I was able to connect this chapter to my life in a way I didn't expect. If I am rushing to go to class i'll grab a quick coffee from the store, something that's quick and fast where I don't have to sit there and wait, but if I am with my friends we will then go to a nice local coffee shops where we can sit and talk, the environment, price, and the way the coffee is presented creates a better experience. I really never realized how something so small such as where you get your coffee can carry small class signals. I also notice when I'm at work the coffee some people buy can reflect on their lifestyle. Some people may buy the normal store-brand coffee and others may buy the more expensive brands that are considered organic.

When reading this chapter I realized how this discussion relates to certain economic topics about individuals consumer habits and how marketing is often targeted to certain groups of people which is seem in this chapter regarding the ideas of coffee.

This chapter really made me realize how much certain aspects of life stand out a lot more. It shows us as readers how being in a certain social class will really influence every single aspect of you life such as the coffee. Marketing is such a big strategy when it comes to different social classes often times places with inexpensive coffee will advertise it as a quick affordable coffee that you can get on the go. When it comes to a more expensive coffee brand they will advertise how good the flavor is in a way that will sound appealing to upper class people.

I see this inequality in my everyday and often times don't even realize. When I am at the grocery store or a certain store in general I see people having to put things back because they can't afford it and often times it's just basic necessities like groceries or toilet tree items, while others are able to just spend large amount of money and not think twice about it. It is so disheartening because low-wage workers are essential for keeping businesses running and work extremely hard but they have the hardest time being able to make ends meet.

This reading really makes me think twice about structural inequality. The social system helps keep poverty even though we say we want equality, no matter how hard anyone tries the poor will stay poor because as we, this is what the wealthy want because it will aways benefit them.

Economics connect to this reading because in an economic class you get taught about how poverty can help stabilize wages because there is always that group of people that are willing to work for less.

Overall after reading this chapter I am not more aware how poverty is not just a persons personal issue but it is something that can help benefit other. With the way our society is built it is extremely hard to break the cycle of poverty and id why our society will forever be structured this way because it will always benefit others.

A topic I was able to think back to when reading this chapter is economics, because in economic we are taught about how wealth is often passed down through generations which makes it easier for some peaople to stay ahead. This can often times make some people who who are in a lower class become less motivated to move up because they may think if that person got rich through luck meaning they were just born into a wealthy family what makes them think they may be able to make that money on their own.

When relating this topic to my own life I think about how fortunate enough I am to go to college and live at home while being able to work once a week. After reading this chapter I realized how many people who have to help out in their homes have to work everyday which makes it hard to even go to school so they can further their education because as someone who is experiencing how hard college can be I couldn't imagine having to work a full time job. Often times many people get stuck in their situation because if they aren't working how will there be food on the table or water running.

When reflecting on this reading i am now more away of how complex moving up in society really is, it reminded me that while hard work is nnecessary, the system is not always fair and the inequalities in the way our society is structures mare it very hard for some people to be able to move up.

When looking at the growing wealth gap in the U.S. and how hard it can be for an individual from middle or lower class to become this wealthy. This chapter really relates to the last chapter that discusses social mobility, this is the idea that it definitely is possible to go up on the social ladder, it is very hard without having access to the same privileges that the upper class has. this relates to this chapter because the wealthy control everything and they like having this control which is why it is so hard for people to become wealthy because of how controlled the system really is.

The topic in this chapter is something I see everyday. When shopping there is always that one person that clearly has more wealth. they are buying more pricey products without having to think twice, not even looking at the products adding up. This makes me so much more aware of how everyday privileges that come with having financial security, like having the privilege to afford healthier food or products that have a better quality, without stressing about the cost.

This chapter definitely helped me realize how class isn't just about income, it shapes access to power, the influence on others, and opportunity. It also made me refledct on how class devisions really have an affect on individuals lives, even if you are unable to see it at first it is definitely there.

