/ant393b_files/ARTICLES/identity.pdf
Avery Lee xx
Sociology
4/30/15
Tattoos: What is the Big Deal?
“I am a canvas of my experiences, my story is etched in lines and shading, and you can read it on my arms, my legs, my shoulders, and my stomach.” This quote by Kat Von D, tattoo artist, is how many tattooed people would describe why they got their tattoos. I concur. I have two tattoos that mean a lot to me, including a cross with wings to represent and celebrate the life of my Uncle David who passed away from cancer, and a bible verse on my foot reminding me that God does everything for a purpose.
If most tattoos have a positive meaning, why do future employers and those of the older generation look down upon tattooed people? I believe that as times are changing and the number of people with tattoos is growing, the prejudice will change. Where did the negativity that surrounds tattooing start?
Tattoos have a long and rich history. It is thought to have begun around 15,000 years ago when a caveman experimented with how soot healed into the skin, leaving a permanent marking (Brynie). In fact, scientists have found 57 tattoos on the infamous “Otzi the Iceman” from the Italian Alps, who dates back to 3,300 BC. Many historians believe that tattoos from these early time periods were used for spiritual and cultural purposes.
As Christianity spread throughout the Western Hemisphere (306-373 AD), so did the idea that tattooing should be looked down upon. They did not reappear in western culture until the 1770’s when Captain James Cook returned to the British Isles with a “tattoo.” (Tattoos have a mixed…) This started the long tradition of seamen being tattooed. His diaries explained the process used by the Tahitians by saying, “they stain their bodies by indenting, or pricking the skin with small instruments made of bone, cut into short teeth, which indenting they fill up with a dark-blue or black mixture prepared from the smoke of an oily nut.” (Tattoos have a mixed…) Cook’s diary was the where the word “tattoo” was first introduced (Tattoos have a mixed…).
As the popularity of tattooing began to spread, artists needed a more efficient way of applying the ink. In 1819, Oersted, a Danish inventor, came up with the idea of a mechanical tattoo gun. Thomas Edison later improved upon this idea by adding an electrical component. According to the historian George Burchett, the first professional tattoo artist was the German immigrant Martin Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt, although based in Boston, tattooed both soldiers of the Union and Confederate Armies during the Civil War by hopping over the various boundaries (Byrnie).
Tattoos have had many different meanings to many different people throughout the years. Some have more of a positive connotation. In the Pacific Island culture, those that are of the highest rank and power have tattoos covering their bodies. Other cultures, like those of the Great Roman Empire, only tattooed criminals and slaves (Byrnie).
After the invention of the electric tattoo machine tattoos became more affordable and attainable by the average working citizen. This made those of the higher class feel the need to distance themselves from those of the lower class. Tattoos were no longer for those with a higher status or knowledge of foreign countries (John Roberts).
By 1996, tattooing was the sixth fastest growing industry in the United States. Every two days a new tattoo shop was opened (Brynie). About one in five people today have a tattoo. Even with this increasing popularity of tattooing among Americans many of the negative stereotypes remain (John Roberts). According to a study conducted by Benjamin Martin and Chris Dula, some of the negative stereotypes that surround tattoos include: unsuccessful in school, being from a broken home, having a negative experience during childhood, no religious association, poor decision-making abilities, succumbs to peer pressure easily. During the same study, they also concluded that there was no correlation between students with tattoos and students with low GPA’s (Martin). According to a study conducted by Cedarville University, tattoos were not intended to be a sign of defiance, but were more of a collaborative effort between ideas of their peers and from the individual (Firmin).
Women tend receive more negative comments about being tattooed than men. This is due to the fact that many parents maintain the fear that their daughter will seem less desirable or marriageable to men (Horne). This stigma against females with visible tattoos is disproved by a study conducted by Jenn Horne. In fact, more than half (58.8%) of undergraduate men found women with visible tattoos attractive.
The bible verse that is commonly associated with tattoos is Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.” This verse is the center of controversy for many Christians, but as our culture has begun to accept them so have many Christians. I believe that the idea that tattooing should not be allowed in the Christian faith falls under the Old Covenant. Many of the practices and laws of the Old Covenant were no longer necessary after Jesus died for us on the cross. With his blood washing away our sins, a New Covenant was born. Today, many Christians have used their tattoos as an opportunity to give their testimonies (Firmin).
An article in Nursing Standard tells the story of a nurse who uses her tattoos to help “break the ice” with patients. Sles Scovell first discusses what it was like to enter the field of nursing in 1989 as a nurse with tattoos. Her employer and she came to an agreement that if a patient complained she would promptly cover her ink with a dressing. “No patient has ever complained about my tattoos. They are a great talking point and have helped break the ice with a number of patients who ask me questions about them, says Scovell (Smith).
In certain situations, tattoos could actually improve the image of the employee. Jobs such as a bouncer, tattoo artist, or anything in the art field would gain credibility with the presence of tattoos. This kind of job is very limited. Pete Holmgren, childcare provider, has three tattoos with the plan of getting three-quarters of a sleeve in the future. Childcare is often a profession where tattoos are looked down upon. “Future employment was always on my mind. I was thinking of a full sleeve instead of a three-fourths sleeve, but decided against it. That way, I can still wear button –ups and do one or two sleeve rolls and still have them not show,” stated Holmgren.
Holmgren is not the only one who is conscious about where he gets his tattoos. College students involved in the study conducted by Benjamin Martin and Chris Dula, reported that they were careful to get tattoos where they could be easily covered due to the fear of various negative stigmas associated with tattoos (Martin).
More and more well educated people are getting tattoos, yet the discrimination against tattoos continues (John Roberts). Employers are turning away skilled employees based on their appearance. Turning potential employees away based on their appearance is believed to be a thing of the past, but it happens every day here in America.
I live every day by the well know anecdote, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” I believe that we should learn to accept the growing trend of tattoos in our society. Tattoos are no longer for the rich and famous, the criminal, or the druggie on the corner. Tattoos are for the everyday person, the one who has worked hard to get to where they are. The only difference is they chose to have a work of art put on their body to remind them of the struggles they have been through and successes they have attained.
Resources*
1.) Brynie, Faith Hickman. "Tattoos: Art Or Agony?." 101 Questions About Your Skin (1999): 139. Book Collection Nonfiction: Elementary School Edition. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
2.)Delaney, Chelle. "Tattoos Have Mixed, Colorful History." Quay County Sun. 2 Nov. 2007. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://www.qcsunonline.com/2007/11/03/tattoos-have-mixed-colorful-history/>.
3.)Firmin, Michael W. Tse, Luke M. Foster, Janna Angelini, Tammy. "Christian Student Perceptions Of Body Tattoos: A Qualitative Analysis." Journal Of Psychology & Christianity 27.3 (2008): 195-204. Religion and Philosophy Collection. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
4.)Horne, Jenn, David Knox, Jane Zusman, and Marty Zusman. "Tattoos and Piercings: Attitudes, Behaviors, and Interpretations of College Students." College Student Journal 41.4 (2007). FPO IP Research & Communities. Project Innovation (Alabama). Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <www.freepatentsonline.com/article/College-Student-Journal/172977998.html>.
5.)John Roberts, Derek. "Secret Ink: Tattoo's Place In Contemporary American Culture." Journal Of American Culture 35.2 (2012): 153-165. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
6.)Martin, Benjamin, and Chris Dula. "More than Skin Deep: Preceptions Of, and Stigmas Against, Tattoos." College Student Journal 44.1 (2010). FPO IP Research & Communities. Project Innovation (Alabama). Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <www.freepatentsonline.com/article/College-Student-Journal/221092151.html>.
7.)Smith, Lee. "My Tattoos Sometimes Help Break the Ice with Patients." Nursing Standard 24.25 (2010): 33. EBSCO Host Connection. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <connection.ebscohost.com/c/letters/48847377/my-tattoos-sometimes-help-break-ice-patients>.
Bryce Rone xx
Dr. Thompson
Sociology
*Social Identities*
In today’s society, people are involved in so many different activities and groups that they are required to put on a different “hat” for each different setting that they place themselves in. In one group a person may be the leader or the one every other person looks to; however, in a different setting they may be the person at the bottom of the totem pole.
To me it’s very interesting how people change how they interact and how they carry themselves based on the setting they’re in and the people they are around. It seems like too many people are willing to allow themselves to be placed in to roles that they do not want just because others are willing to place them in it.
With the events that happening in Baltimore right now, it is a case of “them” vs. “us”. The looters and the violent people are causing others nationwide to say “all of those blacks in Baltimore are ‘animals’” which we know isn’t true and the same is able to be said of the cops. There are some crooked cops but not all of them are “racist” like many black people like to say they are.
This is just a small part of the labeling that happens in every part of life. Labeling allows people to see a quick snapshot of where someone came from and what they might be like. This is a flawed system though, as the generalized labels or stereotypes do not fit every person from a certain group or setting. For example, people from Colorado are almost automatically labeled as “stoners” or “potheads” but I am from Colorado and I’ve never smoked weed. It’s the same as the South being labeled racist but not every person is racist.
The social identity theory attributes to this because we all want our groups to be accepted and valued as much as any other group. So, we try our hardest to make our group seem like it’s something that an outsider would kill to be a part of. This leads to friction among groups as one group tries so hard to be valued that they step on the toes of other groups which only angers them.
Social identities are what we base our value to others and how we perceive ourselves on is a great system in terms of getting a quick idea of what a person might be like; however, it is indeed a flawed system as stereotypes and generalized thoughts ruin the reputations of many before others even meet them.
Resources:
http://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_identity_theory
Allen Martin xx
Dr. Thompson
5-3-15
Social Identity's
I think social identity is a big thing that runs through school a lot now a days, I would say that you only know kids by the groups they come in and not just because you know the kid personally. I know in school I only knew some kids because of the clicks and groups they hung out with but that’s how it works now a days because kids only have a certain amount friends and that’s all they hang out with they don’t branch out or try to make new friends, this shows it’s like a day to day routine all that matters is how their identity to the membership of the group.
Social identity just shows that your part of one group, for example a lot of kids talked crap about the other people in the or that group pretty much to fit in to show everyone you fit in so in reality you are divided into “them” and “us” and it shows that because there are a lot more bullying going in schools now a days by different kids because that’s how it works the different kinds of groups discriminate against other kids which causes the “in group” they call it to get rid of the “out group”. It’s kind of like racism a little bit because if a white person is discriminating a black person than they aren’t letting them be a part of the society. In ways people always have something to say about another person for example if you hate a person or if there is a kid that doesn’t play because another is better than there is always something to say or complain about especially parents are a big reason that a lot of this happens because they always have something to say. In football I feel like there is a big social identity problem because you have players of different strengths and weakness and think there is a problem because say the player has a big strength that player has a good chance that he is going to get paid a lot more than the other person which some players aren’t happy about. There are 3 categories of social identity and that’s categorization a lot of people categorize people to get a hold of society and what it is and the categories are black, white, Caucasian, Mexican ect. Social identification is for example if you adopt yourself as a student athlete than you will see results and there will be an emotional significance. Social Comparison once you find a group you tend to compare other groups to yours.
