I am very interested in Psychology and studying the mind. Studying sociology might give me a more broad perspective, but I'm not too sure until I'm further into the unit. Sociology might help me understand from more perspectives than my own. It might help me learn about cultures and why people do certain things.

Tattoos used to break rules and were seen as unprofessional. Many people even got judged or rejected by jobs for tattoos because they were seen as tacky. Now they normalized tattoos much more since they are starting to get more accepted in more jobs. People still face discrimination and mostly judgment from a lot of individuals but it isn't as much as before. Tattoos can have a lot of meaning to many cultures, certain pictures, symbols, or quotes can have a big meaning to certain people while other people see it as something completely different. Overall, views on tattoos have changed over time because of social media, big creators sharing their stories and meaning on certain tattoos, and as time goes on its more perceived as a way of personally expressing yourself.

At one table two friends were laughing and talking loudly while sharing a chocolate corssiant. A woman in a hoodie sat in the corner, reading a book and drinking her matcha latte. The workers behind the counter moved quickly, calling out names and handing drinks to customers. Some people grabbed their coffee and left right away but others sat and enjoyed their drink at a table or just in the Starbucks.

Those by themselves stayed quiet and focused on what they were doing, while people who were with a friend or in a group were louder and more comfortable to be themselves.

However, the society that shows and portrays success influenced my choice. The idea that college is necessary for a stable future changed my decision. This entry connects to Thompson’s work on stigma, as certain career paths without a college degree are seen as less or you'll be unsuccessful. As a student still in highschool I consider the many factors of why I should and not go to college.

After reading Ehrenreich’s Nickeled and Dimed and Leidner’s Over the Counter at McDonald's, I believe that all full-time jobs should provide a living wage. Marx’s concept of alienation does apply to many workers who feel disconnected from their labor because they work repetitive tasks especially fast food, for very little pay.

Would You Hire an Ex-Convict?, the study looks at how having a criminal record makes it harder for people to find jobs. By comparing job applicants with and without a criminal record, the study found that employers were less likely to hire people with a criminal past, especially Black people, showing racial inequality.

Socialization is how people learn to behave in society through family, school, friends, and media. The way we see and understand the world is shaped by these influences, which means reality is socially constructed with what we think is "normal" depending on what society teaches us. People follow rules and expectations without always realizing it, and these expectations always change over time.

Goffman compares social life to a play, where people act differently in public than in private. We try to control how others see us by dressing, speaking, and acting in ways that fit the situation. People adjust their behavior based on who they are with and where they are. This shows that identity is not fixed but changes depending on the audience.

Thompson talks about how funeral workers deal with the stigma of working with dead bodies. Many people feel uncomfortable about death, so funeral workers use humor, professionalism, or emotional distance to handle it. They must act a certain way to make others feel comfortable and to be respected. This connects to Goffman’s idea that people “perform” different roles in society.

If Hitler asked you to electrocute a stranger, would you?

Meyer’s study looks at obedience to authority, showing that people will follow orders even if they think it's wrong. It connects to the Milgram experiment, where people kept shocking someone just because an authority figure told them to. This shows how group pressure and authority influence decisions, sometimes leading people to ignore their own morals. It helps explain why people in history, like Nazi soldiers, followed harmful orders without resisting and no remorse.

Ehrenreich, in Nickeled and Dimed, tries working low wage jobs to see if she can survive on minimum wage. She quickly realizes that even with full-time work, it is impossible to afford rent, food, and other basic needs. Many people work multiple jobs and still struggle. this shows that hard work alone is not always enough to succeed. which leads me to wonder whether hard work makes success/

Leidner looks at how McDonald's workers have little independence and must follow strict rules. Their jobs are repetitive and very controlled. This makes training easy but leaves workers feeling like robots rather than workers. The study shows how big companies focus more on profit than on well-being, making many fast food jobs frustrating and very exhausting.

Wishard explains how older workers struggle to keep up with changes in the economy. Many jobs now require new technology skills, making it difficult for older employees to work or even compete with younger employees. As businesses change and evolve, older workers are often replaced and struggle to find new jobs. This shows how economic progress does not benefit everyone equally and can leave some people behind.

Good teaching helps students understand better because the teacher explains things clearly and in a way that makes sense. When a teacher is patient and listens to students, it makes them feel more comfortable asking questions. Also, Teachers who make learning fun and interesting help students very much too. Teachers who are constantly making the class a great space to learn and to make mistakes also help better learning 100%. This kind of teaching makes it easier for students to remember and use what they have learned.

Gans explains that poverty actually helps society in some ways. Poor people do low-paying jobs that others don’t want, which keeps prices lower for everyone else. They also make the rich feel better about their own success. Even though poverty is bad for those who experience it, society does not always try to get rid of it because some people benefit from it.

Morris and Grimes talk about how hard it is for poor people to move to a higher social class. Many try to improve their lives through education and hard work, but they still face challenges like discrimination, lack of connections, and financial struggles. Even when people escape poverty, they often feel out of place in higher-class settings.

Higley explains how the richest people in America stay in power. Wealthy families pass down their money, education, and influence to their children, making it hard for outsiders to even enter their world. They often attend elite schools, join exclusive social groups, and use their connections to stay in control of business and politics. This makes it difficult for regular people to reach the top, no matter how hard they try.

This connects to what I learned in this course because I connected it to what Gans said, which was that poverty actually helps the rich stay in power. it’s hard for poor people to move up, even with hard work. The video shows that the system is set up to keep the rich RICH and the poor stuck in poverty. It shows that the idea of the "American Dream" isn’t as true as people think.