Look at me!

Description: A photo of a facebook page of a celebrity

 

In our culture, vanity is quickly transforming from an undesirable trait to a common one. Talking about yourself constantly and putting extraordinary effort into making sure you are portrayed the way you want to be seen are not always positives.  Too often these days, people are having problems just being themselves. Furthermore, social network sites that are popular today continue to enforce the trend that everyone should focus primarily on their own vanity.

 

Part of the “orbit” that people are stuck in that C. Wright Mills talks about is not recognizing the difference between personal failures and societal failures. When people realize that they spend too much time on facebook or too much time worrying about their appearance, they often blame themselves for being so vain. However, this is not always just a personal problem when taking into account the sociological imagination. Being over-confident or “cocky” is a negative trait; however, through social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace it is fairly evident that fair amounts of people believe they are the most important person in the world. I don’t know what is more arrogant than that, but in today’s society these websites have made this not only accepted, but the norm. The fact that magazines, TV, and pop culture in general have created this sense of vanity in society is recognized as a problem, but the solutions are barely discussed. Instead, these websites are created to give an outlet for not just celebrities, but everybody, to live in their own vanity-driven world.

 

This picture features a facebook page of a celebrity. On it you see not only the celebrity posting everything about themselves plus more, but also numerous amounts of fans commenting and “liking” and doing everything they can just for people to see them. You can’t tell without clicking them (which you obviously can’t) but many people simply post the URL’s to their own websites, just hoping people will come look at their extremely normal, but self-centered website.

 

 

Body ink and piercings

Description

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A picture of one of my dads tattoos and piercings.


Sociological Imagination

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Tattoos and piercings have been around for thousands of years, all cultures and all types of people get tattoos. Tattoos and piercings are a way of expressing yourself to the world, making you unique, your own person and different looking from anyone else. Does painting our body with irreversible ink make us different from society?

The sociological imagination describes the ability to connect seemingly impersonal and remote historical forces to the incidents of an individuals life. This is a main reason to why people get tattoos, something happens to them in their life, whether it be a near death experience or a memory they never want to forget , usually caused by social activities. In Western culture and society back in the day it was wrong to "ruin" your body with irreversible ink, it was a sign of rebel and was frowned upon, it was to remove you from the normal, conventional society, and where those people now had to deal with the reactions of the people in "normal society." Some companies such as Walt Disney wouldn't even hire someone, no matter how qualified, or how much schooling they have had, Walt Disney would not hire them, to uphold a "normal" image for their company and that they don't hire "freaks." Tattoos are now widely respected throughout the world, its now viewed as a way of art , and people are astounded by the work that some people put on themselves ,the tattoo and piercing industry is booming, especially in North America, which is making the tattoo/ piercing industry very respected. My dad was very against tattoo's and piercings up until a couple years ago, when he realized that they were "socially excepted" and went outside the boundaries of his job, where he wasn't supposed to be tatted up.

Although tattoos and other forms of body modification are getting much more accepted around the world, we still live in a generation where the older, more classic folk , see tattoos and piercings as a prison sign, anyone who has a tattoo is a bad person and feared, but in my opinion it lets people be who they are, sociology is a study of human behavior , and tattoos can play a big role in a humans behavior, it makes them proud to be who they are, and I'm glad body modifications are being more socially excepted, they express who you are as a human being and allows people to comfortably live in a social world.

INFLUENCE

Description:

In this picture Regina Police were sent to a home at 6:30pm after they got a call from concerned neighbors regarding an intoxicated man walking around with what looked to be a knife

Sociological Interpretation:
Police were called to this strange case to restore order and to protect surrounding individuals. Society and government laws have deemed the actions of this man a criminal act, and requires someone to implement these laws. Creation of the Regina City Police in 1892 gave government the on location force that was needed. The freedom of knowing your safety is in the hands of trained professionals puts one at ease of mind. Laws are here to impact the behavior of individuals in order to keep society in check. Individuals who break out of tune of the norms that are expected, will suffer the consequences of doing so. The life of an individual and the structure of society (C .Write Mills, Murray Knuttila) forbids certain behavior, there for applying consequences to keep actions with in standards. Laws and society norms, influence and keep us on track through forces that may not even be present but are non-consciously acting on our judgment. Not everyone will go walking around drunk, because if they do they know that there will be punishment.

The relationship between life and the structure of societies impact on the way we shape our behavior, has influences on us to every degree. Laws and norms are in place to directly limit behavior, they require constant monitoring and questioning. A person can only go so far until another person will be required to step in an suppress progressing. The impact that police have is tremendous, mer presence can extinguish a situation. Forcing the law is what they do for a living, and social norms are guidelines for proper behavior.

