I have a feeling this assignment about "Middle Adulthood Relationships" was designed with the “traditional” college student (recent high school graduate) in mind. It has been many moons since my high school graduation and I am closer to the “middle age” category than I would like to admit. While for most students completing this assignment, parents would fall into the category of the middle adulthood range, my parents have already passed this mark, so yippee for me, I get to answer this assignment about my friends instead of my parents!
What characterizes my relationships with individuals in middle adulthood (40-60 yrs old)?
Friendship is what characterizes my relationships with those in middle adulthood. Most of my friends at this point in my life fall slightly below or right inside the lower limit of the middle adulthood age range.
What is the nature of your interactions?
The answer to this question can be pulled directly from our textbook. The nature of my interactions with this group is to help each other in our endeavors towards, “Expanding personal and social involvement and responsibility; reaching and maintaining satisfaction in a career, and assisting the next generation in becoming competent, mature individuals.”
The vast majority of my social set is comprised of parents with children in similar stages as mine. We all try to help each other in any way we can, and have fun through this journey of life together. It is a hard job to be a parent, and I am glad I have friends to encourage me, laugh with me, cry with me, and advise me. I have a few very close friends who I depend on a lot for advice and I don’t know what I’d do without them!
On what things do you see eye-to-eye? Where do you disagree?
I see eye to eye with my friends on what I consider my core values, or what I view as most important to have in myself and find in others with whom I choose to spend time. These values are honesty, kindness, dependability, a strong work ethic, determination, curiosity, a sense of humor, playfulness, adventure, and a positive outlook on life. Where we may disagree falls along the dividing line of politics, but I love them anyway.
How effective is your communication with one another?
Since I am by nature a direct, in your face kind of person, communicating doesn’t seem to be an issue for me. With my set of close friends particularly, I am able to talk about personal, intimate parts of my life. This ability is fostered by the knowledge that there is an understanding of trust and care in the way we treat each other. I am so glad to be past the stage of life where friends more often than not turned out to be “frenemies”. Relational drama is SO overrated.
What things do you wish they could or would try to understand?
I really can’t think of anything besides politics for the answer to this question. But I am not going to hold my breath that anyone will change their views to match mine. Every single one of my friends is very smart, and thus they have their reasoning for their political beliefs, so I respect that and generally don’t even bring the topic up.
What would make your relationships better and closer?
The quality of all relationships is determined by the time and effort put into maintaining them. So, it stands to reason that more time together would enhance our friendships, but we are all very busy, so making more time for each other isn’t easy. Besides, I am very satisfied with all of my friendships as they currently stand. I am very fortunate to have the friends I have, I appreciate them all immensely.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Kindergarten Boot Camp
While likely unable to verbalize the fact, at the age of five children learn that there is no room for child directed spontaneity or creative suggestion in the American school classroom. The primary purpose of kindergarten is to teach children the student role, consisting of conforming, lining up, following directions, not interrupting, etc. The teacher in Gracey’s article, Kindergarten as Boot Camp, Edith Kerr, provided a clear example of how well intentioned, ill trained teachers systematically eliminate the spontaneous interests and observations of students. Kerr repeatedly ignored the children in such attempts and refused to deviate from the structured lesson plan. Having children learn the student role is positive to an extent. It obviously benefits the management of behavior in the classroom, which makes the teacher’s job easier. Additionally, as a part of American society, we must all follow basic rules and submit to different forms of authority. Thus, learning how to follow directions and behave appropriately in the classroom helps prepare children for the everyday societal interaction they will encounter in the future.
A negative aspect to the traditional student role is the child’s indoctrination to following unvaried routines and responding "mindlessly" to cues. The traditional student role does not allow for self regulated learning, which keeps the child from being an integral part of their own learning experience. A better approach is to teach the student role from a social constructivist model of teaching. This complex model of teaching and learning values both child-initiated and teacher-initiated learning experiences and interactions. “This view sees learning as social in origin and transferred through the mediation of cultural tools (e.g. language, books, symbols) to the individual where the learning is internalized in thought." [1] This type of learning approach allows for the child to express individuality, encourages creativity and has been proven very effective, which begs the question as to why this approach is not more widely used.
