SB12

First of all I just have to say that I am glad that this is the final blog:) It was interesting to say the least since I had never done blogging before this class. I think I may continue with it but not on a weekly basis. Ok now back to the assignment...

This week we talked about social change as well as how technology influences inequality. Before technology took over all of our lives, social changes and movements were done by events such as sit-ins, debates, marches and people willing to be open about their beliefs in change. Now with the help of technology; it seems that more and more people are opening up to voicing their opinions of wanting change. I think it helps that people have the choice of anonymity or at least more so that going in person and marching for change. Although I feel that technology fits more under the collective behavior approach because most of the topics people discuss usually influence intense emotional responses. In a sense I feel it takes a lot of the dangers of being singled out for believing in something which is a good thing. At the same time I feel it could also be a way for people to hide and nothing will change. Technology is a double edged sword that is going to be even more two sided as technology advance and may even make things more confusing.

Speaking of confusing, I was confused by how the "four types" could be applied under the Three typologies of social movements. I see that alternative and redemptive focuses on parts of a population whereas reformative and revolutionary includes everyone but I have a hard time thinking of examples for each.  Maybe someone could give me examples in someone's comment?

As we talked about social changes and movements, there were two people that popped into my mind; Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ghandi. These were two influential men created social movements that helped redefine the status quo of today's society. Although they may be gone, their words have inspired people for decades and now going on generations. Their voices will never be forgotten and that is why I feel this picture is fitting to their memory. Gandhi makes the comment to Martin Luther King Jr. that "...they think they killed you" but what the assassins underestimated was the power of words and knowledge. And that is what makes these men legendary in the world of social change and movements.



pakistanisforpeace.wordpress.com
 

SB11

This week in class we watched the documentary called Solar Mamas. It reminded me of a saying my dad told me as a little girl; "Girls can do anything just as well as boys, if not better". This movie definitely depicted that statement and I was so happy that Rafea succeeded in the end.

It was interesting seeing the background story of Rafea and how women are treated in Jordan. To think she had nine children (if i remember correctly) and at the end of the movie she had one more on the way?! I especially didn't think she would have another child with her husband after all the troubles and torment he put her through. I couldn't imagine being in her shoes, not able to choose my own life, had to follow a man's rules with no opinion of my own and on top of it being the second wife. I don't know how those women did it and do it to this day, they must be incredibly strong mentally to live like that day after day.  I was outraged by the husband giving her such a hard time for her wanting to have a better life for her and her daughters. She deserved this once in a lifetime chance, to go to India and become an engineer. I didn't understand why he kept changing his mind and then blaming her. I mean why give her such ahard time especially if she is just the second wife whom he doesn't spend much time wiht anyways? Why should he have so much say?

It definitely puts into perspective life here, how much freedom we have and how things could be they way they were 100 years ago or like Jordan today. I truly hope that Rafea's determination proved to those women in her village that they are capable of becoming something greater than just a wife. That they are and should be treated just the same as men.

I also was thrilled when Rafea went back to India and was able to finish the program. You could see how happy it made her and she proved her family wrong. It is probably the most accomplished thing she has ever done in her life and she didn't give up! Good for her! More of us need to learn from her example. It was even better when she was being rebellious and not wearing her head dress all the time and people kept trying to put it up. You rock Rafea! Keep it up, remember you are a strong woman who has the power to change the world!

  Found a picture from google search of Rafea and some of her friends in India. (Look at how happy they are!)