A Slogan that Speaks to Many

Description:

This is a picture of the "I Love Regina" slogan taken in front of Regina's City Hall.

Sociological Interpretation:

As a slogan, "I Love Regina" is a claim that can be interpreted as being a meaningful and memorable motto. As it grew with its overall popularity, the "I Love Regina" slogan has certainly become a social expression of a unified purpose. Allowing Regina to signify its self as being a diverse place collectively for having its own unique culture. Culture defined as "the totality of the various material and non-material aspects of human existence that characterizes how specific people live and 'do things'" (Knuttila, 49).

As being a social expression, the slogan has been used all around us from being placed on the clothes individuals wear as well as being found on the sides of buildings and structures throughout the city. Therefore, this slogan has overall been symbolized as an emotion that drives all of Regina's citizens to a variety of different feelings and attitudes. As citizens, this slogan has also developed a sense of strong attachment and affection to our historical landscape. Creating a representation in which the members of our society can feel proud and can live together with a mutual benefit.

Like other communities, our society strives to achieve certain goals and needs. For instance, it is believed that one of our biggest goal/need is to make our home an attractable place for outsiders or visitors. The "I Love Regina" slogan has created this view of Regina, and overall of Saskatchewan of being a friendly place to where people would come to pursue potential opportunities. Therefore, allowing us as a society to change and to grow as an economic foundation in the end.

Vietnamese Wedding

Description

A traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony

Sociological Interpretation

The culture we are born into, influences and moulds much of our behaviour. As Knutilla states, "we are above all else cultural creatures" a part of something larger—something we know as society. Society has its own culture and institutions that define our behaviour, conduct and actions in an organized, patterned, and structured way. What happens when the culture you are a part of is not typical of the society you identify yourself in?

A traditional Vietnamese wedding, like that in the picture would not be typically seen in North American society. At a simple glance, one can identify many differences. But are the differences simply in attire and appearance? Or is there an underlying significance in the whole wedding ceremony? Traditional Vietnamese weddings are mostly situated upon the importance of family. The bride and groom make offerings to their deceased and living elders, in hopes of having their marriage blessed. The strength and duration of a marriage between two individuals is strongly dependent on the harmony of both the families of the bride and groom. Ceremonies last 3 days and occur within the household of both the bride and groom. Marriage is strongly intertwined within family values and ties. The agreement to marriage itself is heavily discussed and planned beforehand between the elders of the individuals to be married. Divorce is strongly frowned upon, as it leaves a costly and disgraceful marker on the family name. In North American society, 50% of marriages end in divorce. However, one can also look at the constraint of family ties associated with marriages in Vietnam. A North American may say that traditional marriages in Vietnam lack the essence of love in all its glory, and is more so encouraged by family expectations. In some cases, marriages in Vietnam may be arranged or dealt with like a business agreement. Marriage reflects the status of a family in society, where a wealthy family would not likely wed their child to a poorer family that is not of equal status.

What is an individual to do when they are born into a traditional Vietnamese family, but raised in a North American society? The debate itself can be extended beyond the simple concept of marriage, but regardless of the behaviour being discussed, the ideal would be a balance between both culture and society. This raises the idea of diversity. Instead of constraining oneself in the boundaries of either culture OR society, one can share both values and norms instilled by culture AND society. In doing so, marriage would be seen as sacred to the family and to the couple being married. The importance of stability in traditional Vietnamese marriages could be balanced with North American's highly esteemed conquest for a spark of love.

History

Description

A photo I took at a concentration camp in Germany. Dachau was the first concentration camp established by the Nazi Party. This photo is of the "Intertwined Skeleton Sculpture", a memorial built on the roll call ground of the camp.

Sociological Interpretation

When I first viewed this statue, it sent chills up my spine. At first glance, it looks as thought it is a sculpture of barbed wire fences, depicting feelings of coldness, war, trapped and scared. When approaching closer to it, you realize it is a mixutre of barb wired, and frail human bodies. It right away sent me back in time, to think about the prisoners and victims who were kept there, tortured there, or died there.

The topic of the Holocaust and World War II history greatly interest me and I find it important to know the history of our world. When I spoke of the Holocaust in Germany, reactions from Germans were, maybe not what I expected. The topic is though it is taboo, no one talks about it, and no one cares to engage in any type of conversation about it. I had the sense as though it was still fresh in their minds, it's still a very familiar topic to them, maybe beacuse there are still people around who had witnessed it. This did not bother me, it gave me a sense that it was perhaps regretted, and embarassing that the event ever occured. It was such a major part of their history that it should not be forgotten, and therefore it is taught and talked about to all generations in school.

