Reflective Essay

In Sociology 1125, many debated topics were brought up for discussion and explained in more depth. The lesson I value the most is that one must never judge a situation without knowing the details and that if it doesn’t affect us in any way, we shouldn’t judge at all. In order to evaluate a situation I learnt that I must look at it from more than one perspective. The most interesting concept I learnt in this class is the concept of “Debunking.” Debunking is defined as looking at both the obvious and surface level explanations for social behaviour and the less obvious and deeper explanations. A simpler way to put it is that “what you see, is not always what you get.” Thinking beyond the simple circumstances and expanding our knowledge to the more complex thoughts upon an issue in order to learn. Debunking helps to expose any false or misinterpreted ideas that have developed over time. The concept of debunking helped me with race; after watching the video “The Power of Illusion,” I learnt that race is a biological myth. I have come to realizing that; yes – everyone has different cultural views and ways of living, but that isn’t due to the color of their skin, it is more so due to where and how we each were brought up. So, instead of seeing individuals categorized by their race, debunking helped me see that there is much more beyond the surface level when we make judgements on other people. Another concept I will carry with me throughout my life and use daily is the concept of sociological imagination. The term, which was coined by C.W. Mills, describes a way of thinking that allows one to gain a capacity and quality of mind to connect with one’s own life and the things that impact it. This concept should be used by people on a daily basis when analyzing simple things about themselves, because not only will it help them feel better, but also help them relate to others. I used to be so unhappy with many things about myself and blame myself for all my flaws. But honestly, although I can’t always control how I feel, I now know that when I’m unhappy with my weight or am unhappy with the way I’ve dressed, etc; one of the causes for that unhappiness is the pressure from society telling me what beauty really is. When dealing with any problem that I have which is personal; I will look at the bigger picture by tracing it back to society and realizing that the problem is much bigger than just my own. This also relates to when I complain about my job, or how I feel I am underpaid, but then I think back and see that if it wasn’t even for the protests for rights, I possibly wouldn’t have a job, or the right to speak up. Sociological imagination helps me to not be close minded anymore, and open up my mind to view the world for what is the bigger picture.

Video Entry: The Power of An Illusion

What is the video about?
The video describes how race is a biological myth and suggests that race doesn’t actually exist. It discusses the extinction theory which led people to believe that inferiority was in the genes of the ‘Negros’ and so there was no reason to better the housing and living conditions of the blacks because they were inferior and they were going extinct anyways. The race scientists did a series of studies on the bodies of Blacks in order to come up with some sort of excuse as to why they were inferior and not allowed to mix with the superior white race.

 

How do I feel about this video?

I feel extremely upset with the way science was used to divide humans into groups and categories to separate the superior from the inferior due to the color of their skin being the reason that they are of lower class. I was also shocked when I saw that interracial marriages used to be banned in 28 states.

 

What do I think?

I think that this video made a lot of sense in addressing the issues of what race really is, and that it really doesn’t exist, in the form that it is just a myth that we categorize ourselves by.

 

What do I know?

I DID categorize myself according to my color, but after watching this video; I realize that my color doesn’t make me who I am, the way I was brought up and the culture I have been surrounded by is what really makes me. I know that people still are heavily discriminated for the way they dress and speak. I have a multicultural family and multicultural group of friends, so I keep myself grounded about issues regarding race and I feel like although race is still such a hard issue to deal with, society has come a long way with learning that everyone is the exact same.

Social Justice Issues in Local and Global Contexts: Chapter 12

Hate Crimes; By Frank Tridico and Adrian College

 

Summary: Chapter 12 reviews what hate crimes are, and how the data for them is collected. Many states have different definitions for hate crimes and so because the category is so flexible it becomes difficult to collect accurate data for statistics.

What questions did this chapter raise?

Why is it so difficult to collect data about hate crimes?

 How did the text answer this question?

