Final Blog; Wealth

Throughout the past few weeks we watched a video called "People Like Us", we played Real Life Monopoly, and coin toss. While playing Real Life Monopoly, all players were put into real life situations. We all started with different amounts of money and were in put into different classes. For the rich, they had it easy, they had the most money and had an easier time than the lower class. For the lower class they had less money and it was harder for them to get through the game. Throughout the game there would be situations thrown in to make the game harder such as credit cards and divorces. During coin toss, we all started with 5 pennies and had to bet on the coin landing heads or tails. The more coins the more you could bet, whereas if you had less coins it was harder to bet more because there was a 50/50 chance you could win or loose. At then end of it all... the upper class had an easier time managing their money then the lower class. Being wealthy comes with some privleges such as better education, more leighway (bailing out of jail), and being able to socially network with other wealthy people. Being wealthy means your children will have good education, they will be taught well compared to kids in the middle and lower class. Also, when it comes to jail, since upper class have more money it is easier for them to get out of jail rather than lower class it is harder because they dont have as much money to bail like the wealthy do. Socially networking with others is a privlege because it is easier for things to happen more quick. For example, if you wanted to open a resturant, the process would be more quick.

-"What a man is depends on his character; but what he does, and what
we think of what he does, depends on his circumstances. The characteristics that
ruin a man in one class made him eminent in another." I believe that what Shaw is saying is that many people judge others. I think that he is trying to say that people base their opinions on people by their environment and class. Someone could be doing something totally normal from their point of view but to others in a different class or environment it could mean completely different. His quote basically is saying that what a person does and what we think a person does is based on their environment. Its like a person judging someone because of how they look and where they come from... this is what they are probably going to do or end up like. For example, in a situation such as furnishing a home... a upper class wealthy family may hire someone to decorate and furnish their home for them, willing to spend as much money as long as their home is decorated nicely. Where as a lower class family will probably just buy their own furniture and wont care as much about the look of their home.

Deviance

Is punishable deviance a societal construct? Yes. The term deviance means people who go against the norms of society, these norms can either be positive or negative. Deviant behavior could vary and an example would be someone doing something out of an act of kindness, like paying for a strangers toll or paying for the woman's coffee who is behind you. In the US we send people to jail or to court for punishable deviance. During class last week we watched the episode of "30 Days". During this episode Morgan goes to jail for 30 days to experience what happens. When people go to jail they do something against society's norms and rules/laws that sends them to jail. In the episode of "30 Days In Jail" they showed many people who have been constantly sent back to jail for continuing these negative acts. Some of the men in the jail said they were going to change and once they got out that they were not going back, but in fact the men continued to do bad things and ended up back in jail anyways. One of the guys was a drug addict and he went to rehab to become clean, he got out of jail and he said he wanted to change, he ended up back in jail for stealing. Societal construct can be punishable. People make their own choices to change, its a matter of if they are committed enough to change or not.

Socialization/Adolescence Reflection. 2nd Six Weeks :)

1. Clothing, my future, and activities I enjoy are a mix of both Nature and Nurture. I believe that most of the things are more towards the nurture because all around me there are things events happening throughout my life and people who influence me as I grow. I can say that my love of style and clothing comes from both my parents but, over the years, Nurture, such as magazines and trends from celebrities... the latest "in styles" has influenced me as well. My future and hobbies are also balanced by both Nature and Nurture. My profession is more based on Nurture as well as things such as shopping and spending time with my family and friends are more Nurture but include a little bit of Nature. I think overall, most of the things are more leaning towards the Nurture side, everyday my I learn and grow from my surroundings.

