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Chapter 9: Social Stratification in the United States 3/19/2025

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Chapter 9: Social Stratification in the United States 3/19/2025

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Social Stratification, systems that give people statuses depending on their wealth, power, and status within society. Closed status's being really restricted of any change, while open status being the opposite. Ranging from Caste and Class systems. Here in the U.S. It is something that more and more is becoming a problem due to the gap of the rich and the poor becoming greater and greater. With this chapter really adding onto what we went over on Tuesday. It sort of makes me wonder if something big is eventually going to occur since here in the U.S the rich overall are not struggling in terms of their statuses since more and more loopholes are showing up. More ways to avoid anything that can mean more money being used. While the lower folk by the year is struggling more and more unable to even get out of the financial struggles they been facing for years. Inequality ever so present, with it rising more and more. Our society as a whole seems to be favoring the ones at the top more and more while the ones keeping the country together are stuck. Although, the U.S isn't the only country that faces this. As much as we like to believe it, it's really not. It's just the fact class systems here and caste systems are a huge thing here. It's just how it is in a capitalist society. It's just interesting to me more than anything. Due to the fact these systems can lead to something eventually erupting in our society here in the U.S. We just have to wait and see. Since the poor and the middle class are not quiet about it. Sooner or later a huge social shift is going to happen, but it could just be my tin foil hat speaking.

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The Uses of Poverty: The Poor Pay All   Herbert J. Gans 3/19/2025

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The Uses of Poverty: The Poor Pay All   Herbert J. Gans 3/19/2025

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Gan's essay on the poverty phenomenon is going over how poverty preforms many functions in society. That despite the want to eliminate poverty, it's what keeps our societies moving and a shift like that needs alternatives. Which there is such as automation! Although, the sad reality is that this isn't convenient to the ones at the top. The ones showering in cash. As the gap between the rich and poor persists so will poverty, unless the rich start getting dysfunctional or the powerless obtain the power to make change. I really like Gan's view on this matter since it's something I've had in mind for a while, and it was brought to my focus in class. Poverty despite the nature of it, it is a reality that for most of our history has made our societies function. Although, we are now in a world where changes can be made to take out the human factor in dirty work that runs our world. But the ones at the top don't use that money to make that change since from my point of view. Their worried about their wealth and power dropping even ever so slightly. That is why I believe that shift hasn't occurred. Due to the fact that if they spend to make those changes it could mean a lot of those poor folk gaining power close to them. Leading to huge changes in their higher Arcy. Although, I do see that this change of dirty work going to alternatives rather than the poor happening. But there is the worry that if this change happens, the ones in poverty won't be able to get new jobs. That now they won't even be able to barely scrape by. We will just have to wait and see.

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Morris and Grimes, Moving up....                    Joan M. Morris and Michael D. Grimes 3/20/2025           

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Morris and Grimes, Moving up....                    Joan M. Morris and Michael D. Grimes 3/20/2025           

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Morris and Grime's work here is supposed to be an exploration of childhood recollections from a group of sociologists who came from working class backgrounds. Having to work their way to the top and experiencing the culture shock of transitioning from a lower class to a higher one. Almost as if they were travelers from another country as the paper puts it. Although, not like the rich rather in a middle ground of not being in the working class but not comfortably in the middle. This paper goes over a variety of things that contribute to the way a working-class individual grows up. Learning What "Feels Right" section is one I really resonated with since it's basically going over how parents in the working class raise their children. From firsthand experience I can say a lot of what's said here is accurate especially the one of how a child in this social status are mainly parented in a way to be taught how to support themselves. Alongside that, not asking for help so they won't seem weak. Overall working-class parents tend to be harsher on their children especially when it comes to how they will play off the book of the bosses they have worked with. Incorporating it to the household. "Economic Capital" is lightly touched on going over how working-class individual's growing up felt the economic gaps when having different experiences around people with higher economic statuses. An example from me honestly is my home. I lived in an apartment most of my life so most of the time I never had friends come over since most lived-in houses away from the more dangerous neighborhood I lived in. "Cultural Capital" is brought up briefly as well. How it's based on values, knowledge, and meaning. That the social structure is built upon the influences of the working class. "Encouragement and Expectations" is an interesting one to me as it relates to how middle class and worker class encourage education. Preparing their kids for school, although with working class leave it to the "professionals". Not really being involved with their children's learning experience which I will say is very accurate. I get really put down most of the time by my family due to my flawed Spanish. Part of the reason its choppy at times is due to the fact my parents never even taught me it I've learned it on my own alongside learning English at school. Which is something I am sort of still doing today since I am yet to be fluent at righting it. Again, a hand off approach they expected me to learn it since I go to school. Pursuit of the "American Dream" the idea anyone here in the U.S can make something of themselves. Although like how the text touches on, what those individuals decide to make of themselves is dependent on their class. More and more I see people around my social status just don't even try to do college. Since they feel as if due to the place they are right now. Theres no way out other than going straight to work. Then there's the ones like the majority of the students here at delta. It was the cheaper and closer option. So, we came here. "Inherent Contradictions in Parental Encouragement" the parent's want of their children to do better, "Social Capital" how the working-class social ties tend to lack ones with education leading to struggles, and "The Relevance of "Social Class" as an Issue" How people are unable to see their social status seeing others outside of it as wrong and or taking pride in their class. "Weighing the Effects of Race, Gender, and Class" how these factors greatly contribute to one's expectations from their working-class families. This one is one that despite me being a male still faced hardships with. My family during high school were either like this "Become an engineer it's what you boys are good at, go to the military, go into a trade school, become a mechanic etc." To the point they would lash out if I even dared shared a view of my future different from the suggested. Overall, this reading really helped me better see why things are the way they are for my family and many others I know that are in similar circumstances. It's generally a bit sad but also does in a weird way strengthen those whole live through it.

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The U.S. Upper Class                                              Stephen Higley 3/20/2025

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The U.S. Upper Class                                              Stephen Higley 3/20/2025

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Higley's essay here is to put a perspective on the upper class of the U.S. How the reason these select individuals differ greatly in values and beliefs is because of their separation from the rest of society. This separation coming from the distinct institutions both social and physical. These institutions and associational arrangements are the primary factors that get these people across life with very little social interaction with the rest of society. Private schools give young upper-class children assured values supporting their class, exposing themselves to their "acceptable" people. Upper Class College education filling similar roles for those same people now grown up, such examples being universities such as Duke, Standford, and Northwestern. Fraternities And Eating Clubs, which the rich have links to individuals who share the same views. The Upper-Class World of Private Clubs in which commonly, rich men will attend socializing with ones in their same social class. Most of these clubs being rather obscure. Religion and The Upper Class is something rather interesting as in that they had a long association with the Protestant church and Presbyterian Church. They mostly stay around churches, specifically associating with the values this class holds. Debutante Balls are in a sense get togethers for the people sharing these social statuses to further enforce their alliances. The Social Register being a way to indexes the members of upper-class society. Although, it faces a ton of discrimination specifically against ones of commonly minority groups. Overall, this paper really makes me wonder of why so little rich have managed to actually see beyond their values to better understand us. The working/middle class always seem to seek understanding of the rich not all the time but mostly. Although, it seems like the ones at the top rather exclude us from their minds. Which makes sense, living a life where your mostly isolated from the "evils" of the world. It's easy to understand why they rather remain ignorant to the world around them. Despite this, there are few who try to see our point of view. Seeking to better understand our views on them and the way our world works. To better put themselves into our shoes to make change. Which is rare yes, but we shouldn't assume all are just the rich spoiled kids we are used to believing they are. Yet again, that sentiment comes from fair reasons. Especially today with how things are going with our society and the gaps between the poor and the rich.

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This video is terrifyingly accurate to how this inequality in terms of the way wealth is distributed throughout the United States. This is a 12-year-old video mind you so just think about that. This video basically shows how we think wealth is distributed vs the hard reality. With many believing the rich make 100 times more than what the rest do. While the reality is the rest, the middle/working class are basically given pocket change. The middle and poor are barely distinguished and with a majority of the "rich" being barely better off. While the top 2/5% are so full of money that they basically own almost half of the wealth of America. It puts into perspective what we went over in terms of the wealth gap. Rich getting richer, poor staying poor. To think that as prices the lower folk struggle more. Barely making it by with them needing to spend even more while still making the same wages. Wages that haven't changed in 15 years, But the upper class. They stay comfortable since these price increases don't even affect them. If anything, due to the amount of money they have if anything their getting more money returned to them. The more money they have the easier it is for them to earn it back or even gain more than before The Rich getting richer with finding ways to avoid these changes to our economy. While the poor have to struggle to get by, and their taxes still going to those at the top. Rich getting richer, poor staying poor.

