A bit different, but mostly the same

      This week we went on an in-school field trip and viewed a panel of gay and transgender students, and one gay parent. This panel clarified the difference between sex and gender roles, as well as the difference between nature and nurture. They talked about It was really interesting to listen to each student's experiences with their family and coming out. It made me less ignorant to the fact that there are gay students in our school. I learned that I should never assume someone is straight. One of the panel speakers, Sam, talked about how his teacher assumed that he was straight. His teacher asked him if he was "going to the football game to pick up chicks." Sam was extremely offended by his teachers words since the entire class knew he was gay, and was laughing at the teacher's ignorance. Sam also talked about how he had to reassure his mom that everything would end up being okay. In our society, this is a bit unusual because we normally see a parental figure nurturing their children, instead of the other way around. After this assembly I also learned that there is a difference between sexuality and a gender role. I also learned about the difficulties that are transgender students face on a daily basis. For example, when Nick goes to the guy's bathroom the school security guards get mad and him. On the other hand when he uses the girl's bathroom, girls look at her as if she's in the wrong place. 

       Although I am straight, and I have not faced any of the difficulties that the gay/transgender students have faced, I have gay friends and I know that words such as "fag" and "gay," that are casually used among teenagers are extremely offensive to students that are actually gay. When I hear these offensive words used in everyday conversation, such as "that's so gay," I hear an intended meaning of stupid. I know for a fact that gay students are not stupid. They are just like us; they are intelligent and are actively involved in our community and extracurricular activities. There is only one difference between gay students and straight students, other than that one difference, we are the same.

Just Chill Out!

This week for Sociology I did nothing. Yup, that’s right, my teacher assigned us the nothing assignment in which we had to sit somewhere and do nothing, just observe our surroundings. On Tuesday I took the bus to school for the first time all year. I was a bit hesitant to take on this task since I take the bus after school and talk to all the kids on the bus. Although it was a bit uncomfortable not being able to talk to any of my friends, I took the challenge anyway.

I extended my legs along the length of the ugly, brown bus seat, crossed my arms, and observed. I listened to the conversations that my friends were having around me, and I realized all the conversations were surprisingly short since I didn’t have any input in them. In addition to being mute for ten minutes, I faced a very mean situation. At the last bus stop, this boy asked me if he could sit next to me, since there were no other seats left. I continued to sit there, following the guidelines of the homework assignment. I just stared at him, not being able to move. He asked me a few more times until he finally gave up. I’m not sure if that was the point of the assignment, but I felt so bad. After five minutes slowly passed by I was starting to get irritated and fidgety. I needed to move my hands, lips, and legs.

I felt so useless for those ten minutes. I am constantly filling up the minutes of my life. Whether this time is spent on school work, talking, texting, eating or sleeping, I am constantly occupying my time with an activity. If I’m not doing something I feel as if I’m wasting my time. Even when I sleeping, yes I’m re-energizing my body, but I think to myself “I COULD be doing something more useful right now.”

After completing the nothing assignment I realized that in our society we are constantly taking the time to do stuff and we hardly ever take the time to just chill out. There is not a time that I’m not thinking about how my homework I have and what plans I have to make for the upcoming weekend. Even my thoughts are constantly changing; there is never a time that I’m thinking about nothing.

I’ve learned that I should take at least five minutes out of the 1,440 minutes in my day to take a deep breathe and empty my mind of all that I’m stressing about. Just chill out.

Cultural Values

This week in sociology we talked about American values versus other culture’s values. Each culture is different because they value different aspects of life. For example, German’s place an emphasis on family time, and therefore close all supermarkets on Sundays. In America, we are always competing for businesses, so Walgreens, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s are open 24-7 in order to make a greater profit.

            In addition to having a first-hand experience in different cultural values, other countries have assumptions about the values of countries abroad. For example, this past summer I hosted a French student and the agency gave the exchange student and host family a page of expectations. The host family had to keep in mind that French people “don’t smile” often, and that they don’t usually go out of their way to smile and say hello to anyone. The French students had to realize they shouldn’t close the door to their room because it would “offend” the host family, and it would seem as if the French exchange student is mad, or doesn’t want to talk. These are absurd values that misjudged. After the four week exchange I realized that you shouldn’t generalize an entire group of people and their values. You should get to know someone for who they are by spending time with them, and also visiting their country. This way you can see, first hand, what they value.

            When I visited Iran seven years ago I was shocked with the difference in cultural values from America. In America we have a two-day weekend, but public businesses are still open. In Iran, Friday is their only day off, and every place is closed: all the markets, restaurants, and offices. This is because Friday is family time. The guy who owns the supermarket has the day off and is spending it with his family. In America, we don’t emphasize this as much. We do our grocery shopping, get our nails done, and deposit checks over the weekend. Although I eat dinner with my family every night, just like my relatives in Iran, I know many of my friends who never eat dinner with their family. This value is not emphasized in America as other nations.

Does a "Thumbs Up" Really Represent a Good Thing?

This week in Sociology we learned about cultural differences within material culture such as toilets, food, and transportation, as well as nonmaterial culture, such as language and gestures. We also touched on ethnocentrism, which is when someone thinks that the way they were brought up (they’re ingroup) is the best way and the only way. For example, when someone from a different country visits the United States, many Americans are ignorant towards their standards or norms, such as their nonmaterial culture of language. I have heard so many Americans say “why can’t they just learn how to speak English? They are in America.” These Americans don’t realize how difficult it is for tourists to learn English. The Americans in this example are demonstrating ethnocentrism because they believe that their language is the best language, and that it should be the primary language.

My dad has explained to me how for a long time Iran the thumb was the equivalent to the middle finger in America. Many Persians would use their middle finger to point out something, instead of using their pointer finger, since the middle finger is longer. With an increase in Westernization the thumb has evolved to the middle finger, and more people point using their pointer finger.

                             Does a "Thumbs Up" Really Represent a Good Thing? 

After this week I have realized that I should be more open to other cultural norms. I have always looked forward to traveling when I’m older, but now I know read about the language, gestures, and norms before I visit a new place. 

                                                                Thumbs Up!