2. Adolescent social status power is so important to most adolescents because its all about being known, being popular, or fitting in. Status Power is experienced by teenagers everyday of their lives, this is what many teens live by. Teens/adolescents live by this status until their adult years when they realize, social status isn't important. Fitting in school is something many students want to have, in many schools there are group labels. The more popular you are the more status more, the less popular the less power. Status power is taken seriously to some, some think "once a loser always a loser", if being called a loser that's what that person lives by unless they are told otherwise. People can change their attitudes towards others but shouldn't have to change their entire personality to fit in. By changing your whole personality to fit in would be like being someone who you aren't, lying to yourself and others in some sort. Status power is the way teens look at themselves and how they fit in with others.

3. The socialization process is a bit the same but I find that it is more important to kids these days. There are many concerns to kids these days, one way is fitting in. Kids want to fit in, be a popular, anything but being the "loser". Kids who care about this, their lives basically surround it, its what their social life is made of.

4. Three main examples that I can think of that are of gender differences in socialization would be sports, clothing, and toys that are more gender based. Toys such as barbies and dolls only being for girls and cars and action figures only being for boys. The society has lived upon a stereotype of gender based things. That a boy can only do this and a girl can only do that kind of thing. These examples are conforming to America's "norm" and view on things. I know that one time when I was younger, I wanted to play catch with my brother and his friends and he told me that I couldn't because it was a "boys" only game. Growing up with my brother and his friends I was discluded from doing things because I wasn't a boy. Society is constantly basing things on gender and it deffiantly has and impact on things.

Adolescence

Adolescence is a young person who hasnt fully matured yet, usually refered towards teenagers. Our society treats teens this way because we are younger and still dont understand as much as we would when we are fully matured adults. We are still sometimes treated like babies since we havent fully developed our maturity. We have yet to experience things and we learn more and more about things as each day passes.

Status Power is experienced by teenagers everyday of their lives, this is what many teens live by. Fitting in school is something many students want to have, in many schools there are group labels. The more popular you are the more status more, the less popular the less power. For example, in the tv comedy show "Freaks and Geeks", there are two main groups: the Freaks and the Geeks. Both groups obviously arent the populars of the school but the Freaks have more status power then the Geeks due to age as well. Teenagers care about status power because it is something they have to deal with for the rest of their school years. In some cases, situations like these impact the development throughout adult years. Status power is taken seriously to some, some think "once a loser always a loser" but technically, it doesnt always have to be like that. People can change their attitudes towards others but shouldnt have to change their entire personality to fit in. By changing your whole personality to fit in would be like being someone who you arent, lying to yourself and others in some sort. Status power is the way teens look at themselves and how they fit in with others.

Socialization

My family and friends have had a big influence on me throughout my life so far and will continue to have an impact on me later on in life. They are the main two groups who play a main role of who made me who I am today. There are many ways that I am like my family. I am similar with them in traits, personality and such. My whole family is very friendly and enjoys meeting new people and socializing so i guess thats where I get those three from. As far as my friends, I could go on forever about them. With my long time friends (my best friends) we are soo similar in soo many ways. We like to have fun, go out, tend to be loud, laugh a lot, etc. My parents say my personality is somewhat unique. They first realized when i could first start talking. (haha) They said that i was so talkative and that i was always friendly and going off (when I could walk) being friendly with others who i didnt know. They said sometimes they got worried that someone would kidnap me because they thought i was too friendly to strangers! but besides that point my parents thought since i was little to this day that I like to meet new people and am somewhat outgoing and a socializer.

Some things i wouldnt want to be like would be being very short tempered. ive noticed that ive begun to develop that, my moms side is very short tempered but yet very layed back... kind of how i am too, their tempers just depend on the situation but thats something that i wouldnt want to get to me so early in life, being constantly short tempered.
Both my family and friends are the major parts of the puzzle to my life, like i said they are apart of me and what makes me, me. These people are so important in my life, without them i wouldnt be the person i am today. Yes its very cliche, but its the truth. Theyve taught me so much about life and ive learned along the way by things theyve told me. They are very supportive in anything i do and are always positive about my decisions. i know that no matter what they will always stand by my side and be there for me. They make me very happy and i dont know what i would do without them! They literally are apart of me.

