Sunday, November 29, 2009

deviance!

i find that punishable deviance is a social contruct in society, because even if you do the tiniest thing wrong you could be sent to jail, and maybe be in and out the rest of your life, because in some ways the prison system in the U.S. is corrupted. A perfect example that proves that punishable deviance is a social contruct in society, is the prison system Morgan Spurlock showed us in "30 Days". Although all the criminals in that prison did break the law concerning drug and other illegal possesions, punishing them because of the "deviance" by putting them in prison, isn't always the best option. Becuase the jails are not rehibilitating these criminals but rather keeping them locked up and on a certain schedule with many rule, almost torturing. Now if we were dealing with murders, this punsishment might be both helpful and useful. But in terms of addicts, they need some sort of help and rehibilitaiton (rehab) to stop their habit and to get them on a new path in society keeping them out of the prison system, rather than having them coming in and out, a waste of tax dollars and time if nothing is being done to help these people. People are easily being convicted of drug possesion, and use everyday and being sent to jail over and over again, but what about murderers, these convictions are not so easily made, and those people not sent directly to jail. Of course convicting someone of murder is much more serious than an addict, but still why are we wasting so much more time and energy or addicts who need rehibilitation more than jail, rather than focusing more on those who are a greater threat to our society as a whole.
if we are spending our money to send these drug addcits to jail, then why can't we just change and use the money to send them to a rehibilitation center. in the long run this is a much better option. helping the induvidual and all those around them. granted the rehab might not work, at least we are trying rather than locking them up.

happy thanksgiving!

Friday, November 13, 2009

Final Blog

1. I chose to wear Stevenson apparel today, (gold rush, yellow tee with white underneath, dark blue jeans, and short chestnut Uggs, with a scarf that I bought last winter), but it relates in no way to what I would want my future profession to be. My clothing was chosen based on the Stevenson motto "got spirit". Some plans I have for myself as a profession in the future is a major in such subject such as psychology, or teaching. And for sports and activitets I participate in...I participate in intramurals but no competitive sports team, and I have extracurriculars such as working at a resturaunt and hanging out with friends. All of these aspect of my life relate to nature and nuture. What I chose to wear today is nurture, I chose to wear what I did today, according to the weather and what I felt like wearing, having nothing to do with my genes. What I want to be when I grow up is a mix of both nature and nurture. I was brought up in family which consisted of many teachers and psychologists, and social workers, so for me I grew up knowing all this and it always somewhat intersted me, but in a way it could be nurture, maybe I was born with the genes of wanting to interact with others, vs being a business professional. And finally sports are mostly nature, I wasn't exactly born with "athletic" genes.

2. Adolescence and social power are so important and life consuming to adolescence and teenagers because it is how we are classified in our society. No matter who you are you also strive to be the best person you can be, and at many times, it also depends on what others think of you whether its your friends and peers or your family at home. Everyday to strive to climb higher and higher on the status ladder. It's important and consuming because it is how we are classfied as humans, and in groups of peers everyday.

3. Today socialization in different because than in previous generations because we have grown up with a bit of a different culture. We were raised in an era with much more technology and advertisements all around us. In the other generations the world was growing much differently and things we have today either weren't created at the time back in the day, or wasn't as popular and widely used. So for children growing up and being socialized now we have faced troubles such as being less sociable due to computer and technology, when back in the day that was not even an issue and most household didn't own a t.v. or computer or other advanced forms of technology. In addition children raised in the past were told to be adults at a much younger age and had more responsibilities where as now, we are supported by our parents for a much longer period of time, and stripped of many responsibilites at young ages, like driving, drinking, and being on our own.

4. Many gender differences that we think of in our culture today are made up stereotypes. Ideas that women are weak and men are strong, women are emotional, an men are tough. Maybe many of us see this sometimes, but there are so many exceptions there's no way you can classify traits to each gender. In movies males are at most time the tough guys and the heros, and the women are the ones always looking for love, and "having fun". Men can be emotional, and women can be powerful. These stereotypes impact our culture with the wrong general idea of both men and women. They've affected everyones lives, because everyone has believed it at one point or another. But for the real differences in gender, you can see that more men (even with the rise in women power today) are given the higher ranked and paid jobs. If a man and a woman were competing for a position as CEO and had both the exact same qualifications, it is likely that the man would get he job over the woman.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Adolescence

Adolescence is the time when transitioning between being a child and an adult. This is the time when "teens/adolescence" slowing gain new responsibilities, while still being held back. Society defines adolscence age group as it does because its the time when you begin to go places on your own but you are still in school and being supported by your parents. Adolescence struggle because society (for examples school; teachers, and parents) tell us that we should know better and be more responsible, but at the same time laws such as driving laws, and drinking laws, are illegal for our age because they say, we aren't responsible enough yet. Well what is it should we and are we responsible or not, how come they get to have it both ways?
Status. No matter what age you are people think about status all the time. How you dress, do your hair, talk, act, what you buy, and where you live all have to do with status. Especially for adolscence status is involved in your life everyday. An example is what you wear to school and how you look. Adolescence dress like their group. Depending on what you wear can determine who you are friends with, which effects your "school status." This continues throughout adulthood and will always remain. No matter your age, you want to fit in and be liked, and all of this goes right back to status, and where you want to be on the "status scale."
Of course everyone thinks it doesn't have to be this way, but as a natural insitinct people was to climb their way up the "status ladder" and be liked, so even if you don't want it to be this way and truely believe it doesn't have to be then try it. I would want to agree with you and believe that you don't have to be effected by status, but we are...we are affected by status everyday and strive to get as much status and we can. The never ending strive for success and power in American culture.