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I'm taking this class because I have always had some sort of interest in the majority of social sciences out there. Political science, psychology, economics, and sociology are a few that I've taken an interest in for these past two years. My goal in high school is to take a look at these fields and to see which one sticks with me, hopefully, I will have a good idea on what I could major in when I go to college. I've learnt about sociology when a friend of mine compared it with psychology, instead of being the study of the mind, it is the study of social life, social change, and the motives behind social interactions. With that, around the end of this school year, I'd decided to take a few Delta CES classes over the summer, one of them being sociology. I'm curious to see how my experience with learning sociology would go, and I hope that even if I do not find myself working in this field, I will leave with some valuable information in mind about social structures and human behavior.

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The first purchase that I've made on my own that I could remember, was in 3rd grade, when I've saved up enough of my own money in order to buy was a plush unicorn piggy bank. When I've made my purchase and received my receipt from the cashier, I've felt immense pride and feeling accomplished. Unfortunately, I've only had paid care for this item for a few weeks at most, before my younger sister decided to keep it for herself, and all my money mysteriously disappearing the next time I've checked. Looking back at my first purchase with my own money, I've originally wanted to buy a small Lego set, but I was deterred from getting what I want because my parents saw no value in me buying the toy. They wanted me to spend money on something that they found useful and productive, and we eventually came to a resolve on the plush unicorn piggy bank. Around the time, I've had many things in the themes of unicorns or horses, so finding something that was practical that my parents have liked and that I liked because of its appearance was the reason I've bought this item. Even though the appearance of the piggy bank itself doesn't have any effect on how it would store my pocket money, I've wanted to buy the unicorn piggy bank because of it's looks and how it made me feel to own one.

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6/14 | Contrasting Marxists and Durkheimian Perspectives

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6/14 | Contrasting Marxists and Durkheimian Perspectives

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A dish that I can think of as a definite example of a “totem” is pongal, a cultural dish that has lots of meaning and sentimental value to me. Common rituals held with eating pongal is with family and friends, often accompanied by dressing up in cultural attire and enjoying pongal on religious or auspicious days. However, viewing this food in a Marxist lens of commodity, there are many hidden practices that are kept hidden in order to disconnect from the food source primarily starts with farmers, primarily, I'm talking about the farmers in India. Because of the demand that has risen for farmers to produce more food for the rising population, they find fewer workers, ultimately putting more labor on the few farmers that are left. These farmers also face low pay, according to the Economic Research Institute's data, the average crop farmer's annual salary is 1,089,878 INR, or 13,054.58 USD. One of the primary causes for these extremely low income rates is because of how farmers sell their products. Often, instead of being able to sell produce in the general market, they will have to sell their crops to a middle-man, who often forces or even threatens to not buy crops and let farmers lose revenue. Unless these farmers hold low prices for their crops that they're selling to the middle-man, they will inevitably lose profit and risk selling their farm to have enough money to survive. At times, farmers overproduce on certain crops, since they've believed that they will do well this season like they've done the last, and their pricing will be affected because they've mass-produced too many crops. We're only talking about the farmers in India and their problems, and we haven't even mention international issues with farmers, like environmental problems impacted by climate change.

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6/14 | Why was Nacirema Written the Way it is to Portray Americans? How Does this Article Affect My Perspective on American Civilization and Society?

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6/14 | Why was Nacirema Written the Way it is to Portray Americans? How Does this Article Affect My Perspective on American Civilization and Society?

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“Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” is an article written by Horace Miner to identify the daily habits of Americans and portray them in a way to show how things we find normal are found strange in other cultures. His article on the Nacirema was published, and is recognized in the fields of anthropology and sociology, as a way to view our culture in the lens of introspection, and self-examination. I associate the purpose of this article as a means for readers to put themselves in the shoes of others, others who do not have the same daily “rituals and rites” as we do. While universally, most of us, regardless of culture, have similar day-to-day habits like the Nacirema, there are others, however, who don't have access to these facilities. For example, many people in North Korea do not have access to “magic potions” in special boxes to apply onto their bodies. The same goes for those in war-torn countries, or living in disadvantaged communities that do not have easy access to healthcare and hospitals, especially pregnant women (this problem is prevalent in many areas of the world, but especially prominent in these examples).