I think that world history is a very important topic, and should be addressed to students in Canada as well. It is discouraging to know that we have it as an option, but it is not mandatory. I believe our society and education system has changed, to think too far into the future, and not address the past events as much as we should. You hear of new technology, what is to come, and where we will be in decades, or centuries. What about how the past has shaped who we are today? How has our global history, national history, or even the history of our own city, made us who we are today? To understand our past, would perhaps allow us to understand the wrong doings of others. I was never taught about either of the World Wars, and am saddened to say I could not tell you a lot about Canadian history either. The only Canadian history I have been taught is that of the First Nations, but I know there are many other factors which brought us to where we are in society today. Such as the history of the RCMP, Japanese concentration camps, our participation in wars, and the settling of the Europeans.

Consumer Value Tied to Societal Value?

Description
These are photos of one of the newer housing developments in Regina and one of Regina’s vehicle sales lots.

Sociological Interpretation

In today’s society if you were to ask someone what their idea of success is two of the major pieces would be a nice, large home and a nice, new car. What does this say about our consumer driven society? It tells us that we, as a society, see status symbols much differently than some other cultures.

In North America we see a large house and a nice car and we most often assume that the person or people that own them are “wealthy.” We often strive for these things throughout our life. We work hard in hopes of acquiring things like this. For some people they do not consider what needs to be put into owning these things and acquiring these status symbols. They often come with large monthly payments and years of interest. Many do not consider the utility that comes from these assets either. What does owning a larger house or better car give you over your neighbour? A status symbol yes, but what else? Does a family of four really require a three thousand square foot home with an indoor pool or could they get by with something less extravagant. The purchases of homes and cars seem to be made more with status symbol in mind than sheer need. Keeping up with friends and family or being the best on your block can be driving forces for these purchases.

Even with the changes to borrowing rules it remains fairly easy to obtain financing for vehicles or mortgages for homes. Often all that is required are a few pay stubs and a willingness to pay. In some instances it becomes even easier to obtain mortgages or financing than it is to obtain a small personal or student loan.

Using the Sociological Imagination we can speculate as to why this is. Is it a personal desire for status or has it been spurred by societal values and norms? If the status symbol was removed from large houses and expensive cars would we see the same demand or would these manufactured wants become obsolete? Society has created the image of “wealth” and “power.” It we humans who struggle to attain these statuses. In the same respect we humans create and shape our society. It is we who have created the market for consumer debt and it is we who buy into it. We can blame government or financial institutions but in the end we, ourselves have control over our own spending and limits. When will we as a society realize that it has been a trend of saving that has gotten us as far as we are, in having the luxury to purchase these goods, and it is now turning into a debt run market without the savings?

Other cases throughout the world have illustrated that this appetite for unnecessary consumer goods is often only ceased when the river of credit begins to dry up. That is when spending and debt, have hit an all time high and we simply have no more to spend.

In conclusion we have created the market that we choose to live in and only we can drive it back to where it should rest comfortably. Can we ever become a nation that relies solely on what we need or will we always choose to be a nation that relies on material goods to illustrate status?

St. Agnes Community School

Description

This is the St. Agnes elementary school in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

Sociological Interpretation

In this photo, the elementary school, St. Agnes, looks like an ordinary school. The building is plain, and one would assume it is like any other school. This elementary school is considered a “community” school, having a majority of underprivileged children in attendance.

An institution is defined as “a set of organized relationships, structured interactions, patterned behavior, and regularized and routine collective actions that are geared to or serve to meet some problem, need or drive.” (Knutilla, 52). The children at St. Agnes community school often have more problems and needs than an average student. For example, the school often encounters students that are not being adequately fed. St. Agnes works to provide numerous social programs to benefit the students, including ‘the breakfast program’. Many of these children do not come from stable homes, and often do not eat the most important meal of the day. St. Agnes has this program to ensure their students do not go hungry. This school has children with unique needs, leading to remarkable relationships and roles of students and teachers. Many teachers put in longer hours, in attempts to increase funding for the variety of extra programs needed. Many of the families are in need of help, leaving the teachers to be very leery as to how children are being treated in the homes. One would not realize all of these different relationships and behaviors taking place at St. Agnes community school simply by looking at the picture itself.

Oilfield Industry in Saskatchewan

Description

This is a picture of one of the very many drilling rigs around the Estevan area. I took this photo in the summer for my dad who works in the oilfield, hence the lack of snow!

