Life is much more than just Rich vs. Poor

     This week we talked about the social classes in our country, with an emphasis on the idea that people in the same community receive different incomes that create large gaps between the rich and the poor. Although some believe that they are not making a lot of money because they're not living the mansions that are displayed through the media in shows such as "Gossip Girl" and "Keeping Up With the Kardashians,"  the reality is that these people are actually richer than 95% of the world's population. For example, living in my neighborhood,  I always considered my family and the neighbors surrounding me as middle class, but after our class discussions this week I've realized that we are all much more providential when we compare ourselves to the rest of the world population. 

      It's important to realize that the big name celebrities that we are looking up to, such as the Kardashians, Trumps, and Hiltons only make up 1% of the entire world's wealth. In addition, these celebrities fall in the small category for two possible reasons. They are either old money, meaning that they have inherited money from many generations, or they own an exceptionally large company or business. In conclusion, it's important to realize that we are all more fortunate than we actually think we are. We only think that we are less fortunate because we are constantly comparing ourselves to the rich celebrities surrounding us through the media. According to the Global Rich List, citizens who make $800 annually are considered middle class. In other words, they are richer than 50.28% of the world population. Ultimately, we should be happy with everything that we have instead of constantly wishing we had more because we are a lot more fortunate that we think. 

Don't Assume. Say "Thank You."

     This week we talked about deviance, which is actions or behaviors that violate cultural norms in one's society, these actions can be both positive and negative. We were assigned a positive deviance project in which we were supposed to do a good deed for someone else. My act of positive deviance was baking a homemade pumpkin pie and a card for my mom. My mom and I are so close we are practically sisters. My mom does countless favors for me on a daily basis. She makes me breakfast, lunch, and dinner, drives me to school every morning, picks me up from after school sports and clubs, and MUCH more. But my sisterly relationship with her has caused me to take advantage of everything that she does for me. I gave her the pie and the handmade card thanking her for everything that she has done for me, and she really enjoyed it. She said it was "really unexpected and heartwarming." I think that it's important to not assume that the most important people in our lives know that we appreciate them, and love them. It's important to tell those people I much you love them and care about them from time to time. It could really make their day! 

Boos: The Persian Kiss

      This week in sociology we talked about deviance, which are behaviors that violate cultural norms in our society. We were given a list of actions such as "two men kissing" and "someone with a tattoo." After I started circling actions that our society finds deviant I realized that a person's deviance depends on their age and wear they live. 

       For example, in some Middle Eastern and European countries men kiss each other on the cheek as a way of greeting each other. In French this term is called "la bise" and in Persian it's called "boos." Persian men and women alternate cheeks, with two/three pecks on the cheek. As a Persian, this is sometimes very confusing. Although most Persians take part in two kisses, with people I don't spend much time with I don't know whether they are comfortable with two or three booses. And with family friends that I spend a lot of time with I have to remember how many booses they expect, or else I will be stuck in a very awkward situation.

      For those who have tattoos, I feel like it's more of a generation based deviance. For example, I hope to get a tattoo when I turn 18. My parents are fine with it, and teenagers don't see anything wrong with it either, but I know an older generation may think that people with tattoos are "trashy," "hopeless," or "rednecks." In some countries tattoos are a cultural acceptance for all ages. 

      After this lesson I realized that actions are seen as deviant depending on your age, on wear you live, and sometime even your gender. 

A Fake Role Model

This week we talked about gender characteristics represented in the media. In order for a product to be seen as "masculine" it must be blue or green in color, and the words that precede the product name should have something to do with being "adventurous." On the other, girl's products must be pink and purple, and must proceed with words like "princess." At a very young age girls are deemed to realize that being a girl is all about beauty on the outside, and not from within, which is not true. Boys, on the other hand, are constantly seen trying to be manlier, with their muscles and adventurous attitude. 

After watching my family watch television for the un-TV assignment in my sociology class, I realized that our society is corrupted by today’s media. As I was watching my mom watch her favorite TV show, Monk, I occasionally interrupted her thirty-minute TV show by asking her when dinner would be ready and if she could sign a permission slip. She angrily tells me to stop blocking the television. Clearly watching TV is more important than my hunger.

            In addition to corrupting your mind, today’s media feeds into the constant stereotypes that we make. For example, the Halloween commercials emphasize the idea that young women should be dressed in sexy costumes and men should dress in masculine outfits.

            After finishing the un-TV assignment I realized that today’s media keeps the audience from demonstrating their personal freedom because the media is brainwashing us. I have learned that most things that the media shows is not true, and if you are trying to be something or someone that is depicted by the media you should stop because that person or thing that is supposedly your role model is fake.