Sociology the Study of Our Society and the World Within It

     In our sociology class we studied the general concepts of how culture, structure and power play a role in our way we see the world. We are as individuals working to be a part of society. We are dependent on our upbringing to develop the tools necessary for success in our life. From our birth we inherit a social environment. It is our race, ethnicity, class and nationality that place us in our society role. We all strive for success but our place in society begin by our birthright. Our wealth, education and opportunity defines us. Sociology studies this behavior.

     People are part of culture which is a collection of values, beliefs and knowledge that are passed o generation to generation. Values and norms change as society evolves but these patterns are interactions that collectively a community of people use to live together. People of the same culture will create their own neighborhood and live together so they can celebrate their culture. People often share the same economic status. There are clear differences between the rich and poor. The culture is said define our world.  Sociology help us understand how these influences effect us. The company we keep influences us both positively and negatively. Deviant behavior has a way of ruining a society and neighborhood. In the culture there are also subcultures. In school, teens will create their own clicks or hang out with kids that are like them.
  
     Social structure is constantly changing. That is why sociology changes with time and they way people see things. The social structure has changed with social media in the last decade with most people communicate with email but there is less talking and make contact phone. People do not talk to each other as much because of text messaging could effect society in the long run.
   
     Power is the other factor the book highlighted. Money does effect society and influence people. Power is the ability to bring about an intended outcome. People use their influence an money to get jobs. The inequality in our society comes from the power that money and status has. Your education and organization and networking skills can get you a good job. This later helps your status.
  
     In conclusion, there is no denying we are product of our environment. It is very important to get education.We can strive to achieves our goals and society is forever changing. Jobs change and communication changes but people strive to fit in and be a part of the changing world. Our primary influences is learned from our family. As we branch out into the world we change but our values and morals come from what you learn from social structure. It was interesting to see the world thru the eyes of sociology.
  

Motivation or Classification

     Does are race really determine our success? We are all given the same opportunity to go to high school but you must put in work to achieve the goals. In the broader terms you may not go to preschool, your parents may not have finished high school but you do have a chance to succeed. Statistics in the article we read state that Hispanics have the highest dropout rate. Is it the language barrier, poverty or social stigma that makes Hispanics more likely to go to work instead of college?

     My grandmother was born in Puerto Rico. My grandfather was a NYC firefighter and the founder of the Hispanic Society of Fireman in NYC. Yet I really don't define myself by my Spanish heritage because my mother is not Spanish. I was not around the culture so it does not define me. So is it race or your environment that effects your outcome. I believe it is your environment. I know many people of different races who are great students.  If you choose to be in the wrong crowd your less likely to study. Also now that I am older all my friends are going to college even if they work. This may have influenced me staying in school.

     Poor people may feel a need to work because their parents can't support them any longer. They may not see college as an advantage because their parents did not go. Maybe people are using their race as a scapegoat to not succeeding. Whatever the reasons for not completing school you will notice it in your income. Today even a Bachelors Degree doesn't guarantee a good paying job. I hope my hard work pays off.
  

Class and Inequality

     Class and inequality exist in society and is not easily discussed. It is studied in Sociology and those considered poor may have factors in their lives that may contribute to lack of education to an earlier death. So many factors contribute to where and how we live in society.
    
     Opportunity to change classes may not be easily acquired. Life chances help us but not that often does it change your class. Most extreme wealth is usually inherited and your social status is as well. Our health and education are affected by our class. Where and how much money we have effects our lifestyle.
    
     If one is born wealthy it is hard for these people to relate to the struggles of the poor. A certain group may even see these people as undeserving. Many critizeze the welfare system but it only takes a marginal amount of money to secure housing and food for those who need it. The media sees the poor as an eyesore so their struggles become silented. The people who were just involved in the storm "Sandy" have lost everything but were hard working individuals and are now in relative poverty. People can become faceless if we ignore the needs. Our race and ethnicity, age, family, gender all contribute to who we are and where we fit in. Is it fair to judge people without knowing their circumstances?
   
     Education is crucial to improving your life. You will earn more money with a college education. But wealthier young people get a boost if their parents get them a good job with their connections. We all work to improve ourselves. I am going to college to get a better paying job or start my own business.
    
     There is inequality within our own country. It surprised me to find men in America and Angola could have the same survival rate. Our circumstances define us to a degree but can we change them?

Race and Class in the American Criminal Justice System

         After reading the article, Race and Class in the American Criminal Justice System it makes you aware there is not equality in court system. It is not equal to all based on race and economics. There is an inability to be properly defended in court if you are unaware you have the right to an attorney. Before Miranda Laws many people may have spoke without an attorney or been coerced into confessions for crimes they may not have committed. The Justice system is suppose to protect all people but primarily African American and Hispanics males have not been treated equally.
      
      The O. J. Simpson case became a case of black vs whites. It was not decided based on evidence but the defense used Mark Furman's racial slurs to create a case based on racial profiling and the assumption the blood evidence was planted. The jury consisted of a majority of black jurors who sided with O.J. Simpson. The entire murder evidence became dehumanized by highlight racial profiling instead of a murder trial of hard evidence. It became a trial about race and divided people. He was a wealthy celebrity not a typical black male being tried for a double murder.

      If a judge had heard the case instead of a jury there may have been a different outcome. All cases may be more fair if handled by judges where the administration of justice is handle without emotion over fact. Statistically equality is difficult to achieve when you have no money for your defense and lack of education. Forty percent of the people in jail can not read. How can you defend yourself if you can not understand the process and charges against you? This does not say that all people are treated unfairly but opportunity for a fair defense should be equal. Many people have been found innocence after accepting plea bargains for crimes they never committed.

