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Part A:
I found this video on YouTube about the first chapter, The Sociological Perspective, which is very easy to understand. The content creator presents the information in a clear and logical manner. She introduces sociology as a discipline in a very accessible way. I particularly like her summary of The Sociological Perspective in the video, where she says, "It means seeing the general in the particular, and it means seeing the strange in the familiar."
Before taking my first sociology course, I had virtually no concept of sociology. I was filled with curiosity and anticipation for this class, hoping to learn a lot of interesting knowledge from it. After studying the content about The Sociological Perspective, I gained a deeper understanding of this discipline.
During the course, I realized two things that I had never considered before. First, I was not aware that many phenomena in our lives are influenced by social structures and culture. This means that individual behaviors and choices are largely constrained by social backgrounds and environments. Secondly, I learned that the sociological perspective encourages us to look at the world in a completely new way, digging into the social phenomena and laws hidden beneath the surface.
After studying this lesson, I feel that my way of thinking and understanding of the world has changed. I started to pay more attention to social issues and tried to explain and analyze them from a sociological perspective. I have a better understanding of the interactions between different groups in society and how social structures affect our lives.
An example from daily life that is related to the content of this lesson is the rise of the fast-food industry. In modern society, people's lives are becoming increasingly fast-paced, which has led to the rapid development of the fast-food industry. From a sociological perspective, this is not simply due to individual needs, but is driven by the overall social structure. A fast-paced lifestyle, urbanization, and consumerist culture together shape this phenomenon. By studying sociology, I am able to better understand the social forces behind such phenomena.

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What Is Sociology?: Crash Course Sociology #1

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Part A：
When I started to study this chapter, I immediately thought of George Orwell's novel "1984" that I had read before and believed that this book had a close relationship with social structure. This classic novel depicts a future world ruled by totalitarianism, which includes many themes related to social structure such as power, class, and control.

In this novel, the social structure is divided into three different classes: the ruling class, the bureaucracy, and the proletariat. The ruling class and the bureaucracy hold all power and privilege, while the proletariat is stripped of all rights and freedoms. This social structure leads to extreme inequality and oppression in the world of "1984," making it impossible for people to truly live and think freely.

By reading "1984" and connecting it to the concept of social structure in sociology, I better understand how social structure influences the organization and hierarchical structure of human society. This has encouraged me to think more deeply and explore the importance and impact of social structure in today's world. It also reminds us of the dangers of power concentration and social class disparities, prompting us to work harder to establish a just, equal, and free social structure.

Part B：
I remember when I was younger, my family moved to a new town and I had to start at a new school. I quickly realized that there was a social structure in place amongst my peers, and I didn't fit into any of the established groups.
At first, I tried to change myself to fit in with the popular kids, but it didn't work. I found myself constantly worrying about what they thought of me and how I was perceived by others. I felt like I was losing my identity and becoming someone I didn't want to be.
Eventually, I realized that I couldn't change who I was and decided to embrace my individuality. I started to form friendships with people who shared my interests and values, regardless of where they fell in the social hierarchy.
This experience taught me that social structure can be limiting, but it's important to stay true to yourself and not compromise your values to fit in with a certain group. It's possible to break free from the constraints of social structure and form genuine connections with people who appreciate you for who you are.

Part C：
Firstly, social structure is not fixed or immutable, but rather it is constantly changing and evolving. It's important to understand that social structure is shaped by historical and cultural contexts, and it can be influenced by individual agency and action. This knowledge has helped me to be more conscious of the impact I can have on the social structures around me.

Secondly, I've learned that social structure can be both empowering and limiting. On one hand, it provides a sense of order and stability, and allows for collective action towards common goals. On the other hand, it can create inequalities and hierarchies that disadvantage certain groups of people. This has taught me to be more critical and aware of the social structures that exist in my life, and to work towards creating more just and equitable systems.

Part D：
One aspect of studying the social structure module that really struck me was the way in which it highlighted the structural inequalities that exist in society. Learning about how certain social groups are systematically disadvantaged based on their race, gender, or socioeconomic status made me feel a mixture of anger, frustration, and sadness.

It's deeply troubling to realize that the social structures we live in can create such profound and pervasive inequalities, and it can be overwhelming to think about how to address these issues. However, I also feel a sense of urgency and responsibility to use my knowledge to work towards creating a more just and equitable society.

This aspect of the social structure module has reminded me that while individual actions are important, we also need to address the underlying structures that perpetuate inequality if we want to create meaningful change. It's easy to feel powerless in the face of such large-scale issues, but I believe that education and awareness are the first steps towards creating a more just and equitable world.