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Chapter 11 is basically a pure definition of race and ethnicity. Alongside that, the different perspectives, the prejudice/discrimination/racism, intergroup relations, and lastly the history of race and ethnicity in the U.S. Race is a group of people who share characteristics that are significant to their society. While ethnicity loosely means a groups culture. What's considered a race has changed as time progressed throughout history, something I generally found interesting to touch on. Although, one thing I didn't really think about before is how different groups of people adopt their race's historical insults and use it under different context. For example, the slur "wet back" for people of Mexican decent. 1954 was when this slur arises due to an operation's name sharing that title in which the U.S was stopping the flood in of illegals primarily originating from Mexico. A highly offensive term, but I know a lot of Mexicans who use it now to even get a laugh out of people. Mind you this isn't just for Mexicans many other groups do the same with their historical slurs. Which I find weird, yet a bit understandable in a sense. Yes, these words carry horrible history with them but once when I asked one of my peers back in high school why we humans do such things. They simply responded, "It's to show we aren't so weak to these words anymore, making jokes to just get a laugh out of people just further gets us together you know? Even if the past is still there better to show how far we have come rather than go at each other's throats." Ethnicity is touchy since it varies. It's almost confusing how so many people can consider themselves one thing over different reasons and circumstances. For example, I have a friend who considers themselves fully Hispanic never labeling themselves as American despite being literally born on the 4th of July here in the United States. I also have met a few people who were immigrants coming from Mexico to live here who even consider themselves in their words "true Americans." Another thing this chapter goes over is minority groups. Groups who are in simple terms discriminated due certain characteristics culture or appearance wise. A theory mentioned is how there is a theory on how throughout history we used certain minority groups as a scapegoat to the current struggles in our society. Prejudice is mentioned as well how people have different feelings and thoughts on a group of people based off of pre-existing judgement. Discrimination on one hand, is actions taken. Especially with the idea of white privileged running about with many white folks I've meet experiencing attacks due to the overall sentiment that white people have it easier. Which generally most of the time yeah, they acknowledge the fact their color has benefits due to it being the "dominant group" here in the U.S. Even I, have had similar experiences mind you I am born here in the U.S but from a Hispanic family. People just assume I am white due to how pale I am. "Whitewashed" is a term I get thrown at a lot which I laugh at. Racism is those two concepts of prejudice and discrimination but to the extreme. With people justifying it, even in politics today in the modern day with trumps recent changes of laws against discrimination in the workplace. It's something that has been a running problem, even after decades of change here in the U.S we still have it lingering. The way I see it, it's a disease. It's genially really close minded considering the reason our country differs from others is the fact people from all over make up this country. The U.S is built from the different groups that live here. Luckily many share this sentiment with many fighting back against racism trying their best to get laws and policies set to protect different groups. Intergroup relations are defined here too, as the relations between different groups. The positive one being Pluralism, different groups on equal footing. Although, here in the U.S it is often forgotten that respect is required for such a concept. Assimilation is basically getting a group to ditch their identity and become the dominant group in their society. Which interestingly enough, is what happens often with people who immigrated here into the United States. My dad is the example I will use here since genially it's a bit funny to me but also shows how immigration changed him. My dad is the most American Hispanic you will meet. He loves fast food here, adores the American holidays here, and generally loves the media here. He still obviously has the love for traditional Mexican things, but he equally shares it with the American ideas. If anything, this perfectly translates to Amalgamation. The combining of cultures which here in the U.S is something Mexicans can really relate to. This to me if anything is what I believe is the beauty of this country. Is the "melting pot" of different cultures clashing to make something new entirely that retains the identities of thus cultures. It's what I will never ever say is a problem here in the U.S. I personally believe it's what makes the United States special and its genially saddening to me seeing many describe it as a bad thing. A really well-known concept is the idea of genocide. The targeting of a group to basically rid them entirely with many times in history even modern. Being the mass killing of a specific group. A modern example is Gaza with Israel's attacks on the Palestinians. This concept is the most extreme out of all of them. Expulsion is basically forcing a group to leave. Segregation is one we here in the U.S are quiet familiar with as well. We have had a history of segregating African Americans for a long while having separate schools, bathrooms, buses, etc. Segregation is the separation of two groups. Here in the United States of America we have a massive history relating to race and ethnicity. With many of the groups who first inhabited these lands or were parts of the waves of immigrants who came here, facing many experiences of prejudice and discrimination as the process of assimilation went along. These groups include Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, "White" Americans, and Hispanic Americans. Overall, Race and Ethnicity has been a huge topic here in the United States. Due to the many groups and cultures that reside here. History of racism and segregation but we aren't the only the ones. Humanity as a whole throughout its history has a pattern of how different groups of people are treated. No matter what that history is going to keep growing as I've always said, but from my perspective. We can now have the power to handle it differently. Learn from our mistakes and prevent dark stains on our pages for years to come. Although sadly some parts of the world don't see that well. Again, look at the wars going on. Some things will never change, but people do. People will learn not all but some and can possibly shift the future to a brighter one. We humans are interesting in that fact, that we will always have these different feelings towards others simply because of what they wear, color of skin, and even their language or accent. Either those feelings be negative or positive, I will always say this when it comes to us as a species. At the end of the day, no matter the differences we have. We are all human at the end of the day, and we shouldn't ever consider anyone less than that no matter the differences in origin, appearance, or culture.

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Showing My Color                                                    Clarence Page 4/7/2025

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Showing My Color                                                    Clarence Page 4/7/2025

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Clarence Page's "Showing My Color" is a really insightful righting on this journalist's experiences of being a Black American. Showing his understanding of how the U.S treats it's many groups specifically how black people in this country. How we have had history here in the U.S having these stereotypes of different groups of people, and an idea of where or where they don't belong. Page here stands on the idea that our differences is what makes us, well us. Although, also believes that it shouldn't be purely identifying us as a person. His rejection of the "melting pot" idea perfectly shows this. Page rather believes in the mulligan stew. A combination of flavors with each ingredient keeping their distinct flavor while each contributed to adding flavor to one ingredient to another. That's what Page believes is the beauty of the United States. This metaphor is one I find interesting since there is one already that is similar to it being the salad bowl example. Although, this one share similar ideas to the mulligan stew it doesn't have the idea of flavors being added to one another. It's something I find crucial to us Americans since this country is built upon the mixing of cultures and people. It's something many of us forget which is genially sad. From the way I see it Page here is trying to put light onto the idea that here in the U.S racism will always be a problem. That we can't ignore it, but that we can fight back. That we should stand for the fact that this country isn't for one group. It's for everyone, for all kinds of people varying in characteristics and cultures. That we shouldn't let other people rejecting this idea make us hide away our differences. Purely out of the want to make people be more "American". I believe Page here is not only showing that what makes us distinct is important but also is defining that being American isn't just being white or "acting American". It's being aware and acceptive of the mulligan stew made up of different ingredients that defines what the United States is and will be for as long as it stands.

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Race, and the social construction of it. 4/8/2025

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Race, and the social construction of it. 4/8/2025

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Recorded Answers

Me:

1. I am Hispanic

2. I know due to where my parent's come from, and due to the fact, many refer to be as Mexican.

3. I learned about race through how my family would describe Mexicans as hard workers or bums, but also how they gave certain names to certain groups of people.

4. I decide what race someone is based on appearance or the way they describe their life and or experiences. For example, I assumed my friend was a mix of Scottish and German due to how they would at times do an accent.

5. Other people decide what race I am due to my fluent English and skin color. I have had multiple instances where people assume I have privilege simply due to my skin color.

Person 1:

1. White American/ Northwestern European

2. Based on how people and myself perceive me compared to themselves and others

3. By learning that the wat I was raised was different from my peers and learning about my family's history.

4. Generally, by a person's appearance, their accent, and demeanor.

5. Likely my "completion", personality, and accent.

Person 2:

1. Mexican indigenous

2. Both sides of my family look like natives from the U.S and Canada but were from Mexico. we said we were only Mexican but none of us looked like other races.

3. I thought that there were no more indigenous Mexicans since in history we were taught they were all "wiped out" or conquered by the Spanish.

4. By most of their looks. For example, a person with natural ginger hair, blue eyes, and pale skin would be a white person of European descent to me.

5. Other people have decided what race I am based on my looks, sometimes people claimed I was an indigenous to Alaska or a Vietnamese mixed person. Of course, I correct them by telling them what I am racially, but yeas people assume race.

Person 3:

1. Latina

2. I know this because both my parents are Mexican. I make this decision knowing two things. My parents were born in Mexico, and I was born here in America. That makes me a Mexican American or Latina.

3. I learned my race through my parent's heritage. I could tell we were different from our neighbors because of the language we spoke, our skin color, and the food we ate. Mind you, none of this is wrong, it is just a key aspect of what makes everyone different.

4. I determine where other people are from the language they speak and asking theme where they're from or their parents. If they say they're all from here I ask them about their descendants, if they know their Heritage. Another example would be an accent of their primary language.

5. I like tell people my heritage and tell people I'm a Latina! If they do decide to guess on their own, I've always gotten comments about my skin color, facial features, and my hair. They guess based on those and are always wrong. I don't like to do that to people so I would rather engage in conversation rather than just assume.

