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.

Gender

I never realized that gender could be something that is learned but once we started talking about toys, family and friends it became really apparent that it isn't something that you are born with. For example the difference between toys boys play with and toys girls play with is drastic. Girls tend to play with dolls that involve being in the home and doing chores but when you look at what a boy plays with is exactly the opposite. Boys have "action figures" also dolls just named differently because guys are suppose to get dirty also boys are suppose to be outside playing with there toys. Family plays a big role from birth. For example when a girl is talked to as a baby she is a princess and when a boy is talked to he is a tough guy or when the parents are painting the room for the newborn the girls room typically pink and the boys blue.

Nothing

We were instructed to do nothing for 10 minutes in a populated area. I decided to do nothing at Starbucks. I didn't get a drink or eat anything I just sat there and did nothing. But before I started the project I couldn't stop thinking of why I'm doing this and what people are going to think of me. So I got to Starbucks and had a set close to the counter. People were rushing in and out a few would stay and enjoy their break. But I still had trouble doing nothing. I mean I was physically doing nothing but my mind wouldn't stop racing. Once I got back in class we discussed the purpose of this activity and it was to show us how we are programed to constantly doing something. After this I took a look back on my life and I remembered that my dad was always telling me to do something like get a job or do my school work or anything that I wasn't already doing.

work and success

As American we are brought up thing that success will determine how happy we will be in the future. But since we started watching the movie "Tuesday's With Morrie" my eyes have been opened to the fact that if your work takes over your life then how can you be happy. Also if your work takes over your life then how can you love or have fun? The thing is we need to moderate our work and do things that we are passionate about. When I look at my dad I think about how he lives his life. He works a lot but he always makes time for his kids and vacation. He also wakes up really early everyday to go biking which is something he has recently fallen in love with.

Subcultures

In class today we talked about how every major culture has smaller groups within them. These groups have unique characteristic that make up a subculture.  For example Stevenson is a subculture because our school has its own slang, mores, taboos and symbols that other high school might not have. Stevenson's  values and moral tend to revolve around grades, going to college and honest. And one of our symbols that everyone student knows is purple passes, and when one comes everyone know that someones most likely going to get into trouble. Another thing about subcultures is someone can be in many different ones without even noticing.

Cultural Differences

This week we spent most of the time talking about how different countries have difference traditions and norms. We talked about bathrooms and usage. Even though all bathrooms serve the same purpose different places have different bathrooms. Countries not as wealth as America have a hole that people do there business in but in Japan they have toilet rooms separate from where they shower unlike many tradition American homes. Also many of their toilets are in the ground so you have to crouch down like a catcher in baseball to use them. Also when I went to visit England I found out that many of the public bathrooms are "Bring Your Own Toilet Paper" which was very unusual to me.

Categorizing and Generalizations

Everyone and everyday people generalize or categorize different things. For example when some ask if you would like a drink you simply assume its not something like acid or deadly. By assuming this you are generalizing that no one's going to feed you death. Also we make generalizations to understand new environments or situations. The only problem is when some one takes a generalization and assumes that a single individual has to follow a generalization. Like since I'm Jewish people might assume that I must become a lawyer. We as people need to start making generalization that are supported by data so that we can make accurate generalizations.

Groups

In class this week we were asked to write down different groups of people that we associate ourselves. I thought about my religion, family, school, clubs, friends and then some. I ended up with a lot more groups than I thought I would. And when look at all the groups it really showed what makes me who I am. And when considering the groups a whole you realize how big some like one group Bears Fans or even liking a specific band there are so many people that feel the same and of all different ages. After the activity it really made me realize who I am and who has an influence on me.

Snow Days

Its insane the amount of snow we received over the past couple days. By examining the affect of the snow on our society we can see it created a panic. Our Social Constuction is different when there is an average amount of snow compared to the amount we received this week. Normally we tend to ignore the weather and go on about our day even with the extra risk because people feel they are under so much stress to preform and take the risk and go to work or do whatever is on the schedule . But this time there was so much snow that the choice to stay home and out of harms way was forced upon them. My father is his own boss and hasn't missed a day of work in about 7 years. By not being able to make it to work it put him a day behind and in doing so it affected his clients lives too.

Community Service

   Doing community service is a great alternative to taking a final for many reasons. My favorite is we don't have to take a FINAL. Also we get to help make our community a happier place whether its by helping a senior citizen or serving food to those in need. By doing these acts of service we can make the community a better place because when people are happier everything flows much easier. When our community is shown how much community service affect it others will see it as well and hopefully adopt this and eventually it will travel throughout out country.