Response Paper 6

Chelsea Billek

October 27, 2011

SOC 1000-15

Response Paper 6

            One’s social class position is vital information to know in order to be a productive member of society. One’s social class position can be relevant to a number of things in everyday life, such as politics and religion. Some things said to effect one’s social class position are income, occupation, education, and lifestyle. In my opinion, I, myself belong to the lower-middle class. My family as a whole, on the other hand, would probably belong to the upper-middle class. Though I was not always aware of or educated on the social classes, now is a time where it is becoming very relevant to me.

            My knowledge of the social classes began in high school. Through out the numerous history, psychology, and sociology classes I took, social class was a reoccurring theme. In high school I held a summer job and began working part time at another my senior year. I was working on obtaining my high school diploma at the time. Therefore, my class was not severely relevant to me. Once I graduated from high school and was looking into colleges, it started becoming imperative. One thing that I first encountered regarding my social class was pertaining to college tuition. The amount of tuition I would be responsible for and the amount of financial aid granted to me relied mostly on my family’s social class. Now that I am a sophomore in college, this topic has come up in work, class, and a majority of other places I find myself.

The logic behind social classes, specifically one’s own social class, is an important thing to be aware of for numerous reasons. Questions referring to your income and social status will appear on many documents one will inevitably be faced with. Not only did it appear on my college documents, but my tax documents as well. Also, if you are considering voting, it is important to know about the politician’s standings on social class. Are they in favor of doing beneficial things for your social class, or another? For these reasons, it is easy to see why this information is not taught to children at an early age. Once kids have become adolescents and become more involved in society, then they should become aware of these matters. At this time they are interacting with an older crowd and most have acquired jobs or other higher positioned places in society.

With that being said, the only time I really felt unsure of my social position was probably when I was younger. Up until my third year of high school, social class was not something imperative for me to know. My junior year of high school was the first time I became introduced to social class. At this time I experienced false consciousness because I was going through such a dramatic change in my life. I was seeing myself in relation to the rest of the world in a whole new way. I was also not very educated on the ideology behind the social classes. But, once I became better educated I made my assumption as to which class I belong in.

Response Paper 5

Chelsea Billek

October 6, 2011

SOC 1000 (15)

Response Paper 5

            In today’s world, there are many different forms of formal and informal social control. These types of controls can vary by state, town, community, etc. Formal social control is widespread and effects more people than most informal control. Although, at Kean University, I feel that formal social control is not as evident. Being a renowned university with students attending there to better themselves, it is not very common to see formal laws being imposed. Not because no one administers them, but because there is seldom a need for enforcement to step in. Most students and faculty attending Kean University see it as a privilege, and would not do something as unheard of as to disobey a law on campus. Though there are times where this does occur, they are luckily few and far between. At my place of business, the same ideology applies. I would never do something to risk losing my place there. I earn a good amount of money and again, see it as a privilege to be working there. If someone was to break the law while employed here, I strongly believe it would be grounds for automatic termination. Likewise at Kean, doing so would probably result in expulsion or another drastic form of punishment.

            Informal laws on the other hand, are much more prevalent. This is especially true in the two settings mentioned. Although informal social control can vary by person, there are many common ones shared by society. I believe both formal and informal social controls are somewhat effective, but formal control would have to be the most powerful. I feel this way because formal laws do not discriminate against race or religion. Everyone is expected to oblige to the same code, despite their personal beliefs or feelings. This is not true in informal control. That being said, society takes much bigger measures to ensure that formal laws are obeyed.

            Someone who goes against this formal social control would be considered a “deviant”. Most people see deviance as a characteristic of the person. But in reality, a deviant is someone deemed that by society. In one’s own mind, they might see nothing wrong with their reasoning or logic for breaking the formal code. They might have even had a somewhat excusable reason for doing so. Yet society, who might not know their story behind it, automatically views them as a menace to society. Also, there are groups of people that think certain laws are unjust and should be repealed. One such example that can be heard or seen today is the legalization of marijuana. A large number of Americans believe marijuana should be legalized. Therefore, someone charged with a marijuana related crime may be viewed as a deviant to some, but just the opposite to others.

Response Paper 4 - Out of Class Meet Up!

If you didn't recognize it our group met up at the STEM building! It was where we all first met and the most convenient place for us to meet up. Despite a broken camera and students staring - we had a successful photo op! Thank you to the nice construction worker who captured the last amazing photo. (:

Response Paper 4

Chelsea Billek

September 29, 2011

SOC 1000 (15)

Response Paper 4

Considering the vast diversity of the United State’s culture, it is extremely difficult to capture all of the numerous cultural groups. I have grown up in what is believed to be the boom of social media. I started with Myspace, and progressed to Face-book and Twitter. With every change in the social media, I have grown to adapt as well. There are many aspects of a person’s life that is put on display on most social media sites. Therefore, stereotypes and misnomers about different races and cultures is also very prevalent.