Reading the article and learning that this is a portrayal of American culture in the perspective of an outsider, I can't help but understand how it feels like to be an outsider to these behaviors. Even though there are ideologies present that I'm familiar with and find no stranger to, the writing has exposed me to the ways that an outsider views the complex habits and society that I live in every day.

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6/17, 6/18 | (H) 29-47: Henslin, Doing Sociological Research

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6/17, 6/18 | (H) 29-47: Henslin, Doing Sociological Research

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There are many instances in this text, that while sociology does share similar research techniques related to other forms of sciences, that they still have their own that are used to study social structures and human behavior. What many people picture science and scientific research as the steps of the scientific method, which consist of asking a question, forming a hypothesis, testing, data gathering, and sharing your findings with the public. In sociology, however, we have something called the “Research Model,” the steps in which a sociological researcher takes in order to answer a question and gather data, which are more or less similar to the scientific method. “As shown in Figure 4.1, eight basic steps are involved in social research. As you look at each of these steps, be aware that this is an ideal model. In some research these steps are collapsed, in others their order may be rearranged, while in still others one or more steps may be omitted,” (Henslin, 2007, pg. 37). These steps in the sociological research model reflect many similar steps, like defining the problem, formulating a hypothesis, data collection, and result analyzation. The main difference, I believe, is that instead of “testing” your hypothesis like how you traditionally would in science, with sociology, you choose a research method and collect the data that you need to compare with your hypothesis. While sociologists gather data, they need to be careful in how they word questions and present their possible answer choices. “Sociologists sometimes use closed-ended questions, called structured interviews. Each question is followed by a list of possible answers. The advantages are that these are faster to administer and make it easier for the answers to be coded (categorized) so they can be fed into a computer for analysis,” (Henslin, 2007, pg. 42). Just like in all kinds of sciences, there are many ways that a researcher could unintentionally affect or tamper with their “experiment.” While contamination of chemicals could mess up a chemistry experiment, there are ways that in social sciences, like sociology, could tamper with their interviews. Sociologists need to be wary in how they ask questions, instead of having a leading question already pointing to a particular opinion, these questions need to be formatted in order to have no bias.

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The growing problem that this study has presented is the lack of equity being set for ex-convicts searching for entry-level positions. As of the time of the article, “roughly 2 million individuals are currently incarcerated” and “roughly 95% of them will be released.” This study that used the four males (two white and two black) has been used to represent the uneven number of hiring rates present among those that have or haven't been incarcerated, and if they're black or white. As a “control,” these individuals were similar in build, and presented themselves similarly as well---the only major difference between the four men were their races and their “criminal records” (a drug conviction and serving 18 months in jail). As these four testers have proceeded with the research, the percentage that a white man with no record is called back after his interview 34% of the time, while the one who has a record comes back 17%, a 2:1 ratio as stated in the text. A black man with no record has a 14% time getting called back for a job, while the one with a record has a 5% chance, nearly a 3:1 ratio. This statistic, while only represented in this specific study, can be found throughout many repetitions of this experiment, and may even stay true to the current trend as is. What shocked me especially with this study is the clear fact, being that a white man with a criminal record is more likely called back compared to a black man with no record. Another thing that astonished me is that the black participants of this study were asked beforehand of any criminal records that they might have had, while the white participants were never asked that throughout the interview. These comparisons can be linked back to perceived stereotypes and biases that are present during job placements among those regarding race and their criminal record. According to the article, there are some employers who wouldn't dislike having a worker who is an ex-convict because they believe that they have “more motivation” and are willing to work harder since they've come out of jail. Even with this preference, however, the number of opportunities one might have in their job search are influenced by plenty of things, including the employer's potential harmful beliefs, stereotypes, and what you and your background may be.