In the video "Wealth Inequality in America" the narrator says, "On my chart 1% of America has 40% of all the nations wealth." Hearing this made me think back to previous readings where the authors discuss's how hard it is for so many people to climb the social latter and how much control the wealthy really have, it is evident and makes so much because the richest people have so much of the United States money. In the video the narrator also describes how the lower and middle class have 7% of the Unites States wealth, this is another example of how much control the wealthy have there is now way for people to move up when they are being held down by such a powerful group of people who have so much money it is off the charts.

After reading all of the readings and watching this video it has really changed my mindset when it comes to our different social classes. In school and at home I was always taught as long as you work hard and get a good education your going to go far in life, your going to make money, many kids are taught this. In reality this isn't the case for the majority of the Unites States. No matter how hard anyone works there are always gonna be circumstances that hold people back like education and family background. There is always going to be that top percent of people that have so much control and they are the ones that keep the system the way it is, they have this control.

Sports is a topic where it is very obvious how the inequalities are. In the reading the author discusses how athletes of color don't have as many opportunities when it comes to leadership positions or management positions even thought they are very dominant on the field. This made me think about topic I have learned about like systemic racism. This is the idea that even when people of color have earned this success there are still so many challenges when it comes to having the power they deserve just like in sports, these players work so hard to get to where there out but they don't get the praise or positions they deserve to have.

When football season comes around I am sitting right next to my dad watching every football game with him, this is something we bond over and have done since I was little. I have watched almost every game and am always around his friends when we are watching games. I often times hear his friends praise the white athletes and they always point out the white players and say things like "that guys a beast" referring to the white guy, even though the black player is playing the exact same way. They may not realize the black player is playing the same way because just like the reading talks about the white athletes are praised for the "hard work" they do and the black athletes are seen as "naturally talented" which is why they don't get praised as often. When commentators in football are commenting on the players I often hear them being surprised by the white players praising them for the amazing play they just did. This is the systematic racism that is in sports that isn't talked about because this way of thinking is embedded in so many people's heads.

Overall this chapter definitely made me realize how race and sports connect with one another. It opened my eyes about how sports is seen as a place of fairness but in reality there is deeper social inequalities. It is important to realize how important it is to challenge these stereotypes even is regular, casual social settings because this is what helps contribute to the bigger patterns of bias.

Cultural appropriation is often times seen as "cultural appreciation." In this reading the author shows us how music artist will adopt certain symbols, style and sounds from marginalized cultures without giving them the recognition they deserve and or respecting where it came from. This reminded me of previous topics discussed like power dynamics. The different between being inspired by a culture and exploiting it. Very mainstream artist use certain aspects of minority cultures without giving the credit they deserve. They benefit from the culture without facing the struggles that the individuals who created it experience.

I was able to connect this idea with my own life when realizing how popular music influence fashion and certain trends. An example of this is styles like cornrows or oversized streetwear are often times seen as "edgy" when worn by white individuals but when worn by black individuals is is seen as negative. This made me realize how certain cultural expressions are celebrated or criticized based on who is wearing or performing them.

This chapter really made me think a lot deeper about the music I listen to. it made me want to be more mindful of where different genres and styles come and really recognize the contributions these marginalized artists have made. I also now recognize that racism in music is not just about explicit discrimination but also about who gets the credit, visibility and profit.

Growing up I lived in the north side of Stockton and went to Lincoln high school. I got to live by my school which allowed me to walk to school. Many kids I went to school with had to take the bus and get to school super early because they didn’t have the opportunity to live by the school. I was also able to get tutoring lessons if I needed it.

Being middle class has affected my home life in such a positive way because I have a 2 parent household which means there’s more of an income. With there being more income I noticed I had more options when it came to food we ate, it was always very healthy but with this I noticed it was a lot more expensive especially the fresher ingredients, my parents did look at prices especially if something was more expensive but more often they cared about ingredients, making sure everything was healthy for my brother and I.

To further my education I chose to go to Delta because I didn’t want to be away from my family and I knew it was a better option financially. Luckily I am able to only focus on school and only work one day a week for 4 hours. I know this has a lot to do with my social class because I am being financially supported by my parents until I start my career in nursing.

