An eye-opening experience

The double-murder trial we saw on our fieldtrip was definitely a criminal case loaded with felonies. Schuning allegedly violently murdered his mother in an argument, used her credit cards to call over three escorts, and then murdered one young woman after she spotted the bloody knife used in the first murder and called for help. The accused was a white and male, which supports the Feminist Theory of deviance in that men are more likely to commit more severe crimes than women. The prosecutors were the first to present evidence during our time in the courtroom, and their questions were very detailed; the most obvious of details were not missed. The case we watched would be at the step of the justice system when evidence is presented. The evidence I saw suggested that Schuning killed the victims in an attempt to gain control over them, which supports Conflict Theory of deviance because the increasing amount of conflict led to more deviance. Phenomenological Theory of deviance could explain Schuning's behavior in using the servies of the escorts, as he probably didn't view it as being wrong.

The fieldtrip to the DuPage County courts and jail was an eye-opener for me. The videos and notes we saw in class somewhat prepared me in terms of what to expect a jail to look like, and the cells and dayroom of the newer part of the jail looked exactly like the ones in 30 Days, but now I have a more realistic view of how unpleasant jail is. There wasn't much natural light, the halls smelled strange, and having nothing but concrete walls and criminals to look at was pretty depressing. Despite the large number of people there, I imagine prisoners feel extremely lonely and become depressed rather easily. I could never think of committing a crime even knowing a little what kind of punishment jail is. The despondent setting of jail is a deterrence in itself in my opinion, and people are definitely paying retribution there for their crimes. I think the absolute control and deprivation of freedom in jail is effective in preventing deviance for most people, but more focus should be put on rehabilitation for criminals who are safe enough to be let back into society after they serve their time.

Is it deviance to kill certain people?

I recently read an article in the Chicago Tribune discussing how to approach the subject of Osama Bin Laden's death when talking to children. Many people celebrate Bin Laden's death, hailing it an important justice to both the people of America and the Middle East, and some t-shirt companies have even taken it upon themselves to create shirts just for the occasion. However, parents who just started teaching their children that it is not okay to hurt people are struggling to explain to their children the happiness and relief surrounding Bin Laden's death. Suddenly parents and teachers with children who just learned "thou shall not kill" are in a pickle trying to figure out a way to explain to them when it is and isn't okay to kill someone. Depending on one's point of view, killing Bin Laden may or may not be considered deviance. We live by the consensus that it is immoral to kill someone, but we also execute people who can't conform to our norms to an extreme. I still can't decide whether or not I think it should be considered deviant to kill or if one idea of deviance and morals can even be applicable to all situations, but I know for sure I'm at a loss for words on how to explain it to children.

I was on the way to temple when...

I saw some deviance! We passed by a store with a near empty parking lot, and a man was outside walking to his car. The man was almost to his car when he suddenly stopped. And performed cartwheels for the remainder of the distance. Then, after he reached the door of his car and was about to get in, he seemed to change his mind and proceeded to do what appeared to be the beginnings of a sun salutation, raising his arms high above his head and opening his chest to the sky. Now, I understand that exercising on your own is perfectly normal and quite a few yoga videos take place outside, but I was nevertheless surprised to see this man stretch himself out in the middle a parking lot. Because the man was acting differently from how people in America are expected to behave, this moment is an example of deviance. Deviant behavior describes acting outside of social norms, which are different for every culture. I never really thought about the multitude of actions that could be deviant in our culture, but I could definitely spot deviant behavior if I were to see it. With that being said, it took me about two seconds to recognize that doing cartwheels in a parking lot is deviant.

Playing like a 400-pound gorilla

Right now I'm working on a duet with my piano teacher to play in a recital coming up soon. It's called the Grand Finale, and it's supposed to be loud, fast, and dramatic. I love fast show-offy pieces, but it usually takes a bit of prodding from my teacher to get me to sink into the keys and play with the confidence needed to really make the piece. Today my teacher told me that holding back some energy for the very end of the song and then pounding the audience with sound would have a better impact and surprise them that two women could produce such a big sound. When she said this, I realized that when it comes to recitals, girls at my school don't typically go for very loud songs and are kind of expected to pick other songs (and some female voice student always sings "On My Own"). Girls aren't expected to make tons of noise and boys aren't expected to sing ballads, which is kind of a bummer when you think about the limits it places on kids musically. I am thus more motivated to play like the 400-pound gorilla my teacher wants and to set a very loud example for the younger girls at the recital.