Sociological Interpretation

There are such an abundance of oil field jobs available in Saskatchewan that many people are getting hired for and many families and individuals are moving here from all over the world to be a part of this growing industry.

Society has many different classes of people, from those who strive for power and wealth and get it, to those who strive to simply survive day after day. In a perfect world, everyone would be equal. People would work equal hours and equal jobs; people would have same amounts of money and benefits. No one would be unsure as to whether or not they will have enough food for tomorrow, or if they will still have a roof over their heads next week. However, today, all over the world, there are people who need to worry about their jobs (or lack of), money, and surviving. These people may be incredibly hard workers who only want the best for themselves and their families but just haven’t been able to achieve it yet. Many of these people come to Saskatchewan in hopes of a new beginning and a better outcome and work in the oilfield, which can be a very rewarding, however unpredictable, industry.

Many of the people hired to work in the oilfield industry may lack necessary training and qualifications, however are still hired because workers are needed or their lack of training was simply overlooked. Many of these people desperately need the jobs to survive and support their families and may be willing to do a job without the right training, because that is what they need to do in order to survive. Employers may also be at fault for overlooking these lacks of qualifications because they need the workers in the growing industry. These workers, with their lack of training and qualifications, and the employers who hire them before providing them with necessary training, pose a serious safety hazard for themselves and their fellow workers. More and more accidental deaths are happening in the oil field due to unqualified workers not knowing proper procedures and safety measures. Society and the industry needs to make sure that every worker they have is up to date in their training and safety and that they have available courses for those who aren’t so they can begin legally working as soon as possible. Unfortunately, in our society the workers would be missing out on pay checks and working hours if they were to take the necessary courses and training, so often it’s overlooked. In order to be successful in our society, people need to work and earn money. In order to do this, many careers require prior schooling, training, etc before they can advance. Unfortunately many people cannot afford this schooling and must either settle for a less paying, lower job or else illegally make their way into a particular career, as some oilfield workers are forced to do.

Gender Roles: Female Influences

Description

This picture was taken in a local Shoppers Drug Mart, as we can see it is a picture of many types of beauty products.

Sociological Interpretation

Gender roles are considered to be socially appropriate behaviours that have been learned by males and females. An example of this is when you think of careers for men and women, women are typically thought of the care givers such as nurses and teachers while men are thought of strong masculine police officers or fire fighters. I will be focusing on the female gender role in our society and as we can see in the picture makeup is a female based product.

The media advertises makeup to help enhance a females beauty, and this hits home with most females because who doesn't want to look and feel beautiful? Applying makeup is apart of most women's daily routines, because it is a social norm for a female to use makeup to look her best. The question is why has such a simple thing such as applying concealer, mascara and lipstick become one of the most important things to starting a females day? It is because of our culture, I learned to use make up from my older sister, who learnt it from our mother and etc.

The media has catch phrases such as " Maybe she's born with it, maybe its Maybeline" and "Easy breezy beautiful Cover Girl", the Maybeline slogan translates maybe she's born with it, no its just our make up that makes her beautiful and the Cover girl slogan translates that their make up will help make you look like a cover girl. Is there any beauty product that wants you to look and feel beautiful just the way you are? Don't lose hope yet girls, there are many companies that focus on a women's natural beauty, companies such as Dove. Unlike makeup companies that focus on swaying a women to use their products to be beautiful, Dove has workshops for women and young girls to help them embrace their natural beauty.Dove also uses real life women of all shapes and sizes instead of surgically enhanced women and models for their campaigns. We need more companies like this in the world!

The makeup industry only has as much power over us as we give them, but because of the culture we live in, it is a social norm for females to use makeup to fit in with the gender role of being beautiful. The norms of gender roles are changing for the better, although the media still has its grasp on the female mind, we can now be less affected by the slogans and models they throw at us. We are beautiful just the way we are fat, skinny, tall, short, black, white or purple. As long as a women can feel beautiful inside and outside of her own skin that is all that matters!

Regina: The Start

Despriction

A field located in southeast Regina.

Sociological Interpretation

When Regina started there was nothing, no lake to get water from and no trees to get wood from. There was no large body water around Regina which did not make sense, why not make a city on a large body of water, instead of making a large body of water in a city. Regina also had no natural trees, all the trees in Regina are human planted. Regina was just flat land and was actually known as " Pile of Bones".

Regina would not of been possible if it were not for the people who live here. Our society has over come the odds, that when Regina was first being built it would not last, there was no large water source close by therefore, it will never be well populated. Society had different plans in Regina though the people planted trees and built a large body of water and kept building from there. Regina now is continuing to grow and the population is on the rise and it's all becasue of the people who live here and enjoy living here so they do not leave. Logically Regina should not exist, there is no reason for a city to be located where Regina is located.

