Families are a lot different than they used to be. At least the image of them is. It used to be the stay at home Mom who smiled while cleaning and cooking for her family, the father who smiled going to work, and the kids who went to school, and were happy to help Mom, and play outside. Now we are have so much stress on our families. Mom is stressed, and not smiling as she slaves over a hot stove. Dad spends too much time at work, and the kids have way too much school piled on them. Times have changed.
The exercise we did for class was not a shock to me. I realized that my Mom does a majority of the inside work, my father does a majority of the outside work, and us kids are the supporting role. As we get older (I am 20, my sister is 14, and my other sister is 8), we help our Mom more, and she does not have to give us baths, or get us dressed anymore. She still has to help my 8-year-old sister some, but we help with her too. We also help her cook, and clean up the kitchen. When we were younger there was more for her to do, but now we are older, so it is easier to share the work. Even though a majority of the work still falls on my Mom.
The book was interesting. I had heard of polygamy, but I had never heard of polygyny. It must not be common at all. Reading about Primary socialization and personality stabilization really shed a lot of light on how much influence a family really does have on an individual. I think knowing that, a person really should consider if they can be a good parent before they go having children.
I think the hardest job, mentioned in the readings, is the balancing of family and work. I am really glad my Mom got to stay home with me, and her full attention was on my sisters and me. I feel sorry for the kids, that their mothers don’t have that option. It must be really hard for those mothers, wanting to be with their kids, but having to work. I know some women want to work, but still that must be hard to try and balance the two. I have a lot of respect for them.
I do not think, as the reading states, that families used to be more harmonious. I think we just have more access to knowing what is going on in other’s lives, and so we know more than we would have when people kept their business behind closed doors. Now if something happens, such as child abuse, or a parent doing something illegal, it’s in the news, and everyone knows about it.
Overall, I think that families are pretty good in our society; at least that is what my experience is. I think we have more tools to teach us what family members should or should not be doing. Good old Dr. Phil is on daytime TV everyday. I think that even with the added stress, families really do try to be good overall.
I really liked this section of the book, and really learned a lot!
August 22, 2010
August 15, 2010
Do you think that society, and/or the world, is secularizing or not?
I think in some aspects that a majority of our world is secular, but I also believe that religion still plays a large role in other areas. If you define religion as the worship of a higher being, and/or a sense of spirituality, living a life or morality, I would say the world has fallen far away from that.
On one hand, you have the world of entertainment, where television and movies say and do things that would have never been allowed years ago. They show things that never should be shown, use cuss words like they are everyday words, and show violence so extreme, that you cannot eat while watching it. I call that secular. Nobody wants to support a religious movie as a box office hit anymore. Kids can’t pray in secular schools anymore, and most places consider “Merry Christmas” to be a “religious” term, and are required to say Happy Holidays. Last Christmas, I even heard an employee at Wal-Mart complain that they were not allowed to say “Merry Christmas”. That was shocking, considering Wal-Mart wants you to believe they are a family friendly store.
With that being said, I would also say that I see religion as a part of society as well. It is not often that you find people running around cursing the name of God, and most people will express some sort of belief in a higher being. Even they don’t go to church on a regular basis, they recognize that a majority of their blessing come from the God they worship. We have God’s name on our money, it’s the principals that our country is founded on, and is included in such documents as our Declaration of Independence. When tragedy strikes our communities, you find people praying together in public, and people finding God again, even if for a short time. When people get sent to prison, they will often claim to have “found God” while inside. So I don’t think we are totally secular, but I think the scales lean toward a secular world.
The text says that the disagreement between non-secular supports, and secular supports, is that for those support secularization; see religion as not so important anymore. Those who support secularization, say that religion is a major part of society. I think that religion is an important part of society; I just think human nature has required more sexual, and violent films because we have become used to minor action, and want more to get our emotions going. Because of that, I think that we are becoming more and more into the world, and less and less into God.
I do think the text brings up a valid point. That in the old days religion had a huge influence over our society and government, but as we have separated church and state, religion has had a lesser influence over government, and because of that, government has become more and more powerful. I think this is because government has not had to answer to a higher power in a long time. Seeing what society has become, I think that we should rethink how much of God we have taken out of our society, schools, government, and world in general.
In looking at the web explorations on world religions, I was really shocked to see so many religions, many I had not heard of. There were millions of followers for many of the religions, which also tells me that people must be more religious than we realize. Maybe they are afraid to bring it into their every day lives, and wear their religion on their sleeve.