2. Should American women continue to give birth in the lithotomic position? If yes, why? If no, why not?
A perfect example of social conditioning is the American practice of using the prone lithotomic position for labor and delivery in childbirth. Even though studies have shown that giving birth in the upright position as opposed to the traditional American lithotomic position, makes for a delivery experience where the mother has more ease in pushing, less pain during pushing, fewer backaches, shorter second stages, and fewer perineal tears, the lithotomic position continues to dominate in the delivery room. The only benefit of the lithotomic position seems to be convenience for the attending physician, because it provides a good position for examination. The upright birthing position has also been proven safer for the baby, as evidenced by fewer forceps deliveries, higher levels of oxygen in the umbilical cord and higher Apgar scores. There are no known adverse effects from delivering in the upright position. Since logically it serves both mother and child better to give birth in the upright position, it appears that America continues the practice of labor and delivery in the lithotomic position largely as tradition. It is time to change the socialization of American childbirth. I find it a sad statement, but I suppose celebrities will need to set the example since fascination and emulation of all that is Hollywood appears to enthrall the majority of Americans.
[1] Hedges, Helen. "Teaching in early childhood: Time to merge constructivist views so learning through play equals teaching through play." Australian Journal of Early Childhood 25.4 (Dec 2000): 16. Academic OneFile. Gale. Palm Beach State College, CCLA. 16 Nov. 2010
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Sexually Explicit Media Access...Abuse?
As discussed in the text, adolescents who watch or listened to sexually explicit media are more likely to engage in sexual activities. Should parents who allow their children to access such media be charged with emotional or psychological child abuse? Why or why not?
I think the answer to this question depends on the intent and specifications of each situation. The type of access and particular media involved should be considered as determining factors. If a parent provides or encourages viewing of sexually explicit material such as pornographic movies or magazines, then I would say yes, they should be charged with abuse. If a parent has a “Joy of Sex” book on their bedroom bookshelf, I don’t think it should warrant the same type of reaction. The definitions of access and media would need to be very well defined in order to answer this question. Think about the word access. Is it allowing an adolescent access to sexually explicit material by having a computer in the house that is not set up with parental blocks? Or what about giving them a cell phone without parental blocks? Is allowing an adolescent the freedom to spend their allowance on un-monitored purchases providing “access”? Now think about the term sexually explicit materials. Is allowing an adolescent the freedom to go to a museum or library that holds art in the form of nudes, providing access? The overarching issue in this situation is intent.
I think the answer to this question depends on the intent and specifications of each situation. The type of access and particular media involved should be considered as determining factors. If a parent provides or encourages viewing of sexually explicit material such as pornographic movies or magazines, then I would say yes, they should be charged with abuse. If a parent has a “Joy of Sex” book on their bedroom bookshelf, I don’t think it should warrant the same type of reaction. The definitions of access and media would need to be very well defined in order to answer this question. Think about the word access. Is it allowing an adolescent access to sexually explicit material by having a computer in the house that is not set up with parental blocks? Or what about giving them a cell phone without parental blocks? Is allowing an adolescent the freedom to spend their allowance on un-monitored purchases providing “access”? Now think about the term sexually explicit materials. Is allowing an adolescent the freedom to go to a museum or library that holds art in the form of nudes, providing access? The overarching issue in this situation is intent.
Religiosity
Why do you think that females show higher levels of religiosity than males?
