"Black-Middle Class Suburbia" by Karyn Lacy

"Black-Middle Class Suburbia" by Karyn Lacy was a very interesting piece about Black suburban families who, despite this economic fortune, were still dealing with problems of racism. The underlying idea among the interviews was that: "[They] [were] concerned with preparing their children to function in predominate white settings… [despite] [the] fear that their children will endure unnecessary hardship in these kinds of intimate interactions with whites (Lacy 216)." Parents living under these circumstances were primarily concern with the wellbeing and happiness of their offspring; ultimately they wanted their children to assimilate with white society to avoid the misery that they endured when they were growing up due to racism. To achieve this, many families wanted to bridge the gap by being open-minded to their children marrying into white families and attending white colleges, despite their past experience with racial discrimination. To the residents in these neighborhoods, assimilating to white culture by pushing white values on their children, will give them an advantage if they attend white colleges, develop affluent white contacts and live in a white setting. I think this is a very admirable concept, to pass on advantages to their children and instill opportunities embedded in their upbringing, however, due to the way society is built, it is a futile effort.

Are Human Beings Free?

Human being have been stuck in a perpetual cycle of social circles. This can be best observed in social dynamic between the rich and the poor. "Poverty is an example of how society makes a big difference in what people become. Although the general public argues that poverty exists because people freely choose that directions, sociologists rarely make this claim (Charon 97)." In actuality, it is not people that decide to stay in one social class, it is those at the top that keep those beneath them in their place. Many sociologist have studied the lack of freedom within society and have all come up with similar conclusions. Max Weber "believed in free action, yet almost all of his work showed how we live in an iron cage of bureaucracy (96)." Karl Marx had his opinion about freedom, but "spent his life showing how powerful society is (96)." Another sociologist said that "leaders are protected by an embedded authority structure (96)." What is this authority structure or iron cage? And why is bureaucracy keeping us locked up? What is the importance of the top remaining on top and keeping the bottom down? What's more, is it right and can we escape?

I think that this notion of power and superiors is just another implanted thought. When someone has the ability to remove themselves from this idea of ranking and social class, one can be free. It is thoughts that are the binding ingredient to maintaining a hierarchy of illusions; if we do not believe in the social system, one cannot be bound and restricted by it. Thoughts are a very powerful thing. Charon describes the importance and power that thought has on us: "If something or someone controls the actor, then the actor does not control himself or herself (96)."

Chapter 4 - Why is There Inequality in the World?

Culture influences our acceptance of inequality. "Inequality prevails in society, then, because it is supported by culture; and culture, in turn, most reflects the ideas, values, and norms of the most powerful people in society (Charon 87)."Charon's words are all too true. It is an accepted truth, an inevitable truth, and unavoidable truth. Our society is built upon the idea that someone is always superior and thus the other must be inferior. These ideas are brought to light through experiences, school, television and history. We just learn to live with it and survive through it. Charon says inequality is accepted "because it is what they are born into and have become influenced to believe it is the way the world must be (Charon 79)." So how are we supposed to know any different? I have been the inferior in an unequal dynamic with my parents. They were the dictators and I was the subservient being who did not have a say in any matter. Though this was a prominent period of my life, I fought my way past biased and preconceived notions and learned to accept not only myself, but everyone around me. It is inevitable that we are going to meet people different from us, but no one is above anyone else. During my time spent away from my parents, I lived in Miami. For the first time I was exposed to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. It was different and I had heard of their inequality growing up. The town that I lived wasn't very diverse and those who had a different sexual preference were looked down upon. Despite these ideas, already implanted in my head, I choose not to treat them any differently than I would treat myself. After learning more about this community, I knew they weren't any different from anyone else. Charon says "some inequality is probably inevitable," which is true in every sense of the concept (90). However, it is individuals that spread new ideas of acceptance than can make a difference; to resist what society has told us to believe. "People must work hard to prevent its emergence; once it emerges, they must work even harder to control it (90)" Now, with the idea becoming very much a reality, gay rights has been on the forefront of social and political groups to make a difference, to equal the playing field, to make things right and equal between different groups. Inequality does not have to continue to be a reality, we can fight for what we believe in to make a difference.

Why Are People Unequal in Society?