Person 4:

1. Brown

2. Because of my family's history I make this decision because of my culture and the way I'm raised.

3. My mom always told me and exposed me to things that are a part of my culture and also the speaking language.

4. By asking them or observing their facial features and accent.

5. By asking or assuming by the color of my skin sometimes they even assume the wrong race of mine just because of it.

Person 5:

1. Latin American

2. I made that decision by origin and where I am currently.

3. I learned through family and them teaching me about their pasts.

4. The first narrowing of someone's race is usually by color and facial structure then with conversations

5. Other people decide my race by what I show theme blatantly or our conversations.

Race is the identity of a group of people based on characteristics and culture. Although, why do we say here in this class that race is socially constructed? The meaning of race being socially constructed is that race has been defined many times throughout history in multiple ways. As our societies changed so did the definition of race. Although, defining one's race is no different as that is why stereotypes exist. It's societies labels on these groups of people for example Mexicans. Their believed to be illegals, drug dealers, laborers, construction workers, and or raciest towards their own and everyone else. These ideas, float around in society. Constructing these ideas of this group of people. This doesn't just apply to them it applies to everyone even white folk. Race being socially constructed is basically, that what defines a race is what society labels on those groups of people. It is most apparent with the examples above this post. With some of the people I asked these questions answering with they assume race off of looks. Looks, even though they can be a way of telling what race someone is it isn't always correct take me for example. I am paler than some white folk and I speak perfect English. On top of that my Spanish is choppy at times. People assume I am white; despite the fact my name is literally a name common with Mexicans. Race is socially constructed, based on what society has put into our minds what defines different groups.

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The Raciest Mind                                                        Raphael Ezekiel 4/9/2025                         

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The Raciest Mind                                                        Raphael Ezekiel 4/9/2025                         

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Raphael Ezekiel's "The Raciest Mind" is an insightful look into how White supremacist groups think. Along with using those insights as a way to better understand the influences and actions we do even if unintendedly that come from racism in our culture. This is something that to be 100% resonated with me. Throughout my life, I've lived with a family who tended to influence me with the way they acted to other groups of people. It honestly bothered me for most of my life how they would label different people, but despite that sentiment. I still was influenced by it, as I have had instances in my past when I was younger where I would offend a few with my words. Without realizing I was being raciest with the way I talked. Even today I watch after how I word things since it's just how I've gotten use to the way my family would talk to these groups.

Ezekiel from the way I see it, is trying to emphasize that the U.S culture is built upon racism and one way of seeing that is through the understanding of white supremacists. Since their way of thinking is what heavily influenced generations to come here in the U.S, and a way to prevent future negative influences. Is by better understanding the raciest minds of these individuals. To further avoid more future generations to have these twisted minds. Not just white folk, but all kinds since it's not just white people. It's a lesson everyone no matter the racial or ethnic group need to learn. My father is Hispanic and dear god the things he be saying even towards his own. My mother has meet African Americans who have tried to hospitalize her Mexican and white co-workers over the fact they spoke Spanish. My old JROTC instructor is from the Philippines and has some crazy opinions about all kinds of people blatantly saying it out loud in class. I've had Arabic friends who literally label themselves as a terrorist as a joke. All kinds of people have these negative influences, and we should take this book as a example on how to better understand and alter to prevent future generations to causing the same harm many institutions and people today do. Like Ezekial states, "Our actions are what matter."

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On Becoming Male: Reflections of a Sociologists on Childhood and Early Socialization                                                         By: James M. Henslin 4/14/2025

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On Becoming Male: Reflections of a Sociologists on Childhood and Early Socialization                                                         By: James M. Henslin 4/14/2025

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James M. Henslin's "On Becoming Male: Reflections of a Sociologists on Childhood and Early Socialization" is a really good insight into how masculinity and femininity are expressed through teachings not genetically. That what is considered one or the other is based on what was taught since we were born, inherited sexuality in a sense. Henslin uses examples with them being listed as followed.

1. Genital's

2. Colors, Clothing, and Toys

3. Play and the Sexual Boundaries of Tolerance

4. On Freedom and Being

5. ...And the Twain Shall Never Meet (The exclusion of men that don't act "masculine enough")

6. The Puberty Shock

7. The Transition into Artificiality (Changing up behaviors for a woman)

8. The Continuing Masculine World-and Marriage

Henslin uses all 8 of these examples to emphasize the fact that masculinity and femininity contrast immensely. Yet men and to an extend women are expected to get together while having differences so grand due to the way our society built us up from the day we were born. It's something I see a lot today where relationships will fall due to the way either side thinks. Then for those who overcome these set ways of thinking these rules of masculinity and femineity, which mind you is extremely difficult. Most of the time their judged, shunned, and at times even leads to losing people. Overcoming those lessons come with such a huge price due to the way we as a society are made. This reading as a whole made me better understand why I as a man has struggled for most of my life with just being discriminated for the things I enjoyed. I love art, I wasn't into sports, I tended to have girls as friends, I at one point had long hair, I use to wear pink time to time, a lot of examples that I can't list into this one post. Things like this led to people trying to fight me, verbally abuse me, exclude me, and or spread word about me. Men if they don't fall under the rules of what is considered masculine, suffer a lot of consequences growing up. Which is why you find many men who are drilled into the ideas of masculinity so much so that it effects their relationships with people. Our society has taught us throughout our whole lives what is masculine or feminine. Although, there are those who learn to get out of those rules they suffer greatly as a result. We should better be opened minded about one's sexuality and not have to have them struggle for not following the "norms" set by our society.

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On Becoming Female: Lessons Learned in School                                               By: Donna Eder 4/14/2025

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On Becoming Female: Lessons Learned in School                                               By: Donna Eder 4/14/2025

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Donna Eder gives us the reader the other perspective of Henslin's talk about masculinity. The way our society defines attractiveness as the core part of femininity. Eder explores how many experiences that a girl goes through like cheerleading tryouts and the way boys' comment on their appearances. Lead to the shaping of a woman's mind to consider looks like a vital part of their identity. To the point this idea of the importance of appearance effects their conversations and even the way schools set up teams or prom queen. Eder hammers in the idea that appearance for girls and woman has been socially constructed as a vital part of their identity. That who they are as an individual does not hold the same importance. Eder even mentions that even their achievements have this same treatment. Women have to fight for their identity as human beings to be seen as people, rather than sexual objects. It's what our society has built woman to be defined as, which is far from what they truly are. Eder here succeeds in putting the problem bright in the spotlight. The problem that in we have a world built around the idea women and girls are just objects. Yes, not everyone is like that, I am not trying to say that every person on the planet just see them as things. But I am saying that our society as a whole is built with the idea in mind. Yes, over recent time it has been improving, but it's still a huge glaring problem. There is a reason you still see girls and women struggle with weight, struggle with identity, struggle with self-worth, etc. It doesn't help people are taught these ideas, something that keeps getting passed on through generations. Eder's work here shows how imbedded into people's mind these lessons about women and girls are. That even them fighting against these ideas is a struggle and has been for generations. I believe, part of the reason it's still a struggle for women and girls to even push away the appearance concern is not only due to the way it was constructed into our society, but the way men and boys handle it. From personal experience, ever since I was little, I was taught to respect girls and treat them right with care. To be loyal, and not to judge based on looks. Although, these were teachings from my parents. My cousins on the other hand, all men mind you taught me otherwise. Yes, be respectful, but remind them of their place. If the girl has a boy's haircut, avoid it as much as possible. Make sure to look at they're not the type to defy you. Lessons that, personally I didn't pass on since I believed what my parents taught me not them. Lessons that really show the contrast in how men and boy's depict women and girls. While let's say my brother and I tend to respect and treat women to the best of our abilities. My cousins tend to be much more judgmental, such as my little cousin I'll name mark. Mark would always tell me "Hey your girl needs to grow her hair back man, she looks like a lesbian dude." Then another instance I mentioned how me and her are trying to work out our arms. He said, "Dude no girl looks good with buff arms. Legs maybe but arms no make them look like a man." Mind you this kid has learned many things off of those same cousins mentioned, or off of his father who without going into detail was a very not so great man. Men and boys alike have been taught to see women like objects, even though there's still those who reject those teachings a majority have been taught to judge them purely on how attractive or feminine they are. Men and boy's need to get taught how to reject those teachings to not see them as objects but as equals to them. Although, women need to also fight off these ideas and not define themselves from their looks.