I attempted to find a definitive factual answer as to the cause of the disproportionate level of religiosity attributed to the female sex. While I was able to find plenty of articles stating women are in fact more religious than men, only opinions as to the determining factor were offered. The fact that studies have shown women to have higher levels of religiosity does not necessarily indicate that women have more spiritual faith. Faith is one aspect of religiosity. Religiosity is defined as a comprehensive sociological term used to refer to the numerous aspects of religious activity, dedication, and belief (religious doctrine). So while women may be found to be more religious, it does not necessarily equate with men having less of a personal faith in a higher power. It is widely accepted that women are more social than men. It stands to reason then, that women have higher levels of religiosity, partly due to the social interaction that is part of organized religious activities. I asked some of my friends (religious and non-religious) what they thought of the assigned topic question. There seemed to be a consensus that women find it easier to rely on something other than their selves for strength. I personally think the characteristics of obedience and submissiveness that are part of the female socialization experience in America may also contribute to the statistical imbalance.
I attempted to find a definitive factual answer as to the cause of the disproportionate level of religiosity attributed to the female sex. While I was able to find plenty of articles stating women are in fact more religious than men, only opinions as to the determining factor were offered. The fact that studies have shown women to have higher levels of religiosity does not necessarily indicate that women have more spiritual faith. Faith is one aspect of religiosity. Religiosity is defined as a comprehensive sociological term used to refer to the numerous aspects of religious activity, dedication, and belief (religious doctrine). So while women may be found to be more religious, it does not necessarily equate with men having less of a personal faith in a higher power. It is widely accepted that women are more social than men. It stands to reason then, that women have higher levels of religiosity, partly due to the social interaction that is part of organized religious activities. I asked some of my friends (religious and non-religious) what they thought of the assigned topic question. There seemed to be a consensus that women find it easier to rely on something other than their selves for strength. I personally think the characteristics of obedience and submissiveness that are part of the female socialization experience in America may also contribute to the statistical imbalance.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The Merchant of Venice…A Theatre Novice’s Review
Performance Locale: Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 44th Street N.Y.C.
Performance Date: 11/04/2010
Written By: William Shakespeare, published 1623
Director: Daniel Sullivan
Executive Producer: Joey Parnes
Starring: Al Pacino as “Shylock”
Kim M.Cotton in place of Lily Rabe as “Portia”
David Harbour as “Bassanio” Byron Jennings as “Antonio”
Seth Numrich as “Lorenzo Jesse L.Martin as “Gratiano”
Peter F. James as “Salerio” Marsha S. Blake as “Narissa”
The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s most controversial tragicomedy plays. Shakespeare artfully blends serious and humorous elements of the storyline throughout the play. There exists an overarching theme of hate, prejudice and anti-Semitic sympathy, but also brings in the themes of love and betrayal, virtue and vice, and forgiveness and revenge.
Setting:The play shifts between Venice, Italy where the character of Antonio resides, to Belmont, Italy where the female lead character Portia resides. The time period is early Renaissance.
Plot:The major conflict of the play concerns the forfeit of a loan contract between the Jewish moneylender Shylock, and Antonio, an anti-Semitic Christian merchant. The penalty of nonpayment is to be paid with a pound of Antonio’s flesh, which Shylock himself will carve out and collect. Antonio indebted himself to Shylock in the amount of 3,000 ducats for the benefit of his “friend” Bassanio.
It is apparent that Antonio is in love with Bassanio, though he knows Bassanio is in love with a woman named “Portia”. The 3,000 ducats in fact, Bassanio begged Antonio for, in order to woo Portia. What is not made apparent is whether Antonio and Bassanio are or ever had been lovers, or if Antonio merely plays with Antonio’s affections in order to make gain.
When Bassanio, victorious in his attempt to engage himself to Portia, appears merry and joyous, Bassanio receives a letter in which Antonio pleads for his return, so he may see Bassanio one last time before he is made to repay the debt he has defaulted on. Comedic action ensues when Portia and her maid Narissa, engaged to Bassanio’s friend Gratiano, costume themselves as men in order to carry out a plan to save Antonio. The women trick their betrothed into returning the rings the women had gifted each of the men in celebration of their love, with the instruction to never let it part from the finger on which they placed it.