Being middle class has had a large impact on my life when it comes healthcare. Growing up I had my yearly checkups when it came to annual physicals, eye doctor appointments, and the dentist. This is due to the fact that both of my parents work and have health insurance which is why I was able to have annual checkups.

normalized it's unnoticed by the individuals who are not affected.

When looking at this reading it made me think further about privilege and how the different racial groups experience the world in very different ways. What Page experiences is an example of how tiring it can be to constantly having to prove yourself or manage other individuals assumptions, this is something white people don't really ever have to deal with.

When reading this chapter I thought about my own life especially when the author brings up the idea about having to constantly be aware of how others may look at you. I am hispanic but very light complected so not many people realize, my boyfriend is also hispanic but he is darker complected so in a sense he looks a lot more hispanic then I do, I notice when we are out in public at store, sales associates will follow us around trying to be discrete but I catch them doing it all the time but when I am out by myself I have never had this happen to me. It seems like when we are out in public my boyfriend has to overcompensate he is always so well mannered and often times very nice to everyone he comes across but this is due to him knowing people are judging him just by the way he looks which is why he feels the need to do this. I never realized this until reading this chapter, race has a large impact on the way individuals are treated in society even in small situations.

Overall this chapter emphasizes how race affects every aspect of life, even in ways that are not always obvious. This chapter really made me think more critically about how aware I am of racial dynamics and how I can be more intentional about recognizing and addressing bias in everyday life.

After reading this chapter this made me reflect on what I have learned about socialization and group dynamics. Hate groups thrive on ideas like, victimhood where they convince the members of the group that they are the ones being oppressed. Confirmation bias is how individuals look for information that support their beliefs and rejects anything or anyone that challenges them. This help explain why the racist ideologies are so hard to break free from, they are not just about being misinformed but about an emotional attachment to a worldview.

When reading this chapter I was able to connect it to my own experiences at work and in everyday interactions. When I am working I see how people from different backgrounds coexist, I also notice very subtle biases in how customers or employees interact with one another for example I notice when I am assisting certain cashiers they will act a lot nicer or polite to certain people who are a certain race even though they may not the treat the cashier with respect just because they are a certain race the cashier will treat them with so much respect. While racism may not always be blatantly visible, this reading made me realize that the prejudices don't just disappear just because society has become more accepting or has claimed to be more accepting.

This chapter definitely challenged me to think about where racism stems from, beyond just ignorance. It showed me that combining hate requires more that facts, it takes empathy, critical thinking, and challenging the systems that allow these ideologies stick around. It is so important to speak up against prejudice, even in very small, everyday moments.

Saying that race is socially constructed means that race isn't based on biology or science, but based on social ideas and beliefs that people have made over time. As seen in all of my interviews every person said that they decide what race others are based on appearance. This is because this is what society has trained us to do, for example when someone seen another person with blonde hair and blue eyes there going to assume they are white because that is what society categorizes white people as. These ideas of race have been passed around so much through things like culture, media laws, and institutions, shaping how people are treated, and how they see themselves and others. Because race is a social construct it can change at any time, depending on time, place and context. What counts as one race in one society might not be seen the same way in another.

After reading this chapter I realizes how we take gender roles for granted. I often assume certain behaviors are just how some boys or some girls are, but in reality society is guiding these behaviors through things like, media, marketing, and parenting. This makes me think of gender like a performance, as a society certain genders act a certain way because they want to meet society expectations and often times peaople aren't even aware they are doing this.

When looking back on my own childhood I realize how I was shaped by gender norms. Even when it comes to thinks like school or on birthdays, the toys given at schools or birthday are separated. Nobody ever said directly these toys are for boys and these toys are for girls but it was very obvious what the toys that were meant for girls were and what the toys that were meant for boys were. After reading this reading I realized how truly limiting this can be, not just in how children play but how they learn to express their emotions, build relationships or how they themselves see future roles.

After reading this chapter I am so much more aware about how much of an impact gender has on our society. Children aren't just naturally attracted to action figures as soon as they are born it is because of the experiences they have in life from the people they surround themselves with to the television they watch, small things like this can truly change the way someone thinks as a whole which often carries into adulthood as well.

