FINAL post.

I am obviously still the same person as I was at the beggening of this school year, but I have to admit that I have become a more open and caring person throughout this course. Learning the things we did opened my mind to go out of my comfort zone (as for community service). All my morals and values have stayed the same, but I do think they have become stronger. Things that used to be important to me are still extremely important. After reading my first post the only different thing is my choice of college. Instead of going to uic, which I had "my heart set on" I am not going to isu, which I am extremely pumped about. This has showed me how much things can change in such a short time. Taking sociology was probably one of my best course decisions. It made me feel comfortable how layed back the class was because I have so much stress throughout the day and it was nice having a stress free place I could come to, to talk about things that interest me.

Thanks Mr. Sal for making this class the best experience possible!

Racism

This week in sociology we discussed different kinds of racism in detail. We learned that no matter where you go in the world, there will be some form of racism (it's kind of unpreventable). In different parts of the world, there are many different races that we learned about, that I have never heard of. I realized race is something society makes up. For example, people arn't born "black" or "white", they are born human beings. In different countries people arn't "catergorized" the same way, as if you live in America. For instance, in Japan there are different races based on the texture of your earwax.... gross!

Upper Middle Class.

Living in an upper middle class suburb, I am constantly surrounded by people who are in the same economic situation as my family, or people who are more well off than myself. This week in sociology, we have been discussing how different social classes don't get enough needed interactions with one another. These interactions would be helpful to give people different perspectives on life. Just like the video we watched in sociology today about social classes, people get really worked up about the situation that the classes are SO much different (economic wise, etc.). In the video an organic super market, which had higher prices, was built in a town. The lower middle class citizens felt hurt that their wasn't some kind of vote to build the more expensive market over a regular, cheaper, shopping place. They felt as if they were invisible and their thoughts didn't matter. It was interesting to me to see people get so worked up about such a seemingly small thing; but, then I tried to put myself in their shoes and somewhat saw their side of the argument. I think it was good for me to see the video and learn how other people live, who may be less fortunate than myself.

The saints and the roughnecks.

In Soc, we read a story about a community that named different "groups" at the school. The white, upper-middle class boys were named the "saints", and the lower class "problem kids" were named the "roughnecks". I thought it was interesting that although it sounds as if the "saints" would be perfect teen rolemodels, the story talks about how they are just as bad, if not worse than the "roughnecks". It is not hidden in this world that teens sometimes get involved with illegal things, but it is hidden to certain communities that boys like the saints would get involved. While reading the story I was constantly relating the school to the highschool I attend. There are differnent groups in parrallel situations as the saints and roughnecks. I however have a hard time predicting the future of the kids caught up in these groups because I am acquantances with both and they just seem to be at the wrong places at the wrong times. These groups are good kids, they are simply just being teenagers.

Teens

In sociology this week we have read an article by the name of "Teen Mystique" and have basically been discussing how teenagers are being percieved. Teenagers are deffinitely NOT as bad as society makes us sound... Everybody makes mistakes or gets in trouble from time to time, but that doesnt make everybody bad people... now does it? Sure, there are some teens who are incredibly inmature and dangerous people, but most of us are just normal human beings going through life trying to mature into adults and mold ourselves in to good people. It upsets me how society is begenning to generalize teens as "drug abusing, violent, inmature people". I am a teen and am surely not any of those things.

Masculinity = Violence

This week in sociology class we have been learning about violence in school. We read an article and watched a documentary about different reasons that could trigger this violence. The word that was brought up the most in both sources was "masculinity". All of the school shootings were done by white suburban males. When soem of the boys were asked just why they did what they did, their answer would some how be related to masculinity. They commited their violent act to prove themselves to others that they were strong and masculine. Learning this was interesting because I never knew what was running in the minds of these kids.

People are too self conscious

During this unit in sociology I had a friend in my mind who I was connecting everything to. There are some people in this world who are overly self conscious because they are looking at these women on magazine covers and comparing themselves. I think it is absolutely rediculous when women do this because we all know these women are "fake" and photoshopped. My friend used to complain about her self image on a daily basis (that is before she got help). People need to be carefull and look out for their friends before they do something dangerous (like hurt themselves). Women need to learn to love themselves the way they were born and brought into this world. Like is an amazing thing and I believe everybody should be thankful for what they have.