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Sexuality and Gender in Children's Daily Worlds                                                                      By: Barrie Throne and Zella Luria 4/14/25

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Sexuality and Gender in Children's Daily Worlds                                                                      By: Barrie Throne and Zella Luria 4/14/25

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Barrie Throne and Zella Luria both do interesting research on how children's play has huge sociological meanings to the relations between men and women. How in school's boys and girls use sexual phrases to set boundaries between each other. How this causes a bit of segregation amongst them that sets a template for what these soon to be men and women believe either one should act. Setting a template of what a man or woman should act, look, and feel like. Both authors use examples from middle school and elementary like how later on as these kids grow up, they tend to learn certain words and phrases or activities that often have sexual meaning. Throne and Zella aim to show that many of these activities and things said in early childhood in school leads to the creation of a man or woman's perspective of how either one should be. Setting a "sexual script" that will stick through early adult hood, or even for the rest of their lives. The differences between men and woman don't start when their grow up but rather when their just boys and girls. An example I can use from me is the differences I experienced with hanging out around my male friends in middle school compared to my female friends. I tended to be really rough with my male friends, often rough housing and making fun of each other. While when I hung out with girls, I tended to act gentler and nicer, trying to be more respectful than I am with the boys. Like with the way our society shapes our views on what's considered masculine or feminine. Childhood experiences also assist in creating the ideas in our heads on what's considered "normal for boys" and "normal for girls". Even if a school tries it's best to prevent such gender differentiation. We are still influenced by how our society is built, along with what we are taught by ones we look up to.

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"But What Do You Mean?" Women and Men in Conversation                                             By: Deborah Tannen 4/15/2025

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"But What Do You Mean?" Women and Men in Conversation                                             By: Deborah Tannen 4/15/2025

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Deborah Tannen's ""But What Do You Mean?" Women and Men in Conversation" is a thought-provoking reading into the inequalities in male to female conversation. Specifically in a professional setting with Tannen using the examples listed,

1. Apologies

2. Criticism

3. Thank-Yous

4. Fighting

5. Praise

6. Complaints

7. Jokes

Tannen's 7 examples perfectly represent how conversations have different meanings for either gender. Men tend to go for one upping people, seeming like you're not below someone. While for Women it's more about taking other people's feelings into consideration. Like what Tannen says, it causes a back in forth between Men and Women in the workplace. Always trying to be above either one or the other. Women constantly apologizing to avoid being seen in a different light. Women using softer words and give reasons in terms of criticism, while Men tend to show disappointment telling the employee to do better. Men tend to see arguments, seeking weak links as a form of help while a Women see that as a personal attack. Saying "Thank You" as a way to start a conversation is used by women, Praise being see as criticism by women while men offer these praises not realizing how they see it as. Complaints being seen as problematic, with women often having these complaints used against them in a serious matter. Jokes being more comfortable to use by men while women less so due to them having different meanings, women see men jokes as attacks due to the mocking nature of it while men see women jokes as self-hatred due to it being directed towards the person themselves. All 7 of these factors lead to this environment in the workplace that has men and women always trying to be above the other. Due to one main factor, miscommunication. I'd say that the reason this even still occurs is due to the teachings of how either gender should act. Leading to these problems, when simply they should be seeing if either party shares the same language. If their able to understand each other's views on what means what to them.

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The Importance of Being Beautiful                  By: Sidney Katz 4/15/2025

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The Importance of Being Beautiful                  By: Sidney Katz 4/15/2025

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Sidney Katz's reading about beauty is a really important dive into the fact that people considered attractive move faster in life rather than people who aren't. Affecting them from early childhood with kids not liking the "ugly" kid. Schools have teachers who judge kids purely off their appearance. Colleges letting inferior work pass by if your looks are considered attractive. Marriages being questioned if one is considered not as attractive as the other. Careers and the success you have is determined by the way you look. Even in your elder years your better treated in medical environments than if your considered ugly. Katz here hammers home the idea that beauty is considered to be not important, but it truly is as is it in our nature. Off personal experience yes this is true. Most of my life, I've been seen as either a dropout, pedophile, creepy, or even a bad person due to my appearance. Due to the fact most of my life I was taller than all my classmates. On top of that I am not one for looks I'm not exactly what society considers beautiful. For a while, I struggled in school due to my appearance even in high school. JROTC no one took me seriously due to the way my face looks, and due to the leadership being mostly girls. They considered me ugly compared to what they see as the perfect man. Even now I still struggle with it with many instances I've had people give me glares or disgusted faces due to how I don't fit the standard set by our society. Beauty is still very important sadly, but how Katz says these teachings from professors can lead to a change to our human nature. To remove the importance of beauty in our society.

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How Have I Been Socialized into My Gender? 4/16/2025

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How Have I Been Socialized into My Gender? 4/16/2025

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Throughout my life I have has struggles being male. Since I never fitted into what is considered "masculine" to our society. In my childhood I never really liked sports. I had this huge love for art and videogames and even now I still do. That lead to a lot of bullying with many boys not wanting to be around me. With the few who did, be made fun of for hanging around someone who was considered a "faggot". Not only that, but I also wasn't really considered tough with most girls being alright with me due to the fact I was respectful. My own cousins picked on me a lot too due to the fact I wasn't really like them with their love for cars, or for violence and cursing. As the years go by elementary to middle school now, this is when I learned a hard lesson. That my appearance alone since I am a tall boy. I was seen as a drop out or a creep at worst a pedophile at the age of 15. Someone I thought was my friend tried to accuse me of sexual assault simply because my appearance and the fact I wasn't like the other guys lead her to falsely accuse me. Covid comes along and as I thought I can finally avoid these sorts of thoughts about me it didn't stop. I liked my new long hair grown to my shoulders; mom didn't so much. Saying I looked like a woman, even bringing the homophobia terms out too. My cousin's same way always pointing out I look like I can get assaulted any moment which made me feel extremely uncomfortable. Highschool, it tamed down a bit but not by a lot, and now in college honestly it has stopped. My behaviors not being seen as what someone male should do naturally, combined with my appearance has socialized me to basically to take caution. To act like what is considered "a man". Don't talk a lot, don't be weak, show that your tough, and don't let anyone say anything about you. To not approach women unless talked to, since it could creep them out. My gender as a whole has made me realize to fear being falsely accused of horrible actions, and to not act like myself around certain men or it can lead to ridicule. Dress in monotone clothes, don't wear cartoony shirts, don't have long hair, try to not seem creepy to girls by not approaching them first, hide my love for art, and so much I can list that it can go on for hours. I've been socialized into my gender by learning I strike fear in certain people and should be careful, and that I should act more "masculine" to made sure I'm not considered an outcast by other men.

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Women in the Military                                                By: Laural Miller 4/16/2025

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Women in the Military                                                By: Laural Miller 4/16/2025

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"Women in the Military" by Laural Miller is a really in-depth look into the resistance men gave women going into the military via gender harassment. Along with who would be most likely to oppose the idea of women gaining larger roles in the military. Resulting in gender harassment. Miller goes over how harassment as whole in the military isn't just specific to that field but still carries a huge weight on people. In the military it's very common with the ideas thrown around of "what makes a man" or "what makes a woman". Going out of what fits the "gender norms" leads to it being called out. Miller goes over some examples such as resistance to authority, constant scrutiny, gossip and rumors, sabotage, and even indirect threats. Reasons for this gender harassment is due to hostile proponents, and or the different definition of equality the military use. The perceptions men have of the privileges of a woman. Even things as simple as the lower training requirements in terms of physic or the fact pregnancy is an honorable way to get out of service. Women have better education opportunities, easier jobs, getting away with more things, the belief of women having it easier to climb to higher positions, and limited protest. All these combinations of factors lead to the gender harassment that is so prevalent in the military and Miller here emphasizes that to better understand why things like this happen we need to see how things are structured. To understand these different power dynamics, we need to see the way the system that causes these problems is structured. See the different perceptions of power and even see the world beyond two classes. That we should account for different statuses. Miller here brings into light an overall issue that not only relates to the military. From what I've gathered Miller shows the reasons why there so much discriminatory behavior not just towards both men and women but also different ethnic groups and cultures. We have these behaviors due to not only the fact of how our societies are structured, but the way we have different perspectives. We all have different perceptions of what's either privilege or what's considered equality. Leading to these actions or thought processes happening causing such things like racism, sexism, or discrimination and prejudice against other cultures. We should be seeing from all kinds of perspectives not just what we been situated into. That way we avoid such problems like these. Laurel Miller perfectly explains that using women in the military as an example. Since it's a field largely dominated by men throughout history. It is structured with men in mind not women which is why it leads to many types of harassment.