People have their different feelings about social identity but I think that this is as most serious as everything thinks but no one really cares too much about it because that’s how the world works and it happens in the everyday world even for older people. It’s all about how people classify it because it can always be a good thing but if people play it off as bad than its going to be.
Resources: http://www.utexas.edu/courses/stross/ant393b_files/ARTICLES/identity.pdf
McLeod, S. A. (2008). Social Identity Theory. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html
Zell Bieberle x
Culture, Knowledge and Belief
The culture portion can be a lot of different things, but culture is like where you live, or where you grew up at. The culture or someone can be like he’s not from the United States. That is where a person grew up at and that would be part of there culture. Or someone that plays football or likes to drink or works really hard, it’s just in their culture to do those things.
The knowledge part is all about how much you know or what you know. It is helpful when you know a lot about something that way you can make better choices about said thing. It you know a lot about something you can make the right choices when you have to make them. If you are a bodybuilder and a loved one goes to the hospital, you feel like you need to be there with them, at their side to support them. But you still have to be in the gym at six in the morning. This is knowledge that you need to make the right choices or you wont get where you want to be in life if you don’t have the knowledge of what you have to do.
Next, is belief? This comes down to what you thing about something. This can be anything! If I believe in God, but someone doesn’t it doesn’t mean one of us is wright and one is wrong. It simple means that we share the common fact that belief of one or more things. If you want to believe in the Government trying to take over the US. You can do so. I believe that people should work hard for what they think is right. I think that people with a strong belief in something is good to have in their life.
Now then we put this all together we can see many great things! Like for example we will use bodybuilding to implement this into real life. The culture of o bodybuilder is to lift weights all the time. They try and take their bodies and mold it into what they think the end product should look like. As like an artist takes a chisel and a hammer and works with the stone to make a masterpiece. So a bodybuilder will put in many hours in a gym because it’s part of their culture.
The knowledge part is that they have to know what kind of lifts to do to build a great body, and how to lift the weights in such a way that they can grow and get as big as possible to win the big shows. They need to know what to eat and when to eat the food and how much food to eat and how often to eat and when they need to cut their carbs and how much protein to eat and what kind of protein to eat. The diet of a bodybuilder is pretty crazy compared to a normal person. They can eat 6-10 times a day.
The last part is what you stand for and think is right. Most people don’t like bodybuilding but they don’t care what those people think. They put in all the work in and out of the gym for them! And all they want to do is bring their bodies to the upmost best they can possibly bring to the table. When you put all of this together you can do whatever you put your mind to, in bodybuilding or in just life. It really doesn’t matter you just have to believe.
Resources
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbinfoupdate.php?day=7
http://www.muscleandfitness.com/
Image:
https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608052990324769130&pid=15.1&P=0
Shaila Giebler xx
Mr. Thompson
Sociology
12 April 2015
Religion In Society
Mostly everyone believes in God and what he does for our lives but do us as people truly portray his doings? There are so many types of religion in our world today. There is Christian, Mormon, Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, or none at all. I don’t know much about other religions accept Christianity, but the 10 Commandments are what we live by. The Bible is another book of life that most of the World lives by as well. According to a Mormon website, it says that religion is vital to democracy and that they should believe in the Law and not just a figure. I will argue that because God is the man who created earth and created life into it then passed it down to his son, Jesus. Most people have changed their affiliation to a different one or they just completely lose their religious faith. As wonderful as having faith in the Lord above, there are sadly negative effects on society with religion. Albert Einstein once said, “If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed,” meaning that if people fear everything then they will never be rewarded for things they have done in life. That can be through Christ or just in general but a life lived along the books of God is a life worth living. Going back to the negative effects, religion is based on yourself and your own beliefs. If you want to fear religion and think that it will kill your soul then that’s your choice. In the article, The Negative Effects of Religion on Society, talks a lot about people fearing religion and how it turns people against themselves and others. I don’t believe that at all but everyone has his or her own opinion. This is how culture and social control become one. Religion has controlled society tremendously because it causes things like adults who don’t want to be friends with someone who believes in religion because they don’t and they don’t want to be dragged into it.
Not only does it happen with adults, but it has also had effect on teenagers as well. Take for instance preacher’s daughter or son. They have a difficulties becoming apart of social activities because others use their culture against them, saying “oh, that person is going to tell on us or they are too goody tissue for that to be their scene”. Besides all the negativity that people seem to show on religion, there’s a better outcome from being apart of one. Religion brings happiness into people’s lives in which they feel like they can depend on someone when they absolutely have nobody. Also, religion can create a better family home and a better human being all in one. Creating a better life within yourself can make your marriage a blessed one as well. All these characteristics overrule the negative thoughts and opinions that people tend to have in this world we live in. It brings religion into society in which is your culture and social identity all in one. What this means overall is that your beliefs are your own opinion. What you choose to believe in and put all your time and faith into is up to you. Nobody else should contradict your decision based on their beliefs and what they think.
RESOURCES:
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/religions-vital-place-society
http://theunboundedspirit.com/the-negative-effects-of-religion-on-society/
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/1996/01/bg1064nbsp-why-religion-matters
Jennilee Gray xx
Sociology
Mr. Thompson
14 April 2015
Social Control Through Culture
What is culture? How would you describe culture in the United States? Is it the way we talk in different states? Or is it the foods that originated here? The way we salute the American flag? There are various types of cultures around the world. Digging in deeper we can see their different beliefs and knowledge. Culture defines arts, but it also characterizes sociology. What this could mean is the human social groups into which people are born and in which they live their lives. Each group of people has a particular way of doing things. For example the language, food, celebrations, worshipping, and hand gestures taken together would equal to someone’s culture.
Not everyone has the same rules or ways other cultures follow. Today, people all over the world are exposed to ideas and ways of doing things, and they get to express their culture in different ways. When you live in a small town you will notice small gestures that others do not receive in big cities such as a friendly wave when you’re driving by another person in town, people waiting for you to go at a four way stop even when they were at the stop sign before you. Culture is an essential part of being human. No one is completely without it. Culture is a part of each and every one of us.
The word culture is often used as a synonym for a nation or society, but they aren’t the same thing. A nation is a territory with a designated boarder whilst a society is a population in which the people interact and share common interests. Culture can be found within a society, but it can also be shared amongst many societies. Social control is a concept that refers to the ways in which people’s thoughts, feelings, appearance, and behavior are regulated in social systems. One way this is done is through coercion, from imprisoning those who commit a crime to physicians administering drugs that make difficult patients more manageable. Social control, however, is mainly done through socialization in which people come to identify with a social system and its values and norms, thereby acquiring a stake in maintaining those values and normality.
However, all societies impose social control on their citizens to some degree. They monitor and regulate behavior formally and informally. This is one of the most important prerogatives of political leaders. In tradition-bound societies, such as those of many conservative Arab nations, norms generally change very slowly. In large, multi-ethnic societies such as the United States and Canada, norms change rapidly. Subsequently, what was acceptable earlier in one's life is often not today. If one portion of a society has not changed its norms but another has, there likely will be conflict. The modern term "political correctness" is, in a sense, a product of such a conflict. Those who do not wish to accept the changing norms of others have used it.
No society is able to rely solely upon internalization of its normative code, though some are more successful at it than others. This is reflected in differing expectations and attitudes about the society's rules. All societies have laws to deal with the inevitable disputes that arise. However, laws and their focus vary significantly from culture to culture.
Resources
http://anthro.palomar.edu/control/con_1.htm
http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/2?e=barkbrief-ch02_s01
What Is Faith?
Mario Flores xx
Often when we hear the word “faith”; religion comes to mind. The dictionary defines “faith” as believing in something without having solidified proof. This is why the word has been tied to religion, because it involves blindly putting belief in God or gods. Reality is a relative term, you can believe in anything you want even if it seems ridiculous because life is lived through our own eyes.
We blindly take in scientific theories as fact in school. We have faith that the things that they are teaching us in school are true. Science has brought wonders into our lives along with medicines and technology. It has also damaged us immensely with weapons of mass destruction. It is not possible that science can prove anything, because science is based on experiments and observations and those can be flawed. Science claims to have theories that have possible answers for very complex things like the beginning of life itself. Yet, science itself cannot tell you how a bicycle works; because, in order for a bicycle to be stable, it must be unstable and this defies the laws of physics. We put belief or faith in things we can’t prove because as humans we believe intuitively that there is more out there than we can see.
I choose to believe in God because it gives us access to beautiful principles, and it let us know that there is divine beauty in all of us. I believe in the Judeo-Christian monotheistic idea of God. The bible defines “faith” in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”. Within us beneath our identity as human beings defined by the senses and material things there is a divine self that is connected to all living things. It tells us that there is more than the mundane. It also solves the problem of death, and makes us strive to be a better person. Some often are devout out of fear, I am less devoted but I believe that a good deed is paid in itself. God also wants us to put our problems on him and this helps us understand the transiency of our problems.
I think we all have a sense of yearning and dissatisfaction, so we find a way to appease this integrally devoting our self to something higher than we are. We can only see through the visible spectrum, our ears can only hear a short decibel range. We cannot hear the sound of a dog whistle or any high pitched frequency we also cannot see ultra violet or infrared light. We can’t see atoms or the force that holds atoms together. We think reality is what we can apportion through the limited instruments of the senses. But reality is far beyond that, spiritual data, we don’t have the correct instruments to receive it and we live primarily in the realm of the senses. There’s more to life than this and I chose to put my faith in that.
Resources
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/faith
http://blog.drwile.com/?p=5725
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visible_spectrum
http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/
Small Town Culture
Dane Hrencher x
Dr. Thompson
Sociology
February 27, 2015
There are many different cultures throughout the world. The culture of a small town is one that I can relate to. I feel blessed to have been able to grow up in a small town for so many different reasons. Growing up in a small town, you experience things that people from big cities may never experience. You also learn so many life lessons that they may never learn.
I have lived in a small town my entire life. Medicine Lodge, Kansas is the place I call home. It’s a small town with a population of 2,041 that is about 20 miles north of the Oklahoma border. It’s a very tight knit community with a lot of history. Living in a small community, you gain a greater appreciation for tradition. If there’s ever a parade in town or any other special events going on, you typically see everyone come out to observe or participate.
Another thing that goes along with growing up in a small town is you tend to become a better well rounded individual. Since you belong to a small school and community, you are typically involved in way more activities than someone that is from a big school and big community. For example, in high school I played 4 sports, I was in quite a few different groups, and I was student council president. The support you get from everyone in a small community is just amazing. Like at any sporting event, it’s a surprise if you don’t see the majority of your town and all of your classmates there supporting you and your team in whatever you may be competing in. Living in a small town, that’s just something you do.
