Inequality

One new idea about inequality that I gathered from the Charon text that "individual qualities, for example, not only will differentiate us from one another, but also often become the basis for inequality." (73).  Although the text continues to specify as to why inequality exists through examples of division of labor and how inequality exists in the workforce, it is this statement that sticks with me.  Regardless of the reasons we are the way we are, it's mostly individuality that determines social inequality.  The text showed me that inequality doesn't necessarily mean injustice but a difference amongst people.  The mogul that sits in his penthouse must possess radically different qualities than that of the man perfectly content with working his 9-5 and coming home to his family.  I myself have wanted to pursue a career in entertainment but found that I do not possess the cutthroat qualities to make it big in the business.  I value the time I spend with my family and friends and I'm all around a lazy person :) Although we all struggle to rise and perhaps dream of becoming someone wildly successful, it is ultimately our own individual personalities that determine our social standing.  Not everyone can be the same, have the same goals, ideas, or dreams.  This, to me, was one of the main factors of social inequality and a great starting point for any discussion on the topic.  The other stuff was interesting but I felt it was most important to start with the individual when discussing social inequality.

Street Code

"Therefore, even though families with a decency orientation are usually opposed to the values of the code, they often reluctantly encourage their children's familiarity with it to enable them to negotiate the inner-city environment".  

This quote struck me because I can definitely relate to it.  Growing up, my family was "decent", meaning that my parents worked for a living, were heavily involved in our upbringing, education and knowledge of the world outside of our neighborhood.  They were not, however, naive to the fact that we lived in a tough neighborhood and they equipped both my sister and I with the necessary qualities in order to "survive".  Although they made sure I had enough books to read and places to spend the summer, they also made sure that I knew how to protect myself when at school or in the streets.  They taught me to respect all and never go looking for trouble but also to never back away from trouble if it found me.  They believed that the consequences of backing away would be far worse than the consequences of facing the problem, even if it meant getting into a fight.  If i fought, I stood up for myself.  If i didn't, then I would be open to more abuse.  

I found the article to be very interesting and once again, clearly defined issues I was already familiar with but I am glad to have read about it! 

Black and White

After reading Milkie's article on black and white girls self concepts, I realized something that I had always known to be true.  The media plays a large part in how young girls feel about themselves but the level to which a certain group of girls is affected when compared to another group of girls can vary.  The text states that white girls are more negatively affected than black girls when it comes to image.  Magazines directed towards teenage girls seem to have more popularity amongst white girls, who look up to the models in the magazines and read the articles in search of ways to fit in.  Black girls on the other hand, may read the magazines but do not seem to really take any of it to heart.  Being Hispanic myself and growing up in a neighborhood where bigger and fuller is better, I found that I wasn't really concerned with being thin while I was growing up.  On the contrary, I wanted a fuller figure because that was what my culture praised.  Eating disorders would have been impossible in my household or in the house's of my family, friends and neighbors.  Even to this day, if I even dare mention bikini body in my workplace, my supervisor immediately looks at my frame and says, "if you drop any weight, I'm going to start spreading rumors about you."  I don't know what that means exactly, but I know that being thin isn't exactly embraced in my culture.  I never really put thought into this while growing up and I could never understand eating disorders or insecurities about body shape…I was too busy worrying about my acne and stuffing my face with my mothers home-cooked Spanish food!  Milkie's article really put some definition into my thoughts on beauty image and how it can vary across different cultures.

How do Sociologists Study Society?

I found this chapter interesting because it likened sociology to a scientific process.  It proved to me that sociology isn't simply one humans observation of how other humans live together but a process involving logic, rationality, and careful observation.  This is evident from the first page of the text where it is stated that sociology derived from the ancient Greeks study of philosophy.  Greek philosophers are famous today for the sayings that most people use in their everyday life.  We must, however, give them much more credit for they implored that people take a critical approach to certain ideas.  They also believed that one must "reject authority alone as the basis for truth, and to be suspicious of what the culture…claimed to be true" (7).  The Greeks developed "rational proof' or logic.  I honestly had no idea that sociology claimed its roots in the philosophical works of the Greeks.  I like to think I am open minded enough to try to see the world around me from a perspective other than mine but it is honestly so difficult.  One quote that stood out to me was "society's central goal, to understand what society actually is irrespective of what people want it to be".  

Thoughts on "Class in America"

"Today, anyone may have a shot at becoming a United States Supreme Court justice or a C.E.O., and there are more and more self-made billionaires"

What a simple statement.  The author makes it seem as if though a mere thought can bring about that kind of change in one's life.  This article really reinforced a lot of ideas I have about class and "making it" in today's society. The article states that "Americans are arguably more likely than they were 30 years ago to end up in the class into which they were born."  So how does someone like Mark Zuckerberg end up as one of the most successful billionaires to date.  Granted, Mr. Zuckerberg made it look easy: think of a cool website and let word of mouth take care of the rest, right?  Not so simple.  I think a combination of skills, willpower, and AMBITION are what it takes to soar to those heights or any height for that matter.  If you aim to be a police officer, then you can't really pass a certain salary or expect to find yourself on the Forbes 400 list but you can climb in ranks and recognition and be at the top.  Either way, you have to be willing to work for what you want.  If you want to be a United Supreme Court Justice, I believe there is a way to do that, a road has already been paved, it's up to you to tread down that road and deal with whatever obstacles come your way.  If you can weather through that journey, you can find yourself at the top.  I think that goes for anyone from hip-hop moguls like Jay-Z to Playboy millionaire Hugh Hefner to the President of New York Presbyterian Hospital.  Everyone has a beginning but everyone seems to have forgotten what the American Dream truly means.  It doesn't mean that every American should automatically have a house, a car, etc.  It's the work you put into achieving that goal that truly comprises the American Dream...it is the pursuit of happiness that ultimately brings us to our goals and the freedom to pursue your happiness is what the American Dream is.  I think anyone can transcend their class, that class isn't a label but a starting point.  If you are willing enough to do what it takes to be where you want to be, then class has nothing to do with anything, especially in today's day and age.  Well...that's my American Dream.