This goes to show that if people are living somewhere, where they enjoy living and continue to live there, that other people will hear about it and come and live there as well. Even if it was nonlogical to move to a city like Regina they still did it because they beielved it was better than where they previously lived. Regina now has over 200,000 people, plenty of trees and vegation and also has the man made Wascana Lake. If the society that had started here would of given up when they were told of the reasons not to build a city here, then where would we be now?

Different Types of Houses

Description

This is a picture of a house in London many of the houses look very similar.

Sociological Imagination

Throughout the world, there are many different sizes, styles, and types of houses. This picture of a house in London which shows one style of the type of house a person will find in London. The houses are small and many look identical to each other. London is such a big country and has many people living there causing the houses to be smaller than houses you would see here.

In Canada and the States, many people are buying houses much bigger than what they need especially actors and singers who buy houses so big that it is impossible for them to use the entire house. In London, people are more realistic about the size of their home. Some actors and singers tend to relate to the concept the looking-glass self which is a concept developed by C.H. Cooley to illustrate how our self-image and the behaviors that emerge as a result actors and singers try to impress people with their money by the size of their houses. For many people being able to have their own home is a challenege because the economy is getting much more expensive. The houses in London are so much money already for the house in the picture that it is hard for people to be able to afford a much bigger home.

In Marxian's theory of labour power which is the capacity of ability of human beings to engage in work and be able to have a fair income will determine the type and size of a house they will be able to purchase. In London people are more realistic and do not try to impress people with the size or houses they have and are more concerned about being able to have more room for people to live. If somebody from Canada was to move to London they would have to get used to the smaller space in the houses in London. Throughout the world there are many different things to get used to and sizes of houses is definatly one.

Licence plates in different countires

Description

This picture is of different licence plates from different counties such as are Las Vegas, New Mexico, Africa and Saskatchewan.

Sociological Imagination

These licence plates are from different countries and they stand for "symbols" for different people. A symbol is defined as "a gesture or sign that has an arbitrary, cultural, learned meaning opposed to one that is species wide"(Knuttila 49). The licence plates classify people into different groups. Since everyone in the world does not all live in the same way, dress in the same way, eat the same food or even speak the same languages. We are all taught different behaviours and are raised differently from other people in the world. "Agents of socilization" is defined as "institutions, groups, social situations and locations within which we are socialized"(Knuttila 97). We are all raised in different cultural and social situations which helps us act and react to different situations with which we are faced with.

For instance if we are raised in a small city such as Regina and move to a bigger place such as Africa it would take us awhile to adjust to their values. Knuttila defines a "value" as a "general abstract principle or idea related to what is appropiate and inappropriate"( Knuttila 66). If we learned to drive in Regina and moved to Africa it would be very difficult for one to learn how to drive in a much bigger and busier place then learing to drive in a small city. Also we would have to understand the "Generalized other" which is "understanding the attitudes, values, norms, expectations and actions of others in different communities"(Knuttila 117). Everyone has their own ways of living and if we were to move somewhere we would need to learn how their society funtions. What behaviours are appropiate and which are not. We would have to learn how to adjust to another countries surroundings and be able to accept their way of life.

Troubled Youth

Description

A 16 year old was found burning in an alley in the North Central area of Regina. The police are investigating the crime scene.

Sociological Interpretation

Two teenagers are being investigated for the murder of the 16 year old boy. In a situation like this, many wonder why kids of this age are turning to such violence. Kids need social structure or goals to develop socially. Family life plays a major role for the development of children's social skills, moral behavior and expectations of them. Many youth who do not have the support of a family are desperate in search of support from others. At a young age many kids are drawn to gangs because they are desperate for acceptance to a "family" and they have no where else to go. Many times youth are also drawn into gangs because of peer pressure or social norms of their friends and acquaintances. Gangs replace the family values taught to youth and instead lead to immoral and criminal behavior. The role model of a parent is replaced by the social group of the gang.

If youth are taught proper values at a young age then they might be able to overcome the pressures of joining a gang or leading a life of crime. Kids can be given good influences by staying in school and having good teachers as their role models. Another alternative would an activity such as sports or music. This gives an opportunity for children to accomplish something or set goals. A musical instrument would teach kids how to achieve goals by learning to play music. Team sports are very good because they teach youth how to work as a team. Coaches can also be a positive role model for youth

The hiring process in Regina is Bias

Description:

This is a photo of a random sign that advertises an opportunity of employment available in Regina located on Albert St. In Regina, Sask. The sign contains large, colourful font and indicates a wage range to draw in the attention of all potential applicants and job seekers.