The idea that stood out the most while reading this chapter was intersectionality. Race, gender, class, and sexuality all connect to shape one'e experience of beauty. This made me think about how individuals who do not fit the normal beauty standards are often judged, excluded, and or pressured to change. An example of this is women of color face tons of pressure to straighten their hair or even lighten their skin because it is seen as more professional or even attractive. That way of thinking isn't just about looks, it is about deeper society standards that tell people the way they naturally are isn't good enough, that they are not beautiful because they don't fit in societies box,

When reading about these beauty standards it reminds me of topics that were discussed in psychology. Topics like self esteem and body image, and how damaging these beauty standards can be to one's mental health, especially for young people, young people are impressionable which is why these beauty standards are so harmful.

As a women I have felt these beauty standards my whole entire life. Social media has had an extremely harmful impact on me in so many ways. The beauty standards made me want to grow up even faster and look older because I wanted to fit these unrealistic beauty standards. When first entering high school this is when social media had a huge impact on me due to looking at all the different girls on social media without realizing many of them have surgeries because they are to influenced by societies beauty standards.

Overall this chapter has made me reflect on myself and helped me realize the insecurities I feel aren't just me being in my own head they are largely impacted by societies beauty standards.

Another big giveaway that certain toys are for certain genders is the packaging for the toys, things like the designs, fonts, and even the language. On the "girls" toys there were words like, "princess" and "sparkle" but on the "boys" toys there were words like "extreme" and "power." When realizing all of this it makes me realize each section is pushing children to become certain types of individuals, the girls as caretakers and very focused on their looks while boys are supposed to be more strong and active.

When trying to find gender neutral toys there were very few, the ones I did see were things like puzzles, board games, and science related toys. These toys didn't really have a lot of color and were put in sections where children don't really go to,

After taking a deeper look at kids toys it made me realize how children are expected to follow these gender expectations so early on. Society teaches children what it means to be a boy or girl before children are even able to comprehend what the difference is. I now realize how much of an impact the toys I played with had on me as a child. I played with dolls and was obsessed with makeup and bright colors which was due to me being exposed to toys like this so early on. This was all I knew just like many other children today.

When looking at race and ethnicity on these websites most of the models have very light skin, there were some Black, Asian, and Latina women but when they were shown it was articles base on diversity. Although they did have women of color it felt like they did it to check a box, these women of color should be regularly shown in these beauty articles but they are not. These article's had a very clear preference for lighter skinned women and when they did show Dark skinned women it was a lot less frequent. Colorism has a very big impact on todays beauty standards, lighter skinned women are seen as more desirable which has a very large impact.

This analysis really made me understand how beauty is constructed by society, it has a strong connection to the systems of power. These websites and magazines are sending a message out that many individuals don't realize because it is so deeply imbedded in our world today. Media has such a big impact on the way so many people see themselves because there are certain types of people shown in the media.

This chapter connects to this idea that gender roles are built and maintained through expectations and repetition. I was able to connect this chapter to ideas discussed in a psychology course I was in, where we talk about how one's identity is formed and how harmful it can be when individuals feel like they have to fit in a certain box because that is what is considered "normal."

As someone who grew up with an older brother I see this first hand with the way my parents treat my brother compared to the way they treat me, I am a girl and also the youngest. My father was very sensitive with me and very lenient, my dad would often show more emotion around me but when it came to my brother he never really showed emotion and when I pointed this out to him he really didn't even realize this because this is just how he was raised and did the same with my brother. He was raised to not show much emotion because as a man you are taught to be strong because men are typically the head of a household which is why he raised my brother this way. This is how society treats men and often times men don't even realize because this behavior is so normalized in our society.

From a very young age I was always praised for being very girly, cute, and always polite. Everyone had always told me not to be to loud or messy because this isn't "ladylike." In school I often noticed girls who were very outspoken or confident were seen as bossy but the boys who acted like this were seen as cool and leaders. small situations like this guided me to "do" my gender meaning how to act, speak, and dress in order to fit into my female role.