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6/17, 6/18 | (JCB) p. 105 Coffee Shop Ethnography

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6/17, 6/18 | (JCB) p. 105 Coffee Shop Ethnography

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The most recent experience I can recall of going to a coffee shop was when my family and I went to visit LA for a week this summer. One particular day, we were visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, and near the beginning of the day, we stopped at a Starbucks that was inside the theme park. Even at around 9 AM, the earliest time the park could open, there was a full line of people all waiting to get their drinks and snacks for the day. Conversation and any form of contact was limited as much as possible, people have their headphones or AirPods in, and even in parties consisting of several people, everyone minded their own business. Conversation was held to giving your order to a barista, or an occasional “excuse me,” from a passerby grabbing their drink, or “thank you,” from a patron. The place had a forced air of comfort, however, soft music playing in the background while you're greeted by the smell of coffee and hit with the cool air-conditioning, contrasting with other areas of the theme park. But the environment had only one purpose--- have as many people enter the coffee shop to purchase something, and have those same people leave as soon as they can in order to make more room for more potential customers. There weren't any seats or spots where someone can rest, the line to order your cup of coffee was essentially a shortened version of the line that you would see for a ride at Universal Studios. While in line, there were all kinds of people, regardless of race, sex, their age, relationship status, there were many people from all walks of lives in line. Families, friend groups, couples, or single parties of people were in line, ages that ranged from people that you would consider retired from children as young as six years old. Most people were pretty neutral in general, often checking the time on their phones to see if the line was taking too much time, but it wasn't particularly an environment where you'd necessarily have to, or want to, approach people. That's the thing with Starbucks, it's become an area which many people would consider a “third place,” a place to socialize and hang out, but Starbucks and most coffee shops don't fit these criteria. Most people want to get their drink, sit down and do something on their own, whether that be study, or responding to work, and oftentimes, you wouldn't be talking to anyone else other than your barista for your order. This kind of environment is built so, for whatever reason, you would most likely never approach the person next to you in line for a casual conversation, which doesn't fit the definition of a third person.

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6/20 | (JCB) Chapter 10, Branding/The Self and Social Interaction: The Story of Your Stuff

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6/20 | (JCB) Chapter 10, Branding/The Self and Social Interaction: The Story of Your Stuff

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The various identities that I have are reflected both inside and outside my bag. On the outside, I have things like enamel pins, and keychains that represent my interests and the places I've been. I have a pin from the time I visited Santa Cruz for the first time, another with a cat posing as the girl from “Girl With a Pearl Earring,” and another from my first SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference. I also have an enamel pin of Spider-Woman, which represented my interest in the franchise. My keychains were gifted by my friends, one from a surprise box from a popular Japanese brand, and another that my friend got for me and another friend. Inside my bag, I had necessities, like a hand sanitizer, my student ID, my phone, a microfiber cleaning cloth for my glasses, and a spare charger. However, I have a few other miscellaneous items that I bring because of its importance to me, and how it represents myself. These items are my headphones, my favorite tin of Altoids, a lip balm that I've used, and a small bag of chips that I've been having consistently since I've first moved to this area.

These items represent the several identities that I've maintained in my life, my enamel pins representing my interests and experiences. The keychains that I've kept are ones that represent my bond and the connection that I have with my closest friends. The necessities that I have, like a spare charger, my hand sanitizer, my student ID, and my cleaning cloth, remind me of the relationships that I have with my family, one of the most crucial relationships that I have. I believe this is represented by even though that my bag decorations and my personal items aren't something important, I always have my most important belongings and relationships with me. As a kid, they've always instilled the habit of me bringing all my belongings everywhere, just in case, like a spare charger. Now, this habit is ingrained as an everyday reminder for me, to make sure that I have all my belongings before I leave the house.