Sociological Interpretation:

Employment methods in Regina, SK are extremely bias to the people that apply for jobs. Regina has a pre made formula of an unbalanced economy, caused by many reasons and results in poverty and crime. Regina employers will hire a select group of people that are of a specific social class, culture, age group, and racial background. Observing this from a “materialist approach”(Knuttila, 153) concludes that the major cause of this process is an instilled model of capitalist mentality. One problem with employment is the set levels of personal requirements for these positions. The education or experience levels required to get the desired position are usually set at an incredibly high standard. For example, a majority of retail positions require a grade 12, previous customer service experience, post secondary training or dealing with the public courses. Many students, fresh out of high school, do not have these specific trainings. Nursing positions require post secondary education and one must have 85% GPA or higher to qualify for the training.

“Need- the basic requirements necessary to sustain human life” (Harper-Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 325). A need, in the local businesses of Regina, is the increase of employees, which in turn speed up service. 1 person is hired to do the job of 2 or 3 people, and ends up being paid a dollar above minimum. Most positions will pay minimum wage regardless of the new employee’s qualifications or education. Applicants that have no paper degree or certificate but have years of on the job experience usually doesn’t get the job. However, a person with a paper certificate that has no experience is usually the one that gets hired. Degrees, diplomas, certificates, and training from most countries are not acceptable to Canadian Standards and are considered useless to these highly educated immigrants. The population is heavily increasing in Regina and with this increase, comes the amount of people in need of a job.

Cosmopolitan Magazines

Description:

This photo is of a collection of Cosmopolitan magazines owned by a friend. I realize there is already a photo of magazines up on the blog, but this is my sociological interpretation of a certain genre of magazines.

Sociological Interpretation:

Cosmopolitan advertises fashion, how to lose weight, as well as sex positions and tips to find the perfect man. There has not been one Cosmo magazine that I have seen without the word ‘sex’ on it. This creates expectations for women to uphold in society. In the earlier days, women’s magazines portrayed women fully clothed and with a healthy amount of weight on their bodies. Women, such as Marilyn Monroe, made a healthy figure gorgeous. In the present day, our society has created a set of social and behavioural norms that an individual is expected to follow. Young women read these magazines and realize they look nothing like these females on the covers. This creates low self-esteem and impossible expectations to live up to since the subjects on the covers are air-brushed and have a large amount of make-up on.

Our culture has created a definition of what femininity is and if a woman goes outside of this norm, she is looked down upon and is defined as ‘different’ or ‘abnormal’. The pressure that is put on women of all ages is tremendous and there is a great need for resocialization. By using resocialization, our society can change into a community that does not have gender roles, gendered expectations, and is free of gender bias.

Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field

Description

This is a picture of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field.

Sociological Interpretation

In class we defined culture as “the total life way of a people”. In Regina, and throughout Saskatchewan, that is precisely what the Saskatchewan Roughrider team means to this province. Here in Regina, supporting the Saskatchewan Roughriders has become a way of life. It is amazing that something like a football team can bring an entire society together. At Mosaic Stadium, all ethnic differences seem to diminish when instead everyone is seen as the colour green. The province is often referred to as a ‘Rider Nation’. This describes a collection of people coming together and puts into perspective the numerous people standing behind this team. On both sides of the entrance, two large posters hang with the phrase, “Pride Lives Here”. One team, in one small Canadian city has the power to bring so many different types of people together.

After the 2007 Grey Cup, Albert Street was named ‘The Green Mile’ in response to the win. Although this demonstrated Roughrider pride in our city, an even bigger gesture is underway. The importance of this team has been expressed through a new stadium project. A $350 million stadium is currently in the design stages and will become the new Roughrider home. The province is clearly emphasizing its commitment to this team with the new stadium.

Although the impact of Rider Nation is significant to our society, $350 million is no small order. In a time of economic crisis, unemployment, and poverty, is this really where our money should be spent? Homelessness is a serious problem throughout Canada, and Regina is no exception. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are definitely important to the Regina way of life, however there is more to this city than just football. Other critical issues have been seemingly overlooked. Rider fans believe that our commitment and love for this team are deserving of a new stadium, but is it simply a want, not a need? Think about the number of mouths that could be fed, or the low cost housing that could be built with 350 million dollars as opposed to a new dome stadium.

Magazines and Personal Image

Description

This photo is of a magazine rack at the Moose Jaw Superstore.