SB10

Social order or Culture of fear? One of the thoughts we talked about in class. I think it's a bit of both because society and the media exaggerate the goods and the bads of all that goes on, which in turn society bases the "norms" around what the media describes. It is a vicious cycle and can be a scary one at that. As stated in our class notes, "fear is profitable" and that is why the media goes nuts with it, becoming a "peudler of fear".
One example I can think of is 9/11. I remember watching the television as they kept replaying the planes crashing into the twin towers over and over again. Almost every channel that day and for months afterwards having picutres of people burried alive, jumping from burning buildings, ashes and debris filling the air covering everything in its path, and the death. It is images like this that burn in our minds forever and the media loves displaying them because it is either profitable or gets people wound up. I can't imagine how much profit they made off of people buying guns, funerals, memorial services, and rebuilding of homes and business in 2001 alone. This also brought up the fear of traveling at all, people cancelled trips, replanned honeymoons or moved to different cities because of this tragedy. Fear is so powerful and can change even the bravest of people. Fear, can also make us stronger. On September 11, 2001 we were untied by fear. We stopped what we were doing to help others, humanity was restored that day and those that followed. I almost feel that we were reborn as a country that day, I just wish that it didn't have to be under such terrible situations.


 http://lasvegas.informermg.com/files/2013/09/9-11-01.jpg

SB9

It is interesting to see how much variety there can be between generations even when they are back to back of each other. It was nice when traditions and well groomed behaviors were passed down but now I feel that the more recent cultural transmission is lacking or being ignored by, unfortunately, my generation and below. My generation is so absorbed with modern technology and having the luxury of a computer telling us anything we need to know at a moments notice. The idea of the internet crashing is simply devastating to us even if its only for a few moments, an example I can give of this was when our Trivia team this weekend lost internet connection for a half hour. Our whole team freaked out because we expect it to alway be there. What happened to the value of knowledge gathered from studying books, encyclopedias and product wrappers?

Technology not only effects our minds but our bodies, health and outlook on what is considered to be an "ideal life". The fact that obesity is becoming an overwhelming epidemic, especially in today's younger generations, is largely due to our need to be in front of a television, computer or on our iphones instead of enjoying the outdoors by playing in the yard, going for a bike ride or just simply laying out in the grass reading a good book. I was shocked to hear that over 30% of adults are obese in Mississippi... it makes me wonder how bad will it get before we start taking serious action?? Society causes its own damage by simply imprinting these "perfect" lives, diets, and looks we must achieve in order to be considered in the norm. Society uses the our technology addiction by sending us pictures and public statuses to make us feel bad about ourself and tries to convince us that we must be a certain way. We need to change this view of society, our peers and most importantly ourselves. That is definitely one area we are lacking in our cultural transmission from the past.

I found this picture on Google image and feel that it is appropriate on how we view ourselves, whether we admit it out loud or keep it to ourselves. It is how society brain washes us and gets us to do these ridiculous diets and change our values just to "fit in" and put money in their pockets.

SB8

I wish more classes had games relating to our class subjects just like Sociopoly. It was an entertaining day and was a intriguing way to spend class time at eight o'clock in the morning.
 Our game was based on socioeconomic statuses and I was the top hat; the highest status. I was privileged with all the railroads, park place, boardwalk and the normal $1500 to start off with. The lowest team in our game only started off with $90. I felt guilty playing the game as the rest of my classmates struggled with their finances and landing on my properties which caused all but one person (team) to go bankrupt. Of course if it wasn't for my explosion of an ending the game (I accidentally knocked the board over trying to get my free parking money) I think the last team would have also gone bankrupt within the following turns.
At the end when we had to discuss how we would rewrite the rules and what all happened within the game, I felt that those in my group ganged up on me. "The rich should pay more than us in taxes, The rich should pay more getting out of jail, the rich shouldn't get that much passing GO". My thoughts were why focus on the rich? How about making it like regular monopoly and everyone starting out with the same amount, same taxes, same properties starting out (or none). Why not give more to those who need it than take away from those who have too much. Don't we want to bring everyone up? Not send more people down? Another thing that caused a lot of chaos in the game was everyone having to pay their $20 in order to be eligible for Free parking. It meant nothing to me since I had so much money but for others in the game that was a third of their "GO" payments. Its like buying a lottery ticket for every drawing even though we know the chances of winning are close to impossible. Either way I found the game exciting and slightly un-challenging because of my fortunate beginnings. (as well as I play regular monopoly on a daily basis and collect them) It was a great way to show how the real world's society and economic statuses are and I enjoyed the class time. 