Although these stereotypes produced still exist, I believe through the different social media sites one can prove these theories to be either true or false. Sites such as Face-book and twitter allow individuals to voice their views and opinions on anything they wish. It also gives them the opportunity to share their knowledge with others. In doing so, they are able to show the world what they are all about. Instead of being grouped into an image that might not suit them.

Another form of social media that I follow would be through television. Even though I do not follow many news programs that depict many aspects of society, I do watch MTV regularly. MTV has gotten many negative reviews in the past, yet it has turned into somewhat of an educational and informative channel for teens and young adults. Instead of airing music videos as it has been known for, it know broadcasts series about regular adolescence going through common adversities. It teaches viewers the consequences of the decisions they make and how people cope with them. Shows such as “Teen Mom” and “True Life” do just this.

“Teen Mom” is a show that’s name basically explains it’s nature. It follows several young adults who have been faced with a child at a very young age. Each episode  follows these individuals through the struggles they face trying to deal with a new baby. In doing so, it teaches those of us who can not relate, the consequences of unprotected sex. Those who might be going through the same issue see how others cope with it and possibly learn how to get through their tough times as well. The show can instill hope and knowledge to other young moms and even those who do not have children and are interested in the process these kids are going through.

“True Life” is a very dynamic and diverse show. Each show deals with a few individuals who face different dilemmas. There have been episodes on drug abuse, financial issues, sexual topics, and various social behaviors. All things someone in my age group may face throughout life. Similar to “Teen Mom,” it brings light to the consequences and adversities these teens face. It helps us to realize that we are not alone in facing these hardships and educates us on different ways to deal with the problem at hand.

In conclusion, my awareness of the vast number of different types of social media may be small. But, the types I am aware of do capture the diversity of the United State’s culture. Through the variety of social broadcasting that I observe, stereotypes are both challenged and constructed. I believe most stereotypes have some truth behind them, but it is up to the individual to either follow or stray from them. 

Response Paper 3

Chelsea Billek

September 22, 2011

SOC 1000 (06)

Response Paper 3

            Considering my busy lifestyle, I do not consider myself someone who regularly follows the media. I am lucky if I can watch my shows on television for about an hour, and usually log on to face-book once or twice through out a normal day. Although this is not much compared to others who observe several types of media daily, the social impact of these forms of broadcasting can still be very similar.

I am not a big fan of the media for many reasons. I believe most types of media, although said to be informational, are persuading you to do something that might not always be best for you. Whether it’s to buy their product or join their club, it is like an unnecessary pressure on one’s self. The only time I will look into media ads such as the ones I described is if I am genuinely interested in what they are offering. Otherwise, it is of no use to me. I watch a few select shows on television solely for entertainment purposes. Even some of the commercials that appear throughout the show seem to either be coaxing viewers or advertising things that usually are of no interest to me.

A lot of ads broadcasted on television seem to be constantly suggesting viewers to compare themselves to the actors portrayed. It’s almost a given to see a skin cream commercial promising to make you look like the model portrayed. Another example would be an energy drink ad pledging to help you to do any daily activities with ease. I find this comparable to the peer pressure one might suffer from in a social setting. I don’t think I would have such a negative outlook on these types of media if they were sincere in their word, but they are not a majority of the time.

Face-book is another form of social media. When first created, it was meant to be a social networking site to connect with friends, family, or acquaintances. In turn, from its growing popularity, it has turned into almost a virtual altar ego for some. Recently, face-book has changed the lay out of their website and that alone has become a news worthy story. The fact that a mere website has such a big impact on people’s life is unsound. Society places too much emphasis on social media and in turn, it is ruining people’s ability to interact face to face. It is also altering their perception of what is important, and what is unnecessary.

With that being said, I feel that social media goes against my norms and values. The first example that contradicts my beliefs is the tendency of the media to pressure or intimidate viewers. Whether it’s through bribes or ultimatums, I do not believe this is the right way to go about advertising anything. An advertiser should want their possible consumers to feel comfortable working with them and confident in their products abilities. Besides making viewers feel uncomfortable, I believe the media tends to lie a lot. Lying definitely goes against my norms and values and probably many other people as well. Social media has way too much of an impact on people’s life and it is taking a lot of negative tolls on society.