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6/20 | (H) 135-146: Goffman, The Presentation of the Self in Everyday Life

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6/20 | (H) 135-146: Goffman, The Presentation of the Self in Everyday Life

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The roles we play in everyday life have a huge impact on who we are as a person, and what we consider a part of our identity. Helen Ebaugh experienced this when she quit being a nun in order to become a sociologist, “Just as she had experienced, the role had become intertwined so extensively with the individual's self-concept that leaving it threatened the person's identity,” (Henslin, 2007, p. 139). But the way we present and the roles we play have an important role on the opportunities that you may be given, like with your career, for example. For those seeking a promotion, someone worth a promotion would have to stand out from the crowd, in the positive way of course; no one wants to give a position to someone not deserving it. The struggle for promotion can only be solved by appearing dominant, and portray the qualities that are traditionally labeled masculine in order for workers (especially women, in this case) to be promoted. “Stash your purse inside a briefcase. This gives the impression of being more business-like. By removing the purse from sight, you are removing a cue that can lead men to think about your femininity and not your abilities,” (Henslin, 2007, p. 140). Another suggestion that is offered is to make sure your hands are visible, like on the table, during business meetings, because it gives the impression of alertness and involvement, and to always give strong handshakes with direct eye contact. These qualities can give an impression of dominance and assertiveness, and can also give an impression on other attributes you might have, like being hardworking, alert, and reliable, all qualities that are deserving of a promotion to many peoples' eyes.

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I believe that shopping is more of an act of social solidarity, an act of coming together as a group and interacting with each other, regardless of what we might be shopping for. There are many cases where one person would consider that shopping as an anomie or normlessness based activity, like excess spending over clothes and material possessions, supporting companies that use child labor as a means of production, or shoplifting. Normlessness can be found in corporations too, when, for example, when Starbucks claims to be a “fair-trade product” but only a small portion of their products support fair-trade laws and their coffee growers. Or popular e-commerce sites, like from Shein or Temu, who have been large promoters of forced labor, poor working conditions, and competition for small businesses who use ethical business practices. However, shopping as a whole, I believe, is as an act of social solidarity, where people come together at a mall or a certain store and purchase things for themselves or their loved ones as a form of expression. Clothing, jewelry, and makeup stores are places where people would shop to find the next new thing that could help express who they are, and potentially be accepted into a community with similar interests. An example of this would be the group of researchers buying a Harley-Davidson, along with biking gear and clothes, in order to understand and become a part of a community full of bikers, who express freedom and being considered an “outsider,” (Johnston, Cairnes, & Baumann, 2016, pg. 134-135). While shopping, there are other additional reasons why people would come to large malls like teenagers---as a way of socialization and participating in social solidarity, finding means of expression and self-identity, along with finding others that have similar identities and express similar beliefs.

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I believe that the reaction from the scientific community toward's Milgram's experiment is understandable, but not just because of the ethical guidelines that have been violated. This experimented showed that with the reassurance and reinforcement from an authority figure, us humans are still able to inflict pain onto other people if the need for it arises. This goes back to the Nazis in WWII, who followed through Hitler's orders for mass genocide, even though it was obviously wrong. They were enforced by authority, and were encouraged to follow whatever their authority figures might say, or else, they would be executed as well and face severe repercussions. Saying “no” can benefit the person you might be hurting, but it will inevitably impact you negatively, which is why, the backlash towards Milgram's experiment was severe; it's because it had revealed disturbing realities of human nature and our survival instinct. Even when the fake learners are screaming in agony, the teachers had continued on with the experiment until Milgram announced that it was over. When “teachers” hesitated or refused to send shocks, the experimenter (Milgram) would calmly reassure them and state the experiment must go on. “When there was no verbal feedback from the “learner,” 65 percent of the “teachers” pushed the lever all the way to 450 volts. Of those who could see the “learner,” 40 percent turned the lever all the way,” (Henslin, 2007, p. 273). Looking at the gas chambers used in concentration camps, they were large, empty boxes where victims were gassed in, with no windows or entries other than the doors that have been closed during the process. This reinforces the inability for the Nazis to look at their victims while they were gassed, which probably made their willingness to kill mass amounts of people more likely, because they couldn't see them. This element is also presented in Milgram's experiment, where in some cases, “learners” are placed in other rooms so that when shocks are sent, they pound and kick the wall.