The women are successful in saving Antonio from Shylock’s knife and scale. Portia is able to manipulate the law in such a manner that Antonio is able to make a demand from Shylock to convert to Christianity. Shylock is made to go through the motions of conversion, but puts his yarmulke on the moment the conversion ceremony is completed, in defiance of authority for which he risks his life. Bassanio and Gratiano learn of their fiancés actions and are chastised for parting with their rings. The play ends with all of the couples moving forward in their lives together, with the knowledge of the preceding events surely forever ingrained in their minds.
Sub-Plot:As an off-shoot storyline, Shylock’s daughter Jessica falls in love with a Christian man Lorenzo, a part of Bassanio’s group of friends. She steals Shylock’s money and elopes with Lorenzo, agreeing to convert her faith to Christianity in order to marry him. This of course incenses her father, a man who has suffered much humiliation and abuse from Christians.
Critique
Acting:All of the actors played their parts very well. There were no mistakes or break in willing suspension of disbelief due to their fault.
Set Design:I am not sure I understood the director’s vision in regard to the set design. The only scenery onstage was moving metal frames and staircases. It was distracting.
Costuming:The actors were dressed in 19th century attire which did not fit the time period of the play. This was also distracting.
Lighting & Sound:The actors were easily heard, and the lighting must have been appropriate for I didn’t even take notice of it.
Final Thoughts:My overall impression of the performance was very positive. I enjoyed having the opportunity to watch Mr. Pacino perform live. At the very beginning of the play I was worried I wouldn’t understand the Elizabethan language used in the dialogue. But very soon into the play I didn’t even notice it any longer. However, it is to the credit of the actors that I was able to comprehend Mr. Shakespeare’s words. I highly doubt that I would be able to make much sense of the play in written form. In reviewing the information provided in the class textbook, it is hard to determine for sure if this play would be classified as having a climactic or episodic structure, as it has some qualities from each type. It is interesting to note that the play was used as part of Nazi propaganda during Hitler’s regime.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Women, Cars & Rationalization
ARTICLE ONE REPLY:
Helene Lawson’s article, Attacking Nicely: Women Selling Cars, illustrates the difference between how males and females experience the world. Young girls are socialized as to how to act and even think and feel. Females are taught to place importance on taking the needs of others into consideration, and to maintain honesty in relations. This societal grooming is not diluted through the following years of maturation, but instead becomes firmly solidified as a part of a woman’s self image.
Lawson’s article presents the idea that in a field historically dominated by males, women have changed the business of selling cars. As an inherent aspect of the profession, car salespeople are involved in situations laced with dishonesty, distrust, and immoral dealings. It is understood that salespeople deal with these issues in multiple ways. They may choose to focus on monetary goals, suppress any reflection of ethicality, claim innocence through feigned unawareness, justify behavior as acting in obedience to superiors, or lastly blame the customer for any negative interaction.
Lawson depicts how females adapt to an incompatible status through the method of role making. The addition of women into the field of car sales is generally not well received by men. The interactions between co-workers of opposite genders are expected to remain an area of conflict until there is a more gender balanced ratio. More important than co-worker relationships, is the ability to overcome the negative reception female salespeople often receive when dealing with male customers. In order to overcome this prejudice and make sales Lawson asserts that the saleswomen adapt to the following roles: Innocents, Ladies, Tough Guys, Reformers and Retreaters. This role adaptation is an aspect of how women have changed the business of selling cars. Lawson proposes that in these roles, women make use of their personalities and socialized female gender traits to sell cars. The female socialization experience provides saleswomen a higher level of introspection and different value perspectives than their male counterparts, which has been found to be a positive moderating influence on the interactions between salespersons and customers.
It is in the Reformer role where women contribute possibly the largest positive change in the business of selling cars. Motivated by interpersonal conflict (due to female socialization) over imposed priorities and the subsequent interactions these priorities engendered, Reformers concentrate on building customer trust. Saleswomen build trust through using sales tactics comprised of honesty, patience, and understanding, which provide a stability of relationship. Women have positively influenced the business of selling cars by providing an alternate definition of success, which delineates keeping one’s personal values, helping to achieve quality of life both at work and in the home.