Sociological Interpretation

Although we may not realize it, mass media plays a huge role in our lives and how we see ourselves. If we stop and think we can easily see what a huge impact magazines have on society, especially young women.

“North Americans spend a great deal of time with mass media” (Knuttila 78.) One popular method of this is magazines. We may see magazines and other forms of mass media as informational, a way of attaining news, knowledge, or advice. But along with this information comes advertising and imaging. Young girls look at these magazines and see no one that looks like them, only beautiful, thin, air-brushed women. What are magazines like these teaching young girls? By showing them what the ‘ideal’ way to look and act is, they can also result in low self-esteem. “As a child watches these images and messages day after day, year after year, the learning takes hold in a powerful way” (Knuttila 79.)

Magazines have a strong power over what young girls value in themselves. They teach girls that what is important is what is on the outside, on the surface. By focusing on articles that show you how to “get sexy hair” or “find the pants that best fit you” magazines are telling girls that these things are more important than how they act and their overall life long health.

These articles and images largely contribute to negative body images in youth. They look at these unrealistic models in the magazines and compare themselves to the models. For most girls these images are not only almost impossible to duplicate, but it would be very unhealthy. Trying to achieve these looks can lead young girls to extremes such as anorexia, bulimia, and intense diets or exorcises. Girls look at these magazines and see what only a very small portion of women look like. They see the models, celebrities, athletes, and other stars and think that this is how everyone looks. But in reality, how women are portrayed in magazines is not how most women look.

The use of mass media to illustrate the ideal look is not a new idea. It has been around for a long time. But it has become much more important in recent years and will continue to have a huge impact on our lives unless we realize how much control it has over us. We have to recognize that what is depicted as “social norms” in the magazines is not actually normal at all. As Knuttila states, “The sociological imagination promises ‘an understanding of the intimate realities of ourselves in connection with larger social realities’, an ability that, if developed, will allow human reason ‘to play a greater role in human affairs’ (Mills, The Sociological Imagination 1949, 4, 6, 15.)”

Deviance: Always Negative?

Description:
Four high school students socializing in the lobby of their high school. These students may be seen as “socially deviant” due to the way they dress.

Sociological Interpretation:

The picture shown is displaying four individuals socializing in a high school setting. The individuals seen here are individuals who do not follow the standard “norm”. A norm is defined as “a specific expression of value.” Meaning, “Norms are behavioral prescriptions or instructions that apply to behavior in various roles and statuses.” (Knuttila, pg. 65)

Many young adults do not feel as if they fit into any one ‘certain group’. Instead of trying to establish themselves in a socially accepted group, they choose to stray away from the norm and dress or behave in a way that to some, may seem deviant. Deviance is often seen in a negative persona. In actuality, the term deviance means “Social actions and behaviors that violate commonly acceptable, dominant, or mainstream values, norms, folkways, and mores.” (Knuttila, pg.369). For example, a scientist may break the rules of his or her discipline, in order to create a new theory, cure, or explanation. The scientist may be sanctioned, and awarded a Noble Prize for his or her accomplishments. But were his or her original actions not deviant? He or she broke away from the norm, meaning he or she had committed an act of deviance.

Young adults who have a tendency to stray from the norm are viewed as deviants, but instead of viewing this deviance in a negative light, we as a society should view it in a positive way. Dressing differently should no longer be seen as a negative behavior, but as a positive expression of one’s inner being, and one’s want or need to be socially accepted by a group of his or her peers. Deviance that violates folkways (which are norms that are based upon customs, traditions, or etiquette) should not always be seen as a negative. We as a society need to realize that humans all have different traits and qualities that make them unique. Just because we may view something as socially deviant, we should not assume that it is wrong. We need to accept these differences, and allow them to flourish and intertwine within our culture.

Social Deviance and the Society

Description

Gas flaring, marginalization and its offshoots in the social structure of the people of Niger Delta in Nigeria.

Sociological Interpretation

The term deviance as "socially defined and constructed is any social behaviour which violates institutionalized expectations, that is, expectations which are shared and recognised as legitimate within a social system" (Knuttila, 351).

In this picture we see a society whose people have continually been marginalized by their political leaders and foreign operators of their natural resources. They control most especially the trade of their natural resource, crude oil and with the help of the oil companies owned by the so called "developed" societies pollute their land; and amass wealth at the expense of the people's poverty. In most part of the "developed" nations of the world, gas flaring has been discontinued owing to its hazardous effects to the environment particularly the ozone layer; it accounts tremendously for the depletion of the ozone layer and incessant increase of global warming which is responsible in part for skin cancer and other dreaded diseases. But in the so called "underdeveloped" and "developing" regions of the world these inhumane acts are still practiced without a prick of conscience.