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A particular memory that I have for when I shopped for “we-ness” was the kind of socks I had. As a kid, whenever we would go to buy socks, I would absolutely despise the feeling of them, and even now, I'm not exactly sure why. I didn't like how they peeked out of my shoes, and whatever my parents tried, from even getting a pair of my favorite cartoon characters, I would always tug them down so they wouldn't be peeking out. As I grew older, I would opt to wear ankle length socks, because they're never apparent when I wear shoes, and they were quick to put on, but there's been a recent trend in wearing crew socks over ankle length ones. What especially influenced me to give crew socks a try, was with the perception of wearing ankle length over crew and how it was a “fashion no-no.” That one particular social media post had influenced me to snag a pair the next time I was at a store, and ever since, I've completely ditched the ankle length socks I've had before. Having crew length socks didn't give me any special privileges or give me membership into a specific group, but it did make me feel like I belonged because of what I was wearing. A prominent example I can think of to demonstrate how I feel is whenever I see people on social media with the kind of clothing that I have, in my case, socks, it made me feel like I belonged. Especially since people's lives on social media are catered to picture perfect photos and videos, I felt that I was on the same level, or resembled that kind of lifestyle, which is a funny thought, considering they were only a pair of socks. This purchase gave me a boost to my self-esteem because of how I represented myself through a pair of socks, I was able to “sandwich” outfits, which is another popular styling trick, and on the plus side, the crew socks were extremely nice. My life wasn't drastically changed because of the kind of socks I had, but it felt comforting, like I was a part of a community, to be related to the kind of people that I respect because of socks.

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6/25, 6/26 | (JCB) pg. 79 Corporate Ideologies

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6/25, 6/26 | (JCB) pg. 79 Corporate Ideologies

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A corporate brand that I can think of that influences plenty of people around me is Amazon, one of the top e-commerce and technology brands in the world. The past examples when someone wants or is going to order something, they usually use Amazon, and more often than not, they have Amazon Prime, for speedy deliveries to their front door. These pluses and bonuses that Amazon offer through their deals are often a way to lure more customers for more profit, and to cover up other marketing techniques or tricks they might be hiding from the public. For example, Amazon had been under fire for questionable practices like the treatment of their workers, controversial technological additions, and tax evasion. Amazon's “AI technology” for their Amazon Fresh stores, which is called “Just Walk Out.” This technology was used by customers to scan their Amazon account at the entry gate to track the items that a customer is walking out with. “Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology enables you to enter a store, grab what you want, and get going without stopping to check out. It leverages computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning,” says Amazon on their FAQ page. However, it was revealed that Amazon was using thousands of Indian workers in order to track these products live instead of any AI technology. According to Carol Chen in her article, “the workers would do the job of closely observing purchases through video footage when AI could not determine a purchase,” but this technique was used for primarily most, if not all, of the reviews of products that are done. This company uses convenience, and tempting pricing in order for it to attract customers, making sure that their profit is used furthermore in larger-scale operations and putting money into making even more money.

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Unions, like Fight for $15 promote their message of raising wages and equality for the working class, regardless of their background or their profession. There are many benefits that a worker could get from joining a union---they have a safe space and a community with like-minded people, fighting for their rights and bringing change for millions of people across the nation. Unions let workers be more willing to negotiate for proper wages, have better job security, added benefits like healthcare and are more willing to advocate for themselves. “We won over $150 billion in raises for 26 million workers nationwide,” says the About page for Fight for $15. Workers that are a part of unions will have retirement security, and them and their fellow union members are able to advocate for each other's rights. “Workers in unions earn 18% more than non-union workers,” claims Worker Organizing Resource and Knowledge Center's page on the importance of unions. While there are many pros to joining a union, there are union fees that are paid towards supporting your union that people contemplating joining must think about. These dues go towards paying their union leaders and workers, and the copious amount of cash some unions get can be ill spent, or not spent wisely, like paying off large sums of money towards their leaders. These funds can also be put towards funding nice headquarters spaces, and workers who hesitate about joining a union might be drawn away by the fact. However, there are also plenty of benefits that union members can get, like a community that will rally up behind them during their times of need, along with ensured job security. Depending on your background and your willingness to join a union, it can be the right choice for a worker seeking to have union benefits, and who are willing to pay the fees.

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