Sociological Perspective Analysis
Core Assessment
Introduction to Sociology SO141
Part I - The Sociological Perspective
There are many sociological issues that plague our nation today. From immigration, to abortion and gay rights, there is always some “hot topic” up for debate. An issue in America that directly affects my life is racism.
As an African-American, racism stares me in the face on practically a daily basis, yet it is not for myself that I am concerned. The effects of racism on my four African-American sons is where my concern lies. As a single mother and I do everything in my power to protect them and teach them how to become God fearing men and upstanding citizens in society. However, it seems that society, without …show more content…
even knowing them, has branded them as thieves, gangsters and vagrants that the public should fear. As with the highly publicized case of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed African-American teenage boy who was shot by a neighborhood watchman, it seems as though just being an African-American male in what is perceived to be the wrong location at the wrong time is a crime which is punishable by death. According to a study conducted by the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), “Young black males die from gun violence at a rate 2.5 times higher than Latino males, and eight times higher than white males. Gun injuries are suffered by black teens at a rate ten times higher than white teens.” (Black Youth Project, 2012) With this information it seems as though my children are already destined for doom.
There are three main sociological perspectives or theories from which any issue can be viewed. The first is the functionalistic theory which has origins from the works of Emile Durkheim, which interprets each part of society on the basis of how it contributes to the stability whole society. Next is the theory of conflict, derived from the works of Karl Marx, which highlights inequalities in social, political and material possessions of those within a society. Finally, there is the symbolic interactionist theory, introduced by George Herbert Meade, I which the ideas of symbols, “things to which we attach meaning, are key to understanding how we view the world and communicate with one another.” (Henslin, 2012, p. 16)
The idea theory that best explains the social issue of racism in America is the symbolic interactionist theory. From this paradigm, we can see two concerns related to race and ethnicity. From the first, we can see how the role of social interaction could reduce racial and ethnic tensions. If for just one moment, the average white American would step outside of their proverbial comfort zone, and into the lives of black America, specifically the black male they could learn a lot. Understanding the African-American perspective means much more than having a black co-worker, or saying hello to the black valet that parks your car. It means actually sitting down and engaging in meaningful conversation with a person and learning who they are, where they come from and gaining insight into why they do the things they do. Befriending a person is perhaps the best manner to understanding their point of view in life. Befriend, lose fear and then the African-American male who passes you on the sidewalk at dusk or who stands next to you in an elevator will not seem so intimidating. Secondly we can see the social stratifications of race and ethnicity; the manner in which society places African-Americans at the bottom of the totem pole so to speak. There are many ways to resolve the racist tensions that exist.
One of the way in which we can begin to see a transition away from these sort of racial tensions is through education. Many people display racist tendencies because they are taught. If we use the major agents of socialization that appeal to the people of today like television and peer groups to openly discuss the problem we can find a solution. It will not be a solution that is discovered overnight but rather it will be a process of changing the views of society one member at a time.
Part II - Social Inequality Social status, or the rank one holds in society, can be determined in two different ways. It can be earned though the accomplishment of achievements, known as, achieved status, or it can be inherited through family lineage, known as, ascribed status. There are also several manners in which individuals are stratified in societies as well. Some of these are: wealth or income, gender and race/ethnicity. Growing up I experienced two levels of social class so far as wealth or income are concerned.