A tea party for girls and boys

What we're learning about gender roles in class makes me think back to the time my friend Hannah :D and I were volunteering at the Winfield Public Library during the Fancy Nancy tea party held for children. The children had a chance to dress up, read Fancy Nancy and other story books, and make a crown to take home. I expected all girls to come for the tea party and was kind of surprised when three little boys walked in and the event turned into a tea party for both princesses and princes. The boys were dressed in their best just like the girls and were perfectly civilized. They sat still during the stories and displayed polished manners that rivaled those of the girls. However, I noticed all the books read to the children centered around girls and I realized I've never seen a children's book about a boy going to a tea party or dressing up and being "fancy." Something just doesn't seem right to me. Books are supposed to open children to different ideas, but a lot of them just enforce gender lines. Maybe books outline roles for each gender so children can learn slowly without being confused with "grey area" ideas, but maybe this idea of how to teach children should change. Boys can go to tea parties and girls can play football. Maybe we should spend less time teaching them gender roles and focus more on good character.

Chinese Mothers

Let me start by saying that reading this passage totally brings back memories (gosh does it bring back memories). I can especially relate to Lulu's struggle with the piano because when I was little, learning to play the piano was actually my mom's idea and I definitely didn't take to it right away. I hated having to stay inside and practice piano when other kids were outside playing and used to cry and scream and beg for my parents to let me quit. But eventually I came to love playing piano and would pluck away for hours if I had the time. In fact, music has become something I would never dream of giving up and I'm eternally grateful my mom pushed me to stick with it. My mother, Lulu's mother, and mothers from every corner of the world force their kids to study, learn music, or play sports with the best of intentions. However, Chua can be a little extreme in her parenting methods.

Charles Cooley might argue that Ms. Chua's calling her daughter "garbage" will affect the looking glass self of her personality negatively, as shaming Sophia when she is disrespectful could end up damaging her self-esteem. However, Chua's criticism may have positive effects by setting high standards for her daughter. If Sophia and Lulu's parents expect nothing short of straight A's in school, they may come to expect that of themselves. The results of Chua's methods could go either way, which is why balance should be the main goal when raising kids, I think. While I don't agree with Chua's rules against playdates and choosing extracurriculars, I do think she has the right in idea in sitting down with her daughters to study until they do better in school. And while I never liked the way Chinese parents casually criticize their children (hey, fatty--lose some weight?), I think it's important for parents to push their kids to do their best in everything. Parents should set high expectations for their children and actively help them to achieve them. At the same time, parents should be flexible and allow their children to pursue what interests them.

College: it don't matter much

When I started reading Gone With the Wind, I was shocked by how different the characters' values are from our own. The book opens with the Tarleton twins Brent and Stuart casually telling Scarlett (the main character) all about their latest expulsion from yet another university. The brothers almost brag about how they were kicked out of the University of Georgia, "...the fourth university that had thrown them out in two years..." (Mitchell 6) and treat it like a joke, as do most other people where they live. In fact, the majority of Clayton County describe the benefits of a classical education as being able to play poker, shoot straight, ride well, and hold down liquor "like a gentleman." My culture shock started here because most people in our time period put quite an emphasis on the importance of receiving a good education. I think the difference in our values lies in our lifestyles. Most 19th century Southerners worked on farms and rarely in factories, so I can understand that a college education wasn't as pressing as it is today, where work in any area could require a whole new set of skills. It felt silly to have to get over the culture shock I experienced during the first few pages reading, but I'm still surprised at how much life in the U.S. has changed.

Didn't you want the blue one?