Inequality is part of our culture "because it is what [we] are born into and have become influenced to believe it is the way the world must be (Charon 79)." I learned through reading Charon's analysis and Vazquez's article that people accept inequality and do not combat it the way one should anymore. It seems like because inequality is expected that most people just accept it to be a part of the way the world is supposed to be. I choose the example of Jillian Rosenberg for my discussion post and stated that Rosenberg knew that if she represented herself as an American Mexican she would be treat inequality, however, in her particular situation, it was her portrayal of a non-Mexican American that caused her to experience inequality. It is the perfect example to tack on to the idea that no matter who you are woman, man, Mexican, American, it doesn't matter; everyone will experience inequality since this is part of the fabric of our society. In my life, I have combated forces beyond my understanding and tolerance of treatment involving inequality. People do not treat women as they treat men. I am in finance, a predominately male industry, trying to make a name for myself. Now, while that is not entirely impossible, it is more difficult because I am a woman. Equal? No. Why? Well as Charon says, "Every time we interact with one another, inequality emerges in some form or another…. we will be unequally handsome, intelligent, outgoing, talented in athletics, and even cool. Where such qualities matter, inequality will exist… we find ourselves in unequal positions in every group and organization we become part of. It is hard to escape both inequality and the perception of inequality (67)."

Gender Roles: Milkie and Anderson

Many of the aspects explored in Melissa Milkie's article, "The Impact of Pervasive Beauty Images on Black and White Girls' Self-Concepts," are all too well known realities in the lives of every female regardless of age. Being a part of the "white" girl social category (despite my Puerto Rican and Middle Eastern background), I can say that I have and still do deal with body issues. It is not only because there are women on the cover of every magazine and women who are paraded around in media who represent an "unrealistic" portrayal of what a woman is supposed to look like, but there are "normal" women in our society who strive to look like that as a result of the pressure. I, just like any other social being, want to fit in. What I completely disregarded, mostly due to my bias thinking that every women must feel like this, is that minorities do not vie with this image and create their own image in which to live by. Unlike "white" girls' perceptions of a women's body, "a wider range of physical appearances and body shapes that the black girls seemed to accept as good-looking in themselves and others was related to a more inclusive beauty ideal (Milkie 127)."

        In Eric Anderson's article, "Varieties of Masculinity in Male Cheerleading," he explores to degree of masculinity within the field of men who participate in cheerleading. I never knew how serious some men take the sport and it is refreshing to know that masculinity has morphed from "homophobic and antifeminine-acting attitudes" to men who now say "Why should people care if I'm straight?" and rejecting the idea to "devalue femininity" (Anderson 284-5, 289). Its transformations in these social roles that move our country forward and propel us towards a more open-minded society.

        After reading these articles, I learned that gender roles and preconceptions are different among different societies and are constantly changing. Not only are roles being blurred between men and women, but there are different standard that are being applied, a symbolic shift, if you will, to how we now view what a man or women should do, look like and act.

Adler, Patricia A., and Peter Adler. ""The Impact of Pervasive Beauty Images on Black and White Girls' Self-Concepts" By Melissa A. Milkie." Sociological Odyssey: Contemporary Readings in Sociology. 8th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2001. 120-28. Print.

Adler, Patricia A., and Peter Adler. ""Varieties of Masculinity in Male Cheerleading" By Eric Anderson." Sociological Odyssey: Contemporary Readings in Sociology. 8th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2001. 283-91. Print.

A Reflection of Chapter 1 - How Do Sociologist Study Society?" By Joel M. Charon

The ideas in Chapter 1 of “Ten Questions: A Sociological Perspective,” can adhere to anyone’s life. The idea of empirical proof, or “understanding through observation,” is derived from every experience (Charon 9). While one may not directly state a hypothesis, gather data, and draw concrete conclusions, this is the very basis of learning from one’s experiences. I know that in my life, I never make the same mistake twice. This is based on the reasoning that the “mistake” in question had already been tested, options weighed and conclusion drawn. Without directly making a correlation between the science of sociology and my life, I have been living this idea of the science of society and in particular my own individual views of society.

Honestly, as uninformed as it may sound, I never really though of sociology as being a real science. I thought it was based off of principles and ideas that were established by the great thinkers of long ago and while that also holds true, there are always new assumptions that can be tested to see if they hold true as an idea that can be applied to studying society.