ARTICLE TWO REPLY:
In Robin Leidner’s article, Over the Counter at McDonald’s, rationalization is defined as the process of making things efficient through rules designed to reduce unexpected events, while increasing control and predictability. While the article on McDonald’s business methods depicts the epitome of rationalization, society is undergoing rationalization every day in many other aspects. At the forefront of societal rationalization is monetary gain. Consumer rationalization has been aided greatly by technological advancement. Technology is defined as a body of knowledge used to create tools, develop skills, and extract or collect materials, or the application of science to meet an objective or solve a problem. The problem technology aids in regard to efficiency is largely related to consumer spending. The use of VISA/debit cards has made the process of spending money much quicker. Instead of wasting valuable spending time at the checkout counter counting out dollars and cents, or writing a check, most people today just zip their VISA/debit card down the slot, press four numbers on the keypad or sign their name, and off they go to the next spending opportunity. This method increases control and predictability since cashiers don’t have to make change, a source of possible error.
Other examples of consumer rationalization include: the addition of self checkout registers in grocery stores, uniformity of store design and product organization (control and predictability), and analyzing consumer spending data for marketing purposes (control and predictability). Technology has rationalized communication through the use of instant messaging, emails, texts, and social sites such as Facebook. By eliminating face to face interaction, time usually spent on obligatory social niceties such as small talk can be omitted, and messages can be conveyed without verbal interruption, as often happens in face to face conversation, thus enhancing control and predictability of information transmission. Technology has rationalized travel through online flight check in and self check in kiosks. Additionally, the bus, subway and train systems all have ride cards available for purchase, which are used as debit cards, speeding up the boarding and spending process.
One of the most disturbing examples of rationalization can be found in the methods used by the food industry of the United States. To speed up maturation and provide a better yield, G.M.O. (genetically modified organisms) are used to grow food products, which are then sold unlabeled as such to consumers who purchase without the benefit of this knowledge. http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_21744.cfm Chemical additives put into foods to prolong shelf life have also been found unsafe. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20383953
Animals are routinely injected with hormones to ensure growth predictability, in both size and speed. There is great concern that the residual hormones found in animal food products are likely harmful to human health and the environment. http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/hormones. Control and predictability (of profits) has taken precedence to consumer health and safety in the food industry. Ironically, some aspects of societal “rationalization” don’t seem rational in the least.
Helene Lawson’s article, Attacking Nicely: Women Selling Cars, illustrates the difference between how males and females experience the world. Young girls are socialized as to how to act and even think and feel. Females are taught to place importance on taking the needs of others into consideration, and to maintain honesty in relations. This societal grooming is not diluted through the following years of maturation, but instead becomes firmly solidified as a part of a woman’s self image.
Lawson’s article presents the idea that in a field historically dominated by males, women have changed the business of selling cars. As an inherent aspect of the profession, car salespeople are involved in situations laced with dishonesty, distrust, and immoral dealings. It is understood that salespeople deal with these issues in multiple ways. They may choose to focus on monetary goals, suppress any reflection of ethicality, claim innocence through feigned unawareness, justify behavior as acting in obedience to superiors, or lastly blame the customer for any negative interaction.
Lawson depicts how females adapt to an incompatible status through the method of role making. The addition of women into the field of car sales is generally not well received by men. The interactions between co-workers of opposite genders are expected to remain an area of conflict until there is a more gender balanced ratio. More important than co-worker relationships, is the ability to overcome the negative reception female salespeople often receive when dealing with male customers. In order to overcome this prejudice and make sales Lawson asserts that the saleswomen adapt to the following roles: Innocents, Ladies, Tough Guys, Reformers and Retreaters. This role adaptation is an aspect of how women have changed the business of selling cars. Lawson proposes that in these roles, women make use of their personalities and socialized female gender traits to sell cars. The female socialization experience provides saleswomen a higher level of introspection and different value perspectives than their male counterparts, which has been found to be a positive moderating influence on the interactions between salespersons and customers.