Last Friday I volunteered at Indian Knoll's fun fair at a balloon sit game. The point of the game was to sit on a balloon until it popped (which was actually quite a struggle for a lot of the kids) to find the ticket inside that said what kind of prize was won. Other volunteers gave us erasers, rock star tattoos, and rings to give out as prizes to kids who popped their balloons (we gave out prizes to everyone who tried anyway). While I was handing out prizes to kids, I noticed that parents expected their children to prefer objects associated with their gender--for example, pink rings for girls and tattoos for boys. I was kind of shocked when one mom became upset with her son for choosing a pink eraser instead of the prizes the other boys tended to want. She put the eraser back, asking if he preferred something else, and picked out a more masculine prize. This situation and several others like it made me think of the different roles expected of people who have girl statuses and boy statuses. I've become so used to being around high school students who are more open-minded and accepting of different personalities. Watching children and parents interacting at the fun fair reminded me of how big of an impact roles like these have on people in society.

Discovering a folkway

I was waiting for my dad to pick me up at entrance A when... sociology broke into a battle cry around the corner! I didn't even notice I was in the same hallway as the freshman girl's soccer team until I heard them cheer "Wildcats!" The hallway outside the attendance office (which is normally a pretty bland location after school) was filled with an awesome kind of energy, and the girls weren't getting pumped up for a game--they were just cheering out of school spirit. It was awesome! The girls cheering in the hallway after practice made me think of norms we have at school. Cheering for one's team is an example of a folkway that we follow at school. I'm not a part of the sports scene at our school and have no clue (I kid you not, absolutely no clue) how people are expected to behave at practices. My knowledge of norms in sports at school is limited to cheering at games and pep assemblies. But my brother (a freshman in track--support track!) educated me that people usually end practices with a "break."

Only in America...

1. "All the day long whether rain or shine

She's a part of the assembly line
She's making history

Working for victory
Rosie the Riveter"

What started as a way to recruit women into the work force during WW2 turned into an icon for strength and women's rights in the U.S. After the war when women returned home to take care of their families, the we-can-do-it attitude stuck (the "it" being anything, not just defeating Hitler) and the belief that a woman's skills were limited to the kitchen was shattered. Rosie shows that American women--and American anyone for that matter--contribute to the country and are capable of doing anything with hard work.

2. America was built on principles of freedom and rights, and people in America have the freedom to live the way they believe is right (as long as they don't hurt anyone in the process). In terms of freedom, America offers a lot more than do other countries. I think the statue of liberty represents the core of what America stands for.

3. The Coke logo is recognized around the world as a symbol of economic success and good times (open happiness!). Americans value the wellbing of the economy and take pride in being one of the world's leaders in trade. We make a point of being involved in the economies of other countries and competing in a global market. Our emphasis on the economy as being good or bad is open for debate (I think it's definitely both), but the economy is definitely a big part of American life.

4. Media influence in America has no bounds. American society is bombarded with messages (both visual and auditory) from the media at every moment. Fashions and ideas that are acceptable one day could change in a matter of months or even weeks if culture decides they will. People are constantly perceiving and communicating ideas through tv, music, books, sports (the list goes on @_@). For Americans, the appearances and actions of the people are just as important in shaping values as family, religion and school.

5. What's more American than apple pie? McDonald's. xD I think McDonald's has recently become a symbol of the American lifestyle not just in America, but in other cultures as well. I feel like when people are asked to pick a symbol that represents America, fast food just happens to be the first one that comes to mind. We are very much a fast-paced people, so it makes sense for fast food to symbolize our current culture.

I was at art club when...

I thought of sociology! Today Tegan, who graduated last year, surprised us with a visit and brought along her niece Riley and nephew Gavin (who are really cutee!). Riley and Gavin are twins, and they have a special way of communicating. I remembered seeing them talk to each other while they were playing once at Tegan's house. I couldn't understand anything they were saying, but Tegan explained to me that their way of talking made perfect sense to them. I don't know why, but I guess twin babies sometimes have their own way of understanding each other even when everyone else can't. Anyway, it's pretty cool to always have someone who will understand you. Riley and Gavin's language reminded me of the simulation we did in class where we all had to find ways to communicate with each other while following our culture's rules. Riley and Gavin had their own rules about how to communicate, and like the Hokies' rules in the simulation in class, they remain a mystery to me!