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Part A：
This news article, titled "How Social Media Is Changing the Way We Approach Death," was published by the American media company NBC News in February 2022. It discusses how social media is changing our views on death and our social interactions related to death. Social media makes it easier for people to express their grief and mourning for the deceased, which in turn affects how we think about death and our own lives. The article mentions a woman who posted on social media to mourn a loved one, saying that social media makes her feel less alone and allows her to share her pain with others. This example reflects the influence of social media on people's self-concepts and social interactions.

The connection between this article and the Social Interaction and the Self chapter is that it explores how social interaction affects our self-concepts and interpersonal relationships. Social media is changing our views on death and how we deal with it, thereby influencing our self-concepts. It also makes it easier for us to share our emotions with others, changing our social interactions. I chose this article because it deals with an important topic, namely how social media is changing our lives and our interactions with others.

Part:D
One aspect of the Social Interaction and the Self chapter that stood out to me is the importance of social interaction in shaping our self-concepts and identities. Our self-concepts are established and maintained through our interactions and reactions with others. This article emphasizes the influence of social media on our self-concepts, particularly in dealing with death and grief. I believe that these contents provoked my thoughts and reflections because they reveal how social media influences our psychological and social lives.

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Pictures of death as public as Simon's violate a century-old American taboo against the topic, says Lawrence Samuel, author of Death, American Style: A Cultural History of Dying in America. According to him, a handful of factors throughout the first half of the 20th century-World War I, the 1918 flu epidemic, modern medicine and the decline of religion-turned death into "this horrible little secret we have, instead of being the most natural thing in the world. Denial became the operative word, because death is oppositional to our culture's defining values, like youth, progress, and achievement."

Death has now been able to make its way back into the conversation, he believes, thanks to "the narcissism of the self-esteem movement"-our culture's growing enthusiasm for sharing personal information, which opens "a very rare window into a forbidden dimension of life, which makes death part of everyday experience," he says.

"People are very out and proud about their illnesses," says Christian Sinclair, a hospice and palliative medicine doctor who co-founded the end-of-life care tweetchat #HPM. "Even before we had social media, we were beginning to see the story lines of 'I have cancer and this is what it's like to go through the treatments.' Social media encourages a lot more of that."

T1: Important to recognize that families often refuse more comfort meds than just opioids. Anti-nausea, anti-anxiety, steroids, etc #hpm
- Christian Sinclair (@ctsinclair) August 15, 2013

Sinclair has watched numerous terminal patients turn to social platforms to share what it's like to live with their conditions, so followers can see their dying process unfold in real time alongside food photos, article links and vacation updates. "Social media is a natural extension of 'I want to share my illness experience with you,' because it allows you to develop a social network of both support and attention," he says.

These online networks often help those suffering serious illnesses face down death in some of their darkest moments.

Chris: My biggest fear is that one day when you're gone I'll forget what you look like & what your voice sounds like... #heartbreaking
- Kate Granger (@GrangerKate) August 16, 2013

"The whole process is really therapeutic. Writing a tweet helps me rationalize things or reassure myself," says Kate Granger, a British doctor who made headlines this year when she decided to forgo treatment for terminal cancer after five rounds of chemotherapy. She started tweeting about the last stages of her illness. Granger had originally taken up Twitter professionally to network and fundraise, but found a home for her struggles as her followers encouraged her to talk openly about her experience with the disease.

Social media support networks tend to enable more frequent and lower-stakes conversations about dying than traditional hospital support groups, which helps stave off the sense of isolation that usually accompanies life-threatening conditions, says Alicia Staley, a three-time cancer survivor and co-founder of the weekly tweetchat Breast Cancer Social Media (#BCSM). During Staley's most recent treatment, she found herself alone in a hospital bed at 3 a.m., in pain and scared. "Any of my west coast friends up?" she tweeted, and spent the next hour and a half talking through her worries with her followers. In the morning, a nurse told Staley she looked a lot better than the night before.

Okay - 5 minutes left! Tweet out your best advice for other cancer survivors that are braving the dating world. GO! #bcsm
- Alicia C. Staley (@stales) August 13, 2013

"It's hard to explain that kind of comfort," says Staley. "When you create this virtual community, it's great because you get a glimpse into people's everyday lives. You see the good, you see the bad, you see the ups and downs. It's a great reminder of what life is really all about, how things keep moving, no matter how you're doing."

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How Social Media Is Changing The Way We Approach Death

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Pictures of death as public as Simon's violate a century-old American taboo against the topic, says Lawrence Samuel, author of Death, American Style: A Cultural History of Dying in America .

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Part A：
This video "What would a world without prisons be like?" by BBC Ideas discusses the idea of a world without prisons and explores alternative forms of justice that could potentially replace the prison system. As I watched this video, I couldn't help but think of the concepts of deviance and crime that we learned about in the Deviance and Crime chapter of sociology. The video addresses the idea that the current prison system may not be the best solution for addressing deviant behavior and crime, and instead, we should be focusing on prevention and restorative justice practices.

