During the second half of unit one we learned about in-groups and out-groups. An in-group is most commonly defined as a group an individual feels loyalty toward, and can identify with. An out-group is any group that an individual feels opposed to, conflict with, or hostility toward. In the movie, A Bronx Tale, there are many in-groups and out-groups. For example, throughout the movie Calogero's friends get upset when the black kids pass through their neighborhood. In this instance, Calogero's friends consist of the in-group, and the black kids are the out-group.
We also explored macrosociology and microsociology this unit. Macrosociology is the level of analysis that studies large-scale social structures in order to determine how they affect the lives of groups and individuals. Microsociology is the level of analysis that studies face-to-face and small-group interactions in order to understand how those interactions affect the larger patterns and institutions of society. Examples of macrosociology and microsociology are present in the movie, A Bronx Tale. In the beginning of the movie, when Calogero was a boy, we see him and his friends sitting on the stoop outside. When a bus full of black kids drive through the neighborhood Calogero's friend becomes upset. Calogero tries to reason with his friend by saying “they don’t live here, they’re just passing through,” but Calogero's friend says, “well, my father said that’s how it starts.” Racism is rampant throughout this movie as a result of the time period it is set in, which is considered to be a macrosociological value. But, despite growing up in the same neighborhood, Calogero and his friend feel differently about the subject. Whereas Calogero is more passive about the issue, his friend is more aggressive. This is a result of microsociologic influences. While the major macrosociologic issue of racism influenced both of them, Calogero and his friend were affected differently, or microsociologically, by how their respective parents raised them to view the matter.
Everyone perceives and experiences the world differently; therefore everyone's reality is different. Yet all of our lives are socially constructed by the impact society has on how we experience the world. While one may feel they are in complete control of their life, this is not the case. It is actually quite the opposite; our reality, which consists of our experiences, is created, or constructed, by the people of whom we surround ourselves with. This concept is called the social construction of reality. Although we may not notice it, most of our everyday lives are socially constructed. For example, in America, we drive on the right side of the road, but in countries like Japan and England, they drive on the left.
We also learned about generalizations, categories, and stereotypes in Joel Charon’s Should We Generalize. According to Charon, it is impossible for people to refrain from generalizing or categorizing, for whether or not we realize, most of our functions on such organization tactics. In fact, “the whole purpose of social science is to achieve accurate categorizations and generalizations about human begins. Indeed the purpose of almost all academic pursuits involves learning, understanding, and developing accurate categories and generalizations.”
Organizing people and ideas can even be helpful. For example, we know that people who are sick are also contagious, and unless we want to get sick ourselves we should stay away from him or her until they get better. By doing so, we are “generalizing about ‘those with colds,’ ‘how people catch colds,’ and ‘how we should act around those with colds.’”
We can also apply knowledge learned through previous situations in which we generalized and compare it to new situations that we don’t understand, for the purpose of determining how to act in such new or unfamiliar circumstance. Doing so allows for us the to “intelligently act” in numerous situations that we otherwise might not have had the opportunity to experience.
In order for generalizations and categories to be beneficial, they must be correct. Inaccurate generalizations or categories become stereotypes. Stereotyping can inhibit understanding rather than promote it, which is the reason for social organization. To avoid stereotyping, we must be “open minded and reflective” so that we can determine the quality of our generalizations and categorizations, and change what we know in accordance to a given circumstance.
Often I am wrongfully stereotyped as someone who doesn’t care, or put much effort into my schoolwork because I am frequently absent. When in actuality I miss a lot of school for medical reasons, and because of that I work even harder to attain an education.
No comments:
Post a Comment