The question was answered in the text by giving reason as to why it is so difficult to describe hate crimes. There isn’t one specific definition attached to hate crime in various states, every state has different laws and different definitions as to what hate crimes are. The general public is also unaware of what exactly is considered a hate crime, so they also could not be reporting them as often as they should. A lot of the crimes are classified in different ways, perhaps under different laws which also contribute to the inaccurate data that becomes submitted for statistics.

How does the answer provided reflect our own ideas and experiences?

Personally I’ve experienced hate crimes, but on a much smaller scale, I do know of other people that underwent serious hate crimes but refused to report it to the police due to embarrassment or fear; because of those unreported crimes, I have always felt that the Uniformed Crime Reports are somewhat inaccurate. The UCR only collects data of what gets reported to the police, or what the police find out for themselves. Because of the x percent of crimes that goes unreported, the statistics here in Canada can also be inaccurate, just not to the same degree of inaccuracy in the United States.

Social Justice Issues in Local and Global Contexts: Chapter 10

Human Rights, Violations, and Genocide; by Frank Tridico and Charles Quist-Adade 

What question did this chapter raise?

Since the League of Nations was abolished, what improvements were made by the United Nations in respects to constitute genocide, and keep cooperation and peace between nations?

How was the question answered in the text?

In this chapter, there is light shed upon the many acts of genocide that have occurred after the creation of the United Nations. This shows that although the United Nations has more members that’re willing to contribute to keeping peace between nations, there still were horrific acts of genocide after the UN was found. The clear examples of genocide that’re discussed in chapter 12 are: Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime, and Rwanda.

How can we relate this answer to our own ideas and experiences?

An act of genocide that was committed in Canada that I recall learning about is; the thousands of children of Aboriginal descent, who were murdered or fell sick while being forced to attend residential schools that were run by  Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian and United Churches during the 1850s – onward. Between 25 to 50% of the students that attended residential school died of disease or abuse.

Issues in Social Justice : Chapter 2

Discrimination faced by members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community.

Summary: This chapter discusses the day to day hate crime the LGBT community is faced with. The discrimination takes place in various ways, such as when trying to gain employment, marriage, legal rights in certain parts of the world, employment benefits, etc.   It talks in depth about the impact that societal expectations have on sexuality and gender which leads to the question of identity.

How I feel about this: Sexual orientation is something you cannot control. To be physically and emotionally abused and battered for something you cannot control isn’t justifiable. I have a close friend, whom I consider family, who about 2 years admitted to being homosexual to his parents. I could not believe the reaction his parents had to the subject; they were disgusted to say the least. It was already so difficult for him to come out and admit this, and it became even harder. He felt ashamed and worthless; as if he was sick. Over time, he finally became accepted by his family again, but in my opinion, it was too late; the damage had already been caused. I would hope that more people could be educated on the matter of bullying and abuse, so they too could understand how difficult it can be for someone to walk down a street and not be called one name.

What I believe: I believe that some members of society sometimes make comments about homosexuals and transgender, but do not entirely realize the hurt they are causing to others. I believe with time and education, everyone will learn that this topic is not one that should be discriminated; (well, I wish there was no discrimination at all, one can dream.) I also believe that not being able to have certain rights because of your sexuality is bizarre. I believe that the right to be married should be given to the LGBT community everywhere as it is just as much there right to be married as anyone else’s.

What I think: I think that calling the LGBT a community of their own is kind of uncomforting; because I think they are just as much members of the general society as those of heterosexual identity. There shouldn’t be a need for a sub-group to name them. Sexual identity represents a very important characteristic of social beings as a whole, we cannot divide and label each and every person that belongs to our society, we are all whole, and we all continuously learn from each other.

What I know: I know that here in Canada we accept the LGBT community and I can only hope that this acceptance can continue through the states where the hate for homosexuals and transgender is so strong.

Chapter 8: Issues In Social Justice; Minority Women in Violent Relationships

This reading talks about the abuse women face in relationships. Women mainly stay in these relationships because they have no backbone consisting of economic stability, or family and friends to turn to for help in ways to get out; also the women that stay in the violent relationships do not have as much education, which makes them feel vulnerable in a society which has become so advanced in education. They rely on the spouse for some shred of economic stability. This chapter also covered the different types of women that stayed in the relationships explaining that women with young children left their abusive husbands for the sake of the children, but yet women with children reaching their twenties tended to stay in the relationship.

