Gender Panel

Today in Sociology, we had a some students come into our class and talk openly to us about being gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual...etc. Each of the students told their story on their journey how they discovered it and how they have been treated. With each and every story, I got more and more interested. I learned that not every person fits into a category like I thought they did. There were also gender queers who haven't quite found that lightbulb that they needed to understand themselves. I thought it was interesting that transgenders actually do have science to back up their claims but the tests are done post mortem which wouldn't help. I feel like my eyes were opened to a world that I never really paid much attention to. In the hallways, I would see them and think, "yea, they're gay" but it really didn't phase me much. It didn't matter to me their sexual preferences and I never bothered to ask to hear their story. Now that they have opened up, I am more mindful of my everyday experiences and encounters. They were very comfortable talking about their story and I thought it was really brave and mature of them to teach us so much. I learned a lot from them and I am glad they came into to talk to us today.

Community Service

I participated in our school's fundraiser called Project Dance. Our main goal is to raise funds as well as awareness of The Riverside Foundation. This is a facility that helps adults who are developmentally disabled so they are able to live more independently. What the participates do is put a team together and raise money. As a team, we hand in the money we raised and we all receive T-shirts. We wear them on the night of Project dance. This year Project Dance was April 13th held in the Sports Center of our school. We dance for five hours and also are given food and entertainment. Usually the Riverside Foundation sends us a video just to say thanks and it really does put a big smile on your face. You feel great because you are giving back to your community for all that your community has done for you. This year we raised over $60,000 and it was the most we have ever raised!

Boys vs. Girls

This week in Sociology we are learning how our culture defines how girls and boys should act in relation to others as well as their personality. In media, woman are portrayed as dainty, sweet, emotional and vulnerable. However, if a woman is in a heroine position, she is usually wearing provocative clothing to create sex appeal. The media suggests that boys are always tough, rigid, unemotional and dominant. In movies,any boy or man who is a more "feminine"role frowned upon and looked at as a sidekick rather than a leader. We may not think that the media has such a strong influence  on us, but it seeps through into our heads whether we like it or not. As I was walking in the lobby of my workplace, I overheard a mother talking to her 4 year old girl just as she walked out. "Hi doll. Did you have fun sweetie?" Calling her doll and sweetie promote this idea that girls are fragile. The mother may not have thought this, but it has become such a social norm that we overlook the meaning behind what we say.

Agents Of Socialization

This week in Sociology, we are learning about agents of socialization. Our agents of socialization are our family, peer groups, workplace, school...pretty much every group you come in contact with that shape how we view ourselves and people around us. I was reading my teacher's blog and stumbled upon an article of what parents do to screw up their kids. At first you think, 'What? This doesn't make sense! This is pretty much how everyone is raised!' But when you read why it is wrong you understand how it can be harmful to a child. For example, the article talks about how parents warn their kids about stranger danger. I know what your thinking, how could this be a bad thing? In reality, kidnappings usually happen from someone the family knows and creates a fear of people different from them and the entire outside world. This was just one example to see the entire list of what parents do to screw up their kids click here. I was really interested in this article because I teach little kids gymnastics as a job. In the lobby, I see these parents do things quite similar to this article and never thought anything of it until now.

Nature vs. Nuture

Our new unit in Sociology is Socialization. Our teacher started with the "growing man" metaphor. When you are a baby you are entirely controlled by nature. Nature consists of your emotions, instincts, biology and genes. As you grow into a full grown adult you are influenced by so many other outside forces; this is known as nurture. The nurture is our language, and social interactions with others. Today, we watched an episode of Oprah about Isolated Children. These children were isolated from all human contact pretty much since birth. When they are rescued, the children cannot speak, walk, or eat solid food. These are all learned actions that need human interactions for. When they finally are adopted (the family of the adopted child was interviewed on the show) they long to be held. The adoptive mother said Danielle always wanted to be help and comforted because she never got that as a young child and she didn't care if she looked weird holding a nine year old girl, she was going to do it anyway. My mother told me when I was young that after a certain point, I didn't like to be held. I wanted to run around and be independent. What I wonder is at what point do most children feel like they want to be independent from their parents? This obviously depends on how much attention they got when they were younger.