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Toys Meant for Boys, and Toys Meant for Girls 4/17/2025

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Toys Meant for Boys, and Toys Meant for Girls 4/17/2025

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Let me ask you a question, in a store like let's say Target how do you differentiate between a boy toy section and a girl one? For me I identify them by the color and the types of toys. Boy's sections have transformers, nerf guns, Mega blocks, and action figures. With the aisle itself being more dule in color with more earthy tones. The girl's section on the other hand is bright eye burning pink. The shelfs being full of barbies, my little pony, cute plushies, and in rare instances the "girl version" of nerf. These toys send a clear message of what kind of influences these companies aim for their demographic. Toys meant for boys are a lot more action packed, with majority of them focusing on violence. I mean it worked on me I straight up own a ton of nerf guns and transformers. Robots who turn into vehicles that fight in a war. This leads to many of those boys' interests developing to adulthood like take me for example again, I want to go shooting. I adore drawing fictional soldiers and weapons. I love making stuff with whatever I have. Toys meant for girls on the other hand are about taking care of things like the doll or learning about friendship like my little pony. A lot softer themes that influence that make the demographic more thoughtful of feelings and more caring in a sense. One thing I notice too is when normally "boy" toys try to appeal to girls. Transformers introducing female characters over the years. With many of them being skinny, bright colors like pink or purple. Transforming to smaller vehicles like motorcycles. Compare that to the male transformers and they are bulky and mostly transform to larger vehicles. Nerf introducing "girl" versions of their toys that are extremely simple compared to the "boy" versions. Being pink or purple with an archer aesthetic to them. While the boy ones are big, complex and a lot more powerful too. These toys aim to teach boys the concepts of creation and violence. While for girls they try to teach how to be gentle, kind, and caring. Then when these companies dabble into the girl demographic. They intentionally make the "girl" version inferior. It's not always the case like the transformers example over the years we got a lot more diversity, but the point stands. It adds to the socialization of gender. Men are the tough, violent, and creative ones. Women are the gentle, caring, and soft ones. Although, if a woman tries to do what a man does. It's "done worse".

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Beauty and it's Deconstruction of Self-Esteem and Self-Worth

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Beauty and it's Deconstruction of Self-Esteem and Self-Worth

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50 Beauty magazines and despite the differences there is an overarching pattern with both the men and women ones. Yes, there are men ones but a majority I found were for women. Race is varied at times but mostly depict people of white, brown, and black color. With not a single one where you see someone who looks to be of Hispanic, or even Asian heritage. Body type being different yes but all sharing the same pattern of perfect skin, perfectly shaped body type, perfect hair, and sharp looking faces. Although even though there are some differences. From all the magazines I've looked through there's a dominance of white people. I believe these differences exist to pull in a larger demographic to purchase the beauty related product their trying to sell. To further bolster their sales with brining in people from other ethnic groups. To have these people believe, "Oh I too can look as beautiful as that lady there" or "I can look as sharp as that dude there". These images are very unrealistic. Not really in the possibility of someone looking like this but in the standard, it's setting in society. These magazines set a standard that if you don't look like what this man or woman looks like. You aren't beautiful you don't fit the standard. This is genially a really bad thing for not only women but men too. We know all too much of how women try to fit these standards by spending 100s on makeup or starving themselves to get skinner. Even getting surgeries to shape their body and face to what they see as the beauty standard. Men too suffer this, with a majority going to even more extreme lengths. Overworking themselves in gyms, using strong steroids, or not eating proper meals aiming only for protein. Men and Women lose a lot of love for their own bodies leading them to go to extremes to achieve what the magazine shows them. Not only that, it leads to people who sort of fit those standards to shame others who don't. Not all the time obviously but there are cases of men punking on other men for not being as buff as them or as tall. Cases of women gossiping about women that seem too ugly to them too fat. These beauty standards set by these magazines, lead to men and women going to extremes to achieve what's expected. Instead of loving who they are and trying to stay healthy. They are hurting themselves physically and mentally to reach unrealistic expectations set by our society.

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Social Class: How It Has Affected My Life 3/20/2025

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Social Class: How It Has Affected My Life 3/20/2025

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My family's social class, in turn being mine has affected my life in a variety of ways. I could say I lived in a lower middle-class all my life even still now despite coming to delta. Most of my life I never really could do things that interested me since my mom in particular didn't like the idea of me staying after school. Due to the fact we kept moving to apartment to apartment since we couldn't keep up with the payments. She worried I'd run off I suppose? Although, to my mom's disapproval my dad bought gaming consoles off of people to keep me occupied so I wouldn't be wanting to go out so often. He basically introduced me to that hobby and till this day I enjoy it. Although, those were the only real expensive things in the house. Most of my life it stayed that way, with the few trips we went on being around the time we barely even had the money to do so. Yes, I had things to entertain myself, but I never could go out and if I even said a word not even talking back, I'd get beat. Due to the financial struggles our family faced my mom had sever anger issues. Most of the time putting the anger out on everyone especially me. She would wish she wouldn't have needed to spend so much on food for me or wished I could earn money for her somehow. Our financial problems caused a ton of family issues throughout my life and even now with the fact we have a house finally. It's still a similar process. We barely got this house around my first year of Highschool. Even still we struggle to pay the bills despite us supposedly being in a better living situation now. It's now stressing my father and my brother as bad, me as well obviously. During high school it felt like the whole world was on my shoulders since I couldn't think about college at first since all I wanted to do was get a job. I felt like if I couldn't support my family that I shouldn't live here. Even now despite the fact I am in college trying to see my options. I still think a lot about what I'm going to do to get us out of this class and transition us to at least upper middle class. My social class, overall, just has affected me in that most of my life I've felt like a burden. Due to the fact a lot of money was spent on me. Even now that feeling looms over me since at 19 now turning 20, I feel like it's my responsibility to make change in this family and get them into a more financially stable life. Where all the bickering and yelling could stop since they can now live comfortably. Without feeling like its either one's fault for the situation we are in.

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Chapter 12: Gender, Sex and Sexuality     4/23/2025        

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Chapter 12: Gender, Sex and Sexuality     4/23/2025        

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Chapter 12 goes over what we basically went over last week on how gender, sex and sexuality have been defined and socially constructed in societies. How that has affected both men and woman, since the day they were born. This section goes over the definitions of sex and gender. Sex being what gentles your born with, Gender being what defines you as masculine or feminine. Both having social construction. Although, despite what we been socialized to define ourselves as there are people who give themselves different identities. Different things they define themselves as like transgender people for example. Gender though has its inequalities both men and women. Noone wins here, with four major agents that cause such things. Family, education, peer groups, and mass media set these gender roles that then effect people as a whole in a variety of ways. Lower pay for women, men expected to be the one providing the most, a women's appearance being greatly tied to their identity, majority men running our government, and or women barely being represented in our government. Those are a fraction of the inequalities, but the point remains, with both sides having valuable views on why this discrimination of gender occurs. Sexuality as a whole is handled differently amongst different societies, but one thing that's really interesting is how the U.S feels about it. Being really, quiet about it seeing it as repulsive in a way. Not disgusting, but not "appropriate." It's the reason why sex/gender have been blurred in definition here. You can ask people here in the U.S different people what defines these words. Sometimes you will get people who think they're the same thing. Overall sex and gender have been socially constructed overtime. Since birth, people being defined of who their going to be or what they are. With later on in their childhood, and adult years still being affected by what defines sex and gender. Judgements, discrimination, and outright hate even being done just because of what you have in-between your legs and or if you fit your gender. Sexuality as a whole being social constructed as well. That too having huge impacts on people negatively and positively. Our society has built up what defines gender, sex, and sexuality. With all three of these things having great influences in how we are structured and the actions we take along with the feellings we have.

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Chapter 14: Relationships, Marriage, and Family                    4/24/2025

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Chapter 14: Relationships, Marriage, and Family                    4/24/2025

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This section of the reading perfectly reflects on what we learned in class. Being what marriage is, what family is, the variations of family, the even the challenges faced. Challenges that relationships ranging from family, romantic, or even friends. Marital stability is something that has been a huge struggle for many who decide to get married to what they consider to be "the one". Reasons can range in a variety, but the main thing is people don't have that "spark" that once was there. They struggle to see that person they fell in love with since we as a society have this fascination with romance. We have this idea in our heads that we need to find that special someone, this fantasy. A dream set by the multitude of romance media we have. People who choose their partners tend to struggle to see why they want to marry someone. Which later on adds to the struggle of keeping that marriage stable. Adding to why divorce even happens, even more so now since it's easier here in the U.S. A lot less money involved and more "I don't like this person they don't like me." That doesn't mean the whole world works like this some places have arranged marriage which interestingly enough has shown that despite the bride or husband being chosen for the person. They can still be happy or even more so than a chosen couple. There are different types of family as well which come with their own struggles like, divorced single parents with children getting ridiculed for not having two parents. Today not so much, more along the lines of "why aren't your parents divorced yet." Same sex marriage now being more acceptable with them even adopting children as their own. Cohabitating parents, and unwed parents as well being more accepting. Cohabiting parents being the younger less educated parents, unwed being single parents. Although, children as a whole have had struggles no matter what type of family there in. Kids in general too, suffer the effects of divorce. With many having mental struggles due to the loss of their other parent. Abuse in general being a problem. A sad reality is that many of these kids are defenseless against this. Abuse ranging from physical, mental and even sexual abuse that is shared with struggles of the parent at times. This chapter aims to show how our societies have different forms of marriages, families, and they vary in struggles as well. How children play into it as well and the unique struggles they face. This as a whole, made me think more about why certain relationships don't turn out well or why some people I know. Suffer the traumas they do. It made me better get an understanding of even myself. Realizing why we want certain things or struggle with others.