In the early years of my life my parents were married and life was good so far as finances were concerned. We were a middle class family. My father was a police officer and my mother stayed home and took care of me until I was school aged. Things did change however. My parents divorced, leaving my mother to raise my siblings and me alone. We were forced from all the comforts of middle-class-America into poverty. I decided early on that poverty was not a circumstance I wanted to live in when I was old enough to be on my own. I consider myself to be a member of the middle class at this point in my life. Immediately after high school I joined the Air Force. Though, military wages will not propel one into the “Fortune 500”, it is a means to honest, honorable income. The honor that ensues being a member of the United States military places a person in high esteem of the public, and therefore a higher social class than the average American that may be in a similar occupational field. Social class, has an impact on the type of education you receive. In my middle school years and beyond, when I lived in poverty, the education I received was sub-par. Teachers were not tentative and students were incorrigible. This is a far cry from the education that I have access to now as a retired military member. Now, at the mere mention of having served, educational institutions are eager to have me enroll. I have the means to attain a quality education in the present and future because of benefits I earned through the
military. There are two categories for gender into which we all fall. We are either male or female. This trait is inborn and determined the instant conception occurs. Two X chromosomes produce a female and X and Y paired together produce a male. I am a female. I have been socialized to become a “girly girl.” I hate dirt, I despise bugs and insects and I know very well how to nurture and take care of children. Being a female brings with it some potentially harmful side effects. Often times society believes that female is incapable of the same quality of work as a male counterpart, or that a female deserves less pay. As a recent retiree from Active Duty military, I decided to take a few months off from working and enjoy a more slow paced life. This decision in addition to being a female may severely impact my ability to gain respectable employment later. I may be viewed as just a “stay-at-home-mom” with little or no work experience. Whereas a male, who decided to take time off after retiring may be seen as having useful knowledge and experience in his field of employment.
According to a recent news article, “In 2011, female full-time workers made only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, a gender wage gap of 23 percent.” (Pay and Equity, 2011) This being said, it is highly likely that when I decide to re-enter the work force I can fully expect to be paid less than male employees. I hope not to have to encounter this dilemma when I apply for my first civilian job, but it seems inevitable because much like my ethnicity, my gender follows me everywhere I go. It is thought that there are nearly 5,000 ethnic groups around the world. We all belong to at least one of these groups. The group I assimilate in is the African-American group. At times in my life I have faced adversity because of my ethnicity. When I attended elementary school, my parents sent me to an affluent “white” school, because in the “black” neighborhoods the level of education was sub-par. There were no music or theatrical programs in the black schools, teachers were underpaid and cared less. So, in response to this, my parents moved and I was sent to a private school on the other side of town. I was color blind as a child and did not understand that I was different than the other children. Often times, I was made to sit in the back of the classroom and was called upon to give answers less often that the other students. My parents paid the same amount of money for my private school education as the other parents did, but it seemed as if there were disparities. These issues, still exist today. As an adult though I experience them in a different way. As a young troop in the military I was initially rebellious. I had not yet learned to conform to the new lifestyle and all the rules and responsibilities. This is true for many young people who join the military and is the same of young people who leave home for the first time. I was approached by a person of higher rank when it was nearing the time for me to be promoted. Instead of this person encouraging me, she was exhibited racist tendencies. I was basically told, that because I was black, that I was not smart enough to be promoted. Though this statement was intended to hurt and hider me, I took it a motivation. I studied harder and learned to conform to the militant rules before me. This individual case of discrimination fueled me for the duration of my military career.
Part III - Social Institutions
Family is a universal idea amongst all cultures throughout the world and its societies. The definition of what a family is, however is varying. Many cultures in the Western world regard the family as a husband, a wife and children. However, there are many other ideas. A family may include more than one wife, more than one husband or it may include same-sex partners. These ideas affect me as well as others specifically here in the United States. In a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, the state of California was granted authority to perform same-sex marriages. Many in the state and across the nation oppose this ruling. Those that oppose the ruling cite that same-sex relations are immoral, and supporters say that denying couples the right to marry is a violation of their Fifth Amendment rights. The world is changing from the once stringent notions that I grew up with. My children are seeing the world grow in its social ideas. Marriage and family today are not the same in the box ideas that were seen in the 1970’s and 80’s. Nan D. Hunter writes, “The legal system is also playing catch up to changes brought about by same-sex relationships.” (Hunter, 2012, p. 1857) Education is often times taken for granted in the United States. In some parts of the world, there is no free public education, many sacrifice meals, another thing we take for granted in the U.S., to obtain an education. “In Kenya, many students as young as primary school make that choice daily. Food is what they sacrifice, eating one meal a day, if they’re lucky. All to pay for education.” (Patton, 2008) Though there are hidden curriculums within the system, I never want my children to take their education for granted. It is reported that, “The national percentage of youth ages 15–24 who were status dropouts in 2000 was 10.9%.” (Blue & Cook, 2004, p. 2) To prevent children from becoming one of these statistics, parents should begin to take a “hands on” role in their children’s education. This will help to reinforce what schools are set to accomplish. “Religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden—beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them.” (Henslin, 2012, p. 397) There are many religions throughout the world and its history. Religions memberships may vary by social class and race/ethnicity. The main goal of any religion is tolerance. As new ideas emerge and old ideas are reformed, we all seek tolerance and religion is the path that sets us on it. In sociology an institution is a mechanism of social order that directs behavior of people within a society. Social institutions today are drastically changing. No longer are people enslaved because of the color of their skin. No longer are people segregated because of laws. The institution of marriage is even changing with the times.