It is in the Reformer role where women contribute possibly the largest positive change in the business of selling cars. Motivated by interpersonal conflict (due to female socialization) over imposed priorities and the subsequent interactions these priorities engendered, Reformers concentrate on building customer trust. Saleswomen build trust through using sales tactics comprised of honesty, patience, and understanding, which provide a stability of relationship. Women have positively influenced the business of selling cars by providing an alternate definition of success, which delineates keeping one’s personal values, helping to achieve quality of life both at work and in the home.
ARTICLE TWO REPLY:
In Robin Leidner’s article, Over the Counter at McDonald’s, rationalization is defined as the process of making things efficient through rules designed to reduce unexpected events, while increasing control and predictability. While the article on McDonald’s business methods depicts the epitome of rationalization, society is undergoing rationalization every day in many other aspects. At the forefront of societal rationalization is monetary gain. Consumer rationalization has been aided greatly by technological advancement. Technology is defined as a body of knowledge used to create tools, develop skills, and extract or collect materials, or the application of science to meet an objective or solve a problem. The problem technology aids in regard to efficiency is largely related to consumer spending. The use of VISA/debit cards has made the process of spending money much quicker. Instead of wasting valuable spending time at the checkout counter counting out dollars and cents, or writing a check, most people today just zip their VISA/debit card down the slot, press four numbers on the keypad or sign their name, and off they go to the next spending opportunity. This method increases control and predictability since cashiers don’t have to make change, a source of possible error.
Other examples of consumer rationalization include: the addition of self checkout registers in grocery stores, uniformity of store design and product organization (control and predictability), and analyzing consumer spending data for marketing purposes (control and predictability). Technology has rationalized communication through the use of instant messaging, emails, texts, and social sites such as Facebook. By eliminating face to face interaction, time usually spent on obligatory social niceties such as small talk can be omitted, and messages can be conveyed without verbal interruption, as often happens in face to face conversation, thus enhancing control and predictability of information transmission. Technology has rationalized travel through online flight check in and self check in kiosks. Additionally, the bus, subway and train systems all have ride cards available for purchase, which are used as debit cards, speeding up the boarding and spending process.
One of the most disturbing examples of rationalization can be found in the methods used by the food industry of the United States. To speed up maturation and provide a better yield, G.M.O. (genetically modified organisms) are used to grow food products, which are then sold unlabeled as such to consumers who purchase without the benefit of this knowledge. http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_21744.cfm Chemical additives put into foods to prolong shelf life have also been found unsafe. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20383953
Animals are routinely injected with hormones to ensure growth predictability, in both size and speed. There is great concern that the residual hormones found in animal food products are likely harmful to human health and the environment. http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/hormones. Control and predictability (of profits) has taken precedence to consumer health and safety in the food industry. Ironically, some aspects of societal “rationalization” don’t seem rational in the least.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Inequality
QUESTION ONE:
In his article, “The Importance of Being Beautiful”, Sidney Katz defines person perception as, the many ways in which physical attractiveness-or the lack of it-affects all aspects of one’s life. This definition parallels another well known saying, “perception is reality”. In other words, if someone sees an individual as beautiful, then they must be just that. I agree with Katz that the halo and horns effect does indeed come into play beginning at one’s birth and continues throughout various stages of life. Those graced with the halo effect are assumed to be more generous, trustworthy, sociable, modest, sensitive, interesting, and sexually responsive, simply on the basis of their physical appearance. While those doomed with the horns effect are assumed to be mean, sneaky, dishonest, anti-social, and a poor sport. Just because someone looks beautiful on the outside does not mean they are beautiful on the inside, but that is indeed the general perception.
