Sociology of Racial and Cultural Groups Essay - 1431 Words

Three sociological perspectives used in the study of minorities are: Structural functionalism, symbolic interactionalism and conflict theory. These perspectives offer theoretical paradigms for explaining how society influences people, taking into account the social factors that impact on human behavior. However, different theories, ideas, and prejudices can influence a sociologists conclusions. Each of these theories has a contribution to make with a distinct focus. Functional theory was influenced by Emile Durkheim. Adherents of this theory emphasize, Various parts of society have functions or positive effects that promote solidarity and maintain the stability of the whole. (Parrillo 11) Thus a society is held together by†¦show more content†¦Critics of this theory state that it focuses too much on order and stability and presents somewhat of a conservative and idealistic view of society. It does not encourage individuals to take an active role in changing their social environment even when such a change might be beneficial to them. Instead, functionalism sees active social change as undesirable because the various parts of society will compensate naturally for any problems that may arise. (Zgourides 12). It also fails to take into consideration differences in power among and between groups. Conflict Theory was influenced by Karl Marxs socioeconomic view of the elite exploiting the masses. (Parillo 12). The conflict perspective focuses on the inequalities that create racial and ethnic tensions between groups. In contrast to the fundamentalists emphasis on stability, conflict theorists maintain, Racism has much to do with maintaining power and controlling resources. Society is seen as being continually involved in struggles and disagreements as diverse groups struggle over limited resources. The system is hierarchical and characterized by social inequality. Conflict theorists argue that the rich and powerful force social order on the poor and weak and that existing social patterns benefit some people while depriving others. Conflict theoristsShow MoreRelated Sociology of Racial and Cultural Groups Essay1813 Words   |  8 Pages We live in a culturally diverse society where there are many differences among various racial and ethnic groups. When these different groups come into contact with one another they interact in many different ways. Prejudice and discrimination are key factors in understanding intergroup relationships. Competition, religious ideas, fear of strangers and nationalism are elements that contribute to prejudice. Many expressions of negative prejudicial attitudes, stereotyping and discriminatory behaviorRead MoreReading Of Roderick A. Ferguson s Aberrations Of Black : Towards A Queer Of Color1203 Words   |  5 PagesBy challenging some of the main complacent thinking that characterized canonical sociology, Ferguson pushes for an engagement with racial knowledge about African American culture as it was produced by American sociology if one is to fully understand the gender and sexual variations within the African American culture. One of the principle assumptions of canonical sociology i s represented by its use of cultural, racial and sexual differences in the process of pathologizing African American cultureRead MoreCaribbean Studies Essay999 Words   |  4 Pagescomposed of different ethnic groups or cultural traditions or in the political structure of which ethnic or cultural differences are reflected† This suggests that although different ethnic groups live in the same geographical area, they stick to themselves, as is the case between the Blacks and East Indians of Trinidad and Guyana. Hintzen (1989), states that â€Å"Both groups became envious of each other’s successes. In both countries  there existed a high degree of racial exclusivity in residential concentrationRead MoreEssay Ethnic Inequality in Health Care1723 Words   |  7 Pageshealth related to ethnicity, by providing some evidence that ethnic inequality in health is a reality in the society and include definitions of keywords. Secondly, I will bring forward arguments for and agai nst on the major sociological explanations (racial discrimination, arefact, access to and quality of care) for the existence of health inequalities related to ethnicity. Thirdly, I would also like to take the knowledge learnt for this topic and brief outline how this may help me in future nursingRead MoreAsdfghjkl894 Words   |  4 PagesSociology Research Area * * Aging and the Life Course * Alcohol and Substance Abuse * Asia amp; Asian America * Collective Behavior and Social Movements * Community and Urban Sociology * Comparative and Historical Sociology * Sociology and Computers * Crime, Law amp; Deviance * Economic Sociology * Environment amp; Technology * Family amp; Marriage * History of Sociology * International Migration * Latino/aRead MoreEssay about Ethnocentrism And Cultural Relativity551 Words   |  3 Pagespositive or negative depending on the level of sensitivity and respect people have for other culture groups. These two types of behaviors are related to two important concepts known as ethnocentrism and cultural relativity. Ethnocentrism is â€Å"the attitude of prejudice or mistrust towards outsiders that may exist within a group (in-group) in relation to