Being from a small town definitely has its ups and downs. For example, the closest Walmart is 30 miles from where I live and that’s located in Pratt, Kansas. So if we ever need to go to Walmart to stock up on groceries or anything else, we’re required to make a 30 minute drive to Pratt in back. For people in a big city, you hardly have to travel at all to get to a Walmart, or a Mall or whatever else you may need to go to.
One of the positives about going to a small school and being from a small community is you tend to know everyone by a first name basis. This is a good thing because if you ever need anything, anyone is willing to do everything in their power to help you out. You also make lifelong friends. I’m not saying that you can’t make lifelong friends by living in a big city, but it is easier in a small town because these are people you go to school with and hang out with from your kindergarten days all the way through graduation. Connections are a big thing in life and living in a small town, you have more than enough connections.
In a small town, you always have a place you can call home. My favorite thing personally is coming home from college even if it’s for only a short period of time. I enjoy this because I’m able to see all the people I grew up around for 18 years and it’s great to see familiar faces. A small town is such a friendly, family environment and it’s always reassuring to know that no matter what you do in life, you will always have people from the small town you call home that will have your back through it all. There’s a lot more I could say about the culture of a small town, but these are the main things that make it a great place to grow up and live.
Resources
http://news.distractify.com/alexis-herrick/10-ways-growing-up-in-a-small-town-prepared-you-for-life/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine_Lodge,_Kansas
Friend or Food
Jody Luetters x
In modern day, we use horses for recreational, sport, and work but in some other countries they consume them. In Mexico, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Indonesia, Poland and China horses are bred and fed like we as Americans breed and feed our bovine. They raise them for lean meat that is desired like we desire beef. In these countries, they send equines through a similar process than what U.S. cattle go through. They are weaned and sent to feedyard to gain mass and from there are sold for slaughter. In the U.S., horses are bred for conformation, athleticism, and brains to be handy, trainable, and worth large sums of money. In countries who consume horses, equines are bred for conformation alone allowing for the most amount of meat to be used off of each animal. They are seen no differently than beef cows, pigs, and poultry in the U.S.
In the United States, horses have been slaughtered but not for the consumption of humans. Many of the horses who are slaughtered in U.S. borders are not necessarily useful for the normal riding horse. Their remains are mostly used for adhesives and pet food. They little bit of meat that is higher quality that is produced in the U.S. is sent over seas to be consumed by paying customers.
Horse is a very desirable type of meat and is normally quite costly in higher end restaurants. Its sweeter taste desirable with roasted veggies. The meat is leaner than most red meats and is lower in calories as well. In a three ounce serving of roast horse there is one hundred and forty-nine calories, twenty-nine grams of protein, and only five grams of fat. In the same amount of beef tenderloin, there is one hundred and seventy-nine calories, twenty-four grams of protein, and 9 grams of fat. Not only do they use the meat from horses, but they also consume the milk from the nursing mares as well.
Not only is equine meat preferred by countries, but it also is consumed by certain religions. Religions like Judaism and Islamic consume horse meat due to the fact that they do not eat pork or poultry.
In todays society, you will hear the quote, “Dogs may be mans best friend, but horses wrote history.” This is just one of the few sayings that people will use to prevent the consumption of horse meat in the U.S. Many horse lovers see this practice as being unnecessary and disturbing, but to some the consumption of horse meat and milk is an everyday routine.
Resources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-dont-we-eat-horses/
http://rtfitchauthor.com/tag/horse-eaters/
Shelby Grosberger X
Sociology
February 26, 2015
Dr. Michael Thompson
Culture Shock
Many people experience a culture shock when moving from two very different places. Culture shock is the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar way of life or set of attitudes. Me, being one of those many, which have experienced culture shock. Moving from a pretty busy town in Pennsylvania to Colby opened my eyes of how different Kansas and Pennsylvania really are.
A major difference between the two towns is how people act towards others. Where I come from, not everyone there is very friendly or helpful. Living only fifteen minutes from the city, lots of people are rude and just stick to themselves. But here in Colby, everyone knows everyone and since day one of being here, many people have been very and willingly helpful. Smaller towns seem to have a much more laid back community, which makes coming from so far away more welcoming.
Each city or town has their own unique thing that makes them different from all the others. My hometown has a paper mill, which has a not so lovely smell. Once you smell this, you know you’re in Spring Grove aka Stinky Town. Now for Colby, I’m not real sure what makes them unique from all the others, but I would probably say Cooper Barn, since it is the largest barn in Kansas and it is here in Colby! Anyway each city or town has at least one thing that makes them stand out compared to others.
Since I’ve been going to school here in Colby, I have grown to love the small town vibe. The respect you get from other people and the help is just amazing. It really opens your eyes of how genuine people can actually be. People with opening arms and willing to take you in just shows you the caring and loving they have. It really expresses you to apply “thank you” more often. You don’t realize how lucky you are to have these people around until you actually experience the life of a busy city.
Not only do you grow to appreciate the small town, but it makes you grow as a person. It allows you to better yourself and be there for others. The culture shock can be a scary thing to some, but it can also be an incredible experience. A busy town compared to a small laid back town really changes how you look towards things. Having the opportunity to experience this is probably one of the best things that can better you as a person. Now having to see the difference and live in the town allows me to have a greater mindset.
References:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/culture+shock
http://www.kansassampler.org/8wonders/architectureresults.php?id=46
http://thoughtcatalog.com/jordan-lee/2015/01/13-culture-shocks-experienced-when-moving-from-a-big-city-to-a-suburb/
Branson Addington x
Dr. Michael Thompson
Introduction to Sociology
26 February 2015
Is Marijuana Hurting or Helping Society?
When the topic of marijuana comes into the picture many people have differing views. Some say that marijuana is a bad thing, and condemn it to being a blister on society that is used by the counterculture and is detrimental to the welfare of everyone. The other side may say something along the lines of it being a healing and beneficial drug that people use to cure many problems, including cancer. While it is certain that certain medical uses of marijuana have been proven to be effective treatments of certain diseases and disorders like glaucoma, cancer, and anorexia.
Let’s start by taking a look at the facts. Marijuana is a psychoactive drug which contains a certain chemical called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is the main constituent of cannabis and is what gives users their “high,” or a sense of euphoria. Possible side-effects of marijuana include short-term memory loss, reddening of the eyes, and slower reaction times. As of February 26th, 2015, recreational use of marijuana is illegal in all U.S states albeit Alaska, Washington, Colorado, and Washington D.C.
Those who are against the use of recreational marijuana say that cannabis acts as a gateway drug; meaning that those who use marijuana are much more likely to try other, more dangerous drugs. Christians also have a say in the use of marijuana, which is largely debated. However, the main consensus is that marijuana is still bad if it is being used to escape reality. Another reason why some say marijuana is harmful is because of its antisocial properties. It is a fact that the use of marijuana makes people introverted and less likely to partake in social activities. Because of this, marijuana can have a negative effect on the social lives of those who use it. Also, marijuana is a depressant. Because of this, people say that marijuana causes car accidents and is therefore a killer. Finally, marijuana can be harmful because it makes people lazy when they use a lot of it. Those under the influence don’t feel like doing any activity, and would rather sit at home with chips and watch their television. Now let’s look at the positive reviews of marijuana.
People who are for the use of marijuana say that it is a calming drug. It is regularly used to inhibit anxiety and calm the nerves. However, this can also have the exact opposite effect on some users. Pot users have recorded that they have an increased growth in appetite. This is beneficial for those affected by disorders and diseases such as anorexia, and increases appetite for those who are going through chemotherapy. Marijuana also makes it easier to sleep, helping many people who have troubles sleeping. Another helpful fact is that those using marijuana who were infected with HIV/AIDS had a decreased weight loss. Weed is known to decrease the amount of pain sensed in the body, so it could be used for countless different reasons to inhibit pain. Yet another fact for marijuana users is that is decreases the chances of going into an epileptic seizure, although this has not been tested to a great extent. Possibly one of the greatest side-effects of marijuana is that is has the capabilities of slowing down the growth rate of cancerous tumours in people, mainly found in the lungs.
Both sides of the use of marijuana have logical and scientific reasoning behind their accusations. I found that most people who are against marijuana are against mainly the recreational use of weed and not the medicinal use. While the moral consensus is still largely in debate over the effectiveness and detrimental properties of marijuana, as of 2008 over 4% of the people on earth use marijuana, with at least 33 million of those people residing in the United States alone. There is no definite say of whether marijuana is good or bad for you, and further studies are being done to confirm the facts. On the road we are going, it seems though that marijuana will likely be legal to use recreationally across most of the nation within the next several decades.
References
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/medical-marijuana-what%E2%80%99s-it-good
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
Culture in Europe
Karly Kriss x
In June 2012, I took a trip to Europe and experienced a whole new culture. From the food to the government, Europe is a whole new world away from the United States. I visited London, England; Kent, England; and Paris, France; which are some of the most commonly known cities in Europe.
In Europe, many things are different, but the biggest difference is the food. In England, it was scheduled everyday to have a tea time and a pastry. Not only in my aunts house but also everywhere in London, people would stop their entire day to sip on their teas. Not only were their schedules different but also portion size was much smaller than that in the United States. In England, the cattle production is much lower than in the United States so they eat a lot of pork and fish. In France, the food pallet is much more complex than anything I have ever tasted. The menus contain unique foods like frog legs, duck liver, and crepes.
The food is one story, but the way a person eats their food is a big difference also. In American, people use really poor manners and eat the food however they please. Shoveling food into your mouth is considered rude in places like London and France. These countries expect proper manners like proper knife and fork placement.
Not only is the food and etiquette different, but also the way of transportation is like something I’ve never seen before. In England, everyone drives a small compact car, motorcycle, or bicycle around the streets. If a person does not have their own way of transportation, double decker buses, the tube (subway system), and other forms of transportations are available to access. In France, people zip around on their motorized vehicles that are small enough to fit a few in a pickup truck. In more countries, I didn’t see a single truck or SUV. Riding the public transportation is a new thing for me. Being from a small town, everything is close enough to walk to or a quick drive.
Another difference in Europe is the currency. In America, we use dollars and cents, but in Europe they use pounds and franks. One US Dollar is the equivalent to .89 pound. One US Dollar is the equivalent to 1.3 franks.
As Americans, we enjoy sports such as football, basketball, and baseball but in Europe there are many different sports available. A few examples of sports are polo, water polo, and cricket. Cricket is usually played on the green in the middle of the town. It’s usually an open event that anyone in the town can attend. The players use a paddle and hit a ball around the green.
One of the bigger differences between United States and Europe is the government. In America, the government is ruled under a democracy, which is rule by the people. In England, the government is run by Parliament, but there is a monarchy established. In France, the government is a republic.