Response Paper 2

Chelsea Billek

September 15, 2011

SOC 1000 (15)

Response Paper 2

Culture is the totality of learned, socially transmitted customs, knowledge, material objects, and behavior. One’s culture makes up a lot of who they are as a person and is therefore very important. From birth we are taught to adjust to this culture we are thrust into and eventually become very comfortable within it. But, there are times when we experience a new, different culture that is not familiar to us. The feeling one gets when this occurs is called culture shock. Culture shock is anyone who feels disoriented, uncertain, out of place, or even fearful when immersed in an unfamiliar culture.

I myself have experienced culture shock when I first went to college. Most people might expect one to be subjected to culture shock when they visit a new country or something of that nature, but I have never left the United States. There are many different cultures other than the obvious different civilizations around the world. Going from a high school atmosphere to a college atmosphere can definitely be viewed as a change in lifestyle. Many things changed including the length of my classes, the people I encountered, and the subjects being studied. In high school, we were in class from 8 in the morning till 3 in the afternoon. We studied the normal fundamental classes such as math and english, and were allowed to pick a few elective classes such as technical drawing or wood shop. Being from a small town, I was surrounded by a majority of the same people I had known since kindergarten.

Once I began college, things changed drastically. Given my college is only 5 minutes from my house, it is surprising that I barely knew anyone in my new classes. This alone was very intimidating and some-what worrisome. The classes were also dramatically different. Instead of studying things forced upon me by the curriculum, I was able to pick a major and took classes pertaining to my field of interest. Not only was the subject matter different, but these classes ranged in length and days taught. Some classes were once a week, while others might be three times a week. This was not as unsettling as all the strangers surrounding me. Instead, it was a lot more manageable of a schedule than being in class from 9-3 everyday.

I do not believe ethnocentrism played a large part in this experience. Although in my high school years they tried to fully prepare us for the college life, it was in fact very different than high school. I never saw high school as the normal way of education or superior to that of other forms of education. I believe education can take many forms depending on the subject matter taught and the group of subjects being taught as well. Therefore, no culture of learning can be above another in my opinion. I did learn though, that the college life style is one that offers more responsibility and flexibility for the student. There is not a strict curriculum like that in grade school and students are able to make their own decisions pertaining to classes and scheduling. Although college seems a little overwhelming at first and caused me to go through some minor culture shock, it is a culture that is easy to get accustomed to after a few weeks.

Response Paper 1

Chelsea Billek

September 8, 2011

SOC-1000(15)

Response Paper 1

The study of sociology would benefit myself and a majority of others in their education and career goals. Sociology is the study of social behavior and various human groups. One who studies it will focus on social relationships and how societies change and develop. With that understanding, it is rather easy to see how its study could service nearly anyone. No matter what your situation, it is almost inevitable that you will be dealing with different people on a day to day basis. By learning about sociology, one can learn to cope with the different personalities they may encounter in a more compelling and advantageous way. 

My circumstances are no different. I am an industrial design major at Kean University and work at a store called Walter Bauman’s Jewelry. I’ve met many new people along the way and plan on doing so even more as I continue on my path to a career. Although Kean University might be small in comparison to other schools, it is in fact one of the most diverse schools in the country and educates nearly 16,000 students. The jewelry store i work in is also small, but is one of four stores in their chain.  It is also located near the heart of union making it a sought-after location for residents in the surrounding towns. In addition, it has also been voted best jewelry store in New Jersey for a couple years running. I could come across customers that range in age from 18 to 80. Being that I come across so many different people everyday, sociology can teach me how to relate to them in a different, more in depth way than I usually would. Therefore, benefitting not only my social skills, but whomever I come across as well.

As a student at Kean, I am part of a student body and a university. As a sales person, I am part of a sales team and a chain of jewelry stores. These are only some of the various social groups I belong to. Studying sociology will help me recognize these groups and the way they work in a new way. I will be able to take a step back and look at the groups I belong to and how they work instead of just my own personal role in them. But, in terms of my career, I believe sociology will aid me even more.

It is important as an industrial designer to be aware of your clientele, their desires and requests, and the people your product could possibly be used by. In order to understand them, sociology is key. The scientific method used by sociologists and other scientists is something that could be, if not already is, used by industrial designers as well. When designing a product, a designer must go through a lot of, or possibly even all of the same steps. Being that an industrial designer thrives on their creations, and the scientific method, or something similar to it, is commonly used it is a crucial tool. In reality, a sociologist uses a lot of the same methods to formulate research as a designer might to produce a product. Some of these procedures include the scientific method, research design, quantitative research and qualitative research. My career choice as an industrial designer would not be as effective or lucrative without sociology’s methods and research.