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The American Family                              by: Stephanie Coontz 4/24/25

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The American Family                              by: Stephanie Coontz 4/24/25

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Stephanie Coontz's essay on American families is an analysis on the common beliefs of American families throughout history, compared to the reality. How we have this perceptive that American families have had it easier back then, than they do now due to the ever-increasing divorce rates. Which in reality, back then it was a lot of worst for families specifically for women and children. Poverty, abuse, etc. A lot of factors Stephanie goes over that show that the 50s weren't all nostalgic and nice. The main reason we here in the U.S even have such a high divorce rate is like what we went in class. It's easier now to divorce, women independence rising, less stigma, romance taking a role in relationships, likeliness to marry, and the less support to stay married. Not only that we have infrastructure that way outdated like what Coontz states. We as a society keep developing while everything else is still more than 50 years out of date. We have higher divorce rates not because we have it harder than people did back then. Families just at times can't keep a marriage stable due to how we have become focused on trying to get by more than giving the romantic fantasies our media shoves down our throats. Not to say romance is inertly bad, or that the ease of divorcing and the independence of women is a bad thing. What Coontz in her essay, and what we have been learning in class. Is that we as a society loose interest in even considering marriage just due to our structure here in the U.S. Everything is getting more and more expensive, while our wages stay the same. People are aiming to be more independent to hard focus on their goals. It's just how our institutions are like that leads to these issues. It's not that families had it easier then, if anything our families are better now. Their ready, as what Stephanie Coontz believes as well. It's just our social institutions need change.

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A show that demonstrated me what a family interacts like along with what someone should desire for a family was, King of the Hill. This adult cartoon is about Hank and his wife Peggy, their son Bobby, and their niece Luanne, and their lives. How they go about day to day having their own struggles and how they go about dealing with them. Hank the father of the family is the one I want to touch on specifically since his struggles and goals showed me what a good father should be like. Hank in general is a tough father and a loving husband. He directly doesn't show affection, but his actions speak louder than his words. With being supportive of his wife and her career, admiring her and being protective of her. With her son and niece, it's a different story. Bobby and Hank's relationship is a complicated yet loving one. Despite all the clashes they have due to their very different personalities, Hank still loves and cares for his son wanting the best for him even if he's a bit tough on him. Luanna overall is a handful with throughout the show making questionable life choices that leads Hank seeing her most as company than family. He's very emotionally distant but still tries to give guidance to her since at the end of the day he cares. She even sees him as a father figure for that which shows a lot from Hank. His family as a whole interact with each other in a realistic way too. Having ups and downs, even really bad situations at moments but still hold themselves together to figure out solutions. Even when they have times where they feel like they hate each other, they still pull through. This show as a whole basically set an image in my head that a family should be supportive and caring for each other even if they have falling outs or struggles. That a family should be strong even in times of struggle and work together to get through it. So, at the end of the day, they remain a strong happy family. Despite their clashing personalities.

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Chapter 7: Deviance, Crime, and Social Control 4/29/2025

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Chapter 7: Deviance, Crime, and Social Control 4/29/2025

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Chapter 7 is a mirror to what we went over today during class. Deviance and the way we control it, the different perspectives of deviance and crime, and crime as a whole. Although, this chapter covers law itself as well and how it can be unjust. Deviance and what defines it like we went over varies. With different ideas of what is considered deviant spread throughout different cultures, places, and even within families. Although, deviance itself isn't a crime (unless caught). Deviance itself is the violation of what is considered norms. Those include social, cultural, and even contextual. Like stated before these can vary, one example being a personal experience I've had with my family. I tended to stray away from the religion my family followed. They took notice and started pointing out how wrong it is I don't do a quick prayer anytime we pass by a church. At one point it even got extreme with their comments. To them, that was deviant. Contextual is simpler, more along the lines of "that person doesn't shower so I don't want to be around him". Although, social is more based via laws. No drunk driving, no stealing, no murder, etc. These are considered s and throughout our lives we have at least a few times did something that would be considered a crime if caught. Such as using drugs before you are of age, getting into a fight with somebody, or even stealing a candy. By law they are crimes, but "technically" aren't since you weren't caught. Although, here in the U.S we have our own ways of making sure deviance is controlled. Laws, rewards for following those laws, punishment if we don't, and or acknowledgement of following social norms if it be someone pointing it out to you or even formally from a school/workplace. Deviance and crime itself have different views from different people having their own theories of it. Functionalists believe necessary as a way of teaching a lesson to the people of the consequences for not following the norms. Conflict theorists believe crime as a whole comes from injustice in our system. Then Symbolic interactionists, think in a way I believe personally is the more likely why people don't or do deviance. The idea it's due to the social construction of it, the labels, the way people feel and represent such acts. Despite the many things here in the U.S we do the enforce not doing such deviance. It still happens often at times despite the fact crime as a whole is dropping. Crime as a whole is a touchy subject due to the reality vs how the people see it. In general, the public has an inaccurate perception of crime due to different types of media and entertainment. It doesn't help that the three justice systems police, court, and corrections have their flaws. Injustices from these systems are the big reason why here in America we have problems with people even wanting the law around. It leads to distrust of our systems, which then at times lead to even more crime. Due to the stereotypes that law enforcement gets from the people. Yes, it's with good reason but from my perspective it still plays a role into why such criminal problems arise. To close this off, this chapter made me think a lot harder about the United States' problems with crime. Since it isn't just because of social reasons but the fact the systems build to prevent such things. Is a system that by its core, is inherently flawed.

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Eating: Your Friends is the Hardest: The Survivors of the F-227                               By: James M. Henslin 4/30/2025

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Eating: Your Friends is the Hardest: The Survivors of the F-227                               By: James M. Henslin 4/30/2025

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This read from James M. Henslin about the survivors of the F-227 plane crash, had me sit back and think for a few minutes. "Eating: Your Friends is the Hardest: "The Survivors of the F-227" is an enlightening read onto how humanity will take drastic measures to survive in times of struggle. Along with how people react to such circumstances. The survivors of the F-277 had to face resorting to cannibalism to survive until help arrived. With many rejecting such an idea due to the fact they couldn't imagine eating the corpse of was once a living human being like them. Although, eventually most (with a few still opting to refuse) came to accept the reality of their situation and during their time stranded they ate the rations of human flesh. For some it even became mundane, with even cravings for variety for flavor. The survival work itself became more organized. With even a trio who went out to search using the skin of the corpses to act as socks to warm their feet from the snow. Survival although vital, as time progressed, they adapted to the deviant nature of their actions. Finding ways to justify it like stating they would want their corpse to be eaten if they died. Even with a medical student giving justification by stating the bodies themselves differ little from the meat we humans eat from cattle. Eventually rules were set as well interestingly enough such as no eating women bodies, no one is forced to eat the bodies, meat will be rationed, and no one will eat more than another. Eventually the survivors were saved although with the government keeping their method of survival until it was leaked. The survivors became celebrities with the world being in horror, shock, and fascination. Henslin learned 21 lessons off this whole event listed below.

1. Our world is socially constructed we may be given a meaning, but we can as easily give it a different meaning.

2. Through social process we determine meanings.

3. What we symbolize or give meaning can be changed.

4. When circumstances change, so can definitions.

5. Even if definitions don't "work", basic changes in our orientations aren't easy to pull off.

6. Anyone who suggests such changes can be seen as deviant.

7. The source of new ideas can greatly affect if those ideas are accepted or not.

8. If someone can have a group that supports their new definition, then there's a social base for pushing forth the new definition.

9. If someone who offers a new definition gets enough people to accept it, then the norm of that definition will change.

10. Changed circumstances leave people open to new realities.

11. Behaviors follow definition, they don't just act as ideas but boundaries to what's acceptable.

12. Definitions follow behavior, if you follow along with the rest others will as well as they see it as acceptable.

13. All groups must have norms for survival.

14. Groups sort themselves out on equality.

15. Human groups organize themselves.

16. Leadership is essential in groups.

17. People aim to maintain respect.

18. It's possible to maintain a good self-image even when engaging in deviance.

19. Some people do deviant acts without justifying it.

20. People feel like they need to justify their actions for others.

21. To gain institutional support on a definition, one much gain a huge social following to achieve it.

Henslin believes these are all principles that are fundamental to human life, and I couldn't agree more. These 21 lessons learned from the experiences of plane crash survivors, define how we as a society function. How we bring about new innovative ideas such as technology. Even in our history how slavery was justified. Another example is why people are skeptical of our president currently in 2025, and how people go about raising these concerns. All these rules apply to these examples and so many more that we can go hours and hours on about it. Even simply trying to convince your friends to go out applies to this. From what I see here, Henslin perfectly gave us the principles that make our society move. Why change happens, why it doesn't, why negativity or positivity comes out the presentation of new definitions, and how followings for these new definitions even form. Like how James M. Henslin states, "For all of us, reality is socially constructed, and the story of the Andes survivors contains the essence of human society."