other (out-group)†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. (Harper-Collin Dictionary of Sociology). Importantly, there are also three levels of ethnocentrism: a positive one, a negative one, andRead MoreEssay About Race In America1667 Words   |  7 PagesThe Talk About Race in America Race, or the major factor used to divide and group humans impacts the lives of many worldwide, especially since the connotation of race makes the term extremely controversial. Moreover, many people argue that race relations are improving, whereas critics claim that they will never change for the better. Various studies show that race can be recognized by many individuals as early as six months old. Additionally, Djamba and Kimuna, two scholars from the InternationalRead MoreSociology Of Our Times By Diana Kendall And The Meaning Of Sociology By Charon And Vigilant1053 Words   |  5 PagesIn both of our textbooks Sociology in Our Times by Diana Kendall and The Meaning of Sociology by Charon and Vigilant, I really focused on the chapter about race and ethnicity. The readings had two sections related to the same discussion, one about race, wealth and ethnicity and another about how children who are born immigrants having to learn how to adapt to their â€Å"normal† identity in society. Other topics of prejudice, discrimination, and sociological perspectives were interesting and helped gainRead MoreRacial Discrimination And Discrimination899 Words   |  4 Pagesaccording to the Sociology – A Brief Introduction by â€Å"the denial of opportunities and equal rights to individuals and groups based on some type of arbitrary bias† (Schaefer, 196). Prejudice is â€Å"the negative attitude toward an entire category of people, often an ethnic or a racial minority† (Schaefer, 195). Branching out from the topics of discrimination and prejudice, the following terms are the main key aspect that I am going to discuss in my advertisement analysis. The sociology of racism is â€Å"theRead MorePolice Violence Is More Than Violent Policing1369 Words   |  6 Pagescorrelation between neighborhood characteristics and crime prevalence. It found that disadvantaged areas attract more criminal activities than areas with high quality of services. As wel l it stated that impoverished neighborhoods are dominated by ethnic and racial minorities. In overall, this article is relevant for psychology. Chaney, C., Robertson, R. V. (2013). Racism and police brutality in America. Journal of African American Studies, 17(4), 480-505. doi:10.1007/s12111-013-9246-5

Shaping Myself Through Reading And Writing - 982 Words

Shaping Myself Through Reading and Writing I might as well say, the minute I was born I was being read too by my parents. They were the type of parents that wanted their kids to be the best they could be, so reading to my sister and me was a way to promote many early skills that can help children succeed in school, work, and everyday life as they grow up. Many studies have demonstrated that reading to children has many positive effects. For example, a study was made in Rhode Island Hospital to compare two groups of eight months old – one group was read to as often as babies, while the other was not. It was shown that those who were read to have their â€Å"receptive† vocabularies (number of words they understand) increased 40 percent since babyhood, while the non-reading group increased by only 16 percent (Raisesmartkid.com). This explains that my parents were on the right track as they continued to read to us every night and even as the played audio books as we fell asleep. Once I was in elementary school at Pleasant Hill, we started learning about creative writing. Even though I was never very good at it, it improved my imagination and skills as a young writer. Accelerated Reader was another curriculum that helped me excel to reach a higher level of reading. This was a program that assessed the student s reading level and tested them on whether the students had completed reading a book and if they could answer basic questions over the plot of the story. The programShow MoreRelated Teaching Philosophy Statement Essay958 Words   |  4 PagesChildren come to school from a variety of different cultural and family backgrounds. Certain values and expectations are already implanted in their minds as soon as they walk through the classroom door. Children begin to be shaped by their environments from the time of birth and continue to be shaped as they progress through school. That is why it is so important for school to be a positive environment, one that evokes feelings of acceptance, comfort, and security. Each child is of value and ourRead MoreMy Progress as a Reader and Writer Essay1375 Words   |  6 Pageswas so nervous that my first piece of writing seemed less than mediocre as I reflected on what I had written that day. While being happy that my name was randomly chosen to be added to the class, I was very scared of this class. The last time I wrote an essay was two years ago, and before this class I had forgotten how to write one. I believe good writing requires lots of practice, and I have not practiced my writing for a long time. In addition, my reading was not even up to par since I only readRead MoreReading Is A Process Of Literate Thinking1098 Words   |  5 Pages(1b) Belief statement about reading Reading is a process