Looking back at all of the situations I have experienced as a young girl and an adult women, now I realize the way I act is shaped by society and what they expected from me and so many other women. I wasn't a "girly girl" at birth I was shaped to act this way because of society. Women are put into a box and as long as they follow the rules life is "easy" for them but once they decide to shift away from what society expects there not looked at as positively. I was able to connect so deeply with the readings I have read because these reading acknowledge and prove how much society as an effect on women and men in ways that nobody wants to talk about. It is a topic that definitely needs to be discussed more often.

This chapter remind me of previous chapters we have talked about like how gender is a social construct and how individuals "do gender" in everyday life. In psychology there were subjects that discussed self esteem and how one identifies during childhood. The work Eder does shows that girls start to shape their identity based on other approval which can be very harmful especially in the way many young girls view their worth.

This chapter made me reflect on my own experience growing up. I remember wanting to be liked and accepted so badly which then led me to not speak up and prevented me from being myself all because I wanted to fit in. It is extremely sad realizing that so many other young girls go through the same thing because of the expectations society has for young girls. I am now more aware of how the lessons I have learned earlier on still control my life even today, I am still to this day trying to unlearn these ideas that hold me back from wanting to be myself and doing certain things.

An idea that really stood out to me is how school has one of the biggest impacts on children because they teach everyone so early on what is considered "normal" when it comes to being a boy or a girl, even how they are supposed to act or feel towards the opposite sex. I remember when I was attending elementary school boys and girls often times wouldn't sit next to one another at lunch and if they did other kids would make jokes about them liking one another. This was always very awkward, and now I understand why, it wasn't just random, it was how society wanted us to be, society trains us.

Peer influence has the biggest impact on us because this is what we here are whole lives, positive or negative feedback from other students, just like in psychology where this is discussed. The influence others have on us is so powerful which is why is often times shapes who we become and who we currently are.

Thinking about this personally, I see how early on I learned what behaviors were looked at as "too much." Whether it was how I dressed or the people I surorund myself with, there were always these invisible rules. It is so crazy realizing how the moments I experienced in life made me who I am today.

Overall this section made me come to the realization that small social moments can be so powerful, these moments shape the way we see ourselves when it comes to sexuality and gender.

This section makes me think back to previous sections discussed and how gender is a social performance. The way peaople act especially around others is to please the peaople around them because they want to act what is considered "normal".

In my personal life this reading made me think about the conversations I have has with my male familt members and male coworkers where I felt misunderstood. I used to think it was just a personality clash, but I camw to the realization that it could be because of the diffeeret communication styles that are shaped by gender. I also thought about certain times when I held back from being direct because I did not want to com off as rude or too forward, which is something many women are conditioned to worry about.

This reading really helped me become more aware of how I talk and understand others. It also reminded me that being able to understand these differences can then lead to a better understanding not just between men and women but peaople in general.

i was able to connect this chapter to what I have learned about what beauty is from a very young age through factors like social media and toys I had as a kid. This relates to subject learned in class like social inequality and how the race, class, and gender can effect many people's experiences. individuals who don't fit into these beauty standards are often peopled of color or people who are disabled, this is because society has excluded them making them feel like they aren't beautiful.

As a women I can definitely relate to this topic because I have noticed how differently I am treated in society depending on the clothes I wear and how much makeup I have on. I notice people, not just men, have treated me with a lot more respect if I have nicer clothes on and more makeup on. This then makes me feel pressured to always wear makeup when I go out and always wanting to be dressed nice because I realize how much of an impact this has on my day to day life. Many people say beauty doesn't really matter but as a women in today's society I have experience how much beauty really matters.

After reading this chapter I know realize the more beautiful you are in societies eyes the more power you have in society. As a women in college this makes me more aware of how I look at others, I now question how I may be judged and how I may judge others without even realizing.