SB7

Class this week was interesting talking about institutions and ideologies. I found it fascinating watching the transgender parenting video and how close minded we are as a society when it comes to defining a family. I think we have all heard the saying "We choose our friends, not our family"? Well I don't find that entirely true, I have many friends that I consider family, many are my parents friends that have been in my life since birth whom I considered as aunts, uncles, role models, etc. My best gal friends from kindergarten I consider as my sister because I feel I can share anything with her. One of my "brothers" has a two year old whom I consider my nephew as if he was my own blood. And don't those of us who are pet lovers find ourselves considering our pets as "our children". I know I do so what difference is it whom we consider family? Who are we to judge on how a family should be and who should be in it. I find my "extended family" no different than those who are gay or transgender wanting to have children or consider themselves in a different parenting role than society demands them to be. We think too much inside the box and I was glad when the daughter in the video stood up for her parent as she was trying to figure out what she wanted to define herself as. I know there are some people who have problems with being gay or homosexuals getting married but I think it is an awesome thing. It may not be something I choose for myself but I see no reason why people can't be happy with themselves and find others who make them feel special. My dad always makes the joke "Let them be as miserable as the rest of us". His philosophy is no one should get married, too much stress lol. I have a cousin who is gay and his partner is an absolute sweetheart and I hope that someday they get the chance to officialize their togetherness and maybe have a family of their own.

Here are some of my "extended siblings" to prove that you can choose your family and blood is not always the thickest bond.

   ..... ok never mind this website apparently thinks my photos are too large to add to my post:( So! On to Google Pics! This clip resembles the fact we need to think beyond the binary boundaries and be more accepting. 



http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=3_usvLThJK3iCM&tbnid=d4wVSTM1W-ELEM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hanfordsentinel.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fschools-prepare-for-transgender-law%2Farticle_32cbd57a-6459-11e3-922a-0019bb2963f4.html&ei=FvA4U8XWEOvfsAS4tYKoDg&bvm=bv.63808443,d.b2I&psig=AFQjCNEs2UzzDOJF2H_8_Oxf5vzzqRTkpA&ust=1396326663440185

SB4

What was your favorite toy(s) as a child? The one thing you would play with hours on end without switching your attention to something else. Maybe one that has been passed down through generations or something you got from someone special that made you smile. Now think about how society would define the toy. What I mean is, would society define it as a girls toy, boys, or no preference (unisex)? 

One of my favorite toys was Lego's, and I am not talking about the duplos. I am talking about the small pieces with knights, castles, spaceships and blocks of multiple colors; mainly primary colors for the longest time. My father introduced me to his love of Lego's when I was two years old, a little young for playing with pieces so small, but lucky for my dad I was not a child that ate them. 

I never considered the thought that Lego's that I played with were considered more of a "boys" toy. I just knew that it was something dad and I loved to do. It wasn't until my grandma and other family members bought me pink Duplo Lego's because they were more "girly" and was afraid I was turning too much into a tomboy. My guy friends would come over and play Lego's with me and would just be brutal to my Lego's, throwing them as they had their epic battles, bitting off the heads and breaking some of the pieces. I would get so mad but I was considered "such a girl" when I would fuss that the Lego's were not in their rightful places. 

As I grew older Lego introduced the "Friends" Lego just for girls! Bright pink and purple Lego's where the pieces and people were bigger, for our smaller hands, not being able to change outfits or come apart like the traditional Lego's. I was frustrated that the thing I loved the most as a child was being in a sense segregated by the gender that you were. 

Growing up with this confusion I would ask my dad if I was meant to be a boy since I liked "boy" Lego's. He would explain that Lego's were meant for anyone and the variations in the Lego sets were just to help introduce more kids into liking the Lego's. It didn't matter what Lego's I liked and that I never had to be a boy to do or play with anything. My dad always encouraged my sister and I to do anything we wanted and to never let anyone tell us it was "just for boys" or "was a man's place", we were just as good (if not better) than any boy. He helped my oppression for liking a stereotypical boys toy and made it an awesome childhood full of happy memories as well as a continuing obsession for collecting Lego's to this day.