Part C:
This video made me realize that there are alternative ways of thinking about and addressing deviance and crime that I was not aware of before. I learned that the prison system is not the only solution and that it may even contribute to the perpetuation of crime and deviance. Another thing that I learned was the importance of community involvement in preventing and addressing deviance and crime. Through community-based programs, restorative justice practices, and prevention efforts, we can address the root causes of deviance and crime, rather than just punishing individuals after the fact.

Personally, I have seen how the current prison system can perpetuate a cycle of crime and deviance in my own community. Many individuals who are incarcerated do not receive the support they need to reintegrate back into society, leading to recidivism and continued involvement in criminal activities. This video has made me think about the potential for alternative forms of justice that prioritize rehabilitation and community involvement, rather than punishment and isolation.

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What would a world without prisons be like? | BBC Ideas

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Part A.
Gender Spectrum (https://www.genderspectrum.org/) is a nonprofit organization and resource center dedicated to providing information and support on gender identity, gender expression, and gender diversity. The site was founded in 2005 to help individuals, families, schools and communities understand and support gender diversity. I really like the guided navigation of the site. First time users of the site can access the resources and information they want in three simple steps, first by selecting their identity, then by selecting the modules they are interested in, and finally by selecting who you want to learn about your target audience.

Through this site, students like myself can learn about the complexities of gender identity and gender expression and learn how to promote a social environment of gender inclusion and gender equality. I believe that the resources and information provided on this site will help me to break free from traditional notions of gender, understand gender as a broad and diverse concept, and help individuals like me to actively participate in society's activities regarding gender identity and understanding. Here are some of the resources I have found that are relevant to my course work
Socially Constructing Gender: The Gender Spectrum website helps us understand how gender is socially constructed. It provides contextual information about gender identity and gender expression, showing how individuals interact with social expectations, cultural values, and social institutions to shape gender roles and gender norms.

Gender Inequality: The resources on the website can help us understand the presence and impact of gender inequality in society. By learning about the experiences and challenges of different gender groups, we can gain insight into how sexism, gender violence, and gender bias affect individuals and society, and how to advance gender equality.

Gender Diversity: The Gender Spectrum website has a special focus on gender diversity. It provides information on transgender, non-binary gender and gender fluidity to help us move beyond traditional binary notions of gender and to understand the importance of broad expressions of gender and diversity to individual identity and social identity.

Why I chose this source:
I chose the Gender Spectrum website as a material for studying the chapter on gender in sociology because it provides a comprehensive and intuitive resource that helps me understand the core concepts of the social construction of gender, gender inequality, and gender diversity from the shallow to the deep. The site provides informative and educational materials that will help me broaden my perspective, think about gender topics, and contribute to a more comprehensive and integrated understanding of gender issues.

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Part C:
In the process of studying the Sexuality chapter, I gained some surprising insights that I wasn't aware of before the class. One important realization is that sexual orientation is not merely an individual's biological characteristic but a socially constructed concept. This concept has indeed enriched my understanding. In my home country of China, gender and sexual orientation are almost seen as absolute biological concepts, and we have never received any guidance or education on Sexuality beyond a biological perspective. However, when I first came to the United States a few years ago and was exposed to LGBTQ cultures in San Francisco, I realized that I had limited knowledge about them. Through this course, I learned how sexual orientation is influenced by social factors, cultural values, and power dynamics. This means that sexual orientation is shaped not only by an individual's personal attractions and desires but also by societal norms, expectations, and institutions. This perspective, which overturned my previous beliefs, made me realize the complexity and diversity of sexual orientation, extending far beyond an individual's intrinsic attributes.

Furthermore, as I delved deeper into the subject, I came to understand that sexual orientation and personal identity are two distinct concepts, which I used to conflate. However, through studying the course materials, I discovered that sexual orientation refers to an individual's inclinations and attractions, while personal identity pertains to one's acceptance and recognition of their own sexual orientation. This distinction between the two concepts can be easily confused, but learning how to differentiate them has indeed helped me gain a better understanding of the role that Sexuality plays in society. Additionally, personal identity is also influenced by cultural, social, and individual factors, which implies that a person's sexual orientation may not align completely with their personal identity. This new understanding has a similar feeling to learning about similar but completely different theorems in mathematics. Understanding the differences between these concepts has allowed me to reflect more deeply on the distinction between sexual orientation and personal identity, as well as to respect and accept individuals with different sexual orientations.

In conclusion, through the study of this module, I have gained a deeper understanding of the social construction of sexual orientation and the differences between sexual orientation and personal identity. These insights have broadened my perspective and made me realize that the formation and understanding of sexual orientation go beyond the individual level, encompassing a wide range of social factors. I have come to recognize that the diversity of sexual orientation is a complex issue that requires an open and inclusive attitude for exploration and understanding. This new knowledge is invaluable to me personally, as it has made me more sensitive, rational, and respectful when contemplating and discussing matters related to sexual orientation, and it has deepened my understanding and appreciation for the diverse experiences and identities of individuals.