of literate thinking during which an individual constructs meaning from texts in a social and cultural context. I believe reading is a vital skill and important activity for people of all ages. I grew up surrounded by books. I had parents who encouraged me from an early age to read books both with and without them, and they would read to me every night before I went to bed. They wanted to ensure that I was literate and would grow up with aRead MoreHow Language Shapes Our Personality1538 Words   |  7 PagesPersonality Can language shape our personality? Tongues we use are indispensible factors of us. If you think about it, human beings use the tool in form of language in every possible aspect of life. In school, at home, while watching TV, playing sports, reading books, at the store, even on the walk. It is also a part of one’s heritage, cultural belonging and ethnic identity. Language surrounds us from every possible direction. It would be â€Å"silly† to say it has no influence on our personality. People areRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?1347 Words   |  6 Pagesof information, it begins to affect our ability to read books and other pieces of writing. Based on the topic of technology and how it has affected society’s minds, many intellectuals have both challenged and adhered to Carr’s article. Through this article, I plan to expose these articles written by Steven Pinker and Clay Shirky, that correlate to Nicholas Carr’s text; critically evaluate thei r strategy in writing, and then provide my opinion on the subject. In Nicholas Carr’s article, â€Å"Is GoogleRead MoreWhen Reflecting On What Made Me The Writer I Am Today,1672 Words   |  7 PagesPevensie kids in Narnia. And I thought that inevitably and gradually, reading is what led me to create my own universes and stories through writing. In fact, one of my first memories associated with writing was winning third place at a story competition in the 1st or 2nd grade (high prestige, I know). Writing is linked to reading, and to personal agency and action. I chose to read, and that led me to choose to write. But after reading these texts about literacy, and reflecting on my past experiencesRead More My Educational Philosophy Essay519 Words   |  3 Pagesuse many hands on activities to communicate and reach the goal that I want to reach with my students. I believe through being a â€Å"hands on† child myself, that that technique of learning is very effective, especially with the smaller children. Like Arthur E. Bestro, I also fall under the category of essentialism; I feel that the basic subjects are very important. Reading, writing, math and of course government are needed for everyday life, without knowing the basics you will be lost and takenRead More The Importance of Reading Essay1130 Words   |  5 PagesThe Importance of Reading â€Å"Why do you read all the time?† A frequently asked question of my past and I still find it repeated even now as I have entered a higher class of the educated. Whenever posed with this blatant criticism of my preferred free time activity, I simply answer with â€Å"Why don’t you read all the time?† Of course I might sound like the biggest geek that ever walked the face of the earth, but the fact of the matter is that no matter what negative stereotype is attached to thoseRead MoreEssay on My Philosophy of Teaching999 Words   |  4 Pagespurpose of education was to create a perfect city-state, while Rousseau believed that the purpose was to develop people, who freely choose good. Both of these philosophies cooperate with my beliefs; however, my beliefs do differ in some aspects. Through my philosophies covering the nature of humans, curriculum, and teaching methods I hope to better educate the students and America a better place to live. First, I believe that humans are naturally good. The environment that a child grows up inRead MoreWhy I Am I? Essay1617 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Who am I? Personally, I think this is an important question to ask myself to feel the gratitude of what I have gained in my life, thus far. Everybody starts somewhere, regardless the differences of nationality, race, belief, and language. These differences are what make each one of us unique. One of the popular Chinese idioms I learned in elementary school is â€Å"yÇ n shuÇ  sÄ « yuà ¡n†; basically, it means that we must not forget where the source or origin of the water but always appreciate

Education of sex in schools Essay Example For Students

Education of sex in schools Essay Sex is something that almost everyone will experience before they die. It is a subject that has been debated about for years. From the debate over birth control to the outbreak of aids. With all this history behind us, sex is becoming even more of an issue. With the new outbreaks of sexually transmitted diseases and the fact that sexually active persons are becoming younger, sex has now become a daily topic. Sex scandals in the media and talk such as â€Å"who slept with who at last night’s keg party† are making these daily conversations apparent in high schools, middle schools, and in a lot of cases grade schools. As the saying goes â€Å"monkey see monkey do† one can only assume that this concept will pertain to these easily influenced children. That is why it is imperative that another side of this issue