Going over to Europe, I had never expected to see so many differences from the United States. From the food to the government, Europe is a whole different world that is rich with unique cultures. Paris, Kent, and London are some of the most culture-rich cities on the planet.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_France
http://www.eupedia.com/europe/cultural_differences_europe_usa.shtml
Ethan Ross x
Dr. Thompson
Intro to Sociology
28 February 2015
Marijuana and It’s Impact on Society
Marijuana, better known as “pot” has had a generally negative view in American culture until as of late. First let’s start off with the effects of marijuana on the body. Marijuana is a psychoactive drug which gives the user a sense of euphoria now giving off the “high.” Other side effects include increased appetite, dizziness, red eyes, and short term forgetfulness according to webmd.com. But those are just for the recreational users, it’s medical benefits are mostly unknown to most americans because it is deemed a “bad thing.” The medical benefits of marijuana include pain relief, can help kill tumors, can help fix eating disorders and can help with diabetes, according to drugwarfacts.org.
In 2014, 54% of Americans who took a survey believe that marijuana should be legalized. Adding further to that 76% of Americans who took a survey believe that marijuana should be decriminalized. That meaning that people who are caught with small amounts should not be given jail time.
Marijuana in the United States is legal for recreational use in three states and in the capital. Those states being Colorado, Washington, and Alaska. Many famous athletes and authority figures have used marijuana. Michael Phelps is one of the most successful olympic athletes of all time and uses/used marijuana. Our president, Barack Obama was once deemed by his friends Barack O’ganja because of how much marijuana he had supposedly smoked. Even one of the republican right wing former presidents George W. Bush had admitted to trying the drug.
Now not all Americans believe that marijuana is a good thing and there are some legitimate reasons for it. One reason why they believe it’s bad is because it can be addictive. Agree or disagree some people do get addicted to the stuff. Another is that in Amsterdam where it is legal some children are getting exposed to it and that’s a big no-no in some people’s eyes. I agree that children shouldn’t adopt some of the same habits there parents have. Thirdly, some say it is terrible for your mental health. I stated earlier that it does cause short term memory loss, but for overall mental health studies have been inconclusive. We’ll just have to wait to see further evidence if it does damage the brain. Fourth, it can make your physical stamina worse. I’m not so sure about this one. Fifth they believe it ruins people’s lives. I believe this one is a bit far fetched because I haven’t heard anyone say someone’s life has been ruined by marijuana use.
Marijuana is a big part of American culture, legal or not and has been since the 1960’s. At first Americans believed marijuana to be a stain on society that should be removed and as time goes on and the new generation moves in, the views have shifted. Good or bad I believe it’s going to be legal throughout all states within the next thirty years. Probably even sooner due to the positive effects of medical marijuana. So in conclusion older Americans mostly don’t like it as a whole and the new generation is leaning towards recreational and medical use
References
www.drugwarfacts.org
www.webmd.com
Culture in Colby
Beau Brown xDr. Thompson
Sociology
2-28-15
I grew up in Colby, Kansas where there is very little diversity. Even if there is little diversity we still have culture, knowledge and belief. There is plenty of it in Colby with having the college and everything. We might not have malls or really anything too exciting. We have learned to be able to busy ourselves with things to do. Most people who have lived in Colby their whole life have the ability to just sit around and do nothing all day. If you are not from Colby and you come here you probably won’t to go crazy with the little amount of things that go on.
Our culture in Colby is just a small town community. Since we’re in Kansas a lot of farming goes on. So what is common knowledge to us about farming techniques and other things might not be common knowledge to somebody else. Most people in Colby enjoy hunting and watching football and really any sport that gets them out of their house. Although we don’t have a great high school football team we have plenty of supporters just because it gives them something to do every other Friday. Hunting is a very enjoyable past time for some during the season. They will get up real early before the sunrise and go hunt until early afternoon.
Our knowledge of farming and hunting could be expanded to some parts of Nebraska and Colorado. We grow a lot of corn, wheat and other crops around this area. Farming is a big part of this community and I believe it will always be. However, our knowledge doesn’t stop there we have CCC which is a vast place for growing and also bringing in new people. CCC brings in plenty of knew college students each year which helps the community with more people buying from our stores helps us the town get more money.
Most people in this area believe in some type of Christianity. We are not too diverse in our beliefs even though there are some people who believe in other religions. We are a good community and we do not discriminate against other religions. Most of the community goes to church on Sundays and even if they do not they still most likely believe in something.
Colby is a great town and may not be very diverse can still be accepting. When college kids come back to town every year we become a little more diverse but not much. We are a farming community that loves to hunt and do other outdoors things, but we are willing to sit and just hang out with our friends and be okay with it. We are all right with the idea of not having some exciting amusement park or mall. Even though we don’t have much college kids still come each year to Colby. If you have lived here long enough you like watching sports like wrestling, basketball, and football. Our beliefs aren’t diverse either but we still are accepting of others.
Resources
http://cityofcolby.com/
http://oasisontheplains.com/
No Place Like Home
Justice Cuthbertson x
Dr. Thompson
Sociology
February 28, 2015
Culture is defined as the integrated pattern of human behavior that includes,thought, speech, action and artifacts and depends upon the human capacity for learning and and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations. I’m from Greensboro, North Carolina and there is a huge difference between the culture at home and the culture here in Colby, Kansas.
The population in Greensboro is roughly estimated to 280,000 thousand people. The population in Colby,Kansas is roughly estimated to about 5,500 people. That is a major difference. While at home I attend just about every sporting event and there is always something to do, due to Greensboro being the second biggest city in North Carolina. Sporting events such as football and basketball are thrived upon and every game is usually sold out. Here in Colby there is no football and the basketball games are nowhere near packed. The fans don’t even get pumped up here which may explain why they look at me like I’m crazy at all of the home games when I’m cheering on my teammates.
I’ve never been in a city that didn’t have football. I’ve also have never been to a city where the high school games weren’t worth going to until I got here. Mostly all the top football teams in the state are located in the triad area which is Greensboro, Winston, and High Point. All of the football games are extremely competitive. Over half of the state championship teams are located in the triad area. Even when it comes to basketball it is the same way. North Carolina is the most highly recruited state when it comes to basketball we are otherwise known as the hoopstate. When you go to a high school game back at home just about all the games feel like a college environment because the fans are extremely into it. Here at Colby we can have a decent crowd size and the life in the gym is still completely dead.
In downtown Greensboro there are restaurants, haunted houses, clubs, bars etc. In Colby’s downtown there is well nothing. I’ve never been so bored socially. The artifacts are extremely historic and you can catch several celebrities in downtown Greensboro due to all the events that take place there.Concerts are held at the Greensboro Coliseum also March Madness comes into town every year. The biggest homecoming on earth otherwise known as GHOE( Greatest Homecoming On Earth) is held at Nc A&T which is also in Greensboro.
I haven’t seen anything that really goes on here in Colby but since there is not much to do it is a easy way to remain focus. Just go to school and play basketball. Colby doesn’t have any gangs and is filled with a lot of generous people. At home it is so easily to get distracted and get caught up in the mix. There are over 20 different gangs in my area and I was lucky enough not to get caught up or get mixed in any of them.
Theres an old saying that there is no place like home and that happens to be accurate. If it wasn’t for a small town such as Colby being somewhere to go to then I don’t know where I would be. This is was an excellent place for me to come to and get my mind right and experience something different. I’m glad that it is boring but I really think culture comes down to what the people of that city or town make it. Greensboro culture is just ultra exciting and Colby’s culture is just boring but also laid back. Theres no problem with that it’s just different.
Resources
http://www.bing.com/search?q=population%20in%20colby%20kansas&pc=cosp&ptag=A29F615743B&form=CONBNT&conlogo=CT3210127
http://www.bing.com/search?q=define%20culture&pc=cosp&ptag=A29F615743B&form=CONBDF&conlogo=CT3210127
Moving Makes the Person
Madison Moncel x
Dr. Thompson
Sociology
February 27, 2015
Culture is what people seek when either vising or moving to a different place. No single place on earth has the same exact culture as another. Whether it is a big city, a small town, a suburb, or the slums they all differ in one way or another. Not only have I been exposed to one or two cultures in my short lifetime, but I have been able to adapt and live through them as well.
Small towns are by far my favorite type of culture by far. Born and raised in the small town of Jacksonville, IL, I was surrounded by the kids, adults, and the older folks community. I grew up as part of that culture and learned right away how to communicate and be around people that were older than me. I participated in every activity possible and I knew everyone I could possibly know in that town. I learned how to branch out and talk to people I hadn’t known. Due to my parents be very well known figures in Jacksonville, I was introduced to people who I had to be the best I could be in front of. I was raised to see the world and experience different cultures, but I wasn’t fully able to do that until moving to Chicago, IL and then Maricopa, AZ.
After moving around from place to place I experienced many other cultures that I actually had no idea existed. At first I was timid and had no idea how to react or what to say. I for the first time was nervous because no one knew me or knew my family. I did as I had been raised, branched out, spoke to new people and tried new things. I realized I had a love for certain things that I never known prior to moving. Moving to these other places gave me so many more opportunities that I had thought were unimaginable. I became a more well rounded person, and I also became a more understand and corporative person. I took life as it was dealt to me, and I made the best of what I had. Moving to bigger cities made me realize so much more about myself that I had never known.
Although I had loved my small town of Jacksonville, IL, moving to a different city, let alone state had made me who I am today. I solemnly believe that experiencing those other cultures and realizing what I had been missing out on made me a much better person and a more well rounded person.
Resources
http://blog.upack.com/posts/the-pros-and-cons-of-moving
http://www.essortment.com/pros-cons-living-small-town-47808.html
Scientology
Kennedy Fortin x
February 27, 2015
Dr. Thompson
Our beliefs make us who we are and what we hope to become without a belief in something we are nothing. Now as we all know there are many beliefs out there like the belief in aliens, the tooth fairy, or even big foot but the belief in a religion is something almost every human on planet earth can at least say we believe in. There are many religions out there but there is one that is different from the rest and that is Scientology. Scientology is made up pretty much like any other religion it has a set of basic principles to live and follow in life and have a basic creed but scientology basically just teaches that people are immortal beings who have forgotten their true nature.
It's method of spiritual rehabilitation is a type of counselling known as auditing, in which practitioners aim to consciously re-experience painful or traumatic events in their past in order to free themselves of their limiting effects. Study materials and auditing sessions are made available to members on a fee-for-service basis, which the church describes as a "fixed donation".Scientology is legally recognized as a tax-exempt religion in the United States, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Sweden, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain; the Church of Scientology emphasizes this as proof that it is a bona fide religion. In contrast, the organization is considered a commercial enterprise in Switzerland, a cult in France and Chile, and a non-profit in Norway, and its legal classification is often a point of contention.
A large number of organizations overseeing the application of Scientology have been established, the most notable of these being the Church of Scientology. Scientology sponsors a variety of social-service programs. These include the Narconon anti-drug program, the Criminon prison rehabilitation program, the Study Tech education methodology, the Volunteer Ministers, the World Institute of Scientology Enterprises, and a set of moral guidelines expressed in a booklet called The Way to Happiness
Resources
http://www.ask.com/wiki/Scientology?o=2800&qsrc=999&ad=doubleDown&an=apn&ap=ask.com
http://www.scientology.org/
What is Religion
Adrian DeLaCruz x2/28/15
Sociology
Religion is belief that has affected just about every single human being it is also a topic talked about across the world. Religion as a whole is our supreme controller, rules and laws are set in place for illegal actions, but religious laws are set to stop the immoral actions of people. So why does religion exist, is it because it is the only way to control such a big population, or it there really some supreme being watching over us.