This reading shows how gender roles are still so relevant in todays society. This topic relates to what we have learned about gender norms and how they can have such a big impact on someones career opportunities and expectations from society. Women in the military are always have to worry about the way they are being looked at because this determines whether or not they will be respected or even accepted.

As someone who has family members in the military I can definitely realte this to things I have heard about from them. My aunt was a very high rank in the military and was in charge of lots of men, she often experience these men trying to hit on her because they didn't take her seriously due to her being a women. When they talked to the men who were higher up in rank then these men they would talk to them with the utmost respect. This shows how much women have to fight for the respect they should receive especially when there in a career dominated by men.

Overall this section really made me think about how our society struggles with gender equality in all space not just in the military. it is so important to really challenge the assumptions men make about women and stand up for women who don't feel like they can.

The author breaks down the idea of a white wedding as a cultural identity. Weddings are not just about the dress they are about the big parties, the pricey ring, the father giving away the bride. These traditions are so normalized in todays society they feel very natural but this chapter makes it very know these traditions are based on ideologies about gender, class, race and sexuality. This made me think about a show I used to watch when I was younger, "Say yes to the Dress," when watching the show I never really questioned why most of the brides in the show were white, thin and straight. I now realize how these images I seen on TV are about a bigger system that is telling us who has earned this type of celebration and who isn't considered.

In class we have discussed ideas like the nuclear family model. This chapter really emphasizes how marriage isn't necessarily a personal choice, it is a social institutions that plays a very big role in controlling behavior, controlling inheritance and property and even other factors many don't think about like citizenship. I also thought about intersectionality, this is a topic discussed a lot in my ethnic studies class, this relates to what is discussed in this chapter because many people do not have equal access to marriage or family recognition. I thought about LGBTQ+ couple, immigrant families, and people who are unable to afford a traditional experiences. What they experience challenge the narrative of what a traditional American family looks like.

Growing up I was a very traditional girly girl who dreamed of having that fairytale wedding with the big dress, having a big family, and going through the traditional steps. Now that I am older I question where these expectations come from. Is this really what I want, or is this just all I know because of media and the very traditional family I grew up in. It is insane that weddings are tens of thousands of dollars for one day, this doesn't sit right with me. It seems like a very big waste of money.

I was always so influenced by my parents when it came to having my dream wedding not because my parents pushed me to get married, because of the way my parents came together. My parents met an extremely young age had a baby got married and had another baby, worked there way up and built a beautiful life for themselves. Hearing there story influenced me because I heard about my parents love story and of course wanted the same life story. As a child I wasn't thinking about all of the challenges they faced I was just thinking about how amazing it is that my parents got married and built an amazing life, I assumed there life was so good because they got married. Now as an adult I know they went through extremely tough times to get to where they are at now.

When thinking about my dream wedding as a kid I of course wanted a very large wedding because I had correlated a good wedding with a lot of guests. I wanted a lot of bridesmaids which has definitely changed now because I don't have the friends to have a lot of bridesmaids. I of course wanted the mermaid dress with a long train and a long cathedral veil, this has not changed I still dream about having a wedding dress exactly like this. I wanted my theme to mainly include diamonds and sparkles, this has definitely changed. I also wanted roses everywhere because as a kid they were my favorite flowers and they still are.

The way I envisioned my wedding was largely impacted by the things I seen on TV because the majority of weddings displayed were very glamorous.

When going through this chapter I realized how it connects to previous chapters discussing how how institutions like family and constructed by society. The family structure is not natural it changes based on things happening at that time in society like war, shifts in the economy, and the different movements going on for gender or racial equality. Media and politics use the image a what a traditional family is supposed to look like to push specific values, even though the image they are pushing does not reflect real life for most people.

When comparing my life to what the traditional household looked like in the 1950's I realize how different it is. My Mom and Dad both work and both of my parents contribute to things like cooking and cleaning because this is what fits best for our lives. This is why this the traditional family image is so unrealistic for so many people.

Overall this chapter made me realize it is okay question where these ideas come from as well as questioning if these ideas fit for my family. There is nothing wrong with not fitting in to societies expectations because these expectations are very unrealistic.