How do I feel about the reading I just finished?

I feel terrified, to know that women to this day are willing to stay in a relationship for the sake of their children not being in torn apart homes, or for the sake of money. It’s absolutely crazy to me that women are still not provided the benefits of a good education around the world and are kept the in the shadows, hidden from the real world until they get immigrated to places like Canada, or the United States where they believe things could get better; but really the same evil attitudes they’re trying to escape, linger here too.

What do you think about this reading?

This reading reminded me a lot about a movie I just recently watched. It was a documentary done on the life of an Indian woman in England who was an immigrant. Provoked is the name of this film; the movie shows the woman struggling because she cannot speak English, the husband is born and raised in England, so he has a stable job and income which she relies on. He continues to abuse alcohol and beat his wife, while cheating on her and treating her like a piece of meat even after they have children together. If you haven’t watched the movie, I don’t want to ruin it for you; but in the end, education is what saves her.

What do I believe about this reading?

This goes to show that if everyone was to be educated in ways they were comfortable, women wouldn’t have to face this problem as harshly as they do. Every person is a victim of their own ignorance, and in order to address the issue, we must educate ourselves on the problems that we too can become victims of. I hope women who are married, or do have a higher chance of being in violent relationships get the chance to read articles like this to learn and understand there are ways to get out and there is always help.

What do I know about this reading?

I know that a lot of women will continue to stay in abusive relationships with the shred of hope that things will get better. I do know that people can change, and everyone deserves another chance; so I agree with Lacey in that we should focus our attention to the rehabilitation of these abusive men, and the rehabilitation of the women and children who are being traumatized by violence in their own home.

Issues In Social Justice: Chapter 3

What is the reading about?

The reading sheds light on the topic of human trafficking; it shows how human trafficking has become so much more powerful over the years in society and what the different categories of human trafficking are.  Some of the categories are; sex exploitation, underpaid jobs, child labour, etc. The reading also discusses who commits the crimes and where the crimes are committed. A lot of people are unaware of exactly what human trafficking is, so this helps to address the questions and what the growing issue is, and how we can all help to fix it. Organizations like the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as the NGO’s (non-government organizations), Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (VTVPA) are all trying to help minimize and eventually abolish means of trafficking among society.

How do I feel about the reading?

 Sexually raping and selling children for their labour hits me the hardest, because I can’t even imagine making a child cry; knowing it is my fault and I’ve hurt them, is already too much for me to handle. And there are people out there who are willing to sell these children for money, and rip them from their families; to them my main question is, how do they sleep at night? The fact that human trafficking happens so close to where we live, and barely anyone knows about it, is also unsettling. While people like myself, are blessed to have a loving and stable family we fail to realize that someone else in this world would kill to have a minute to spend with their families, and many children out there are roaming around with no families, and are taken hostage with no idea where they are or what they’ll be doing, I’ll admit; after reading this I realize that I take advantage of that privilege, and instead of complaining about spending too much time with my family, I should embrace it.

What do I think?

I think that it is crazy how in the blink of an eye, someone can agree to a job and not exactly know where they’re going; and then the next thing they know, they’re stuck in a cell with no basic necessities, and no access to their families. The littlest decision or agreement can change a person’s life forever.

What do I believe?

I believe that just like everything else, the more people that are educated on the social injustice of human trafficking; the more cowardly the criminals will feel. The more exploitation we provide to the issue, the harder it’ll be for this issue to go unnoticed, and the easier it will be to stop.

What do I know?

I know that the issue of human trafficking is growing and expanding now more than ever. A lot of people that are being slaved do so to make money in desperate circumstances in order to survive. But once they’ve agreed, there is no turning back, they become jailed forever, and work for barely any money. I know that it is difficult to solve the issue of human trafficking; but I know that a lot of people don’t really know what human trafficking is. Not enough light is shed on the issue, and so the injustice continues to expand.