We are a very superficial society and the halo and horns effect demonstrates that clearly. While life may not be a breeze for every single beautiful person, by and large those of physical appeal have a distinct advantage over those who are not beautiful. It is rare to come across an individual in a power position of a company who does not fit into society’s image of attractiveness. While I agree with Katz that the horns and halo effect does come into play throughout an individual’s life, I don’t necessarily agree that every person would assign beautiful people characteristics of the halo effect. For instance, personally I believe I tend to reverse the roles of the horn and halo effects. Instead of assuming a beautiful person has the characteristics of the halo effect; my first instinct is to the contrary, I assign them the characteristics of the horns effect. Perhaps due to personal life experience of dealing with beautiful people who turned out to be ugly on the inside, or perhaps it is jealousy, I’m not quite certain, maybe a combination of the both. But overall, yes, I believe physically attractive people are shown preference in pretty much every area of American life.
QUESTION TWO:
In his article “The Use of Poverty: The Poor Pay All” Herbert Gans suggests alternatives to fill the functions currently held by the poor. All of which seem quite logical and practical, but unlikely to be implemented in the current capitalist economy of America. Each alternative provided by Gans would end up causing problems for those of affluence. And since those of affluence also hold the power of the nation, it is unlikely for any alternatives like Gans’ to be put in place. I am hard pressed to provide any other specific alternatives of my own. As I related above, those in power make the decisions on how our country operates, so the only way to make change is to change who holds the reins of power. I believe by electing Barack Obama, our nation has made a step in the right direction. It is up to President Obama to follow through on implementing the “Change” we hoped for, the “Change” we still need.
QUESTION THREE:
This assignment, to describe what differences I imagine I would experience in my life, if my race (and my family’s race) changed to black while I was sleeping last night, is the hardest writing prompt I’ve ever received. This assignment has made me look at my life from the perspective of race, which is not something I’m accustomed to doing at this point in my life. As a teenager, I was forced to look at it because of my preference for dating black guys. There were very few black girls in my school or in my boyfriend’s neighborhoods that were accepting of my relationships (not that it was any of their business). The majority were disapproving and very vocal about it, and this was the cause of some altercations.
But looking at my life now, as a 34 year old Caucasian woman married to a Caucasian man race doesn’t often come to mind. My husband and I own a construction business together and upon reflection I realized almost exclusively our customers have been very wealthy Caucasians. Is that because of our race? If we were black would we have been awarded the same jobs? I would like to think so, but I can’t say for sure. Looking at my social circle, the majority is made up of Caucasians also, with some Hispanic and a few Black people as well. Would I still fit in with the same group? I certainly do not believe any of my friends are racist in any way, but it is odd that there isn’t more diversity among our cultures and ethnicities. Would we still live in our predominately Caucasian neighborhood in Jupiter Farms? Would we be accepted by the community? I don’t know. Would my religious beliefs be different? No. Would my parenting style be different? No. Would my ethical and moral beliefs be different? No. There would be no difference in the schools my children currently attend. Would they still have the same friends there? I would like to think so. Would my commitment to my marriage be any different? No.
A physical difference I can imagine would be the amount of time given to hair care. Growing up my best friend was black, and the amount of time and effort that was required to maintain her hair vastly outweighed mine. She often wouldn’t go swimming at the beach because she had just gotten her hair done, and the salt water would damage the effects of the straightening process. I remember her remarking occasionally to me how I should appreciate how easy my hair was.
Thinking through the aspects of my life it seems that the only major difference I can imagine would be the decisions of others to accept or not accept us into their lives as friends or hire us to handle their construction renovations, and anyone that wouldn’t accept us because of our race is obviously not anyone we would want to associate with anyway.
In his article, “The Importance of Being Beautiful”, Sidney Katz defines person perception as, the many ways in which physical attractiveness-or the lack of it-affects all aspects of one’s life. This definition parallels another well known saying, “perception is reality”. In other words, if someone sees an individual as beautiful, then they must be just that. I agree with Katz that the halo and horns effect does indeed come into play beginning at one’s birth and continues throughout various stages of life. Those graced with the halo effect are assumed to be more generous, trustworthy, sociable, modest, sensitive, interesting, and sexually responsive, simply on the basis of their physical appearance. While those doomed with the horns effect are assumed to be mean, sneaky, dishonest, anti-social, and a poor sport. Just because someone looks beautiful on the outside does not mean they are beautiful on the inside, but that is indeed the general perception.