Swimming In Water

Water is all around us, we live in a world were we become influenced by different behaviors. Our culture has became obesessed with technology. We are constantly tuned into the latest news, gossip, and tv shows using technology. Now, we are able to record tv shows if we wont have time to watch them the day of and play them back whenever we want. Cell phones help us communicate with other people and its a device that we have become attached to. There are tv shows that we watch were characters influence us and it affects our behaviors. I watch the show "90210" everyweek and yes, i admit, I tivo it. 90210 plugs me into the latest styles of what the girls are wearing and the behaviors of characters sometimes influence me. My cell phone helps me stay connected with my friends and without it i think i would be lost. Our culture has become so tech savy that we depend on it too much that we dont do anything for ourselves anymore.


To behaviorally adjust to the cultural forces that are going around I change my behavior by shifting my personality. I cannot be anymore optimistic to cultural forces than i already am. I always stay open minded throughout and never think of the negatives. I stay true to my beliefs about everything. Being a senior in high school has made me experience this, I always think of the positives and try the hardest i can in everything i do. I know later it will pay off when i achieve and success in the things i do later in life.


The two American Values that I embrace are Achievement and Success and Education. I believe that to succeed in life is a great thing, education helps pursure your success in life. To be educated you are able to have many opportunities to achieve in various things. I adjust to both of these by working hard to strive for what i want. For example, i know that in order to get into the college i want to be in i have to work hard, do good and in the long run i will achieve. To adjust values to find my own happiness I make sure that I am doing what is best for me and that will do good for me later on in life. To achieve is to succeed, and with education you can achieve greater success in life.

Culture

In class last week, we discussed different cultures and how different gestures have different meanings in other countries. Its important for us to study other cultures so that we dont do a gesture that may disrespect their culture. For example, "your mama" jokes may be funny for us, but it may be disrespectful to others who arent use to the jokes. There are many different gestures that can be misinterpreted or have different meanings. I learned in class from a reading that the "A-OK" gesture can be related to money in the Japanese culture. In our culture we use gestures such as the head not to say "whats up" or even instead of doing high fives we say "pound it" and put up our fists to pound together. So, if we study other cultures and their gestures it will save us the trouble of being disresepctful to them!

Bronx Tale: Groups and Micro-Macro Dynamics

In the movie, The Bronx Tale, Collogero belongs to many groups. He belongs to Sonny’s crew, his family, his own “crew” of friends, the group that consists of Jane and himself, the Italian group, the Sonny and Collogero group, and the community that he lives in. I think that Collogero belongs mostly in a group alone with Sonny. Collogero and Sonny had a special bond, Sonny was like a second father to “Cee”. Sonny was always there for Collogero and gave him advice in life and to make the right decisions along the way. He somewhat could be put in Sonny’s crew, but when he was with the crew he spent most of his time with Sonny by his side. Sonny cared for Collogero like he was his son, he looked out for him and told him that who he was hanging out with was not the road that he should be taking. He wanted Cee to become successful and stay in school, he didn’t want him making the wrong decisions and ending up with a life like his. Collogero’s master status was being Sonny’s “boy”, he was one of Sonny’s main guys. Many people would treat Collogero with respect after becoming apart of his crew. He was more noticed, and became popular among his community. He was known as “Cee” everywhere he went, Sonny gave him that name when he was a boy. Sonny treated him well, Cee was respected now that he rolled with Sonny. I think that that was his master status because if he wasn’t known as Sonny’s boy, people would’ve treated him as just plain old Collogero, a son of a bus driver. He became well known and wanted to use the status as an advantage. He enjoyed being affiliated with Sonny and his crew. I think that throughout the movie his master status stayed constant, he loved that he was Sonny’s boy that sometimes his dad was jealous that he spent more time with Sonny than him. In the end, he realized that he could be a part of Sonny’s crew but still be himself.
There was a lot of racism seen in the movie. Throughout the movie, people were hated by the color they were and the neighborhood they came from. When one race entered another races territory they were discriminated on and hated by the people who lived in that community. In the movie, Collogero ends up liking a colored girl, Jane. He was very skeptical about the dating situation and didn’t know how people among his race and in his groups/ community would react. Collogero and Jane were separated by the different “worlds” they came from. They both lived in totally different neighborhoods and were different colors; it didn’t stop them from dating because they truly liked each other. When Collogero stepped foot in Jane’s neighborhood, he was hated and yelled at by people from Jane’s community. They were yelling at Collogero telling him to leave and go back where he belongs. Another situation was when the blacks entered Collogero’s neighborhood. A few black teens were riding their bikes through the neighborhood and Collogero’s friends jumped the teens and beat them up until they were not able to walk. These boys did nothing to disturb their community, it was the fact that these boys were black that they were being beat up.