When you look at the followers of a church you see that they are scared to do things without any thinking of the consequences. They are taught to fear god and follow his rules and his laws. Looking at it this way makes religion look rather dumb, we are forced to believe that a savior will come back from the dead and save us from this rotten world. 2015 years ago this savior died and we are still waiting, we are just people waiting on somebody that millions of people in the 2015 year stretch also waited for. I am a Catholic, and I do go to church and when we pray the father always says, “And now let us pray for our brothers and sisters that fell asleep waiting for his coming.” That part always gets to me, why did many people wait for this savior and end up dying waiting on somebody who never appeared. Religion to some is just a waste of time to be worshipping a man up in the sky.
No one can prove the existence of God, but in the end no one can disprove his existence. God seems to have some good on the world, whether God himself does the action is up to everyone’s opinion. We do not know how this world would be without religion, we might be at constant war with one another because there is nothing to fear, God and his commandments give us order. We are not free to do as we want because this world would be in a chaotic state, we are not peacemakers and we don’t make good decisions so maybe it is best that there are some people that do follow God. It is true that there are a lot of people that don’t believe in God but are good people, but that doesn’t mean that every single person is exactly the same, just as you see people who don’t believe in God do good things you also see people who do believe in God do bad things. Religion also offers us hope, many people look to the future and they see that they are going to have good lives because they believe in God and they believe that they are not alone in life. Religion is a way that we can find who we are, it gives us someone to follow someone who is seen as good religion has the power to find lost people when they need it most and that is something we can’t ignore when talking about religion.
As I said earlier I am a Catholic and I do believe in God and life after death. And even though I say these words does not mean that I don’t have my doubts and question the reason behind God. I see the world as a very cruel and painful place, we see dreams that we desperately want, dreams that are at our fingertips but in the end we end up failing and some people just give up, we hear about the things going on around the world and we see the very disasters we put ourselves through, it makes us wonder why doesn’t God intervene and save those people. But we have to see that we can’t blame somebody for the actions we make, we also can’t blame God for not doing actions that we could do ourselves. We try to find ourselves and see who we really are and just the simple belief that God exist can give us the power to find our calling and what we are striving for. Even some of the greatest minds in our history have said that God is a fundamental part because without God there is nothing more to know, other than what our senses show us. So we can’t, or some of us just don’t want to, disprove the existence of God.
Resources
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/biblianazar/esp_biblianazar_18.htm
http://www.reviewofreligions.org/173/the-need-for-religion-and-its-importance/
Kara Dysinger x
February 28, 2015
Hawaii Culture
The roots of Hawaiian culture stretch south to older areas of Polynesia and beyond to the islands of the Western Pacific and the edges of Asia. The first settlers to Hawai‘i brought with them the more ancient Polynesian traditions and lifestyles. Over generations, they adapted their beliefs and ways of living to accommodate their new island home, adding new gods like Pele to their pantheon and honing new skills such as surfing. As a distinct Hawaiian culture took shape, it grew in response to Oahu’s forests and coral reefs, Molokai's shallow offshore waters, Kauai's steep valleys, Maui's high summit and Hawai'i Island's ever-changing volcanic lands.
Differences between Hawai'i and the larger Polynesian family grew more pronounced once the era of trans pacific migrations ended. In many artistic endeavors - kapa making, featherwork, hula - Hawaiians surpassed the rest of their cousins in skill and proficiency. A highly structured and sophisticated culture blossomed in the Islands' benign climate and lush abundance. Over time, Hawaiian society grew as distinct as Hawaii's endemic plant and animal communities, left for eons to evolve in isolation.
There are various legends surrounding the origins of hula. One Hawaiian legend tells of Hi’iaka, who danced to appease her sister, the volcano goddess Pele. Another legend says the goddess of the hula, Laka, gave birth to the dance on the island of Molokai. Schools were begun in honor of Laka, and temples were dedicated to her. Dancers usually lived on the temple grounds, and were required to go through strenuous training.
In hawaiian culture, Hula was the method in which ancient Hawaiians passed along the stories and legends of their hawaiian culture to later generations. Ancient hula uses dance and chanting to tell of the proud history, customs, ceremonies and traditions of ancient Hawai’i and her people. Modern hula is the dance form most people are familiar with. It combines dance and music for a more playful and joyous recounting of modern life in the islands.
Missionaries who arrived in the islands in the 1820s thought the hula to be too suggestive and it was outlawed! Today, people from different cultures and all over the world spend hours researching chants and practicing dance techniques as part of a hula instruction.
The flower lei, a garland worn like a necklace, is created by stringing individual flowers into single or multiple strands and then tying the ends together. A lei may be wide and flat or thick and round. It may not even be made of flowers at all; the maile is a fragrant vine with shiny green leaves, that is draped U-shaped around a person’s neck or placed upon an altar.
In ancient hawaii culture, the presence of lei signified special occasions, such as when villagers gathered to prepare a taro patch for planting or when they came together to celebrate their combined efforts to build someone’s home. The presentation of a lei symbolized sharing. The lei also was used in more formal ceremonies. Jasmine flowers or pikake are traditionally used in courtship and marriage.
Today, in addition to weddings and special ceremonies, flower lei are most often presented to honor birthdays and graduations. Islanders will also wear a lei on May 1, which is Lei Day in Hawai’i, and during the Aloha Week festivities that take place throughout the islands during the Fall.
The flower of Hawaii is the hibiscus. The bird is the Nene and the tree is Kukui. As of 2010 there is a population 1,360,301. The capital of Hawaii is Honolulu. It became a territory in the 1900’s and entered union in Aug. 21, 1959.
Resources
http://www.kauaikris.com/culture.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/us-states/hawaii.html
Belief
By: Christian Williams** x
Having confidence in a truth or the existence of a truth without immediate proof is considered a belief. It is an assumed truth, not absolute. Every individual has their own belief whether its roots are external or self-generated. Beliefs help us understand and manage the imperfect world around us; to believe that things exist is also to believe that things do not exist.
An external belief is a blind acceptance of what others have said about the world around us. This can be broken down into three subcategories: existence, association, and equivalence. From a philosophical stand point, existence is the simplest form of an external belief. Meaning, the belief is from the outer world. For example many people believe in the existence of God without any physical or immediate proof. This is the metaphysical branch of philosophy known as ontology, the study of being, where existence is merely what one is conscious of. Associations is another form of an external belief. We associate things to get a better understanding and to morph or expand our own beliefs by saying item "A", in some form, is related to or comparable to item "B". Associating a beliefs allows for a belief with deeper roots. Not a belief conjured from an authority, that an individual only trust because of the authorities charismatic personality, or position rather than expertise. The final form of an external belief is equivalence, where item "A" equals item "B" indirectly. For example one can have a belief that humans are greedy. This means that everything that is human is greed, even the most generous individual is greedy. That persons belief was created from the external world and their own personal beliefs. This leads into causation where one correlates two things making them equal. For example, if one plus two equals three, then two plus one equals three as well.
Self-generated beliefs are those we create ourselves through three subcategories: experience, experiment, and reflection. This type of belief originates from an individual who seeks truth over social acceptance and prefers to live with ambiguity and uncertainty until truth has been found. A generalization can also be made through the subcategories thinking that the belief is applicable in more than one medium. What is true in one situation may not be true in the next.
Beliefs are effected by experiences through the way in which one learned. For instance, if an individual spoke to their boss the same way they spoke to their friend, resulting in unemployment, that individuals belief that they could talk to everyone the same way was effected. They did not have experience speaking to someone of a higher position. An experimental belief is similar to a belief derived from experience. Just like in science, one would create a series of experiments and base their belief off of the results. Self generalized individuals seek truth and with experiments there is a proven truth. A belief based off reflection is the final form of a self generalized belief and the most internal. Reflection can happen anywhere, which means our minds are constantly working trying to find truth in the world. After or before an experience we reflect, this helps explain the external world. The subject of belief is more intricate then one may have thought. A belief can be characterized into two different categories: external belief and self-generalized belief, each opening a new realm of the mind.
Resources
http://deeplearning.net/tutorial/DBN.html
https://www.aclu.org/religion-belief/aclu-and-freedom-religion-and-belief
Jamaican Culture
By Brittany Urban x
Jamaica has an amazing culture and beautiful sights. The food is there, in my opinion, is great. There is always something to do there, weather it is snorkeling in the ocean or zip lining over a water fall. Their culture can be very different than ours in a lot of ways.
When I was on a mission’s trip in Jamaica I got to learn a lot about their culture, the foods they eat, and some about their government. I was mostly in the more poverty areas, helping locals build foundations for their homes. I want to say the best thing about Jamaica was the food.
Breakfast in Jamaica includes boiled bananas or roasted breadfruit, sauteed callaloo with saal fish, salted cod, and bush, herbal or chaklit, chocolate tea. Afro-Jamaicans eat a midafternoon lunch as the main meal of the day. This is followed by a light meal of bread, fried plantains, or fried dumplings and a hot drink early in the evening. A more rigid work schedule has forced changes, and now the main meal is taken in the evening. This meal may consist of stewed or roasted beef, boiled yam or plantains, rice and peas, or rice with escoviched or fried fish. Rice is a ubiquitous ceremonial food. Along with ground provisions, such as sweet potato, yam, and green plantains, it is used in African and East Indian ceremonies. It also is served with curried goat meat as the main food at parties, dances, weddings, and funerals. Sacrificially slaughtered animals and birds are eaten in a ritual context. Several African-religious sects use goats for sacrifice, and in Kumina, an Afro-religious practice, goat blood is mixed with rum and drunk.
The Jamaican Government is a lot like the US Government. Jamaica, a member of the British Commonwealth, has a bicameral parliamentary legislative system. The executive branch consists of the British monarch, the governor general, the prime minister and deputy prime minister, and the cabinet. The legislative branch consists of the Senate and the sixty-member elected House of Representatives. The judicial branch consists of the supreme court and several layers of lower courts.
There is a lot of poverty in Jamaica, like there is in almost every country, and like every country they are divided into social groups. The bulk of national wealth is owned by a small number of light-skinned or white families, with a significant portion controlled by individuals of Chinese and Middle Eastern heritage. Blacks are confined largely to small and medium-size retail enterprises. While race has played a defining role in social stratification, it has not assumed a caste-like form, and individuals are judged on a continuum of color and physical features.
resources
http://www.vipattractions.com/jamaican-culture.php
http://caribya.com/jamaica/culture/
Beliefs of Different Religions
Danielle Hutton x
Dr. Thompson
In each individual religion there are many different beliefs. I am going to talk to you about four different religions, Christianity, Buddhism, Muslim, and Judaism. In each religion they follow the teachings of someone who has influenced them largely in some way.
