Our identity is a very important part of our lives and can be shaped entirely by the situation or background we are in. Age, nationality, race and religion can all shape our identity. For e.g. you could act positively towards anything of your own nationality and negatively towards anything from an opposing country. Your age could also greatly shape your identity. A lot of older people believe that teenagers are not to be trusted and a lot of younger people are only interested in things that concern their age group.
With so many things shaping identities, there are so many different identities being formed. This leads to opposing identities which creates a lot of complications in everyday life. But are there any correct identities you should have? Like so many things in the world there is no right or wrong identity. It is based entirely on your thoughts and actions.
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Sociological Imagination
"Schemes are full of pregnant teenagers, unemployed, semi-literate thugs on benefits. They are all a bunch of wasters!"
To describe these people as "a bunch of wasters" isn't the correct way to look at things. We have to ask ourselves why these people are in this situation? This is called applying our sociological imaginations.
Why are there so many pregnant teenagers? There could be many reasons for this. Due to high contraception prices, and contraception not being readily available, teenagers may be put off to buy protection. Another reason could be that teenagers are put under increased pressure by fellow peers to have sex at a young age.
Why are there so many unemployed people on benefits? Again this could be for a number of reasons. Low income in households could persuade teenagers to drop out of school sooner in the hope of getting a job. However due a low number of jobs available, people are forced onto benefits. There could also be less support from parents in a household where there are multiple people on benefits. This means teenagers have less pressure on them to do well in school resulting in poor grades.
To assume that a group of people are "a bunch of wasters" is wrong. We need to find out why they are in this situation. Only then can we find a way to help them.
To describe these people as "a bunch of wasters" isn't the correct way to look at things. We have to ask ourselves why these people are in this situation? This is called applying our sociological imaginations.
Why are there so many pregnant teenagers? There could be many reasons for this. Due to high contraception prices, and contraception not being readily available, teenagers may be put off to buy protection. Another reason could be that teenagers are put under increased pressure by fellow peers to have sex at a young age.
Why are there so many unemployed people on benefits? Again this could be for a number of reasons. Low income in households could persuade teenagers to drop out of school sooner in the hope of getting a job. However due a low number of jobs available, people are forced onto benefits. There could also be less support from parents in a household where there are multiple people on benefits. This means teenagers have less pressure on them to do well in school resulting in poor grades.
To assume that a group of people are "a bunch of wasters" is wrong. We need to find out why they are in this situation. Only then can we find a way to help them.
Monday, 21 June 2010
Monday, 7 June 2010
Sociology
Ascribed Status or Achieved Status? Which best describes you? The answer is both. Ascribed Status is a status of which you have no control, for e.g. your gender or ethnicity. Achieved Status is the status which you seek to achieve. Unlike Ascribed Status, over which you have no control, Achieved Status is entirely based on your efforts and attitudes to the world around you. The idea of Achieved Status is that you can be anyone you want to be or do anything you want to do as long as you put the work in. Ascribed Status could have a massive effect on Achieved Status. An example of Ascribed Status having an effect on Achieved Status could be being born into a family that lives in poverty. This means that you may not have the same opportunities as everybody else in the country for e.g. going to university. You may have the ambition of being a lawyer but your family will not be able to pay the university bills and so your dream to be a lawyer is shattered. However, as we are all given a free education in this country we are all given the same chances at a young age. Even if you are born to a poor family, with enough time and effort you can achieve good grades at school which will lead onto a well paid job and a good lifestyle.
My belief is that no matter what your social class and background everyone can do well in life. All that is needed is work, dedication and high levels of determination. As long as you put the work in you can be who you want to be. The work we do when we are young shapes the way we turn out in the future. It entirely depends on yourself. Who do you want to be?....
My belief is that no matter what your social class and background everyone can do well in life. All that is needed is work, dedication and high levels of determination. As long as you put the work in you can be who you want to be. The work we do when we are young shapes the way we turn out in the future. It entirely depends on yourself. Who do you want to be?....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)