Part 1
George Ritzer defines socialization as the process that allows an individual to learn and accepts the ways of a group or society as a whole (Ritzer 154). This is the theme for this part of the paper. Individuals would always find themselves in the midst of this process as they go about their daily activities. Socialization becomes inevitable in a dynamic environment where people lives by the cliché no man is an island. For this particular theme, I find myself exploring the realm of socialization in a neutral environment—a party. I refer to this as a neutral environment because while people knows each other at a party, hardly do you see people collective communicating to the entire group. Instead, you see then individually grouped. So unless you are with someone in a party you do not know anyone in particular, you don’t necessarily find yourself socializing with other people not unless you intend to ask where the bathroom is or you are just a social “animal” that you jive along with people really quick. Other than that, people typically go about their own business not sincerely minding other people unless something is worthy of their attention. One thing I noticed at parties is how people are collectively grouped. Group of girls versus the group of boys. (Word Count: 217)
This was almost similar to what I have expected. Anyone who does not belong to a group will be casted out or will be treated differently. Gender role plays an important role in the process of socialization. It is almost like a standard that creates social order. Insisting on breaking the order will result to a disruption. Individuals need to find their niche into the society if they want to feel that they are right where they should be or if they effectively want to feel a sense of belongingness. (Word Count: 90)
Although this grouping is not always competitive in nature, gender roles play a significant influence to this stratification. Kohlberg describes this aspect of socialization as associating one’s self according to one’s gender role (Ritzer 156). There is a sense of belongingness and comfort when people are grouped in this manner because they feel comfortable. Displacing this order would almost create a sense of disruption or an imbalance in the social circle. Freud supported the theory on gender roles with his theory of the mind (Ritzer 154). According to Freud, the self is designed to find its niche depending on how one values one’s self (Marcia). This is also how Erikson stated his theory on social development, where Erikson noted the different stages of social development which eventually helps create values that allows individuals to interact more significantly to others (Franz and White). (Word Count: 142)
Overall, this experience allowed me to learn that socialization is not simply a process limited to social interaction. Rather, the process of socialization involved a system that would allow for the perfect balance of interaction as determined by social norms through gender roles and self-identification. (Word Count: 46)
Part 2
Page. 324.
- What is the difference between race and ethnicity? What are the seminaries? How have biological and cultural explanations helped to create racial and ethnic differences.
The traditional definitions of ethnicity and race are related to the sociological and biological factors respectively. Race is associated with one’s appearance such as skin color, hair, and eye color and body structure. On the other hand, ethnicity is associated with cultural factors such as nationality, ancestry, culture, beliefs and language. However, in common understanding, race does not only draw from differences in physical attributes but also of religion, nationality and language. Such notions are often developed through generalizations and association of a particular race with certain ethnic features.
- Barrack Obama is an offspring of a white mother and a black African father, but more often than not he is referred to as black. What does this suggest about the nature of race in US? What are the consequences of this perception?
Based on the case of Obama, the case of ethnicity in the US is complex. Apparently apart from physical appearance, there are other factors that determine a person’s race. These factors are based on public conceptions and misconceptions. In the US, an individual is associated with a particular race when one of his/her parent is from that race and he/she possess some of the physical characteristics of that race. The consequences of such perceptions is that people may be associated with and thereby judged basing on particular ethnic groups that they actually know nothing about.
- What criteria do sociologists use to define a majority group? How do major majority groups maintain their positions of privilege?
Sociologists define majority groups basing on the positions of social power. As such, a majority group is that which holds the most positions of social power. These groups maintain their privileged positions through social forces and use their power social positions to deny the rest chances to access privileged positions.
- What are the different motivations for racism? What are some mechanics that minorities have used against racism?
The main motivations of racism are the social positions of power enjoyed by the majority groups and privileges that come with them. Additionally, racism is driven by skeptic tendencies towards people with different appearances. Minority groups fight racism through participating in activity that disapproves the stereotypes they are associated with. They can also form unions or organization which forces governments to pass laws against racist tendencies.
- How would you characterize majority-minority relations on a global level? What advantages do majority groups have on a global level?
Based on stereotypes on rigid perceptions of different groups across the world, the relationships between minority and majority groups on the global level are characterize by unequal power, prestige, and resources and presumed worth. The basic reason behind the feelings of power is derived from presumed intelligence, property, technology, economic prowess and weapons. Based on their position, the majority are greatly exploiting the minority on the global level thereby enhancing their positions while making the minority more desperate.