In Christianity we believe that Jesus Christ was the messiah. Jesus was born to the virgin Mary, spoke the word of God to many people throughout his whole life, even as a child. He was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose and ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God. We believe that there were 12 prophets that followed Jesus. We also believe God created the Heavens and the earth, and everything on the earth, in six days and rested on the seventh, that’s why we worship on Sundays. We believe that Adam and Eve were the first Humans to be on earth and the first to sin. We believe that we are all sons and daughters of Abraham.
In Buddhism they are a nontheistic religion. They live by the ”right way of living”. They have different traditions, beliefs, and practices based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as “Buddha” or “The awakened one.” They use these teaching as a way to find inner peace, kindness, and wisdom. They try not to harm others and to live peacefully and gently, working toward the ultimate goal of pure and lasting happiness for all living things.
In the Muslim religion they believe in one God or “Allah.” They believe that one cannot be muslin without believing in Jesus. They must believe in and respect al the prophets in order to be counted as a believer. Muslims believe Jesus was born miraculously without a father to the Virgin Mary. His mother is also respected and venerated across the world by Muslims. She is known to have been a pious and devout person. An entire chapter of the Qur’an is named after her. Muslims believe Jesus performed many miracles such as creating a bird from clay, curing the blind and leper, and bringing the dead back to life. They believe that Jesus was one of the greatest prophets but he was not the divine. They do not believe he was the son of God or God incarnate. They believe he was only a prophet. Muslims believe Jesus was not crucified; he was lifted to the heavens by God. They believe that one of his foes was made to look like him and was crucified. They believe Jesus will return before the finals days and will establish peace and justice on Earth.
In Judaism they believe in the 13 principles of faith. One, they believe God exists. Two, they believe God is one and unique. Three, God is incorporeal. Four, God is eternal. They believe prayer is to be directed to God alone and to no other. Six, they believe the words of the prophets are true. Seven, they believe Moses’ prophecies are true and that Moses was the greatest prophet. Eight, they believe the written Torah and oral Torah were given to Moses. Nine, there will be no other Torah. Ten, God knows the thoughts and dead of all men. Eleven, God will reward the good and punish the wicked. Twelve, they believe the Messiah will come, they do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Finally thirteen, they believe the dead will be resurrected. Judaism focuses on the relationships between the creator, mankind, and the land of Israel. There are 613 commandments given by God to Moses, written in the Torah, as well as laws instituted by rabbis and other long-standing customs.
Resources
http://www.aboutbuddhism.org
http://ilmfeed.com/6-muslim-beliefs-jesus-every-christian-must-know/
http://www.jewfaq.org/beliefs.hrm
The Culture of The ‘60s
Desiree Schippers xx
The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of culture is: the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; the characteristic features of everyday existence shared by people in a place or time. Culture is the general term for beliefs, customs or way of life of a certain kind of people. A person’s culture can affect the kind of music they listen to, how they dress, and even how they interact with other people. Art, food, and traditions also contribute to culture. Usually a general region or race have the same culture. Commonly, within that region or race, most of the people have the same customs and beliefs. However, it is not abnormal for factions of people to break away from these mainstream beliefs. These people would be considered part of a counter culture.
Counter culture is any culture whose values or lifestyles are opposed to those of the established mainstream culture, according to Boundless.com. Members of a counter culture are usually part of a younger generation, and reject the beliefs or practices of the society they live in. They may be considered rebels, or anti-conformists. Here in the United States, we are probably all very aware of different cultures and counter cultures in our society. When thinking about counter culture in our country, usually one particular decade comes to mind: the 1960s.
The ‘60s were revolutionary for America, a lot changes were going on politically and socially. There were Civil Rights protests in the streets, the Cold War was on citizen’s minds, the United States was at war in Vietnam, man was on the moon, and President Kennedy was assassinated, all within this small ten year span. During this time, many young people, particularly college students, were part of one of the most remembered and famous counter cultures in American history. Boundles.com states “The counter culture of 1960s became identified with the conventional norms of the 1950s. Counterculture youth rejected cultural standards of their parents, epically with respect to racial segregation and the initial widespread support for the Vietnam War.” The common name for people of this faction was “hippie.” Today, when people think of the term hippie, they only think about the tie-dye clothing, peace signs, and funny glasses. But in reality, this era and kind of people was much more than a way of dress, or a kind of music. Hippies believed in world peace, free love, and anti-materialism which was scandalous at the time. They rejected establishment and authority. Most politically radical members were against the Vietnam War, and participated in protests, and supported the fight against it by wearing pins or excess military clothing. Hedonism became widely popular, and these young people gallivanted through life, pursuing sexual pleasure and drugs. The usage of LSD and Marijuana skyrocketed in the ‘60s, due to people putting more value in emotional pleasure than materialism. Common phrases were “Tune in, turn on, drop out” and “Do your own thing.” Music was another way for hippies to display their beliefs. Artist that example this are The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin. Hippies were known for dressing in psychedelic bright colors, ethnic clothing, having long unkempt hair and facial hair. It was not uncommon for women to be dressed scantily or even be nude. Eventually, this counterculture subsided after many of their prominent leaders passed away, and other members settled down and had families. However, this subculture will always be very prominent in history. A a young person, I believe learning about subcultures, is just as important as learning about the mainstream cultures, because although you may not entirely agree with the beliefs of either, it is a great way to gain a new perspective on the common practices of your society.
Sources
https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/culture-and-socialization-3/culture-worlds-32/countercultures-204-8929/
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture
http://1960s-counterculture.tripod.com/
Social Media In America
Gunner Helton xx
12 April 2015
In America today there is no way to discuss communication without the word media or technology. Though communication is based on language and the meaning of words in that language, it has evolved into something much more advanced. We see the face-to-face communication less and less everyday because of all the new advancements being discovered not only in America, but also all over the world. We now see communication through recordings and transmitted sounds and images, otherwise known as media.
Media typically includes television, computers, newspapers, radio, and movies; however, it can also include paintings, books, and graffiti. The major contributor, in terms of media and communication, is the Internet. When on the Internet people can view and find almost any information they desire at the touch of a few buttons. This is because Internet users are able to post whatever where ever with in reason. There are no restrictions to who can obtain a website. With that being said some of what you may find on the Internet may not be completely true. However, much of the information is and has become convenient and helpful to those who have access. Media is not just affecting America by giving information. In fact social networking has become a daily use for most Americans today and plays a key role in our culture today.
Very few people in America can say they don’t have at least one social network account. Because of the increasing number of Americans with a smartphone or tablet with Internet capabilities, people are able to stay connected to others almost constantly. This is especially true for teens and young adults who would rather send a message or a picture to their friends and family than meeting up to give them the message. Though many people think that it is just the young people that use sites such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. more and more older adults are getting their own accounts in order to stay easily connected with family and friends they may not be able to stay in close contact with all of the time.
While all of this can be helpful and keep people in the know with others, it also is leading to other issues among its users. It has created a society where people see each other in person less and less because they are able to just call them or message them at anytime. Because of the lack of social interaction people are becoming poor communicators. Anyone can portray the person they want to be or want people to see by what they post or send to friends and family. With that being said people are not able to really know how the person they are talking to really feels which in itself can become a real issue. For example anyone can say that they are okay or fine when you ask how they are doing over a text or an instant message even when they may not be. However, when the same question is asked in person it is much harder to lie because that person will show body language without even noticing. Therefore, people need a certain amount of social interaction in their lives every once in a while.
Another area where the technology and media put people at a disadvantage is in the workplace. Business is all about communicating. Growing up in a society where face-to-face communication is rare and usually limited, kids do not find out how to communicate properly which can hurt them in a work setting and create a communication barrier.
Overall the society we live in today is full of media day and night. It is very helpful in the way we are able to find information and talk to people instantly. Yet at the same time we are losing the valuable skill of face-to-face communication, which is what the reality of our world still is from a professional standpoint.
Resources
http://www.forbes.com/sites/susantardanico/2012/04/30/is-social-media-sabotaging-real-communication/
Fulcher, James and Scott, John. Sociology. Oxford University Press Inc. 2011. Print
Fatoumatta Darboe xx
THE SOCIAL AND ORGAINIZATION OF THE SMILING COAST..
Athrough the Gambia is comprised of people of many different ethic groups, there seems to be a relatives harmony among them and among people of different religions. Gambia has a generally good human right record, and there is a great desire among its people to have the country taken seriously in the world community. In my redearch concerning the social organization and control of people, the social organization of the people is mostly based on the traditional and cultureal ways in which people follow to organized themselves.
Each ethnic group has its own marriage, residence, and kinship patterns. Additionally, islam and christianity have their own regulations. Any particular marriage pattern, kinship system or residence pattern depends upon a conflence of variables. The religious distribution of muslims is 90 percent, christians 9 percent and indigenous believers are 1 percent. They manage their socializatin in generally through imaition and proverbs. In Gambia, older children, especially girls care for their younger siblings. Generally, male children accompany their fathers, while girls follow their mothers. Segregation by sex is common, and children tend to follow their parents example and occupation. Male tend to be dominant over females. Religion plays role in supporting the establish orders. European missionaries have helped bring western ideas and modern employment options to the country.
When it comes to the social control, the Gambia has currently a multi party political system. The constitution of the second republic of the Gambia provide for election by universal suffage for adults eighteen and older. The president popularly elected for a five years tearm is both the chief of staff and head of government. The international community condemend the coup since Gambai has been a model of demorcracy for over 30 years. It also had been a model of human rights, in spite of promises, there has not yet been a return to political democracy. Rights are denied to opposition policians, and meetings and a free press are banned.
In the gender role and statues, traditinally women are subornate to men. In the modern sector, women have equal rights in employment as the have in government, however, relatively few of the Gambian women operate in the modern sector. Most are neaed in subsistence farming. In the commercial activities, there is relatively little commercial activity in the Gambia. Gambia does rely heavily on trade on trade to obtain industrial goods and therefore trade argriculture products, mainly peanuts to obtain foreign capital. All ethnic groups have traditional patterns of inheritance in which priority is given to the male survivours. Islam, however under the shari'a law, provides a portion of the estate for widows. Land is traditionally distributed by need, although modern British law is taking root. In the modern sphere, British property law is exerting a greater influence. The government is less concerned with the welfare of childern in distress considering this matter to be a case for parental and family concern. Similarly, although the government requires child support for the children of divorced parents, the requirement is rearely enforced however, authorities do typically get involved in case of child abuse that come offically to their attention, although there is little pattern of such abuse. The tourist industry has increased begging and child prostitiution. Female genital mutilulation FGM eists and i widespread. Estimates are that 60 to 90 percent of women in Gambia have been subjected to FGM. Nine major ethnic groups supported FGM. The government considers FGM to be an integral part of the cultural system. There are no government provisions to aid the disabled. However, there these appears to be no discrimination against those who cannot perform work are left to proviate charity, which often means begging .