I had suspected that Christianity would be the largest part; I just did not realize that so many religions fell under Christianity. I was sad to see that there were so many who don’t believe in anything. Besides religious beliefs, I guess it is sad for me, because I think believing in something makes life better. (At least for me.) I thought there would have been more people following the Chinese traditional religion. It was interesting learning about some the religions I had never heard of, such as Rastafarianism, Zoroastrianism, and Cao Dai.
Overall I thought this weeks readings were very interesting. It has motivated me to learn more about other religions, so I at least will know what someone is talking about when they say they practice a certain religion.
On one hand, you have the world of entertainment, where television and movies say and do things that would have never been allowed years ago. They show things that never should be shown, use cuss words like they are everyday words, and show violence so extreme, that you cannot eat while watching it. I call that secular. Nobody wants to support a religious movie as a box office hit anymore. Kids can’t pray in secular schools anymore, and most places consider “Merry Christmas” to be a “religious” term, and are required to say Happy Holidays. Last Christmas, I even heard an employee at Wal-Mart complain that they were not allowed to say “Merry Christmas”. That was shocking, considering Wal-Mart wants you to believe they are a family friendly store.
With that being said, I would also say that I see religion as a part of society as well. It is not often that you find people running around cursing the name of God, and most people will express some sort of belief in a higher being. Even they don’t go to church on a regular basis, they recognize that a majority of their blessing come from the God they worship. We have God’s name on our money, it’s the principals that our country is founded on, and is included in such documents as our Declaration of Independence. When tragedy strikes our communities, you find people praying together in public, and people finding God again, even if for a short time. When people get sent to prison, they will often claim to have “found God” while inside. So I don’t think we are totally secular, but I think the scales lean toward a secular world.
The text says that the disagreement between non-secular supports, and secular supports, is that for those support secularization; see religion as not so important anymore. Those who support secularization, say that religion is a major part of society. I think that religion is an important part of society; I just think human nature has required more sexual, and violent films because we have become used to minor action, and want more to get our emotions going. Because of that, I think that we are becoming more and more into the world, and less and less into God.
I do think the text brings up a valid point. That in the old days religion had a huge influence over our society and government, but as we have separated church and state, religion has had a lesser influence over government, and because of that, government has become more and more powerful. I think this is because government has not had to answer to a higher power in a long time. Seeing what society has become, I think that we should rethink how much of God we have taken out of our society, schools, government, and world in general.
In looking at the web explorations on world religions, I was really shocked to see so many religions, many I had not heard of. There were millions of followers for many of the religions, which also tells me that people must be more religious than we realize. Maybe they are afraid to bring it into their every day lives, and wear their religion on their sleeve.
I had suspected that Christianity would be the largest part; I just did not realize that so many religions fell under Christianity. I was sad to see that there were so many who don’t believe in anything. Besides religious beliefs, I guess it is sad for me, because I think believing in something makes life better. (At least for me.) I thought there would have been more people following the Chinese traditional religion. It was interesting learning about some the religions I had never heard of, such as Rastafarianism, Zoroastrianism, and Cao Dai.
Overall I thought this weeks readings were very interesting. It has motivated me to learn more about other religions, so I at least will know what someone is talking about when they say they practice a certain religion.
August 8, 2010
A Tale of Two Families
This week was full of eye opening assignments. I was uncomfortable doing the Implicit Bias Test, but learned a lot about myself. I was horrified when watching the film about Rwanda. I could not believe how bad the situation was, how little we did to help. That left me angry for most of the week. Then I look at the Migration website, and the Racial inequality website, and just could not figure out where to put all the feelings I had at this point. I really wanted to believe that in this day and time there was not so many issues with bias or prejudice, but I see that I might be a bit naïve.
The website Where Race Lives: A Tale of Two Families, really brought home how far we have come, yet how far we have to go. Starting with the difference in where the Green’s and Holland’s were allowed to live, and what type of financing they were allowed to get, was sad. From the start Byron and Max have a different head start, and I knew from the start that their futures would be very different.