This reading made me think about a time when I felt forced to go against what I thought was normal just to take care of myself. During a really stressful period in high school, I had to stop being as involved in clubs I was in because my mental health was declining. I had felt so guilty because i thought I was letting people down, I was raised to always follow through and never quit, but I had to put myself first even though it felt very selfish. The idea of feeling the need to break away from expectations to survive emotionally and mentally really connected with me.

I really thought about how easy it is to judge people. Before reading this, I thought cannibalism no matter what was just wrong but I now see how difficult things can get when you are fighting to live. This is connected to different topics I have studied, how society teaches us rules but these roles are not always black and white.

After reading this chapter I now question what I would do in this kind of situation and I honestly do not know. I do know that this has made more empathetic and aware that people's choices often come from places we do not really fully understand.

This chapter made me think about a time at work when a manager started treating everyone very differently than our previous manager. Before the environment where I worked felt very supportive and respectful. Once this individual took charge, everything changed. They began to micromanage and create very unnecessary rules, you could cut the tension with a knife. I noticed some of my coworkers starting to act very different they became very withdrawn or defensive. It did not get anywhere near the level of the experiment but it definitely helped me understand how leadership and power can help move the whole dynamic of a space.

This reading ties into what I have learned about power, authority, and conformity. We often times like to think we are always in control of our actions, but Zimbardo's experiment shows how fast people can fall into roles without even realizing it. The loss of self-awareness is very scary.

I thought about our prison system. If something like this can happen in a simulation with student, what does this say about real-life systems where individuals are locked up for many, many years. This made me reflect on how fast we as a society judges others for acting out in prison without even considering what the system could be doing to them.

Reading this section made me think a about a time where I was talking to a school counselor about my anxiety. I was talking to this counselor because I needed help, once I had starting talking to them about my thoughts and how anxious I was, it felt like they had started seeing me through a lens. Every problem I had brought up like my relationship issues or school issues, was because of my anxiety, that was the solution for my problems. I didn't feel heard I was just getting a diagnosis, as if I was like every other kid who came into their office. Being labeled doesn't just occur in very extreme places like hospitals it happens in normal every day situations, that is what this chapter taught me.

It is very frightening how once an individual is labeled, especially someone with a mental illness, everything that person does is seen as another symptom of that illness even if it is something normal, that everyone does. This makes me question how often people get misjudges based on a diagnosis because they do not fit in to what is considered normal.

I now realize how fast society is to define someone by that one trait or moment. It is a good reminder to always be open-minded especially when it comes to talking with someone who may seem different on the outside. Everyone has the right to be seen as a human being not just a diagnosis.

The subject covered in this chapter reminds me of the conversation I have had with my family about the behavior and accountability of police officers. I have watched many videos online where excessive force is very apparent, but it is often times justified by the officers or departments involved. I now realize it isn't just about certain cops being a "bad cop" it is the whole system. My cousin is a police officer in San Francisco and she discussed with me how in there training they are taught to target certain individuals because of there appearance meaning there race and the way they dress. This was extremely disheartening to hear because it shows how broken the system really is.

Social norms is something we have discussed and it very apparent in this section. What is considered normal really depends on the group of people you belong to. When it comes to police culture, specific actions are just considered a part of their daily routine, when looking on these action from the outside it looks very violent. The differences in ones perspective is very impactful, it makes me think about how hard it can be to hold certain systems accountable when they are defined by their own standards.

After reading this chapter I have so many questions. I want to keep educating myself about institutional power and think more critically about certain systems.

When Looking back on this situation the norm he had violated what the people are supposed to be very quiet and to themselves in a public space, especially in stores. Often times people are talking to other people of staying silent you, seeing someone having a conversation with themselves definitely broke this unspoken role. I never really considered not talking to yourself aloud at a store a rule but it it definitely affected the way I looked and reacted in that specific moment, The norm of acting normal in public spaces is assumed but i now see that this is something everyone has been socialized into having to follow.

