Upon opening the website I was confused with so many words that I dont really know what they mean. As soon as I worked out how to use
the site most of it was pretty dull and didn't keep my attention for very long. The only decent part of the web site was the ask amy part because it had some quite intresting questions and dilemmas people went through.
I think this website isn't very successful as they should be trying to get more people intrested in feminist issues, but it's only understandable when you know what there talking about.
Monday, 6 September 2010
Monday, 30 August 2010
Are you a structuralist?
NO -
I believe that an individual makes up society. As of the moment who my friends are and how i interact with them is not governed by class or money it is a choice we make as individuals. We interact in different groups in society sometimes the groups cross over and they have the same shared values but we are made up of groups according to our identities.
I believe that an individual makes up society. As of the moment who my friends are and how i interact with them is not governed by class or money it is a choice we make as individuals. We interact in different groups in society sometimes the groups cross over and they have the same shared values but we are made up of groups according to our identities.
However some structuralist theories have got good points. such as Durkheim who see society as an organic thing: we all grow up in the society and learn from it such as specific idea like how to act as female or what it means to be a mother.
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Identities
In the olden day an identity defined who you were and what you do. The most common example was the way black people(which can be classed as an identity) were used as slaves... which we all know is not right.
but it is become more apparent in rescent years that an identity doesn't govern you in society as much, an example of this would be women are no longer made to stay at home and do housework and look after the kids(Thank god!).
Of course the identity will always be present i society. Scenerio: a girl, aged 20 blonde hair fair skin; steps out onto a crowded street in a dress. passers by barely register her. now imagine the same scenerio but change one detail, it was a boy who stepped out onto the crowded street. do the passers by react the same? No.
Some may reply to this by saying 'well he's a guy why would he be wearing a dress?' there is no law against it, it is just his identity as a male which is already ingrained into society that controls the passer-bys reaction.
This is a simple scenerio which show a point: That identity are already set- some you can chose to be in such as a religion or some you may be born with- into our society.
These identity for me are, im a white scottish female. there are other more complex identities however such as my identities through my relatives: im a sister, daughter, niece, granddaughter, etc. These are the identities which are given to me by specific society members.
Society does control which identities i am, but it is my choice weaher i conform to 'norms' of that identity
but it is become more apparent in rescent years that an identity doesn't govern you in society as much, an example of this would be women are no longer made to stay at home and do housework and look after the kids(Thank god!).
Of course the identity will always be present i society. Scenerio: a girl, aged 20 blonde hair fair skin; steps out onto a crowded street in a dress. passers by barely register her. now imagine the same scenerio but change one detail, it was a boy who stepped out onto the crowded street. do the passers by react the same? No.
Some may reply to this by saying 'well he's a guy why would he be wearing a dress?' there is no law against it, it is just his identity as a male which is already ingrained into society that controls the passer-bys reaction.
This is a simple scenerio which show a point: That identity are already set- some you can chose to be in such as a religion or some you may be born with- into our society.
These identity for me are, im a white scottish female. there are other more complex identities however such as my identities through my relatives: im a sister, daughter, niece, granddaughter, etc. These are the identities which are given to me by specific society members.
Society does control which identities i am, but it is my choice weaher i conform to 'norms' of that identity
Monday, 21 June 2010
Monday, 14 June 2010
Sociological Imagination
'Schemes are full of pregnant teenagers, unemployed, semi-literate thugs on benefits. They are all a bunch of wasters!'
Housing schemes are said to be a hotbed for pregnent teens, unemployed and semi-literate thugs. In a way this is true mainly because this is the only place they can go they may not be able to afford anywhere else. It is unfair to say the people born and raised in these schemes are destined for these lives.
Pregnant teenagers may of been kicked out their houses and without as job couldnt afford their own place, so the schemes are their only option besides the streets. The same aplies to the unemployed: they may not have the grades or skills to get a job so their only option is to live somewhere the concil gives them. Semi-literate thugs on benefits on the other hand suggests they are victims of the area they have been raised in an place where acting in this way is socially acceptable (Like in Emile Durkheim structural theory).