Job opportunities were so different for Mr. Green’s family, compared to Mr. Holland’s family, that the opportunities they could afford for Max and Byron would be very different. Just education alone, was largely different. It seems very unfair that the “poor” jobs were so affected, and were the cause of neighborhoods becoming more segregated, and poor. I would assume that crime rates in those neighborhoods rose, and it was the start of a discouraging life for Byron. Max on the other hand gets to live in a good neighborhood, and while Byron’s family life is going down, Max’s lifestyle is improving. He gets to go to good school, play in nice parks, and study at well stocked libraries. Max gets to go to a private college, along with his siblings.
Even with all the struggles, it is good that Byron earns a scholarship to an Ivy League school. While, Max had plenty of money to travel, and go to college, Byron had to worry about money.
I could not believe the difference in what the two families sold their houses for. The sale of house seems to be determined by the majority of the race that lives in that neighborhood. What surprised me even more was that these sales were in the 90’s, and the year 2000, within my lifetime. Byron now owns a condo, and makes monthly payments, Max gets to buy a house with the help of his parents. Now begins the cycle for the next generation.
My father is Hispanic, and my mother is White. I have noticed the same type of differences as Byron and Max, with my parents. My father grew up poor, and has many family members that still live in bad neighborhoods, that we are not allowed to visit because they are very unsafe areas. My father is the first college graduate from his family, and left home at 18 because he wanted a better life.
My mother on the other hand, came from an upper middle class family. She lived in a nice house; her father and mother both had doctorates. Her brother and her both have graduate degrees. They traveled to many countries, and the family she has left, live in upper class neighborhoods, where we can visit without worry of safety. My father says when he met my mother that he thought his life was good enough, because it was better than his parents. He was in the military, moving up in rank, and was a decent guy who never got in trouble. However, my mother knew that everyone should have a college degree; they had to save for the future, and provide a good start in life for their children. So he tells us he would not be where he is without my mother. He has a college degree, is almost at the top rank in the Marine Corps, and has saved for the future, affording all of his children a college degree, and they have done things for their children, that were never done for my dad. They are happy because they know their future grandchildren will have a better life than they did.
I feel really bad for people who have to live life struggling for each success. I wish our society were very different. I think those that work past the problems in society are our hero’s, and should be very proud of themselves.
The website Where Race Lives: A Tale of Two Families, really brought home how far we have come, yet how far we have to go. Starting with the difference in where the Green’s and Holland’s were allowed to live, and what type of financing they were allowed to get, was sad. From the start Byron and Max have a different head start, and I knew from the start that their futures would be very different.
Job opportunities were so different for Mr. Green’s family, compared to Mr. Holland’s family, that the opportunities they could afford for Max and Byron would be very different. Just education alone, was largely different. It seems very unfair that the “poor” jobs were so affected, and were the cause of neighborhoods becoming more segregated, and poor. I would assume that crime rates in those neighborhoods rose, and it was the start of a discouraging life for Byron. Max on the other hand gets to live in a good neighborhood, and while Byron’s family life is going down, Max’s lifestyle is improving. He gets to go to good school, play in nice parks, and study at well stocked libraries. Max gets to go to a private college, along with his siblings.
Even with all the struggles, it is good that Byron earns a scholarship to an Ivy League school. While, Max had plenty of money to travel, and go to college, Byron had to worry about money.
I could not believe the difference in what the two families sold their houses for. The sale of house seems to be determined by the majority of the race that lives in that neighborhood. What surprised me even more was that these sales were in the 90’s, and the year 2000, within my lifetime. Byron now owns a condo, and makes monthly payments, Max gets to buy a house with the help of his parents. Now begins the cycle for the next generation.
My father is Hispanic, and my mother is White. I have noticed the same type of differences as Byron and Max, with my parents. My father grew up poor, and has many family members that still live in bad neighborhoods, that we are not allowed to visit because they are very unsafe areas. My father is the first college graduate from his family, and left home at 18 because he wanted a better life.
My mother on the other hand, came from an upper middle class family. She lived in a nice house; her father and mother both had doctorates. Her brother and her both have graduate degrees. They traveled to many countries, and the family she has left, live in upper class neighborhoods, where we can visit without worry of safety. My father says when he met my mother that he thought his life was good enough, because it was better than his parents. He was in the military, moving up in rank, and was a decent guy who never got in trouble. However, my mother knew that everyone should have a college degree; they had to save for the future, and provide a good start in life for their children. So he tells us he would not be where he is without my mother. He has a college degree, is almost at the top rank in the Marine Corps, and has saved for the future, affording all of his children a college degree, and they have done things for their children, that were never done for my dad. They are happy because they know their future grandchildren will have a better life than they did.