In general Gambian ethnic groups pize tranquility of life, and their manners tend to ease the attainment of that goal. Gambians tend to be soft spoken and gentle in demension, seeking to avoid nosiy conflict and striving towards quite settlement of disputes. Gettings tend to be drawn out while people ask about one another's families.
Resources
http://www.accessgambia.com/information/caste-class-structure.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/201312180802.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegambia_Confederation
Social Control
Maria De La Cruz xFebruary 27, 2015
Sociology
Social control refers to the way in which our thoughts, behaviors, feeling, and appearance are set by a social system. Social control is mainly done through socialization to social groups throughout our lives. First done in our homes, then school, church, and other social groups.
Our first means of socialization and social control is through our family. This primary socialization is learned from birth until we start school or socializing outside of our immediate family/guardians. Our guardians are the ones that teach us the norms, values, and language of the culture we are in, as well as what is not acceptable. It is at this first stage where we learn to share, to be organized and clean, to be kind to others, our overall manners. If we do something that is not acceptable then the guardian makes the child aware of it and the child is punished.
For those of us that are religious, we are most likely introduced to our religion before we are introduced to school. There we are taught that if we are good people and follow the rules we will be given the gift of eternal life after death, and for those of us that decide to head the other way and ignore the rules our punishment will be eternal damnation after death.
We put the manners we learned at home to use when we start school. In preschool we are first introduced to being in a classroom with a whole bunch of other kids for an extended time. We are taught to ask for permission when wanting to leave, to be respectful of the teachers and staff, and responsibility when given homework. We are also to follow a certain appropriate dress code. At our younger ages in school the punishments of misbehaving is minute, but then again at that age we feel like it’s a big punishment, such as a time-out or missing a recess usually did the trick. As we get older those punishments become larger scale, like detention or suspension, and if that doesn’t do the trick a phone call to a parent, who has more authority to further discipline, will. In severe cases expulsion, or the forcing out of an organization in this case the school, is the last option. Positive sanctions are commonly used all throughout school, in the form of grades, awards, and praise. A lot of people believe that positively enforcing good behavior will encourage others to do the same so as to get the same praise and awards. The social control shown to us at school is to prepare us for the world outside of school, it shows us the acceptable behaviors we are to show in everyday life, especially in our future careers.
Laws are rules of behavior that are to be followed as members of a particular country, they are commonly referred as the formal social control. Laws apply equally to everyone living in that particular country, and are enforced by those employed by the government, such as the police department and courts. Punishments for committing a crime, or a deviant behavior that violates the norms, depend on the severity of such crime. These punishments rank from fines, to incarceration, and finally capital punishment. These laws are made so the community could follow rules and maintain order, and so they could know that if they don’t they will be punished.
I have been a very respectful student and person throughout my life. I don’t ever remember being punished for bad behavior at school or any public place, at home yeah often because I have brothers. Does this mean that I am being controlled by society, the law, or my religion? Yes and no. I do think all these social groups have shaped me to be the person I am and have taught me to behave in an appropriate way. But what if they didn’t exist, what if there was no social control? I think it would be chaotic, we wouldn’t have any morals and people would be running around killing others, stealing, doing whatever they pleased without any penalty. Social control shows us to conform, and while many people don’t believe we should, they should also think about how this world would be like if we didn’t.
Resources
https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/education-13/the-conflict-perspective-101/social-control-569-8937/
http://anthro.palomar.edu/control/con_2.htm
Social Control
Sonya Garza x
Dr. Michael Thompson
24 February 2015
Many people today see that the power that our government has is way to much and many of the people today are abusing this concept rather than taking the time to understanding the reason behind it. One of the types of control's that society doesn't agree with is called Social Control. Social Control is defined as the regulation of individual and group behavior in an attempt to gain conformity and compliance to the rules of a given society, state, or social group. With social control their is two basic forms: Informal which means of control and Formal which means of social control. In the next paragraph's i'd like to inform you about the differences and to inform your more on what Social control is and why the government uses this for the best and for the worse.
We will first start off with Informal control. Informal is displayed by a society without strings of any rules or laws. It's expressed by norms and customs and is performed by informal agents with their own unofficial capacities. Informal Control also come with its informal sanctions. Informal Sanctions are reactions of individuals and groups that bring about conformity to norms and law. These can include peer and community pressure and it also includes shame, sarcasm, criticism, ridicule and disapproval. Some examples of informal control include agencies that are created by social networks and organizations but not by the government. With informal control they reward or punish acceptable or unacceptable behavior depending on the group, individual, and society. Some other examples might include at a woman organization meeting it might be disapproved or looked down upon if someone from the head of the group were to inappropriately flirt with the minister. Or other serious ones might include a criminal gang having someone threatening to speak to the police about their criminal activities.
The second part of social control is Formal control. Formal control is involved with authority agents including police officers, employers, military officers, and so on. Formal control comes in some situations where things might be out of hand from informal social control. Formal control examples of some practices are through laws, rules, and regulations against deviant social behavior. This type of control is conducted by the government and organizations through law enforcement which could be given punishment for crimes by fines or imprisonment. An example of this type of control can be a fishing and hunting regulations for certain areas or death sentence to serial killers.
Now that you know a little more about the two different types of social control, we can talk about the weaknesses and strengths with both. With formal control certain people are put up to be decision makers and the weakness with that is that if the decision maker is unavailable then the decision will be stopped until the person making the decision is can be consulted. The plus side with a formal having decision makers is that if a company would let everyone make their own decisions then it would become chaotic and unpredictable. Staying on the same topic a decision maker for an informal control will likely be a lot easier and beneficial because its more with a smaller group of people and they might find with a smaller company that its more efficient to have one person in charge to be able to listen to everybody's viewpoints.
In conclusion, I believe that everything has it's cons and pros, that having two different types of social control is a benefit to many societies. Like I said in my introduction many people believe that the government has to much power but I believe that they have enough to keep societies safe and under control. I do as well have my disagreements with some of the decisions that the government may have but who doesn’t.
Resources
1. https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/deviance-social-control-and-crime-7/social-control-60/informal-means-of-control-369-3188/
2. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/strengths-weaknesses-formal-informal-control-structures-organization-13380.html
3. https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/deviance-social-control-and-crime-7/social-control-60/formal-means-of-control-370-8115/
Cristine Nelson x
Social Control
March 1, 2015
Social Control
What is social control? Social control relates to our thoughts and feelings. This also can affect our appearance and how we look at ourselves. We learn social control in our environments around us such as: home, school, and activities, and theory.
At home we learn “acceptable behaviors or behaviors that conforms to social mores and norms.” These normal may include shame, disapprovement, ridicule, criticism, sarcasm or even to the extreme of social discrimination and exclusion. That just what you have come to adapt to. It within your instincts to feel this way. One may also feel sad, confused, happy, or just a pain emotional train wreck.
At school we learn almost everything we did above but now it’s a reality. At school we are going to get bullied, made fun, or maybe you are really happy at school. School different for everyone, how we act in school is related to what we were taught at home. You learn how to function as a whole and act with behaviors around us rather there good or bad. At home usually we are taught to respect our elders, and be quiet at school. A little girl might see a group of little boy for example yelling, screaming, acting out, we know its not right but she wants to fit to the crowd
.
In Church for example, we know we have to pray, and pay attention. We are taught in club activities we have to attend all the activities and show positive leadership. These all can relate back to one thing what we are taught at home.
In conclusion, we all have theories in life on how we see it in our perspective. “Under the social control theory, individuals break the law due to a breakdown with their societal bond.” So therefore kids or more apt to break the rules, around other kids who are breaking the rules than if they were by themselves.
References*
1.https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/education-13/the-conflict-perspective-101/social-control-569-8937/
2.http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/social-control-definition-theory-examples.html
Weston Paslay xx
Sociology
Mr. Thompson
April 12th
Social Control
I went through most of my high school education with pretty thick long hair. My sisters told me it would be cool and it kind of grew on me, no pun intended. I didn’t really think anything of it and the school that I went to was relatively small, we had around a hundred kids attending, so no one else really thought anything of it either. We also don’t have any required outfits that were given to us the first day of school to wear every day to come. It’s a different story for my cousins who live in Topeka and go to a much larger school. My cousin had almost three hundred kids in his class alone so there had to be over a thousand two hundred in the high school! At this high school, my cousin and all of his classmates were required to wear a uniform provided by the school, every day of the week. This is a prime example of school’s social control over dress code. Back then I couldn’t even imagine having to show up to class dressed the same everyday but I have a friend on campus who says she has a hard time figuring out what to wear since she has been required to wear a uniform all the time. I understand a little better now because I have a job that asks me to wear a nice white shirt and black church pants every day for work and then on Friday we get a little break and are allowed to dress more casually in jeans and such. We had a dress code at our high school but it was pretty lenient on how people dressed and what they did with their hair.
On a website called "thesocietypages.org", I found a video of a child with very thick long hair that was a lot like mine back then and he gets in school suspension for it. Girls are allowed to have long hair, but when boys grow it out, they think it is distracting. This case happened in Dallas TX to a 4 year old and later, he was also threaten with being expelled if he didn’t get his hair cut. Most people would agree that this school’s social control over the dress code may be a little extreme.
Another problem in the school system has to do with social division. Again, I never knew this was an issue because my class and high school are small but in big places like the school that my cousin goes to, this is more likely to happen. Luckily, the place that I heard where this was going on was in Britain.
This website, "theguardian.com", is where I read about how students that transfer over from private schools believe that they possess a dominance over all other students. They believe that since their parents put in more money for them to go to a fancy private school, that makes them richer, smarter, and all around better students. These people argue that going to a private school will grant you a higher position on the ladder of life. A study found that the private school goers were twice as likely as state school goers to see themselves as being middle or upper-middle class. It is likely that they thought so highly of themselves because they assumed they would turn out just like their wealthy, successful parents. Another study suggests that when asked how much money a company chairman makes in a year, the private school students answered about $350,000 in each year and state school students answered almost $262,000 which is substantially lower, so it proves that privately schooled students may be just dreaming bigger than state schooled students, or maybe they really do just think they are better.
References:
http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/11/13/hair-gender-and-school-dress-codes/
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/dec/07/private-schools-divide-society-politics
Kylie Minish x
Thompson
3/3/2015
Family
What is the family? When we refer to our family we are usually talking about the people in our household. However, it may be a wider group that includes our parents and/or our children, whether or not they live with us. Divorces and remarriages may make this an extensive and complex group with unknown boundaries. It may mean a wider group of relatives whom we only speak to occasionally over the phone or at family meetings.
Traditionalists see the family as centered on marriage and a domestic division of labor between a working husband and a housewife who is responsible for childcare and housework. A definition of a family in these terms excludes single-parent families, and unmarried couples, heterosexual or homosexual, even though they may consider themselves to be families and act together in family ways. This definition divides the family, instead of treating it as a way in which families can organize their work lives.
We should consider that families have two main things in common:
• The closeness of family relationships. Relationships within a family are more tightly bonded than the people outside of it. There is a boundary around a family, a sense of closeness and family identity that separates it off from other people.