References:
Black Youth Project. 28 March 2012. Gun Homicide is the Leading Cause of Death among Black Teens. Black Youth Project. Retrieved 22 July 2013 from http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2012/03/report-gun-homicide-is-the-leading-cause-of-death-among-black-teens/
Blue, Debbie and Cook, Jennifer E. (May 2004). High School Dropouts: Can We Reverse the Stagnation in School Graduation? Study of High School Reconstructing. 1(2). Retrieved from http://www.edb.utexas.edu/hsns/HSNSbrief2.pdf
Henslin, James M. (2012). Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach. Boston: Pearson.
Hunter, Nan D. (2012). The Future Impact of Same-Sex Marriage: More Questions Than Answers. Georgetown Law the Scholarly Commons. Retrieved from http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Hunter-GL-Same-Sex-Marriage-Article-2012.pdf
Patton, Ally. (2008). Privileges of Education Taken For Granted By Many. The Nevada Sagebrush. Retrieved from http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2008/11/18/privileges-of-education-taken-for-granted-by-many/
Unk. 2011. Pay Equity and Discrimination. Retrieved 28 July 2013from http://www.iwpr.org/initiatives/pay-equity-and-discrimination
Introduction to Sociology SO141
Part I - The Sociological Perspective
There are many sociological issues that plague our nation today. From immigration, to abortion and gay rights, there is always some “hot topic” up for debate. An issue in America that directly affects my life is racism.
As an African-American, racism stares me in the face on practically a daily basis, yet it is not for myself that I am concerned. The effects of racism on my four African-American sons is where my concern lies. As a single mother and I do everything in my power to protect them and teach them how to become God fearing men and upstanding citizens in society. However, it seems that society, without …show more content…
even knowing them, has branded them as thieves, gangsters and vagrants that the public should fear. As with the highly publicized case of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed African-American teenage boy who was shot by a neighborhood watchman, it seems as though just being an African-American male in what is perceived to be the wrong location at the wrong time is a crime which is punishable by death. According to a study conducted by the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), “Young black males die from gun violence at a rate 2.5 times higher than Latino males, and eight times higher than white males. Gun injuries are suffered by black teens at a rate ten times higher than white teens.” (Black Youth Project, 2012) With this information it seems as though my children are already destined for doom.
There are three main sociological perspectives or theories from which any issue can be viewed. The first is the functionalistic theory which has origins from the works of Emile Durkheim, which interprets each part of society on the basis of how it contributes to the stability whole society. Next is the theory of conflict, derived from the works of Karl Marx, which highlights inequalities in social, political and material possessions of those within a society. Finally, there is the symbolic interactionist theory, introduced by George Herbert Meade, I which the ideas of symbols, “things to which we attach meaning, are key to understanding how we view the world and communicate with one another.” (Henslin, 2012, p. 16)
The idea theory that best explains the social issue of racism in America is the symbolic interactionist theory. From this paradigm, we can see two concerns related to race and ethnicity. From the first, we can see how the role of social interaction could reduce racial and ethnic tensions. If for just one moment, the average white American would step outside of their proverbial comfort zone, and into the lives of black America, specifically the black male they could learn a lot. Understanding the African-American perspective means much more than having a black co-worker, or saying hello to the black valet that parks your car. It means actually sitting down and engaging in meaningful conversation with a person and learning who they are, where they come from and gaining insight into why they do the things they do. Befriending a person is perhaps the best manner to understanding their point of view in life. Befriend, lose fear and then the African-American male who passes you on the sidewalk at dusk or who stands next to you in an elevator will not seem so intimidating. Secondly we can see the social stratifications of race and ethnicity; the manner in which society places African-Americans at the bottom of the totem pole so to speak. There are many ways to resolve the racist tensions that exist.