is presented on a regular basis, a side that demonstrates safe sex as well as no sex. Sex is a basic instinct in all-living beings; sex education in Georgia p ublic schools should encourage abstinence because it is the only sure way to prevent pregnancy and disease, but not dismiss protective measures for those who become sexually active, because no matter much you emphasize abstinence, there will always be those who choose to participate in sexual activity. Sex is a basic instinct in all-living beings. Men and women were intended to fall in love and he gave us all a sex drive so that we could become one with that person. Whether people choose to be sexually active or remain abstinent, there is always a desire for sex in most males and females. In our culture, young people’s natural sexual instincts are stimulated by exposure to sexual messages. Because so many young people in our society are exposed things that portray â€Å"sex appeal† their natural curiosities are brought out, they are exposed to sexual stimuli early and often. The media has a huge influence in stimulating the drive for sex in people. Many ads use sex to appeal to the public. For example, Calvin Klein uses beautiful men and women, usually dressed provocatively, portraying them in a seductive way to sell fragrances and clothing items. These ads are successful because a huge majority of the people who see these ads want to be seen as sexually desirable and attractive to the opposite sex, they are responding to a natural feeling. There are also many commercials for things such as beauty products that make the models look sexy and beautiful, this appeals to young ladies wanting to be like those models and getting the attention that the models get. By buying the product they feel that they can become â€Å"sexy† also. Music videos are also very explicit in the way they elude to sexual activity. This not only brings out natural curiosities in young viewers but also portrays sex as something casually enjoyable ignoring the consequences therein. Although the media portrays sex as something that is cool and fun and something that can be taken lightly, sex does have some real consequences which are nether cool nor fun as well as something that can make lasting scars on a person’s life. The consequences that can happen when one becomes sexually active can be both emotional as well as physical. On the emotional side of becoming sexually active, often times young people are not ready for the stress that goes along with becoming emotionally attached to their partner. Not many would argue against the feeling that when you have sex with someone you give them a piece of your â€Å"heartâ€Å", you become one with that person and in turn, often times become attached to them. Some emotional effects of being sexually active can be life changing. One thing we deal with in our society today is a large amount of teen pregnancies. When a young woman becomes pregnant, it puts a huge amount of stress on her. She is faced with many de cisions such as abortion, adoption, or making enough money to raise the baby herself. This baby will change her life, furthermore many young women’s bodies are not ready to take on the physical stress of child birth. The physical consequences that could come about with sex are numerous. There are many Sexually Transmitted Diseases that one can get when they are sexually promiscuous. Statistics show that â€Å"one in every four Americans will be infected with an sexually transmitted disease in their lifetimeâ€Å" (Bonavogilia 1). The most severe sexually transmitted disease people can get is the HIV virus, this is a tragic epidemic that gives the patient excruciating pain and eventually can take their life. Given that sex can be dangerous particularly to emotionally and physically immature teens, abstinence would seem to be the best way for teens to avoid these negative consequences. Abstinence based education is a way to inform and encourage students that there is a way th ey can be positive they will not have to suffer the consequences of sexual activity that is so prevalent today. Studies have shown that other forms of sexual education are not as successful in preventing things like teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Hani Khouzam, who wrote a commentary on the public health strategies proposed by former surgeon general of the United States, made the statement that â€Å"the National Research Council review of pregnancy prevention programs found that although classroom-based sex education may influence attitudes, there was only limited evidence that it influenced behavior. School-based sex education programs include â€Å"value-free† courses teaching students the basic physical nature of sex. These â€Å"value-free courses, however, have failed to prevent unplanned pregnancies.† (Khouzam 709) Students should be taught that it is not only acceptable to say no to sex, but that it would be a very positive decision for them to make, and the best way to prevent pregnancy as well as harmful diseases that can do much damage to their bodies.Abstinence is a choice that would save many young people from much distress, it should furthermore be encouraged by Georgia public schools so that they know that it is a choice that might be hard but can benefit them greatly. Movement of Modernism EssayBibliography: