I've Changed

I'm no longer the kid that I was at the beginning of the semester. Sociology has taught me a lot. I believe that this has been my most meaningful class I've taken in high school. Throughout the semester we learned things that explained a lot why we do things. Furthermore, now I'm more mindful of the world around me, and I appreciate many more things. Also its fun talking to a friend that took the class, and yelling that race doesn't exist. In general Sociology has helped me become who I am today, and I'm sure it will help out in the future.

Crash

This week in Sociology we watched a movie that helped us understand explicit and implicit racism. In general race doesn't exists, but stereotypes do. Some main characters are explicitly racist, which doesn't help them get anywhere. Also there are characters that try and be fare and not judge a persons race. But its hard to stop all implicit racist thoughts. For example the off duty police officer who shot the black man because he thought he was pulling a gun out of his pocket. So by the end of the movie, a lot of events happen, and some of the characters are left changed, but some seem to continue on their vicious cycle of racism.

Are we all in the same race?

In Sociology we are talking about how the idea of race doesn't exist. How it's a social construct that people have developed over time and visiting different parts of the world. There is no difference biologically between a white man and a man from India. Yes they look different and have different characteristics, but biologically they are the same. The only major thing that varies is their skin color and type of hair. Because of all these differences it has been assumed that these people are of a different race.

I told the people that I sit with in the morning, and they couldn't believe what I was saying. They had always been told that people are catorgorized by different races, when in doubt we are all humans. So this has taught me a lot about race. That we are all people and shouldn't treat each other any different because of the color of our skin. This has taught me a lesson, but maybe the entire world will catch up and be on the same page one day.

Social Monopoly Class

Playing Monopoly in class would be a tad boring, the idea of purchasing properties and witnessing others misfortune as they pay you. But, Sal always has a twist to everything. We all had different amounts of money and income to represent different social classes in the United States. This created a way for us middle class Stevenson goers to understand how it feels to have a limited amount of money. Whilst playing the game, the people on the high ends of the spectrum the wealthy and upper middle class were more willy-nilly with their money. While the lower classes were more causes and couldn't really splurge on certain properties.

On the tops of the ladder, normal everyday expenses seem small and like they aren't a big deal. A trip to the doctor, health insurance, a meal, a movie, simple activities taken for granted. Those things are really expensive for those living on a fixed income. Sure they are trying the best they can to support their families, but going out to dinner isn't in their budget, nor is health insurance, or health care. To people on the bottom rung of the social class these are all set backs. There is more flexibility, budget wise and moving up in social class towards the middle and top of the ladder, but there aren't many options for those on the bottom. How can we change society to make it more equal, or fair for those living in such poor conditions?

Deviance

In sociology last week we read an article about Saints and Roughnecks. This article was about two different groups of kids that were viewed differently in their own society. Depending on the way these boys were viewed determined their outcome. For example the saints were viewed as good kids and that let them have better outcomes. While the roughnecks were viewed as trouble making kids with no future. While both these groups practicly did the same amount of trouble making. Their access to money led to the way they were viewed in their communities.

Here in Stevenson high school this is also a factor, but there seem to be more opportunities for those types. People seem to treat others according to their money supply, this judgement affects the way people turn out. Meaning if someone is viewed as roughneck in a sense than they are viewed as turning out as a nobody.

Social Class

I find it shocking that only 1% of the United States posses most of the wealth. The media shows these people so frequently that it is assumed that there are many millionaire celebrities out there, when there really aren't. With this false sense of wealth and norm of not speaking about social class, Americans tend to be in the dark. Media presents these millionaires and their daily lives as entertainment and something that others should strive for.

So lets do just that, talk about social class. Having witnessed my parents divorce I've been on both ends of the spectrum, when we were considered the upper middle class. Now with just my mom supporting my sister and I life has become more difficult with a smaller source of income. Slowly we are becoming more well off. And I guess my point is you can always up your social class, depending on how hard you want it and work for it. The opportunities are there for everyone.

My Community Service Experiance

Last week Sunday, I had the opportunity of volunteering at the Special Olympics event out in Barrington. I had the genius idea of driving out by myself, and plugged in the wrong directions into my GPS. So not only was I nervous and not knowing what to expect, I was in the completely wrong place. I eventually got there, late of course. The day started out really awkward, being late and not knowing what group I was a part of. Our jobs as volunteers was to be referees for the Bocce ball tournament that was taking place. Once the athletes started to come out to the fields the pressure started to set it. We were a group of teens not sure of what to expect from these athletes. Once everything started up and with a few mistakes as a group we started to get the hang of the game and what to expect.

It was only during my lunch break that I started noticing certain things. Whilest eating my poorly made turkey sandwich. All the athletes there that day were disabled in one way or another. This didn't change their relevance or their rights in this world. But they didn't follow the same kinds of norms that everyone else in society follows. While we might think something is innapropriate to say in public or you don't act a certain way infront of others. These athletes didn't have such boundaries to obide by. They are in a way, free spirited people that can voice their feelings when ever. This really changed the way I look at people with disabilities. There might be something biological going on, but these people seem to be happier due to the lack of social boundaries they have to obide by.