drugs

The experiment we did today I think had a lot to do with sociology. We catagorized things through their characteristics and basically all of my groups were wrong. I think this relates to sociology beacuse it shows how people catagorize other people with only knowing a few things. Lets say i meet someone. I instantly put them into a group (in relation to todays activity...group "c".) but, once i find out who they really are, they should be in group A. It shows how we guess things and realize later that we were completly wrong.

Men

I think men do have a straight sterotype they must achieve, and if they dont they are abnormal. These boys who dont fit the mold then get picked on. I think a great example of this is when I was in third grade I befriended a boy, Eric, with a mental disability. Children would constantly make fun of me saying we were "married" and things like that. They would make fun of him because he was different. He didnt fit the mold on the normal average boy. Even in third grade the traits are expected. So then in highschool, it becomes even more necessary to be in the norm. That is why there is so much bullying in todays society because NOT everyone is the same. I think that is crazy how some people can be so closed minded that they cant accept differences in people.

fear

FearMoore mentions fear in a few different scenes. What agents of socialization promote fear in America? How do they do it? Do you think there is something to fear?


In my public speaking class my target audience for my speech about online predators was Barry Glassner who was in Bowling for Columbine. Basically he thinks that we americans are afraid of everything. We are afraid of our neighbor robbing us. We are afraid of dying. We overreact to everything. I think the news has a big impact on our fear. With them constantly reporting on the latest murder and killing and robbery, how can we NOT be afraid? Even though nothing has really happened where I live in Vernon Hills, things are happening in Chicago which isnt too far away. I must admit, any time I am home alone I am afraid. Why I am i dont know. All the doors are locked by I still think about the possible kidnapper who could take me away. I think we are all afraid of what COULD happen instead of what is realistically possible. What are the chances that in this area someone will be shot. Very small. I think that if the news wouldnt report on all the horrers of the world, we would be a much calmer society.

Human Nature

What I want to be when I grow up has really been affected by what my parents do. My dad is a CPA and works at Kraft Foods. My mom was the manager of a store for 25 years. Their financial background has made me want to do what they do. I dream of having my own office in a similar company to Kraft Foods. This isnt true for my sisters though. My oldest sister is graduating college this year as a nurse and my other sister is a sophomore in college studying to be a elementary teacher. I guess this shows that not everyone's lives are based on their parents. For me, growing up visiting my dad and hearing his stories from work and helping my mom at her store has made me want to be an accountant more than anything.

Nature and Nurture.

We have been discussing nature and nurture in class this week. I do believe both have a large impact on our lives. For me specifically, I have blonde hair because of my mom, i am about their height, am athletic like my dad, and have the same humor as my dad. However, there are some things that I have created on my own and I believe outside sources have impacted them. For example, I am a little more intelligent than the rest of my family, and i strongly believe it is because of my eduacation. Stevenson and Daniel Wright have really set a foundation for learning for me and I have carried it through my life. Although my dad went to Shs and Dw, the education is very different from when It was for him. My personality is made up by my surroundings.

I thought the article we read was very interesting. The story about Genie is horrific but also inspiring. A girl who has sat in a chair for 12 years can learn to speak, walk and learn. Also, the survey of the mentally disabled children shows that nurture really has a large impact on their lives. Without the social interaction in early years, a child really misses out on alot in their life.