The oppressed social actors of this society have in time past demonstrated non-violently for their emancipation and stop to the degradation of their environment. But for greed and taste of power amongst the ruling class their voices have always been daunted. The social structure of a people is the creator of their characteristics. From the sociological works of Robert K. Merton and others we understand that deviant behaviours are the offshoots of some social structural norms and values, (Knuttila, 359,360) unlike the claims of Cessare Lombroso and others that criminality and deviant behaviours are innate and as such biologically determined (Knuttila, 351,352).

Marginalization, the social process of relegating or confining an individual or a group of people to the edge in a social structure has thereby caused the oppressed social actors of this society to develop deviant behaviours in other to revolt against the continued oppression, subjugation and cruelty of their leaders towards them. Today the social structure have experienced a paradigm shift wherein the people have drifted from the usual peaceful dialogue to the use of arms and other forms of violence to speak incessantly for their right.

This insurgency has therefore become inherent in the social structure and as such the social structure is in a state of anomie as described by Emile Durkheim in The Rules of Sociological Method.

Description
This is a photo of laundry hanging to dry in France.

Sociological Imagination
In many cultures throughout the world hanging laundry out to dry is socially unacceptable. The main reason for this is the fact that it makes the living environment seem untidy. This open display of clothes hanging to dry can sometimes give the idea of less social privacy. Humans use clothes for their personal privacy, to cover what is suppose to be private on their bodies. This flaunting of clothes on clotheslines can occasionally be seen as promoting less social privacy.
In the world today the human population is exceeding our resources and using more energy than the planet can keep up to. Hanging clothes instead of drying them is a environmentally friendly way of conserving energy. ‘Green’ people are more likely to fight for a neighborhood where hanging clothes outside is accepted. This green trend will catch on and many others will start to imitate this healthy new development. People will not feel as if their privacy is being corrupted if all the rest of the houses around them follow suit because then everyone can clearly observe the rest of the clothes.

Pedestrian Trend

Description

This picture is on a street in France with pedestrians moving out of the way for a vehicle

Sociological Imagination

This picture distinctly shows how aware people are of their surroundings. People naturally learn from other in social situations and tend to follow social norms. Many of these pedestrians were probably unaware of the oncoming vehicle but quickly imitated the people around them to not get hit. We can also observe that although people see different types of vehicles everyday these people all stand and examine the vehicle as it passes, possibly because one person initiated the gaze.

The people stand aside not only because it prevents an accident but also because that is what is socially accepted in this type of situation. Moving out of the way for vehicles is within the social norm of most areas throughout the world. This not only prevents catastrophes but will also avoid conflict. If one individual were to refuse to move out of the way, many in the group would scrutinize them and possibly get angry. This rebellious act could also inspire the rest of the group to follow therefore not allowing the vehicle to pass. The driver of the vehicle also depends on predictable trends of people moving out of the way so they can safely get through to their destination.

Gas Prices

Description

One of the many gas pumps around Regina.

Sociological Interpretation

Gas prices are almost unanimously agreed to be too high, leading to much anxiety at the pumps. However, the reason for these unusually high prices is never really addressed. Through the sociological imagination, it can be established that these high prices may not be solely caused by the greed of oil companies (although this may be a factor as well), but by many complex social issues.

The first of these social issues is the increasing use of automobiles in our society. This is not just because many people are lazy, but is a direct result of the environment. For example, in Regina, the public transportation system is somewhat lacking, given the fact that Regina is hit by extremely cold winters every year. Expecting people to wait for the bus when it is -50 degrees Celsius outside is unimaginable, as there are no indoor bus shelters in Regina. Because of this, it may be more effective to buy a car instead. Also, in the considerably long winters, many people choose to let their car idle before they drive it, leading to, as a society, a larger consumption of gas which in turn leads to gas prices increasing due to increasing demand.

A second social property that may influence gas prices is the population density in both Saskatchewan, and Canada as a whole. As a society, the population density is one of the lowest in the world, meaning the population is very widely spread out, even in urban areas. Due to this wide distribution of the population, walking to one’s destinations may be impractical, as the destinations are too far away from each other. This too could lead to an increase in the number of cars being sold, and in turn lead to a hike in gas prices.

Higher gas prices are not only a result of ‘greedy oil companies’, but are also driven by the multifaceted social issues of the consumers themselves. In finding a balance between practicality and convenience, the North American consumer plays a large part in driving gas prices ever higher, due to the high value North Americans place on comfort.