In some cases teenage pregnancies and the unemployed could be seen as a victim of circumstance: Protection failed no matter how hard you try or there may be no jobs in the area so you become unemployed. Although there are also those in this group who may not of taking these neccessary steps to prevent pregnancy or get a job.
Housing schemes are said to be a hotbed for pregnent teens, unemployed and semi-literate thugs. In a way this is true mainly because this is the only place they can go they may not be able to afford anywhere else. It is unfair to say the people born and raised in these schemes are destined for these lives.
Pregnant teenagers may of been kicked out their houses and without as job couldnt afford their own place, so the schemes are their only option besides the streets. The same aplies to the unemployed: they may not have the grades or skills to get a job so their only option is to live somewhere the concil gives them. Semi-literate thugs on benefits on the other hand suggests they are victims of the area they have been raised in an place where acting in this way is socially acceptable (Like in Emile Durkheim structural theory).
In some cases teenage pregnancies and the unemployed could be seen as a victim of circumstance: Protection failed no matter how hard you try or there may be no jobs in the area so you become unemployed. Although there are also those in this group who may not of taking these neccessary steps to prevent pregnancy or get a job.
Monday, 7 June 2010
Status
In sociology people can be described as having an 'Ascribed Status' or/and an 'Achieved Status'.
-'Ascribed Status' is the status you have in which you have no control.
-'Achieved Status' is the status in which you seek to achieve.
In my school community the 'Achieved Status' is required. This can be seen because the pupils would not particapate in 5th or 6th if they did not want to achieve something. In other words the educational sides of people must be 'Achieved Status' or they would not get far.
It is also fair to say i have an 'Ascribed Status': My personality and the social identification i have means that i have no control over what peoples opinions of me are and how this effects me or the aspects of myself that i inherit from my parents AKA my genes.
The 'norms' expected of me by society and especially my parents means that my 'Achieved Status' would be influenced by their targets because i would not like to disappoint them, this could be done consciously or sub-consciously. 'Norms' also effect my 'Ascribed Status' because in certain parts of my personality society will expect me to behave in certain way and i will comply with this.
Gender effects my 'Ascribes Status' because i have no control over it but i could choose not to act in a feminine way which would be appropriate for my gender and this would effect my 'Achieved Status'. It is a choice i have made to comply to society expectations of me as a female such as wear make-up, dress up, etc. It is however fair to say that some aspects of my personality are ascribed because i am given these traits when i was born: such as the ability to understand emotions more or my lack of competitiveness can be explained as gender traits. However they may be atributes of both genders in some cases.
A person is made up of both achieved and ascribed status and it would be impossible for them to be either/or since everyone must have 'Achieved Status' as this is free will, which we are all given. They must also have 'Ascribed Status' because there will always be things we cannot change such as gender or ethnicity.
-'Ascribed Status' is the status you have in which you have no control.
-'Achieved Status' is the status in which you seek to achieve.
In my school community the 'Achieved Status' is required. This can be seen because the pupils would not particapate in 5th or 6th if they did not want to achieve something. In other words the educational sides of people must be 'Achieved Status' or they would not get far.
It is also fair to say i have an 'Ascribed Status': My personality and the social identification i have means that i have no control over what peoples opinions of me are and how this effects me or the aspects of myself that i inherit from my parents AKA my genes.
The 'norms' expected of me by society and especially my parents means that my 'Achieved Status' would be influenced by their targets because i would not like to disappoint them, this could be done consciously or sub-consciously. 'Norms' also effect my 'Ascribed Status' because in certain parts of my personality society will expect me to behave in certain way and i will comply with this.
Gender effects my 'Ascribes Status' because i have no control over it but i could choose not to act in a feminine way which would be appropriate for my gender and this would effect my 'Achieved Status'. It is a choice i have made to comply to society expectations of me as a female such as wear make-up, dress up, etc. It is however fair to say that some aspects of my personality are ascribed because i am given these traits when i was born: such as the ability to understand emotions more or my lack of competitiveness can be explained as gender traits. However they may be atributes of both genders in some cases.
A person is made up of both achieved and ascribed status and it would be impossible for them to be either/or since everyone must have 'Achieved Status' as this is free will, which we are all given. They must also have 'Ascribed Status' because there will always be things we cannot change such as gender or ethnicity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