The way this man was behaving really stood out to me because of his age I guess I just expect adults who are older and mature to be fairly quiet and composed in public. If I seen a toddler doing the same thing I probably would have smiled or thought it was cute, but instead, because this man was older the way I reacted was very judgmental. This shows me how what i consider "normal" really depends on that person's social status like their gender or age.

Now that I have thought back to this situation I can definitely see how the way this man behaved could be rational. He may have had a mental health condition or he could have been using headphones and I didn't see, he could have even been talking out loud which helps him remember what he needed to but, I am guilty of doing this when I am stressed or trying to remember to do this which is why I should not have passed judgement on to him.

In this situation what stood out to me the most was how fat I was when it came to me using the word "weird" and how this shaped the way I thought after using the work. This label made me feel very uncomfortable and like I should avoid this man, even thought he did nothing to threaten me or anyone else. This really shows how powerful certain labels are especially when it comes to the way I perceive or even respond to someone when they aren't following the social norms.

Experiencing this made me remind myself on how important it is to slow down and really think about why I am reacting that way. It is so easy to judge someone for being different, but these difference are what we have been taught to expect, not about the individual doing anything wrong.

The hidden curriculum is a topic I have heard about but never really fully understood what this means. This curriculum isn't what we read in textbooks, it is the messages we get about, obedience, authority, time management, and even self worth based on how good we are when it comes to following these rules. Realizing what this hidden curriculum is I now think more about how early on we are taught to put so much value into performance rather than the process and how schools set us up to become "good" students, and later on "good" workers in the world we live in today.

I am currently in a human development class and this topic has made me think about early childhood development and how having this structure shapes our behavior later on. Institutions really control people in ways many of us really don't even notice. In society everyone always talks about social control through media and laws but no body ever mentions how school is one of the strongest influences, especially because of how young we start school.

I think back to my own experiences in school especially the earlier years. I recall getting in trouble for talking a lot and never sitting still, behaviors that came naturally to me as a very curious and hyper kid. When analyzing Gracey's ideas, I see how even then, I was being trained to fit into this system. It was not just about acting "bad," it was about not yet realizing these unspoken rules of the institution. This training not only had an impact on me as a child but as an adult as well. No in college I often find myself feeling guilty if I am not constantly being productive, or feeling very nervous and anxious if I am not following my set schedule perfectly. This way of thinking isn't just because this is the way I am, it's because this was of thinking has been instilled in everyone from a very young age.

Now thinking more about how our education system is I now realize there could definitely be more room for improvement especially when it comes to creativity, flexibility, and personal growth, especially at such a young age. Of course structure is very important there is no denying that, but I now think about how much potential is lost by prioritizing performance and order so early on. When it comes to having kids later on I will try find a balance between learning to navigate society and still keeping their natural curiosity.

This reading really made me challenge how I look at school and my journey through the education system. As a society we are shaped by these system so early on, these patterns are what stay with so many people because they embedded so deeply within us.

In our society today when someone looks white they are treated with much more respect and don't have to deal with the stereotypes that come along with being a person of color. When a white individual sees a doctor or a superhero on their TV screen at a young age they strive to be like this one day and realize they could be capable of becoming a doctor or even a superhero. When a child of color realizes that all the people on screen who have these big jobs are white this can discourage a child from doing these jobs because they do not have the representation they are looking for.

Systems like policing is an example of why many people aren't able to make it out of the positions they are in. Police are constantly targeting areas that are filled with people of color which makes it extremely hard for any person to want to do better especially if they are constantly being targeted for things that a white person does not have to deal with.

Of course any person of color can build an amazing life for themselves but with the way the system in America is structured is it extremely hard. A person of color does not have the same advantages as a white individual has. It is extremely disheartening to realize this but I am happy this class has taught me this because it is something I will remember for the rest of my life which I am extremely grateful for. When looking at the issues in our society it makes me want to make a change in any way I can because I see how it affects so many people's lives. Something as simple as changing the way you think can have a tremendous impact on many people.

Thought this isn't the only lesson I learned about in this class, it is a lesson that will stick with me for the rest of my life.