Eva (Peron! Peron!)

I didn't realize it the first time watching, but Evita is filled with examples of collective behavior. Evita examines the life of Eva Duarte (who later becomes Eva Peron after marrying Juan Peron) and her journey from her childhood in the lower class to her rise to power as the first lady of Argentina. Eva Peron is most known for her campaign for women's suffrage, her support for labor groups, and the organization of a welfare program that benefited the lower classes. Although Eva Peron was respected and very popular among the people of Argentina, those in the upper classes disapproved of her background, and there is still a large difference in opinion about her role in Argentine politics. In the movie version of the musical Evita, there are a lot of scenes involving different types of crowds. People form conventional crowds when Eva gives away bread, shoes, and bikes, and when they gather to listen to speeches. After Eva is announced dead, people form expressive crowds to dance and mourn outside, which is also an example of emergent norm theory. Also, acting crowds are formed during the riots following Eva's death.

May you see lots of sociology in the new year...

This weekend my cousins Robert, Anna, Kao and my family got together for lunch to celebrate Chinese New Year. They're a part of my kinship group, and I absolutely love spending time with them! Anna is one of the most fun people I know and always gets a laugh out of me. One tradition we follow is for the adults in the family to give red envelopes with money to all the kids, which my brother is always excited about (the money is nearly always used for college anyway). Since Kao is older and has already graduated from college and works, she gives us "kids" red envelopes. This tradition shows how Kao has an achieved status in our group and is an example of sociology in action. Her status as an adult means she gives us red envelopes during holidays, and this same status will apply to me after I graduate from college and start working too.

I was in choir when...

I witnessed sociology in musical form. Because we are planning on seeing Les Miserables later this month, Mr. Fantozzi showed us a video featuring the music of Les Miserables that also gave us a general outline of the plot. Around the beginning of the story, a woman named Fantine is forced into prostitution in order to provide for her young daughter. Fantine is arrested for attacking a bourgeois man, Bamatabois, out of self defense after he harasses her and throws snow down her back. Even though Bamatabois is clearly the guilty party, Fantine is arrested, mainly because her poverty causes her to be treated unjustly. Fantine's situation is an example of conflict in society due to class antagonism, which drives the story. This play demonstrates how people were treated according to their place in the caste system and how those of lower status usually got the worst treatment.

What would Comte say?

After looking more into the sociologists we talked about in class, I think Auguste Comte would approve of the court system in the U.S., especially the "innocent until proven guilty" concept. Comte lived during the period after the French revolution when science was beginning to replace religion as the authority on what was true or false. He believed in an empirical method of gaining knowledge with evidence through observation and experience. He is credited with creating the concept of positivism, the idea that using the scientific method is the best approach to explaining events. Because both the judge and jury in court focus on making an educated decision after examining the evidence presented by each side, I think Comte would be mostly pleased with the foundation of the court system.

Who am I?

Hello, everyone!

Here's my first post for sociology~ Maybe it's just me, but I think it's a little awkward to just go ahead and talk about the things that make up who I am (what do I say?), so I guess I'll just have at it and try my best to leave out as much awkward as I can. :D

So, let me start by saying that my family is the biggest influence on my life (gave me my genes and whatnot), and if it were not for my parents, I probably wouldn't have my love of playing piano or reading. Both of my parents are also Buddhist, which explains why I think Buddhist thoughts. Brittany, the best dog in the world and my baby, makes a dog-lover out of me and anyone who meets her. My human friends are also pretty awesome (hehe), and I could not live without them! They make life better in general and also introduced me to Sweeney Todd--another reason to love them. Needless to say, the people (and dog) in my life make me who I am. I like psychology and biology but don't have much of a plan on what to do after school in terms of a career... so... this is where my post ends. xD

Thanks for listening :)

Amarin