Sociology fieldtrip

We got the opportunity to listen to a panel of 4 homosexual teens and one adult. We got to listen to their stories of how they were able to manage and get through everyday. How high school was such a difficult time. Many of them dated the opposite sex to hide their sexuality. It was quite the eye opening opportunity and to realize how mindful you have to be with what you say. We need to make our community more friendly and safe to those who are gay or lesbian or bisexual.

Jail

Our justice system has a serious problem and it needs to get fixed. Everyday people are coming in and out of jail but the problem is a lot of the people leaving will end up right back in jail. Many are in jail for drug possession and we need to be more harsh on the real criminal like the rapists, and the murderer they are the ones who deserve the harshest punishments. And for those have been arrested for drugs need to go to rehab and get help not to slowly detox in a jail cell. We need to start helping these people get over there addiction not just punish them for it.

social class

America is believed to not have a class system like most of the rest of the world. But thing is the class system for America is just unnoticed by many of the citizens. The American class system goes unnoticed because a lot of America would be considered middle class. Its only when you watch TV when you can see the different classes because those around us tend to be in our class. For example those who go to my school have similar life styles as me of course with exception here or there but for the most part they are in the same class as me.

Community sevice

My community service was done at Habitat for Humanity on April 9 and I helped facilitate the Special Olympics in Barrington on April 17. Both were great in there own way. For Habitat I really stepped out of my comfort zone and  helping build someones future home. I have never had the opportunity to build a house or anything bigger than a model car. The other helpers were all so polite and easy to communicate with. It a good experience for me because we were constantly doing something such re-screwing some screws or moving old wood to help with clean up. Once one task was done I'd ask around and see what I could help and there was always something I could help do. The Special Olympics was also a great experience I was actually able to feel and see the impact I was making with some of the families. I'll never forget while I was sitting down to eat a mother started up a conversation with me and a few others and just before she left she thanked us, which really showed me that everything we do makes an impact on everyone around us.

Saints Vs. Roughnecks

In our community we have people who are considered Saints or Roughnecks. A Saint is someone who would be considered a well dressed, upper middle classed kid that drives a nice car who participates in many extra curricular activities through school. A Roughneck is someone that doesn't dress well kinda lower middle class doesn't have his or her own car let alone a nice one and tends to stay away from extra curricular activities. But the real difference come from the community and how they treat the Saints or Roughnecks. while they both commit crimes to relatively the same degree the Saints usually get off with a warning and are told to go home but with the roughnecks they get in trouble and are fined or ticketed. And when you ask the community how they think the Saint or Roughnecks will end up after high school then give a positive answer for the Saints but for the Roughnecks they are said to be destined for trouble. 

Deviance

Anything that goes against social expectations is considered to be deviant. There is positive and negative deviance. Positive deviance is pretty much any random act of kindness such as, buying some random person's coffee or something as simple as holding the door open for the person behind you. An example of negative deviance could be two men kissing even though more recently being homosexual is becoming more and more acceptable by our society. Recently when I was visiting my buddy in Iowa and one of his friends came to his apartment and while he was talking he would have a studder, but then he would start free styling he would just flow and not studder one bit. It was sick.

Masculinity

Our media and society makes men feel that from an earlier age they have to be tough and emotionless by doing this guys have to put on a mask hiding who they really are. This has come about because when a guy is showing weakness he gets called a wussy or a fag along with many other terms. After this happens they feel they need to prove that they're not a wussy and are a real man. Some kids have taken the very radical way by shooting up their school or committing other crimes.