We are a very superficial society and the halo and horns effect demonstrates that clearly. While life may not be a breeze for every single beautiful person, by and large those of physical appeal have a distinct advantage over those who are not beautiful. It is rare to come across an individual in a power position of a company who does not fit into society’s image of attractiveness. While I agree with Katz that the horns and halo effect does come into play throughout an individual’s life, I don’t necessarily agree that every person would assign beautiful people characteristics of the halo effect. For instance, personally I believe I tend to reverse the roles of the horn and halo effects. Instead of assuming a beautiful person has the characteristics of the halo effect; my first instinct is to the contrary, I assign them the characteristics of the horns effect. Perhaps due to personal life experience of dealing with beautiful people who turned out to be ugly on the inside, or perhaps it is jealousy, I’m not quite certain, maybe a combination of the both. But overall, yes, I believe physically attractive people are shown preference in pretty much every area of American life.
QUESTION TWO:
In his article “The Use of Poverty: The Poor Pay All” Herbert Gans suggests alternatives to fill the functions currently held by the poor. All of which seem quite logical and practical, but unlikely to be implemented in the current capitalist economy of America. Each alternative provided by Gans would end up causing problems for those of affluence. And since those of affluence also hold the power of the nation, it is unlikely for any alternatives like Gans’ to be put in place. I am hard pressed to provide any other specific alternatives of my own. As I related above, those in power make the decisions on how our country operates, so the only way to make change is to change who holds the reins of power. I believe by electing Barack Obama, our nation has made a step in the right direction. It is up to President Obama to follow through on implementing the “Change” we hoped for, the “Change” we still need.
QUESTION THREE:
This assignment, to describe what differences I imagine I would experience in my life, if my race (and my family’s race) changed to black while I was sleeping last night, is the hardest writing prompt I’ve ever received. This assignment has made me look at my life from the perspective of race, which is not something I’m accustomed to doing at this point in my life. As a teenager, I was forced to look at it because of my preference for dating black guys. There were very few black girls in my school or in my boyfriend’s neighborhoods that were accepting of my relationships (not that it was any of their business). The majority were disapproving and very vocal about it, and this was the cause of some altercations.
But looking at my life now, as a 34 year old Caucasian woman married to a Caucasian man race doesn’t often come to mind. My husband and I own a construction business together and upon reflection I realized almost exclusively our customers have been very wealthy Caucasians. Is that because of our race? If we were black would we have been awarded the same jobs? I would like to think so, but I can’t say for sure. Looking at my social circle, the majority is made up of Caucasians also, with some Hispanic and a few Black people as well. Would I still fit in with the same group? I certainly do not believe any of my friends are racist in any way, but it is odd that there isn’t more diversity among our cultures and ethnicities. Would we still live in our predominately Caucasian neighborhood in Jupiter Farms? Would we be accepted by the community? I don’t know. Would my religious beliefs be different? No. Would my parenting style be different? No. Would my ethical and moral beliefs be different? No. There would be no difference in the schools my children currently attend. Would they still have the same friends there? I would like to think so. Would my commitment to my marriage be any different? No.
A physical difference I can imagine would be the amount of time given to hair care. Growing up my best friend was black, and the amount of time and effort that was required to maintain her hair vastly outweighed mine. She often wouldn’t go swimming at the beach because she had just gotten her hair done, and the salt water would damage the effects of the straightening process. I remember her remarking occasionally to me how I should appreciate how easy my hair was.
Thinking through the aspects of my life it seems that the only major difference I can imagine would be the decisions of others to accept or not accept us into their lives as friends or hire us to handle their construction renovations, and anyone that wouldn’t accept us because of our race is obviously not anyone we would want to associate with anyway.
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