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The Pathology of Imprisonment                                      by: Philip G. Zimbardo 4/30/2025

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The Pathology of Imprisonment                                      by: Philip G. Zimbardo 4/30/2025

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"The Pathology of Imprisonment" by

"Philip G. Zimbardo" is an article looking into the way prisons operate along with the treatment their prisoners face. Zimbardo created a mockup prison experiment to understand the psychological meanings of being a prisoner or a guard. Two dozen men were selected who were middle-class college students with no criminal record. With none of them showing any signs of homogeny initially. Half were assigned to be prisoners, while the rest became guards. The ones assigned to be prisoners were taken from their homes in a squad car while blindfolded. Then when arrived they went through the procedures and were thrown into a cell with another inmate to spend the next two weeks, with a pay of $15 a day. The sixth day was enough for Zimbardo and his crew to shut down the experiment due to the horrific results they got. The volunteers could no longer tell if they were role-playing or doing their behaviors naturally. In less than a week these subjects and their values, concepts were tested, along with the ugliest side of human nature rising from each of these people. First four days three prisoners were let out due to the acute traumatic reactions that came out of these people such as hysterical crying, confusion in thinking, and severe depression. The fifth day when the subjects were denied their parole they just walked back to their cell. By the last days the prisoners ended up to each man for themselves no longer concerned for their fellow inmates. The guards then put one of the prisoners in a closet for refusing to eat, with the guards giving the prisoners a choice. Give up all their blankets and their inmate get let out or keep their blankets for the night and leave the inmate locked up. They left their brother in there. A third of the guards became tyrannical due to the power they held over the prisoners. Breaking the spirits of the prisoners. Even the ones who were just doing their job being friendly would not intervene in the horrible actions of the corrupt guards. If anything, those guards did worse harm as they never violated guard code and befriending prisoners lead to them not rebelling. Zimbardo called off this experiment not only due to what he saw, but the worry he can easily become as helpless as these prisoners or as evil as the corrupt guards. Off of this experiment alone, he came to the realization that prisons are failing at their job. They are instead fueling hate risking these inmates to cause violent acts once their released to the public. These prisons are meant to rehabilitate but instead are causing more issues in our society. Zimbardo offers solutions which honestly speak volumes to the problems of our prisons here in the U.S. Remove the secrecy, better guard training, individual community must be maintained and offer care. Our prisons here in the U.S from my perspective, are designed to push fear. You may ask, how though if the prisons are secretive? The fear is given to the public, via the effects a hate fueled now released inmate leaves on the public. Even if it's not something direct like a violent attack or illegal activity as a whole. The mental damage prisons leave on someone will stay with them, even with attempts to recover. The impact prisons have on individuals have been being publicized for a while now even more so with people who are wrongfully imprisoned. Such as men who are falsely accused of rape. These negative effects left on people who been imprisoned has led to public fear if being locked up to begin with. Which is why I believe this country has the idea if we push fear onto the people of being imprisoned, then deviance and crime as a whole will be prevented. Although clearly this isn't the reality we live in. This supposed fear isn't doing anything and is only further harming our communities. Like what Philip G. Zimbardo believes, we should aim to make the prison system as a whole work towards rehabilitating prisoners do not make them into worser versions of themselves. Noone is born evil; every human being is inherently good at the core.

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On Being Sane in Insane Places                                       By: David L. Rosenhan 4/30/2025

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On Being Sane in Insane Places                                       By: David L. Rosenhan 4/30/2025

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David L. Rosenhan's article "On Being Sane in Insane Places" similarly to the previous read "The Pathology of Imprisonment" by: Philip G. Zimbardo goes over an experiment that was done. Although, this time it's putting eight sane individuals into psychiatric institutions. With the goal to research how these patients experience being in these institutions. All three women and five men acted as patients for these institutions. The now pseudo patients experienced a multitude of things that show the reality of being a patient at a psychiatric institution. They experienced the confusion of being one. Going in with not even a clue of when they're going to be let out, basically told if they didn't act "normal" they weren't going to be let out. Essentially making it that the patient themself have to convince the staff their sane. Patients were just motivated to act sane, but to be cooperative. The setting itself made the patients nervous, worried of what might be done to them when they arrived. These institutions as well would fail to recognize sanity as a whole. With the pseudo patients' showings of sanity not even being acknowledged by the staff. Most of the time these patients as a whole just getting labeled. Although interestingly enough the actual patients there were able to see the sanity of the people acting as them. Which raised huge questions of how in the world the patients can see past their act but not the staff. These failures happen due to the bias operation of the "type two error". That physicians are more inclined to say a healthy person is sick more than a sick person is healthy. This works well for regular illnesses but not psychiatric ones. Since this system is so easy to have errors occur especially when determining someone's sanity. Labels given to these patients as well have great effect and like Rosenhan states before, at times just given despite the lack of understanding of the individuals sanity. This has huge weight on the patient has since this new label they have, anything they do to overcome it does nothing. Even after being let out, these labels have lingering influences. With people concerned of the Indvidual acting like the way he was labeled. With simple feelings like anxiety, anger, or even depression just being labeled as what the institution gave them. The consequences can be even greater with Rosenhan mentioning how so many sane individuals were stripped of their rights, criminals using such labels to get away with their horrible actions/behaviors, the fact people rather stand trial than be in those institutions, and the fact these labels lead to people being stigmatized. It's saddening really since this is very similar to how people with learning disabilities are labeled. Even things like ADHD get these stigmas especially with how social media influences it. Similarly to how the labels given to the patients of these institutions have consequences. Learning disabilities too have these which in general is really sad. I've heard of people who used their self-labeled "autism" for the reason they don't get their hands off someone's body. Even the reason why they assault someone, which is horrible. Since in most cases these are excused due to the fact they labeled themselves that. These such labels also get stigma due to these horrible people who commit these terrible acts using these labels as excuses. Even the people who genuinely recover from sanity problems, or even just have learning disabilities are given disgusted looks. Due to the stigma surrounding people who use these labels as a way to avoid real consequences.

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Police Accounts of Normal Force                    By: Jennifer Hunt 4/30/2025

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Police Accounts of Normal Force                    By: Jennifer Hunt 4/30/2025

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Jennifer Hunt's research here on how police classify what is lethal force compared to normal or excessive. With what is considered legal force and brutality being varied depending on the court systems views or the publics. When in training rookies as a whole have different teachings from the academy to what their taught when they finish. How to use a gun, aim for non-lethal spots that's what taught in the academy. Compare that to when their around real officers they say aim for the spot that does the most to bring them down on the ground. Differences occur too when it comes to the gender. Female coops get general assistance when it comes to justifying the use of force on someone. Meanwhile, men are expected to already know how to handle things related to using force. Theres double standards for the gender roles in law enforcement and it can lead to a variety of problems. Even some that can harm someone severely or even cause death. Since these emotions built off of sexual bias in this line of work. It's not just something strictly unique to law enforcement but the point remains. Excuses are used by cops as a way of denying full responsibility but still acknowledging the wrong of their actions. With most of the time excusing acts such as coming close to taking the life of an unarmed individual. Using the reason of loss of emotional control, helplessness, or confusion. There are also situational justifications such as when a police officer is threatened, police property violations, or a unique one to women is when their considered as lesser cops due to their gender. Abstract justifications as well play into it. Such as cases where the officer justified the use of such force due to the moral ground he or she stands on. Rarely is it seen for abstract force to be used on common crooks like burglars. Although, for rapists for an example would receive this type of force tenfold. Excessive force as whole always has responses from an officer's peers. With Hunt listing the following,

1. Police recognize and honor the behavior of the suspect compared to the harmfulness of the force used. There are limits to the amount of force used in a particular situation.

2. Even in cases the suspect is deserving of such force, it should not be used without control.

Hunt emphasizes the importance of learning such restrictions to the newcomers of this field of work. As it relates to this process of socialization with rookies and officers. Overall, Jennifer Hunt here aims to show the moral dilemma shown through this line of work. How an officer must know when to use force and if its morally, legally, and practically right. Although, it will always remain ambiguous due to the fact real world situations as a whole are that way as well. That's why Hunt explains the justifications and excuses. Since police use these as a way to preserve self-image and help with doubts of their actions along with maintaining the unity in the police community. Surprisingly enough, we civilians too experience similar things. Maybe not as extreme as excusing the force given onto a suspect, but moral dilemma these officers face isn't unique to them. Multiple instances we face such situations where we question the morality of it. A simple example is if you did the right thing giving that homeless person some money. If he would use it for actual food, or if he's just going to use it for drugs. Another one is if you did right to stand up for yourself against one of your parents. Yes, you stood your ground, but now one of your parents is in the other room crying. Even if we don't see it, a lot of people even in stations that aren't so extreme. Question the morality of it with many asking their friends or even family about it. With at times getting support, justification for the action taken or in others being ridiculed. Police officers are some of the only people in the world who face these challenges the most. With their experiences perfectly embodying our societies different actions, feelings, and thoughts in times of when morality comes into the question.