Remembering 9/11

On Friday, September 11, we remembered those who died and honored those who risked and saved lives 8 years ago. The 2001 terrorist attack was an event that touched us all, and is still emotional for many. After this event, it brought America together and stregthened the nation. Also, Americans were more aware of everything. Stereotypes became more apparent by judging others by their race, religion, and look. Airports and other trasportations became more strict, no liquids on the plane was one of the rules established in the airports. Security was deffinatley more tighter than normal, saftey was the most important for the nation. To keep everything and everyone secure. Many peoples perspectives changed towards others and trust issues came in. Overall, 9/11 is a day of rememberence and honor for those who died, and risked their lives to save the victims in need of help. Even though this even was emotional for everyone, we still stayed strong and continue to stay strong throughout everything.

Survival of the Fittest

On Friday, 16 students were chosen to act out a situation. The situation was that we were on a boat and it sunk and we all got on a boat that only held 9 people. Since the boat could only hold 9 people, 7 of us had to get off the boat. As a group we had to figure out who should stay and who should go. I was one of the people on the boat. And I was an old man who could barely walk and I had a cane, I was 60 years old. The group narrowed down decisions of who should leave the boat, and "my wife" and I were both voted off because of our age. I was kind of upset that people jump to conclusion to send us off just because of our age, but then again i guess it was okay since I lived my life already. But, I dont think its right that they just assumed that since were older we should get rejected because were going to "die" soon. Overall, it was an intresting class to see how we would react. Out of the 9 who survived, I guess they were just the fittest out of us all.

Who Am I?

Hey!! Im Kirsten. Im a senior and so far i love it, finally being the highest upperclassmen is the best! Im really excited to see how the school year turns out and of course to graduate! College applications are not what im looking foward to yet, everything is moving so fast! Basically, my personality is what defines me as well as my surroundings. I am mostly always a happy and fun person. When i first meet people it takes me time for me to warm up to them, but once i do i tend to be very outgoing and loud. I love to meet new people! I love to hangout with my family and friends, I am very close to them, they are who makes me well, me. They inspire me in alot of ways to try new things and I care a lot about them, they are the biggest influences in my life. I charish everything and everyone in my life. My goal in life is to live each day, day by day, and find out more about myself throughout the new experiences I go through and the things i learn along the way, my friends and family are what help me grow.

First Day

The first day of class was really intresting and different, I walked in not expecting to get the greeting that I normally get, a hand shake from my teacher. I expected it to be like all my other classes, walk in, sit down, greetings and introductions to the class. But instead everyone was greeted with a handshake. The handshake wasnt like how my other teachers have greeted me before, but it was nice because it was a more personal greeting. After everyone was situated the class got silent and we got a 5 minute silent treatment from our teacher.At first, I was confused and wondering why my teacher was just sitting down, drinking his water, and staring at all of us. The room was silent, it was a little awkward at first. Some of my classmates began questioning why he was being silent and started observing what he was doing. We all came to realize that he was observing us as we were observing him. Overall class was very intresting.