I feel really bad for people who have to live life struggling for each success. I wish our society were very different. I think those that work past the problems in society are our hero’s, and should be very proud of themselves.
August 1, 2010
Social Construction of Gender
This weeks reading about the social construction of gender, was both enlightening and frustrating. The chapter begins with a sad story about Andrea Ellington, and her stressful life, raising 3 kids on $20,000 a year. I wondered how naive I am thinking that we are in American, and life should be better for people.
For the most part I agree with what the chapter says about the role biology plays in our gender roles. I think some of what a person does according to gender is due to sociological influence, but I also think biology plays a large role. I have known girls who are “girly girls”, and girls who are “tomboys”. The one’s I know who are girly, were mostly raised by their mom, and did all the beauty regiments, and shopping with their mom. The one’s that I know that are tomboys, either had a lot of brothers, which would probably be explained under gender socialization, or played sports with their Dad, who didn’t have any son’s, and so made his daughter the closest thing he could to a “son”. My Dad did this with one of my younger sisters, who is the only tomboy. The rest of us like girl things.
However, there are certain things she will not do, and I believe this is due to her being, genetically, a girl. She does not run around loud and rambunctious. She does not want to hunt and fish. Although, I know there are girls who do. I think there are just certain things that she doesn’t do because she is not a muscular. She does not want to be smelly, and get really dirty outside. While she dresses more like a tomboy, she still will maintain some sort of clean, girl, look.
One of the things that was hard to fully understand was the section where there are gender identity issues. When talking about George Jorgensen becoming Christine Jorgensen. I guess its hard to understand if someone if born a female or male, how they identify with the opposite sex, unless there is some sort of confusion in the brain, or in the hormone levels. I think its just one of those things that is hard to understand, unless you have been through it, or know someone who has. I wonder if something happen in their childhood that bring the confusion? It must be a hard life to have to go through something like that.
I really liked the section that talked about gender roles in advertisements. It’s funny how far we have come. Now we have women showing strong body poses, and being in the military. I think we still have advertisements that show women in weak roles, such as when they advertise a woman in provocative ways. I wish women would not do those sorts of ads. I think it brings women down, and continues to make people think we are just sex objects.
Overall, this chapter, and the assignment were very enlightening. I really learned a lot, and loved getting to know how women in other countries view their inequality. I think we have come a long way, but I think we still have a ways to go.
For the most part I agree with what the chapter says about the role biology plays in our gender roles. I think some of what a person does according to gender is due to sociological influence, but I also think biology plays a large role. I have known girls who are “girly girls”, and girls who are “tomboys”. The one’s I know who are girly, were mostly raised by their mom, and did all the beauty regiments, and shopping with their mom. The one’s that I know that are tomboys, either had a lot of brothers, which would probably be explained under gender socialization, or played sports with their Dad, who didn’t have any son’s, and so made his daughter the closest thing he could to a “son”. My Dad did this with one of my younger sisters, who is the only tomboy. The rest of us like girl things.
However, there are certain things she will not do, and I believe this is due to her being, genetically, a girl. She does not run around loud and rambunctious. She does not want to hunt and fish. Although, I know there are girls who do. I think there are just certain things that she doesn’t do because she is not a muscular. She does not want to be smelly, and get really dirty outside. While she dresses more like a tomboy, she still will maintain some sort of clean, girl, look.
One of the things that was hard to fully understand was the section where there are gender identity issues. When talking about George Jorgensen becoming Christine Jorgensen. I guess its hard to understand if someone if born a female or male, how they identify with the opposite sex, unless there is some sort of confusion in the brain, or in the hormone levels. I think its just one of those things that is hard to understand, unless you have been through it, or know someone who has. I wonder if something happen in their childhood that bring the confusion? It must be a hard life to have to go through something like that.
I really liked the section that talked about gender roles in advertisements. It’s funny how far we have come. Now we have women showing strong body poses, and being in the military. I think we still have advertisements that show women in weak roles, such as when they advertise a woman in provocative ways. I wish women would not do those sorts of ads. I think it brings women down, and continues to make people think we are just sex objects.
Overall, this chapter, and the assignment were very enlightening. I really learned a lot, and loved getting to know how women in other countries view their inequality. I think we have come a long way, but I think we still have a ways to go.
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