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For a while here at delta, not just this week I've seen this certain individual who sits in the diner hall often when I wait for class to start. I tend to work on assignments in there or study for my DMV test. I've always tended to think something was off about the man, even though I'm not trying to. For me I have this certain set of ideas of how someone should be in a public space. Yes, you can be audible but don't scream or blast music. It's a norm in my book, to be respectful of your volume don't disrupt other people's time there. The individual I am speaking of here though was breaking this norm, via being really loud in a unique way. He would never talk to anyone there, he would play what sounds like a gambling app on his tablet with the volume full blast, at times with his speaker too playing music really loudly, and what made me question the most was when he would blurt out laughing. He would laugh, extremely loud which again that's not what rubs me off the wrong way. It's the fact he's laughing loudly when the loud noises of the lottery game go off, and the fact he knows he's being extremely disruptive to the rest of the people there. Since when he bursts out loud like that, he turns around and observes the area if he bothered anyone. The norm he violated was being respectful of other people's time in that diner hall; by not causing so much noise it bothers people. The norm itself wasn't in relation to his social status as in other rare instances certain people reacted the same way to others who broke this norm. It just so happens he's there often. The only real situations I can see this being natural is in an actual casino. Where people go there to gamble so it is common there for reactions such as these to be common. Even the volume there tends to be loud due to all the machines going off along with the music at times. Since some casinos have music playing or performances happening. I believe these norms in these casinos are significant as in it adds reason to why this individual in this case acts the way he does when playing the lottery games. Although, to be honest I am no better and I am being a bit hypocritical. I display similar behaviors when I get all excited when playing competitive video games. At times getting loud because I get the "hype" of the fun I am experiencing. In this situation, I think it's normal despite my feelings I'm having of the individual I am describing. The label that appeared in my head when seeing this person, being that this person is "weird". Affected the overall way I feel about this individual each time I see him. Every time I see him i tend to think "oh that's the weird gambling addict" or "that's the loud guy." Even though he hasn't really done something to me it's just the way that he does the things I've mentioned before that rub me off the wrong way.

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Chapter 16: Education and Chapter 17.3: Policies in the United States 5/6/2025

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Chapter 16: Education and Chapter 17.3: Policies in the United States 5/6/2025

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Chapter 16 and Section 17.3 on Chapter 17 relate in an interesting way that correlates well into what we went over in class today. Chapter 16 goes over education around the world and how they face the two same problems all education systems go through, resources and money. Along with the informal/formal forms of education and how that gets passed down. The concern of the accessibility of education. Then it also goes over the theoretical perspectives on education that functionalist and conflict theorists have. Functionalists believe education prepares kids for the future, while conflict theorists believe it perpetuates class, racial-ethnic, and gender inequalities. Two other theories are covered as well being the feminist theory which focuses on the inequality and mechanisms of gender in education. Along with the theory of symbolic interactionism that education works as a way to label individuals. Last but not least, this chapter goes over the overall issues in education. Historical ones like racial l desegregation in schools. Now in the modern day the problems are more about class, diversity, identifying and helping people with disabilities. Even the school one chooses poses problems, along with the standardization of tests. Overall, this chapter goes over how education in general has its problems not only structurally but socially as well. With these issues heavily effecting the students who get educated in these flawed institutions. Which then leads to these teachings being passed on for generations to come. Although, that doesn't mean it's all bad like the end of this chapter closes off on. A few such examples I want to present is the positive changes that came to our schools after the pandemic. Online classes even though many younger students were completely turned off by the idea including myself, now I see the value in it. Yes, an argument can be made that a student won't get as much value of actual learning compared to being in an in-person class. Although, these options for online classes makes it flexible for students to not risk missing out on schoolwork in the case something comes up in their lives. This has also allowed for classes to employ more options for students in terms of their schoolwork even if it's an in-person class. Giving student's the chance to go with what their most comfortable in doing to achieve their best work. Yes, these two examples are just in terms of recent events and not the education system as it's been for years. But it does show that this system can improve as time goes on, although in terms of the social problems that's a touchier one. Something, that we as a people can seek to change in some way or form especially through our political system. Education as a whole has been a concern that has been covered extensively in politics, so why don't we see much change? Chapter 17 section 17.3 on politics in the United States goes over on the importance of voting and how vital it is on the success of our democracy. Yet, elections in general have low participation from the people. Despite the importance of these elections. This section also goes over the influences of diverse groups relating to race, gender, and social status. With how at one point minority groups barely affected the turn out in elections, until recently these groups are growing more influential. Furthermore, the necessity for a fair voting process was apparent. This led to government intervention with the 1964 U.S. Supreme Court case Reynolds v. Sims. One person, one vote became the standard that made it where each vote from everyone should be counted equally. This section basically just goes over how important voting is for determining the changes done here in the U.S. Along with how it works, and the changes done to reach the point we are now with this system. Yet, people here in the U.S majority don't vote. In class today we went over some reasons why such as the wait time, not being registered, or the fact many aren't educated enough to see the significance in voting. Voting makes it where we can shape the changes that will be done to the many problems and concerns, we have in our country. This of course includes education, but still people don't vote. Even students who have complaints about how colleges are leaving many in debt for example, don't take interest in voting. Despite the fact, that voting isn't just for the next elected president. It's also for who you want to run certain institutions such as schools for this case. Participating in this system could very bring the change many want, yet it's not happening in our education systems. Due to this lack of participation in our elections. It is why we still see very little change in the many glaring systemic and social issues in our schools. Ranging as early as grade school to even college. We the people of this country should seek ways to better enforce the importance of elections. Since if we don't very little good change will actually come to this country as a whole. Then we will just end up stuck on struggling with the many issues not just plaguing our education system.

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Kindergarten as Academic Boot Camp by: Harry L. Gracey 5/7/2025

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Kindergarten as Academic Boot Camp by: Harry L. Gracey 5/7/2025

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Harry L. Gracey's

"Kindergarten as Academic Boot Camp" is a really insightful read onto how kindergarten can be seen as not just an educational system that prepares students for their schooling. That will continue until high school or college if they choose to continue their studies but also seen as prep for the real world. Gracey here is basically trying to emphasize that kindergarten could be also seen as a system made to introduce kids to lessons, they will need for their whole life. As these lessons too contribute to workplaces once you reach adulthood. Gracey enforces this by covering over a day in kindergarten at Wright School. Showing how the way students have learned to go through routines, follow orders, despite these things not making any sense to them. Those who don't obey, are labeled as the problem children. Compare this to the ones who do follow through with the system and they are seen as good students. Since if these "problem children" aren't following with the standard they are generally really distracting for the class. On top of that the classes themselves are structured in way that imposes the rules set for these kids. Even if they question these rules not fully comprehending the reasons why, they still follow along. As it is what their taught to do. Class periods, do and do nots, authority figures, and even the format of these schools perfectly enforce into children's minds what needs to be done that's good. Along with what they need to avoid if they don't want to be punished for it. These teachings perfectly mirror many parts of our adulthood. College obviously since it's yet another educational institution, the workplace, and even the military. Having to make it to lectures early, clocking in on time or you will get fired, or making sure your up and early information or the higher-ranking officers will yell and make you do 200 push-ups. For the sake of simplicity, a simple 9-to-5 job bares the same lessons needed that you needed to express back in kindergarten. Make it on time ready for work or your fired. Cashier at the front for these many hours and make sure to give a good attitude for the customers it's good for business. After your turn is done, switch to the back and handle the cleaning. Closing time, make sure the whole place is clean before you leave. Make sure everything is locked up and you can finally head home you will receive your check on Friday. What I find interesting is specifically in high school a lot more programs are set to further enforce these teachings into teens. A big example I tend to use since I use to be a part of this is SkillsUSA. This program enforces the idea of the framework which is composed of 3 essential elements being personal, workplace, and technical skills. Personal skills being your professionalism, ethics, motivation, flexibility, integrity, and responsibility. Workplace skills refer to communicating, decision making, teamwork, multicultural sensitivity and awareness, planning and organizing, and leadership. Last but not least technical skills which mean technology literacy, job skills, safety, service, and development. These essential elements make up the SkillsUSA framework and the reason it even exists is to make sure people in this program learn to use this framework out in the workplace. Since these elements are things that are greatly sought after in the work environment. Due to the fact they perfectly work with the established systems that require these teachings. Those who express these skills get seen as valuable, similarly to how when a student follows the rules their seen as great students. This last reading as a whole was a really insightful look into how throughout our lives, we are taught to go along with these systems. One's that are shared throughout a lot of institutions that make up our society. As early as kindergarten we are subjected to understanding the way we operate here in the United States. That following these standards we possibly lead us to a brighter future, and those who don't will be left behind. Although, it isn't always that simple, is it? Our society as a whole isn't as simple as just following the standard as who you are too effects what you experience throughout your life. It's never going to be that simple, and honestly this class has really opened my eyes to that.