One of the way in which we can begin to see a transition away from these sort of racial tensions is through education. Many people display racist tendencies because they are taught. If we use the major agents of socialization that appeal to the people of today like television and peer groups to openly discuss the problem we can find a solution. It will not be a solution that is discovered overnight but rather it will be a process of changing the views of society one member at a time.
Part II - Social Inequality Social status, or the rank one holds in society, can be determined in two different ways. It can be earned though the accomplishment of achievements, known as, achieved status, or it can be inherited through family lineage, known as, ascribed status. There are also several manners in which individuals are stratified in societies as well. Some of these are: wealth or income, gender and race/ethnicity. Growing up I experienced two levels of social class so far as wealth or income are concerned.
In the early years of my life my parents were married and life was good so far as finances were concerned. We were a middle class family. My father was a police officer and my mother stayed home and took care of me until I was school aged. Things did change however. My parents divorced, leaving my mother to raise my siblings and me alone. We were forced from all the comforts of middle-class-America into poverty. I decided early on that poverty was not a circumstance I wanted to live in when I was old enough to be on my own. I consider myself to be a member of the middle class at this point in my life. Immediately after high school I joined the Air Force. Though, military wages will not propel one into the “Fortune 500”, it is a means to honest, honorable income. The honor that ensues being a member of the United States military places a person in high esteem of the public, and therefore a higher social class than the average American that may be in a similar occupational field. Social class, has an impact on the type of education you receive. In my middle school years and beyond, when I lived in poverty, the education I received was sub-par. Teachers were not tentative and students were incorrigible. This is a far cry from the education that I have access to now as a retired military member. Now, at the mere mention of having served, educational institutions are eager to have me enroll. I have the means to attain a quality education in the present and future because of benefits I earned through the
military. There are two categories for gender into which we all fall. We are either male or female. This trait is inborn and determined the instant conception occurs. Two X chromosomes produce a female and X and Y paired together produce a male. I am a female. I have been socialized to become a “girly girl.” I hate dirt, I despise bugs and insects and I know very well how to nurture and take care of children. Being a female brings with it some potentially harmful side effects. Often times society believes that female is incapable of the same quality of work as a male counterpart, or that a female deserves less pay. As a recent retiree from Active Duty military, I decided to take a few months off from working and enjoy a more slow paced life. This decision in addition to being a female may severely impact my ability to gain respectable employment later. I may be viewed as just a “stay-at-home-mom” with little or no work experience. Whereas a male, who decided to take time off after retiring may be seen as having useful knowledge and experience in his field of employment.
According to a recent news article, “In 2011, female full-time workers made only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, a gender wage gap of 23 percent.” (Pay and Equity, 2011) This being said, it is highly likely that when I decide to re-enter the work force I can fully expect to be paid less than male employees. I hope not to have to encounter this dilemma when I apply for my first civilian job, but it seems inevitable because much like my ethnicity, my gender follows me everywhere I go. It is thought that there are nearly 5,000 ethnic groups around the world. We all belong to at least one of these groups. The group I assimilate in is the African-American group. At times in my life I have faced adversity because of my ethnicity. When I attended elementary school, my parents sent me to an affluent “white” school, because in the “black” neighborhoods the level of education was sub-par. There were no music or theatrical programs in the black schools, teachers were underpaid and cared less. So, in response to this, my parents moved and I was sent to a private school on the other side of town. I was color blind as a child and did not understand that I was different than the other children. Often times, I was made to sit in the back of the classroom and was called upon to give answers less often that the other students. My parents paid the same amount of money for my private school education as the other parents did, but it seemed as if there were disparities. These issues, still exist today. As an adult though I experience them in a different way. As a young troop in the military I was initially rebellious. I had not yet learned to conform to the new lifestyle and all the rules and responsibilities. This is true for many young people who join the military and is the same of young people who leave home for the first time. I was approached by a person of higher rank when it was nearing the time for me to be promoted. Instead of this person encouraging me, she was exhibited racist tendencies. I was basically told, that because I was black, that I was not smart enough to be promoted. Though this statement was intended to hurt and hider me, I took it a motivation. I studied harder and learned to conform to the militant rules before me. This individual case of discrimination fueled me for the duration of my military career.
