Social Class

Social class is an important segment of the society in America today. As the scholars stated in the text, wealth is what indicates the social class of an individual and depending on how wealthy a person is, their entire life is influenced by that wealth or the lack of it. For example, a child from a poor family might end up going to a school where the education quality isn’t as good as the school that a child from rich family attends. In such ways, the opportunities that people may have access to vary depending on their social class. People with better education are more likely to find better careers and settle down easily whereas it’s the opposite with the people who received poor education. As the text states, a person from a humble background has less chance of ending up wealthy than someone from a more prosperous family so the best chance an individual has of being wealthy is to start off as wealthy in the first place. Therefore, wealth, which defines the social class, means opportunity. In today’s society, money has become an important factor that defines who you are and what social class you belong to. Sometimes, due to the wealth a person possess, he may receive respect while due to lack of it, he may even get disrespected and be seen as a less important person. In such way, the social class may even promote discrimination and bias. Therefore, social class plays an important role today because depending on the class one belongs to, opportunities and experiences will vary.

One related example from my own experience would be a story of an old friend of mine. Although it may not apply to everyone’s case but it showed me how much social class matters to people. Back in my country, I have a friend who was proposed by a guy who wasn’t as wealthy as she is. Even though the guy was in university and working toward his medical degree, my friend and her family denied the proposal simply because they thought that the guy couldn’t provide her with a comfortable life. I do agree that money plays an important role in everyone’s lives, no matter where they live but people shouldn’t base their decisions on such factors. Money and wealth isn’t guaranteed and a person may be a millionaire today, but 5 years later, he might be on public wealth fare. Essentially, nothing is guaranteed, so it’s important that people realize that making decisions on such aspects is not a good idea but rather, one should see the qualities of the person who they’re thinking of spending the rest of their lives with. In my opinion, social class shouldn't be given that much importance in such cases. 

Additionally, I played Chintz or Shag game and according to the items that I chose, it stated which class that item belongs to. For example, the New Persian Rug that I choose represents the nouvea riche class while the aquarium represents the working class. I liked the game because it classifies your tastes according to a certain class but it doesn't necessary mean that because your taste belongs to a certain class, you will belong to that class as well. There's a difference between possessing something and liking to possess it. 

Week 6: Technology and isolation.

Today, technology plays an important role in many people’s lives and has influenced the way people live, either directly or indirectly. In just matter of a decade, technology has advanced greatly and is becoming a dominant part of our society. Technology, in an essence, has helped shape the world we live in today. From a simple tool to complex necessities such as vehicles and planes, technology has changed and shaped the world we are in. Technology clearly has enormous benefits and aids. In my opinion, technology hasn’t caused isolation among Americans. Although, due to technology, people no longer meet each other physically as often, but technology allows us to stay connected. In such a busy society where people don’t often have the time to actually drive to a certain location to meet friends; technology has made it possible for friends and relatives to communicate with each other through Skype, for example. Furthermore, technology has contributed to staying in touch with people globally via the social media sites and emails. With having access to internet, I can easily communicate with my cousins and relatives overseas. If it wouldn't have had been for technology, we probably wouldn't even know about each other. On the other hand, thanks to technology, people are able to travel around the world by planes, trains, and cars. In such ways, technology helps us stay connected. Technology may have changed the way people interact with each other but it certainly isn't the cause of isolation among the people. 

Week 5: The Criminal Justice System

One important issue which I think should be taken care of, and the society must deal with it through varied effective methods, is the youth crime. Personally, I think that the youth is an important part of the society because they are the makers of our future. Today’s youth is tomorrow’s doctors, engineers, and politicians, just to name a few essential professions of the society. For that reason, the youth should be given good care and development; they must be well educated and encouraged to be helpful. However, today, many teens go astray and commit crimes. According to the book, about 34% of all offenders arrested for criminal offenses in 2006 were under the age of 21, including, both, males and females. In my opinion, this is very unfortunate because each one of those young people could have contributed to the society with their skills and talents.  Furthermore, it’s even more important that they’re committing crimes and breaking laws, not just ruining their lives. Once they commit a crime such as theft, the next day they’d do something bigger and the next day 

they’d do something even more terrifying, and so on until they reach a point where they’ve become criminals.  

The youth are very bendable people who change their directions depending on what influences them.  For example, if a teen is surrounded by friends who do drugs, drink alcohol, and smoke, it is most likely that he or she does one of those wrong acts as well. However, if the teen is surrounded by friends who are focused on education and positive activities such as sport, it is most likely that he or she start performing well in school and even joins a sport. Thus, it’s very important that the teens grow in positive environments. I think it should be the responsibility of the government to provide parents, who can’t afford, with a better location to live so that their children are well developed. When the children are raised in a better environment, the chances are more likely that he or she won’t be influenced by gangs, drugs or violence. Furthermore, at the very early age, the kids should become aware of such illegal activities and not to become involved into them.  Awareness should be raised in elementary school up to high school that would teach the students to stay on the right path, make positive changes and stand up against wrong acts. In such ways, teen crimes could be prevented and thus, make the society a better place. 

Week 4: Nature vs. Nurture

The nature vs. nurture debate is one of the oldest controversies that questions whether our biology or nature is what shapes us or is it life’s experiences or nurture which make us up. According to my understanding and concept of this controversy, I say that it is nurture what shapes and makes us. I think that way because the environment in which a human being develops heavily influences him or her, probably even more than nature. For example, I know many people who have the talent and skill for singing yet their parents don’t even have a single clue about singing or vice versa. That shows that it’s the environment, not heredity, which impacts a person the most. Similarly, my parents and I have very distinct views and habits because they grew up in a different environment and at a different time that I. Therefore, there are the differences because each one of us were influenced by different factor. Although I cannot deny that nature doesn’t have any impact at all, I think that the environment plays a bigger role in the development.  I do agree that traits such as eye color or freckles can pass into the next generation, behaviors and talents, on the contrary, cannot. Therefore, I believe that the environment or nurture is more important because human beings can learn and be taught. For example, it is most likely that a person who receives a good education will learn how to read and write and become educated whereas his parents were illiterate and didn’t know how to read or write.