On Monday we were assigned to read pages 87-91 in Down to To Earth Sociology. The section talked about a tribe who believed in magic. The tribe people would have a shrine, and a box filled with medicinal potion/herbs. They would see a person to have decaying teeth treated with some magical substance. It went has far as having their own version of an exorcist that would purge their mind. This tribe was known as the Nacirema tribe. In reality this tribe doesn’t exist; its just regular Americans. The section was really about contemporary America at the time. Their exorcist is a psychiatrist, their dentists is a dentists, and their shrine is a bathroom. What the author of that article did was taking American culture and showing it from an outsider’s view.

01/30/2019

When I was reading this I was confused. That section in the book goes over the three Major Grand Theories. The first theory is Structure-Functionalism. This there looks over the structure and function of something like a family or a government. For example, a family is structure by a mom, a dad, and normally a child or more. The dad’s function is to provide for the family. The mom’s function is to raise the children, take care of the house, and cook. Finally, the child/children’s function is to continue the family, or help continue another family. The roles are not always the same; my friend’s mom is an exception. She works while the kids help with the house’s upkeep. The second theory takes about social conflict. The theory goes over privilege, inequality, bias, and ideology. Some who go this might think that white people have an unfair advantage in life versus people of color. Some might see a male, like me, having an advantage over a female in the work place. The third theory is about symbolic interactions. That theory suggests that every action has some symbolic meaning. For example, the symbolic meaning behind me trying to get close to the girl is love. I may have a crush on her, and try becoming more then just friends. Inevitably a person will think in one in of these three ways when becoming a sociologist. I originally didn’t understand what the book was trying to say until class. The professor was able to go over the theories in a more “simpler” way. I’m not sure which way of thinking I will go with, but I am leaning towards Structure-Functionalism.

1/26/19

When reading this book I notice something. I notice how the author tries making it sound more complex then it is. The author would refer to sociologists as some type of predator. I felt like this book is the same as the other books, but more blown up. They both described what a sociologist was, and the mind set needed. I would of liked to of had some diversity among the two books.

1/25/19

Introducing Sociology Into Everyday Life is one of the reading materials required for the class. After reading the first chapter I would say it is interesting. It talks about what makes a sociologists a sociologist in a easy way to understand. What makes a sociologist a sociologist is there view of the world. To be a sociologist you have to wonder why something like a trend or a life outcome happened. In the book they used denim jeans as an example. They asked “Why are denim jeans so popular” and interview people wearing them. They got answers like ” I feel like I keep up with the fashion and connect to my daughter”. Others, Like me, might do it to remember someone or for normality. Original I didn’t have a reason for wearing them other then seeing them on others. Know my reason for wearing denim jeans is to remember my late grandfather. He died in March of 2018; He would wear them a lot. I feel a connection to him whenever I wear them. That’s what sociology is about, why someone or something happens in society. Be it me wearing jeans to feel connected to my late grandfather or a teen choosing to rebel. Sociology is about humanity and why something happened. That’s my opinion, and my connection to this chapter.

1/19/19

When I was in class everything was normal. The teacher finishes going the syllabus, but did something strange right after. He asked for volunteers, but didn’t reveal why. After someone volunteered he told them to give a saliva sample. The entire class was weirded out by his request. The student gave a sample, and the teacher returned back to the front. He asked the classes what the difference was between spit and saliva. He explained how they are same in every expect except for social perception. He told us that “Social Construction” is how society sees things, no matter if they are the same. Saliva is seen as a very important body fluid that aids in digestion, among others. Spit is seen has a disgusting fluid that we expel out of our bodies onto the ground. There are other social constructions like how only men can spit. I have experienced such a thing when my mom’s car broke down. She kept on with “we need a man’s help” and “you are just a kid”. In my opinion I think social construction is an a relic from the past that we don’t need. The professor continued on with examples and such for the remainder of the class.

Posted on January 17, 2019

Yesterday was my first day in Introduction to Sociology. When the class started the teacher did something unsettling. He just stood there staring into space. The other students and I were not sure what we should have done. He finally starting talking and explained why he has done that. He said that in society we are expected to always be doing something. He went on with the syllabus, and some information about himself. All-in-All it was different from how teachers normally start class on the first day.

Posted on January 15, 2019