Part III - Social Institutions
Family is a universal idea amongst all cultures throughout the world and its societies. The definition of what a family is, however is varying. Many cultures in the Western world regard the family as a husband, a wife and children. However, there are many other ideas. A family may include more than one wife, more than one husband or it may include same-sex partners. These ideas affect me as well as others specifically here in the United States. In a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, the state of California was granted authority to perform same-sex marriages. Many in the state and across the nation oppose this ruling. Those that oppose the ruling cite that same-sex relations are immoral, and supporters say that denying couples the right to marry is a violation of their Fifth Amendment rights. The world is changing from the once stringent notions that I grew up with. My children are seeing the world grow in its social ideas. Marriage and family today are not the same in the box ideas that were seen in the 1970’s and 80’s. Nan D. Hunter writes, “The legal system is also playing catch up to changes brought about by same-sex relationships.” (Hunter, 2012, p. 1857) Education is often times taken for granted in the United States. In some parts of the world, there is no free public education, many sacrifice meals, another thing we take for granted in the U.S., to obtain an education. “In Kenya, many students as young as primary school make that choice daily. Food is what they sacrifice, eating one meal a day, if they’re lucky. All to pay for education.” (Patton, 2008) Though there are hidden curriculums within the system, I never want my children to take their education for granted. It is reported that, “The national percentage of youth ages 15–24 who were status dropouts in 2000 was 10.9%.” (Blue & Cook, 2004, p. 2) To prevent children from becoming one of these statistics, parents should begin to take a “hands on” role in their children’s education. This will help to reinforce what schools are set to accomplish. “Religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden—beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them.” (Henslin, 2012, p. 397) There are many religions throughout the world and its history. Religions memberships may vary by social class and race/ethnicity. The main goal of any religion is tolerance. As new ideas emerge and old ideas are reformed, we all seek tolerance and religion is the path that sets us on it. In sociology an institution is a mechanism of social order that directs behavior of people within a society. Social institutions today are drastically changing. No longer are people enslaved because of the color of their skin. No longer are people segregated because of laws. The institution of marriage is even changing with the times.
References:
Black Youth Project. 28 March 2012. Gun Homicide is the Leading Cause of Death among Black Teens. Black Youth Project. Retrieved 22 July 2013 from http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2012/03/report-gun-homicide-is-the-leading-cause-of-death-among-black-teens/
Blue, Debbie and Cook, Jennifer E. (May 2004). High School Dropouts: Can We Reverse the Stagnation in School Graduation? Study of High School Reconstructing. 1(2). Retrieved from http://www.edb.utexas.edu/hsns/HSNSbrief2.pdf
Henslin, James M. (2012). Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach. Boston: Pearson.
Hunter, Nan D. (2012). The Future Impact of Same-Sex Marriage: More Questions Than Answers. Georgetown Law the Scholarly Commons. Retrieved from http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Hunter-GL-Same-Sex-Marriage-Article-2012.pdf
Patton, Ally. (2008). Privileges of Education Taken For Granted By Many. The Nevada Sagebrush. Retrieved from http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2008/11/18/privileges-of-education-taken-for-granted-by-many/
Unk. 2011. Pay Equity and Discrimination. Retrieved 28 July 2013from http://www.iwpr.org/initiatives/pay-equity-and-discrimination