      I encountered when I was a young teen hanging out with my friends, that the police will stop you for no apparent reason. I was really nervous because they asked for our ID and we hadn't done anything wrong. I was not aware that I didn't have to show my ID or answer any questions. I was scared and intimiated. They really had no right to stop us for nothing but you feel compelled to comply.

     What can we do to create a more fair system of justice? Is it based on race or do more ethnic group do more crime? No matter what your race, I believe all people want other to be treated fairly.

What Does It Mean to Be Human?

     As an individual you develop from birth to adulthood by the experiences you learn both socially and culturally.  Your parents care for your basic needs and provide you with food, clothing and housing. You are born with basic instincts but it is your parents nurturing, care and values that is necessary for your survival and development. Your character and behavior is developed by the way you are raised and how you see the world.
    
     A study of the orphanages in Romania proved the importance of nurturing of babies and how neglect can effect young children both physically, emotionally and intellectually. Without love and attention you can not thrive.
    
     Some people grow up with a sense of "entitlement." Wealthier children grow to expect they will always have money because of their parent's influence as quoted by Robert Coles (1977) and have no problem believing they will succeed given that their parents can provide them with influence and typical social climbing. They believe these things are their inherited right. Poorer children may not be aware of this but with a strong sense of self and hard work they maybe able to achieve their goals.
    
     The country and lifestyle you grow up in, influences your world around you. Your gender, your families wealth and your own self esteem are a few of factor in your role and social status. Later in life, your friends and co-workers also have great meaning in your life. We are social creatures who are dependant on one another. Life is an interaction in which we grow in our society.
    
     Our gender also plays a part in our role in society. Sexuality in media is used to sell product. Sexy women are used to sell cars and liquor. There is no doubt, that we as human beings are influenced and molded into who we are, by our surroundings. Young people today are influenced by social media. We communicate much differently than our parents did. In the last 20 years, society has been forever change by social media with the cellphone, technology make the world a much easier place to communicate with others.

    In my own personal life my family and friends have influenced me greatly. My interaction with them has influenced me to go to college. I have my own sense of self. Growing up as an only child, I may have been spoiled. I received a lot attention but also developed my own self esteem. I have good friends who have given me support and I am confident. In part, it is probably because of my family and friends that I have a strong sense of self and motivation. We are all dependant on each other as humans need each other to survive. We are social creatures who are influenced by one another.

Obedience to Authority

     I found the Stanley Miligram Experiment very interesting yet shocking experience. The experiment shows that the teachers justify the use of violence for the sake of science. The doctor had the power of the obedience of  authority. The teachers had a sense of obligation to the experiment. They continued to shock the learners because the experiment results became more important than the pain or danger they inflicted. There was a wide constraint within the group to continue especially when the doctor of the experiment used the key phrase but "you must continue."

     The fact that nine of twelve participants continued was not what I expected. The silence and lack of objection like a "Culture of Silence" had the teachers readily obeying the monitor's request to continue. But when the learner protested the teachers felt a need to stop. Any cry out awoke a sense of compassion that is lacking in the silence. Much like the oppression of people being used unfairly in factories without labor restrictions, oppression is happening. They dehumanized the learners. There was exploitation of the learners and no objection to the cruelty even though the teachers felt the shock and saw readings of high intensity levels. They marginalized their role in the responsibility for the pain making the results more important than the people. They made themselves powerless letting the moderator control the actions. They also followed "Cultural Imperialism" because they followed the norm that the experiment was that important and essential to get results at almost any cost.

     If I had been in this situation, I would be doing the experiment but once the shock levels got to high I would have stopped.  It appeared to dangerous and I would be uncomfortable testing people. My response would have been like Paul in the video. I could not rationalize harming people even if I was told to continue. In conclusion, the power of authority persuaded participants to carry on with coercize power.

The Meaning of Social Control

      I finished reading the article by Peter Berger "The Meaning of Social Control" and have experienced some form of social control myself. My friend had dated a girl and they had broken up. She asked me to escort her to her prom. We had been friends also since grade school. Soon I realized that my guy friends had started to isolated me from other friends in the group making it very hard to get in contact with anyone within our group. I felt like I was isolated and ridiculed by my best friend as well as other friends within our social circle. I believe one of my friend felt a personal loyalty as the man who dated her still was hurt. I saw it as a date with a mutual friend. They tried to pressure me into not going. It was a misunderstanding. It has resolved itself and we are all friends today but I had a make new friends in the process. Peer pressure and feeling of disapproval were upsetting what had always been a strong sense of brotherhood. I had mutual respect for my friends feeling and our trust has been restored but there was feeling they were exhibiting social control.

     There are many forms of social control exhibited in school as well. Groups of students choose who to be friends with and there are people who act as the leader. They may try to exclude someone from their group. Gossip, rumors, and assumption about a person play out everyday in grade schools, high school, and on the playground. By the time you go to college, most people have more confidence and independance and do not feel as much pressure to fit in. We all want to fit into a social setting and it is important to all people to feel accepted.

     Social control take place in government with our police department. Laws are in place and enforced by this agency to keep peace within our society. Most people automatically respect the authority of our police department. Violence is the ultimate social control but our society shuns acts of violence and criminals are put in jail.

     In the work place there is "office politics" about who get a raise or promotion. Social control take place every day in our society. Social acceptance and control create a structure for which our society functions.