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Part A:
Regarding this chapter, I have chosen the American film "Get Out" as my learning material. Directed by Jordan Peele and released in 2017, I remember watching this movie with my friends. At that time, we simply thought it was a horror suspense film. However, after studying the Race and Ethnicity chapter, certain elements from the movie came to mind, and I realized their close connection to the core concepts of Race and Ethnicity, sparking deep reflections on issues of race and ethnicity. Director Jordan Peele skillfully incorporated explorations and discussions on racism in the film, while maintaining an intriguing storytelling tone.

In my personal background, my understanding of race and ethnicity issues has been relatively limited. Although my country has a diverse population with up to 56 ethnic groups, conflicts and problems stemming from race have been largely resolved as our society has evolved. However, when revisiting "Get Out," the film deeply resonated with me. It presented the protagonist's struggles and injustices faced while interacting with a white family in a unique and captivating manner, provoking thoughts on structural racism. I began pondering how social structures and power dynamics shape and perpetuate racial inequalities. I also became aware of the close connection between racial identity and cultural conflicts, as well as how interactions between different cultures influence individual identity. Observing the interactions between the main character, Chris, and the white family in the film, I witnessed conflicts and tensions arising from racial identity and cultural differences, further deepening my interest and understanding. Additionally, I realized that race and ethnicity issues extend beyond individual experiences and encompass broader social factors and structures. This ignited a strong interest in exploring the concepts of structural racism and the intersection of racial identity and cultural conflicts discussed in the Race and Ethnicity chapter.

Therefore, I chose "Get Out" as my learning material for the Race and Ethnicity chapter because this film presents core sociological concepts in a visually and emotionally engaging way. Through in-depth research and analysis of this resource, I hope to gain a better understanding of race and ethnicity issues and connect these concepts to real-world social dynamics.

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Part D:
After studying the content of the Social Class chapter, one aspect has evoked strong emotional reactions within me, and that is the existence and impact of social class inequality. While I have always been aware of the presence of social class inequality around me, I gradually became oblivious to its effects on my personal life. I understand that it is challenging for ordinary individuals to transcend their social class through personal efforts, and individual power is insufficient to address the social inequalities caused by class. However, studying the content of this chapter has reignited my interest in social class and inequality, accompanied by negative emotions such as anger and disappointment.

Several reasons contribute to the emergence of these emotions. Firstly, my personal experiences and the social environment I grew up in made me more sensitive to social class inequality. In the past, my family enjoyed certain privileges and better living conditions due to the official position held by my ancestors. This familial background was a unique existence in the Chinese society of that time. We had a certain level of wealth and status, providing us with improved education and living standards. However, with the changing social system and historical evolution in China, my family underwent significant transformations. Social reforms and developments led to structural changes, and although my family had done nothing wrong, we gradually lost our previous wealth and status solely due to the changes in the social system. My grandfather and father no longer possessed the privileges and advantages they once had. We had to face the difficulties and challenges of life like any other ordinary family. The change in our economic situation meant that we had to become more frugal and practical to adapt to the new social reality. Educational and career choices also required a greater emphasis on personal effort and ability, rather than relying on family background. My grandfather and father have told me that this transition brought significant challenges to our family, and they felt anger and disappointment towards the unfair treatment. This dramatic change in social class made me aware of the existence of a group of individuals who constantly struggle for fair treatment, while others enjoy more opportunities and privileges. This realization made me angry because such inequality has a profound impact on individuals' life trajectories and may even limit their development and opportunities.

Secondly, the impact of social class has made me reflect on my own identity and social position. I began to recognize how my social class influences my opportunities, resources, and privileges. I reflected on my own privileges and advantages while also experiencing certain limitations and restrictions in certain aspects. This led to feelings of disappointment and unease because I realized the immense power and influence of social class, while feeling almost powerless to change my own social class.

Additionally, I am concerned about the phenomenon of social class inequality because it has negative implications for society as a whole. Social class inequality leads to unfair distribution of resources and opportunities, which not only affects individuals' quality of life but also hinders overall societal progress and equality. My concern for these issues drives me to understand and analyze the root causes and potential solutions related to social class. I hope to contribute towards promoting greater fairness and social justice.

In conclusion, the Social Class chapter has stirred deep concern and emotions of anger, disappointment, and concern within me regarding the existence and impact of social class inequality. These emotions have been triggered by witnessing the presence of inequality firsthand in my personal experiences and social environment, and a desire to actively contribute to promoting greater equality and social justice through learning and understanding.

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Final Padlet - Zhenwen Yu