• A sense of obligation and responsibility. Families do not have fixed responsibilities, usually responsibilities are constantly negotiated, but there is something unique about them that makes family commitments different from those to friends.
The denotative meaning of family is a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head. However, a family may be defined as a small group of closely related people who share a distinct sense of identity and a responsibility for each other that outweighs their commitments to others around them. This group is usually based on marriage, and on biological decent or adoption. These criteria are becoming less important in the way that people think about the family unit.
If you were to ask me, I personally believe that the true meaning of family runs deeper than just being biologically related or living under the same roof. I believe that true family members are the people whom you feel safe around. They are people that you completely trust and that support you through anything and everything. Their loyalty is unquestionable, and they are committed to you. These commitments are much different from those they make to friends. A family is bigger than the people you live with.
Resources
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/family
http://familyplus.bgca.org/YourFamily/EffectiveParenting/WhatisaFamily/Pages/default.aspx
Jesel Herrera x
Dr. Michael Thompson
3/1/2015
Social Identity
Social identity is a person’s sense of who they are based on their group such as; sports team, family and social class. Is how we see ourselves according to similarities with others. Some can relate with others according to religion, where we’re form, careers, politics, and relationships. Others can find their identity by characterizing themselves with homeless people, alcoholic, and people with diseases.
Social identity influences how other people treat you, and can influence your behavior. Others can identify you by the kind of people you hang out with. There are different types of identities; gender identity, ethnic and national identities, and multiplicity identities. All this kind of identities help make up the way people see themselves and how others see them.
Gender most typically as a man or woman is one of the most frequently mentioned identities. Many implications are associated with gender such as; personality traits, role behavior, physical characteristics, and other characteristics can be linked to gender categories.
Ethic and national identities are an important social identity. People were categories such as; Asian, Caucasian, and Negroid. Someone nationality can be closely linked to ethnic identity. Everyone has a different culture, believes and knowledge which would make up peoples social identity. Multiplicity identities are just having separate identities, as a mother, teacher, son, etc.
How others see you starts by the way you are raised. At home if you do something wrong your guardian will make sure to let you know what you did that wasn’t right, so you can change it. At home people might have a different identity then they do when they are around people they don’t know, friends, and team mates. You can relate and listen more to a group of friends than other people in different things. Depending in what kind of people you hangout with is what others are gonna think about you. After all everyone has something that makes their social identity.
References
http://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html
http://people.howstuffworks.com/what-is-social-identity.htm
http://www.bbcprisonstudy.org/resources.php?p=59
Cohabitation - Changing Social Organization
by Dayanara Carswell xx
Although cohabitation is becoming increasingly more common today, it is still highly controversial. According to Wikipedia, cohabitation is an arrangement in which two people who are not married live together in an intimate relationship. Cohabitation may be more or less accepted depending on where a person lives. For example, the numbers of those in cohabiting relationships has drastically increased in the UK, while in Northern Ireland it is still somewhat uncommon. There are many different views when it comes to cohabitation. As in most every situation, there are multiple pros and cons. Some people believe that by living together before marriage, you are dooming yourself to divorce. I however have different ideas about the subject.
While it is not fully accepted by society as a whole, cohabitation can have numerous benefits. Some of which include: companionship, gaining a new understanding for your partner, less pressure, and financial stability. Humans are very social creatures and enjoy the company of others. By sharing a home, you can know you are not alone. After a long day of work, you can come home and enjoy time with your significant other. Living together also allows you to learn more about your partner. In this situation you get to see how compatible you really are. Furthermore, you learn to work together and solve problems. There is less pressure on the relationship when cohabiting. There may be a lot going on in your lives or you just aren’t sure you are ready for the legal binding which is marriage. Cohabitation still lets you have the satisfaction of each other’s company without taking that leap. Typically, if cohabiting with someone, you split the bills with them. This removes a certain amount of financial burden. With all of this, it is easy to see the benefits to cohabitation.
As with any situation, there are some down falls to cohabitation. While you may get to learn more about your partner such as their pet peeves and little quirks, you may figure out that you aren’t as compatible as you previously thought. Although things may seem good at first, it all changes drastically after the “honeymoon stage”. You may begin to feel smothered or annoyed. Ultimately this leads to heartbreak and broken engagements. When you begin to run into real life problems as a couple, you learn a lot about each other. One of the biggest issues to put strain on a relationship is that of money management. When living together, you find out more about your partners spending habits and financial situation. This can lead to a lot of tension and the end of the relationship if not in a serious commitment.
Although in some cases cohabitation is seen as an alternative to marriage, it is most commonly a precursor to marriage. Usually those who cohabit have intentions of one day getting married. There are some people who believe cohabitation is a strong predictor of divorce. I can see how some might make this argument, but I have slightly different beliefs. Some think that when in a cohabiting relationship, people just see marriage as the next step. They don’t really understand the gravity of the decision they are making. I believe that living together before getting married allows you to experience life with that person. You truly learn how compatible you and your significant other are before legally binding yourselves to each other.
There is still a lot of debate about cohabitation. Is it good or bad? Who knows? There are both pros and cons. In some places, cohabitation is becoming common place, while others are still slow to warm up to the idea. I personally do not believe that cohabitation dooms relationships to failure, but everyone has different opinions. All that can be certain is that our social organization is changing and cohabitation is on the rise.
References:
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/03/the-science-of-cohabitation-a-step-toward-marriage-not-a-rebellion/284512/
http://relationshipcounselingcenter.net/relationship-news/should-we-or-should-we-not-the-pros-and-cons-of-cohabitating/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cohabitation
Cyberbullying
By Steve Cherigat xx
Social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace allow you to find and connect with just about anyone. But also leads to a false sense of connection, social media sites can make it more difficult for us to distinguish between the meaningful relationships we foster in the real world, and the numerous casual relationships formed through social media. It also leads to cyberbullying, children especially are vulnerable to the practice of cyber-bullying in which the perpetrators, anonymously or even posing as people their victims trust, terrorize individuals in front of their peers. It leads to less productivity, the people working in companies might be highly disrupted as result of this as they will be at every time be checking on what their friends have posted leading to less productivity. The privacy is also compromised as a result of using social networking services as people tend to expose their private lives to the public.
Resources
http://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it/
http://cyberbullying.us/what-is-cyberbullying
Private Religious Schooling
By: Aaron Hillman x
There are two types of schooling in America: public schools, which are funded by the government and everyone is able to attend and receive an education for free. The other is private schools, which run off of the kindness of others, government grant, and above all student tuition. I was very fortunate in my life to be able to attend private school, from Kindergarten all the way to my senior year. The cause of me going there was not solely an academic one however. It was partially due to the fact of my family being very religious.
Private schools are more than just a way for those fortunate enough to be rid of a somewhat corrupt public school system, but also a place where you can speak your own personal ideals without fear of being punished for doing so. I have been to two different religious schools, my elementary/middle school, which was based out of the Lutheran Church in my town, and my high school, which was a Catholic School funded by the Archdiocese of Denver that was a 45 minute drive from my home. Both of these were unique in their religious perspective apart from the major ties all Christian denominations have.
However the reason I have chosen this topic is because I find that there is a great social division between those who go to public school versus private, not just from an educational side, but from a side of freedoms. There are things that you can say at a private school that you just can’t in a public school setting. Religion is a major one, but there are many other ones from political and many other spectrums. This social division is between those who can afford the ability to go to a privately educated school and those who cannot.
Most of the people that go to these schools go for religious purposes where they are freely allowed to worship as they choose, the primary reasoning for my family choosing to send me to these schools. But there is also a stance from the educational perspective, where usually there is a higher educational standard for those at private schools. Personally the base classes at my high school were the same classes my friend was taking for honors classes at the public school in our town that I’m from. And he constantly asked me why I would drive 45 minutes one way to school each day when I could just drive 10 at the most to the public. And I thought about this a lot; why wear uniforms every day when I could wear blue jeans, not have to spend money on gas every week, and most importantly I would save my parents a boatload of money. But I realized it wasn’t the money that they cared about and the minor things why I should have gone to the public school instead: it was the freedom I had going there, where I could choose to worship and think the way I wanted to without being told to do something else or to not say something else.
Resources
http://www.ncspe.org/publications_files/OP140.pdf
http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2013/05/10218/
New Racism
Karly Kriss xx
Martin Barker has argued that the 1970s saw the emergence of a new racism. The old racism of biological superiority and inferiority, he argues, has given way to a cultural racism that appears to be calmer. Feelings of difference and hostility between ethnic groups seen as natural responses to the presence of other populations. These feelings are not typically formulated in full-blown theories and so do not appear to be racist. They are, however, based on an underlying xenophobia, a fear of those who are culturally different. This is, Barker argues, a more subtle form of racism in which perceived biological differences predispose people to hostility.
The new racism of the British majority population links to British culture as central elements in defining a whole way of life. This rests on an image of a cohesive, homogeneous, and solidarity national society whose shared and traditional way of life is threatened by outsiders and by those who have refused to accept and to be a natural place to be, and the desire to preserve a national identity is seen as equally natural. People’s feelings and their culture, traditions, and way of life are the bases if their fear of outsiders;, however fictional, will be lost. Those members of the majority culture who feel this way do not see themselves as racist: it is they who have rejected the way of life of the host society on racial grounds. Members of the majority, then, can claim the moral high ground: they are not racist but are simply striving to maintain a way of life that has existed for many generations. They are not rejecting or decrying the migrants way of life, but are simply saying that they should pursue this in their home country or accept the way of life of the country to which they or their parents have migrated.
A growth of racial antagonism is apparent in the emergence of new racist political movements of a neo-fascist character from the 19702. Examples are the Fronte Nationale in France, the National Front and British National Party, various Neo-Nazi groups in Germany, and the KKK in the United States. The growth of such groups has been partly countered by the British Anti-Nazi League, Anti-Racist Alliance, and similar groups. The level of political violence is apparent in such events as the assassination of the Dutch racist politician Pim Fortuyn in 2002.
Violence against ethnic minorities by racists is a form of hates crime- crime carried out by those whose motivation is hatred of those in a particular social group. Racist organizations and parties that foster racial hatred encourage such hate crimes. Hostility towards Asian Muslims, in particular, has increased since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York in 2001, the Madrid train bombings in 2004, the London underground bombings 0f July 2005, and the Glasgow airport bombings of 2007. Muslim and terrorist have become almost interchangeable terms, so far as many people are concerned. Racist organizations are able to use this suspicion of Muslims to justify hate crimes against Asians. The response of the British government to this has been to propose new legislation that would extend existing legislation and make incitement to religious hatred into a crime. At the same time, however, new official policies have targeted Muslim communities and individuals as problems, requiring discriminatory practices such as the stopping and searching of Asians on the street and at railway stations.
Resource
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/09/the_new_racism_michael_brown_and_trayvon_martin_deny_it_exists_and_smear.html
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119019/civil-rights-movement-going-reverse-alabama
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