2. What are the differences in the ways that men and women approach sexuality? How are the approaches related to the socialization process? Do you think that increasing equality between men and women will change this approaches?
Generally, men show great desire for sex compared to women. Additionally, most men focus on the physical aspects in a relationship. They are drawn, stimulated and captivated by the sight of their wife. While men put a higher priority to sex, women have a different orientation which requires a different approach. Women are more orientated to a relationship, the attitude, the words, the actions and whole individual. These approaches are related to the socialization process in the approaches of both men and women are closely linked to their gender roles in the society. The advent of equality between men and women hall certainly change this approaches as women shall tend to be more aggressive.
- What is the difference between sex and gender? How does sex affect gender? How does gender affect sexuality?
Sex refers to the biological differences between men and women while gender refers to the social roles and the features that a society delineates as either feminine or masculine. Gender determines the approaches that men and women have towards sexuality.
8. In what ways has the sex industry become increasing important to global capitalism? How is the sex industry reflective of gender stratifications? How is it reflective of the inequalities between the global north and the south?
The sex industry is considered a source of in as women particularly from areas affected by hardships and wars are traded as sex objects. The beneficiary of the industry is often the agents of sex trafficking while women have little benefits and voice. Based on the fact that women form the most numbers of people traded for sex, the industries reflect a stratified gender framework where women are viewed as sex objects and thereby less valuable. As the trends of sex trafficking increase the south, the industry indicates the existing unequal distribution of wealth between the north and south. The global north basically forms the market for sex traded women.
10. What types of violence are women likely to experience when they live in places experiencing war other types of armed conflicts?
In areas affected by war, women are likely to face physical violence just as men. However, as most of them are highly vulnerable due to their nature, the impact of such physical violence is very severe leading to severe injuries and death. Additionally women are affected by hunger are often victims of sexual harassment.
p.175
1. How can we use literature on feral children to explain the importance of interaction to human development? In what ways does this relate to the ‘nature’ vs ‘nurture’ debate?
While some historical details on the feral children lack strong evidence and may be fictions at times, this literature provides a great insight into the importance of the environment in the development of human beings. For instance, 1774, one such child was found rooming in Hamlin and was given to the custody of King George i. As the child has already passed crucial stages in his life, he never learned any language and was completely indifferent to cash. This relates to the debate of nature and nurture because while the feral children show all the features of human beings, they have a wild behavior which relates to the environment in which they grew.
2. According to Mead, what distinguishes humans from non-humans?
Based on Mead’s views, what distinguishes humans from other beings is that humans have the ability to consciously delay a response to a particular stimulus Mead look at humans as active beings which synthesize stimuli through various cognitive processes rather than passively receiving and responding to stimuli.
3. How does the socialization process help individuals develop their sense of self? Why are games so important to the socialization process?
Socialization leads to a social conception of individual self. This implies that the self is a product of social interaction. According to Mead, the self is never there at birth and thereby continuously develops throughout ones existence. The self emerges and grows in the process of social activities and social experience. Play in a child’s socialization process provides a free environment where he/she interacts with the society and experiences upon which he/she formulates a sense of self.
- What is the difference between the ‘I’ and the ‘ME’? Why would people and the society as a whole need the ‘I’ and the ‘ME’?
According to Mead, the ME refers to the social self while the I is developed as a response to the ME.The is thereby formed based on individual impulses and it is the self as a subject while the ME is the self as subject. People and the whole society require the ‘I” and the “ME” as everyone has to first exist in the society before they develop personal consciousness. Every individual has to participate in social activities and positions within the society to be in a position to subsequently use the social experience to develop perspectives of others and thus to become self-conscious.
5. According to Goffman, in what ways do we use impression management in our front-stage regions? Why would a sociologist say that racism has been increasingly related to the back stage? What is problematic about this development?
According Goffman, people have a consistent desire to influence how others perceive them. He referred to this as impression management. People use front stage regions where they meet with others to manage the impressions they create. This is done through appearance, the manner of interacting and social setting. Sociologist would say that racism has been increasingly relegated to the back stage as most racists people are racists as they have formed generalizations and assigned different people stereotypes upon which they judge them or form their attitudes towards them, yet due to the increasing trends against racism, these attributes are often hidden in the front stage.
Work Cited
Franz, Carol and Kathleen White. "Individuation and attachment in personality development: Extending Erikson's theory." Journal of Personality (1985): 224–256. Print.
Marcia, James. "Development and validation of ego identity status." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (1966): 551-558. Print.
Ritzer, George. Introduction to Sociology. New York: SAGE Publication, 2015. Print.
