Final Blog

In the beginning of the year we had to answer the question,"Who am I?" Before taking the class I wrote a lot of things that had to do with me as in what I like to do, such as, watching movies and hanging with friends,but not further into how I see things in society or how I think about my life and others in the world. From taking sociology, which was my favorite class this semester :), I learned to see things in society with a different perspective and learn things about myself that I didn't know before. We talked about culture and it was eye-opening to see how not every culture is like American culture. Their are many different ways people live on an everyday basis and how they interact  with others. I learned about myself,  that I never really thought about how other people live and that if it wasn't like our culture it was weird, but actually it's not weird it is just different. I also learned that everything around me influences me, such as, my family, my community, and even my peers. From doing the community service projects I was able to see different social classes all over the spectrum and see how each social class influences you and that no matter where you fall each person works hard. I learned about myself that I like doing community service and that I can make a difference in peoples lives even if it is only one person. Sociology class has changed my outlook about the world and because of it,  is making me a better person.

Crash

Watching the movie Crash in class really wrapped up our unit of race well. The movie although wasn't very logical how they all were interlocked, described and demonstrated racial issues in our society.  In the movie their is implicit and explicit racism.  In the movie Sandra Bullock's character links arms and moves closer to her husband while walking to her car when she sees two black men walking. She wasn't trying to be racist but it came out that way to the two black men walking which was implicit racism. As well as her using implicit racism,  she also uses explicit racism when she screams at her husband that she wants a new locksmith because he is Hispanic and she thinks he is a gang banger. This movie shows that even though some people don't try to be racist or know they are being racist it is happening all the time. It sad how racist our society has become. I think people need to realize that implicit racism is just as bad as explicit racism. People should be more aware of their actions as well as words towards others.  I know just like Sandra Bullock's character I am more cautious when I am walking around in the city even though I'm not trying to be racist it is just how we are taught in society. From learning about race in class and watching the movie Crash, I am going to be more aware of my surroundings and hope that more people will be less critical of other people and realize that just because you are a different race doesn't mean you can't get along.

Racism

This week in class we have been talking about racism and how it is everywhere even though we may not notice it. When people see some one they go right into stereotyping them, based on the way they look. In class our teacher pulled up a website on the board and there was a bunch of pictures of different people's faces. As a class we had to classify them into the groups given: White, Native American, Latino, Black, and Asian. When we were finished putting each person in a category, we then clicked the button to show us the right answers, and we only got four right out of at least 10 or maybe more. This shows that even though people may look a certain way, doesn't mean that they are what you think. Racism is an unconscious thing that people don't realize, and that we are taught to think certain ways about people based on society. This unconscious state of mind sociologists call, implicit racism. Implicit racism is when it is not right in your face racism, but in a way that you aren't even trying to be racist. It is the way society is teaching us to categorize and choose who falls under what description.

Monopoly and Social class

In class the other day we played monopoly, but in  a more realistic way. Instead of everyone starting off with the same amount of money we did it based off social classes. Each person had to role the dice and who ever got the highest was the upper class, then middle class, working class, and lower class. I was lower class and found that it was very hard to move up in class while playing the game. Of coarse since the  upper class got to start off with a lot of money and owned a bunch of property, that person at the end of the game ended with the most money.Since the upper class owned a lot of the property almost each turn I had, I would land on that persons property and have to pay. It was very frustrating to keep having to pay and lose money while the person who was upper class kept getting paid more and more. At the end of the game I ended up with less than I started with which seemed crazy to me. Then I realized how this applies to real life of how people in lower class can't get a break and gain more money. People may work really hard and get paid a good amount of money, but by the time their done paying their bills and buying food and clothes for their family, they are back to the amount where they started or even worse. This makes me sad that even though people may work really hard they still can't get over the hump and be able to live without worrying so much about money. I was only playing in that social class for that one period, but others are in it for the long run and can't change it no matter how hard they try. I don't think it is fair that the rich get richer with some of them doing nothing, while some people who are in the lower class who work really hard get poorer and poorer or live just getting by.

Poverty

In  class we watched a movie about a lady named Tammy who lives in poverty with her two sons in Ohio. Tammy and her older son both have high reaching goals to get out of their living conditions and make something of themselves. Tammy wants to go back to school and become a teacher, while her son wants to get a scholarship and go to college to become an architect or lawyer. While watching the movie I realized that the saying, "easier said than done" is really true. Tammy tries really hard to go back to school, by working at Burger King and walking about 10 miles to work no matter what the  weather conditions are. She is still not able to achieve her goal by just herself working. Her son also tries hard, but it is hard to change how you live because it is so easy to give up and just keep living the way you always have. I think that Tammy and her son will be able to achieve their goals, it is just going to take more than just themselves to get them there. They will need support from others as well. I think that they can both succeed and get to where they want to be, it will just take time, patients, and determination along the way. I am very thankful to live the way I do and when I see how some people live such as  Tammy it makes me feel even more thankful. I wish that more people would take a minute and see what they have  compared to other families, and rethink what they do with their money. The holidays are coming up and it's the perfect time of year to give to people in need and help a family for the holidays.

Jail

In class this week we have been talking about jail and how the system in the U.S. is not effective in rehabilitating inmates. We watched a video called 30 Days in Jail and it showed how inmates were treated. In the jail the inmates were locked up like they were animals in cages. They didn't get to go outside and basically slept and ate their way through their time served. One guy named George was in jail most of his life and finally got a letter stating that he served his time and could leave. George said that when he got out of jail that he would change his life and become a better person. Sadly he left jail and was back in his cell two weeks later. This is the big issue that not only George has gone through, but many other inmates as well. The jail system does not put inmates on the right path to a life absent of crime, instead it just forces them to do whatever they can to pass time. I think that this clearly shows that the jail system does not teach the inmates how to live outside the cell once they served their time and resulting them to come right back into their cell just like what happened to George. I think that this is sad and that it takes a lot more than saying you can change than actually changing. The jail system in the U.S. needs to be improved in helping the inmates learn how to change in order for their to be less crime in the world.

Saints and Roughnecks

Last week in class we read an article by William Chambliss called, "Saints and Roughnecks". In the article it talked about how the Saints even though were deviant, got away with pretty much everything. The Roughnecks, however, were deviant as well, but got caught all the time. The Saints were rich teenagers who had access to many things and transportation to go where ever they wanted. They always got away with everything because people saw them as good teenagers because of where they lived, how they dressed, and the grades they got in school. The Roughnecks were lower class teenagers who did not have access to as many things and transportation to get out of their area. Since the Roughnecks were lower class, didn't get good grades in school, and were seen as bad teenagers in the community, they always got in trouble. I don't think that it is fair that just because the Saints were upper class means that they can get away with whatever they want. I think that any person should have to deal with the consequences if they did something wrong no matter who you are. In our school I think that we have a lot of Saints because many people get away with things all the time. This fits the idea of what Chambliss was talking about because our school comes from an upper- middle class group of kids, just like the Saints in the article. I think that a lot of kids at our school get away with things, or talk to their dean into letting them have a second chance, or lesser punishment. I also think that at our school their are some Roughnecks and get caught more often based on how they dress and act.