"The Promise of Sociology" By C. Wright Mills

"The Promise of Sociology" brought together two ideas that catapulted the relationship between the two to a new level: the individual and society. Mills suggests a powerful idea: man is defined by historical change as history is defined by the individuals who change it. To understand each together enables one to establish a clear meaning for each entity; this is the link between history and individual biographies. Mills reinforces this idea of awareness and how many people do not look beyond their individual troubles to see the real issues that prevent them from living to their fullest potential: "Seldom aware of the intricate connection between the patterns of their own lives and the course of world history, ordinary men do not usually know what this connection means for the kinds of men they are becoming and for the kinds of history-making in which they might take part (Mills 11)." To realize this is to acquire a "sociological imagination." Mills says that this perspective allows individuals to "become conscious of their social positions" by being aware of societal issues in addition to personal troubles. Mills defines troubles as individual values that are threatened to the immediate environment of a limited social life, while issues are matters that transcend the singular mindset and effect the organization of society (14). By incorporating a sociological imagination, it is possible to achieve greater things in the world, not only effecting oneself, the individual, but by imprinting change into society's history.

It is something to consider: an idea that is greater than oneself. It is almost a selfless notion to adopt such a way of thinking and in return, such achievement can be obtained. These idea of troubles and issue through the sociological imagination teach us to be better human beings, not just to ourselves and those immediate people around us, but to the world. If everyone had this sociological imagination, the world could become a better place for everyone. While the world as a collective unit may not be striving towards betterment all the time, the sociological imagination embedded in a few has the ability to touch the hearts of many more by keeping the intrinsic relationship between the individual and society alive, allowing the individual to transcend beyond their troubles to change the fabric of society.

"3 Sociological Perspectives" By Paul Colomy

 

As the title of the article suggests, it was interesting to read about society through the lens of different perspectives. Each perspective is categorized as either a macro ideal or a micro ideal; focusing on society as a large entity or individual people (Colomy 31). Symbolic interactionism focuses in on people's interpretation of certain meanings they assign to objects. From this micro perspective, one can gauge the way people perceive society through the meanings they derive from their definition of a situation (Colomy 31). Functionalism is a macro perspective that defines society through the application of certain functions and its success to adhere to society's needs. The last of three, the conflict perspective, takes a macro look at society as being made up of opposing interests that cannot come to an easy resolution, rejecting the idea that societies are problem/solution entities as depicted through a functionistic perspective (Colomy 36).

I thought the article was interesting as I have only adopted parts of these perspectives in my everyday life. Symbolic interactionism particularly resonates with me as I relate to most people and my surroundings by the meaning that I place on the things that I value, even as basic as the words that I choose. My ideas and concepts form how I function as a member of a whole society. The two macro perspectives were something that I never considered much as a whole, in particular, concerning the idea of society being a problem solving machine or the opposing view that society is based upon values clashing. After reading the article, I may be more inclined to view the world in relation to these macro ideas to get a better idea of the bigger picture that I had been missing since I only primarily focused on seeing society through the eyes of the individual.

"Class in America: The American Dream"

"Class in America" did not give me any insight I did not feel in my bones; the article just put words to a bigger picture I’ve always known. I agree with the article where it states "Faith in mobility has been consciously woven into the national self-image (10)." I am the first generation of my family to be born and raised in American. Being Puerto Rican, Egyptian, Syrian I not only heard the story of the struggle, but I watched my parents strive to provide a better life than they had for themselves growing up. I wasn’t exactly born with the best hand of cards (completely unrelated to wealth and class), but I, too, find myself searching for brighter and better. I view life as an uphill mountain with no apex. I can completely relate to those who are for upward mobility in social rankings, according to the article, and can’t quite understand why those who appear to be ignorant cannot agree with this idea. Social class is not reserved for the already affluent; it is for everyone to explore. As “faith in mobility” flows through my veins, as well as the veins of many others, I cannot just believe there isn’t a better life for myself and my peers. It is this underlying faith that drives everyone to better for themselves and, as a result, for society as a whole. Articles like these make me curious about the individual struggle and I will soon find myself in a library looking through countless biographies of those successful people that started off with a less than ideal situation. It’s inspiring, it give me hope, and keeps the faith alive.