Social Change and Social Movements (Sumblog 12)

Casey French



In class, we began discussing social change and social movements. I remember last semester in Sociology of Globalization (great class, take it) our class watched a documentary about the group Anonymous. Beginning with internet pranks, Anonymous is a loosely connected group of internet activists that fight for freedom of speech and expression through technology. Their mischief has caused many disruptions in governmental organizations to fight corruption. I believe this ties into the typologies of social movements, because Anonymous is an arbitrary “hacktivist” organization that uses technology to defend what they believe to be injustice. Based on my own opinion, the mentality of the group is based on emotion. They use the collective behavior approach in response to a particular event or situation. However, in some instances, Anonymous uses resource mobilization approach through Twitter in order to strategically aid Egypt toward independence from an oppressive government. The scope of change varies from limited to radical change. Advancements in technology have changed the way we see the world, especially the way we communicate and collaborate.

Anonymous is an interesting group, because on one hand, they have no hierarchical system in which corruption can exist. As mentioned in class, 4chan has no link to anyone’s identity. Theoretically, this allows them to stand true to their motives. On the other hand, the system allows people to behave in a judgment-free environment, allowing for more radical ideas to be shared. It is easy to show your true colors without anyone knowing your identity. The internal structure of this group is complicated, because anyone can induce change behind a computer monitor. It’s really fascinating.

http://rt.com/news/anonymous-million-mask-march-225/

In this article, it shows how ideologies can be shared through social media and organize under the umbrella of Anonymous. It's a group that transcends the idea of a traditional social movement.


Solar Mamas (Sumblog 11)

Casey French

 

 

 

This week, we discussed about three theories and applied it to the documentary "Solar Mamas". Modernization Theory is a unidirectional approach to become Western. Dependency Theory refers to a capitalist world where there is winners and loser. World-systems Theory categorizes the world into three zones: core, semi-periphery, and periphery. All of these theories relate to the documentary, because education of Jordan women in India is linked to these perspectives. The Dependency Theory contradicts the Modernization Theory, because it explains that there are multiple directions that a nation can take to become Western. I argue that the women of Jordan are bringing back the knowledge of solar energy to better their situation. It is a step toward modernity, but it is not an absolute. The World-Systems Theory also relates to the documentary because the core, "Western" countries supply the resources to countries in the semi-periphery. By doing so, India was able to educate many Jordan women, who live in the periphery. They are all interconnected. Inequality is a clear theme in "Solar Mamas". Men have control of all facets of Jordan's society. They can make decisions, act independently, have multiple spouses, and dictate their women. It was interesting how she transformed from a submissive wife to one that acted confidently and defied her husband, despite threats of divorce. The only theory I have difficulty with is Modernization Theory...mostly because it's very narrow-minded. Of course, there are multiple ways to reach "civilized" or "developed". I guess it depends on what criteria each nation considers to be "Western". Maybe the "Western" route to modernity is flawed. We all live different realities.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJMiKAPKfOY

 

Here is a short clip of the film directors explaining how addressing these issues promotes global awareness. Getting the message of sustainability out to the world ties with the concept of interconnectiveness.

The Concept of Power (Sumblog 10)

Casey French

 

 

 

In class, we discussed the concept of authority and the three dimensions of power. The Ukraine conflict was my example of how the media perpetuates fear to boost ratings. It is more profitable to create a desired reaction from the viewers. There is a definite disconnect between factual knowledge and the interpretation of a certain topic. Professor Barry showed a chart of where Americans believe Ukraine is located on the map. For me, this was scary. I feel that those that were outside of the "red zone" are uninformed and that the media feeds from this fear. Fear from this conflict contributes to the idea of nationalism, justifying our domination of being a world order. In a sense, the media provides us with information that deliberately targets Russia in a negative light. Granted, there is aggression on both sides, but fear can also be a tool for unity. We discussed how the "American Dream" is a concept that is losing its luster. What unifying force do we have that brings Americans together? We all come from different backgrounds and economic situations. If the "American Dream" becomes the "Denmark Dream" as mentioned in class, what are we left with as a nation? I feel that our country lacks that unifying component that most other autonomous regions have like those in Europe. Our "salad" or "stew" (as Barry would say) would become cold and the nation would fragment. In other words, the media likes the idea of "good" vs. "bad", and having Russia dehumanized is a way for politicians and specific groups to gain leverage to make decisions. Basically, the idea of our country's legitimate domination over the world strives on unification within our borders and the media is very important in distributing knowledge to the masses.

 

 

So I totally stumbled upon this lecture and I know that my Sumblog turned very political, but this short clip demonstrates how power of the United States maintains its domination over other cultures. This lecturer discusses how "power is chaotically distributed" and requires cooperation in order to maintain that authority.

 



Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (Sumblog 9)

Casey French

 

 

According to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, "people perceive the world through the cultural lens of language". This semester I am taking a cultural linguistics class and we watched a BBC documentary about how color and space is constructed by language. The way we perceive color and space is based on how we interact and is different from one society to the other. For instance, Russian speakers have two words for blue. They differentiate the two based on dark and light blue. When asked to differentiate two shades of blue, they could easily pick out the odd one. However, our American perception of blue is limited and therefore, it is more difficult for us to distinguish between the two. Based on the experiment, the tribe had difficulty with blues and greens. In a way, language changes the way we see reality. Watch this clip of the experiment being conducted, because it is difficult for me to explain. It's quite fascinating how language may affect how we perceive color.

 

http://vimeo.com/33471433



 

We also discussed about technology and how it creates inequality. An example from the readings is how libraries are tailoring to fit the demand for technological resources. The old and the homeless do not always know how to access information efficiently. In modern society, the demand for technology abilities is a must...Microsoft Word, Email, Adobe Photoshop, etc. I can't tell you how many times teachers stress to put down these abilities in our resumes. Employers look for these skills in order to decide if you are fit for the position. People without that knowledge sets themselves apart from those who do, creating a clear divide to privileges. For some reason, in class I wrote in my notebook "Ron Swanson" and I wanted to show you this clip. This shows how the media benefits from the two-way flow of information from its audience.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1Vc6oJ2qOM

Illegal Immigration (Sumblog 8)

Casey French

 

 

 

On Wednesday, Professor Barry told the class to put a word or phrase that comes to mind in reference to "immigration". This activity was very interesting for me. Many of the words and phrases had a negative connotation attached to "immigration" while others were more sympathetic and historically based. "Ellis Island", "Illegal", "Opportunity", and "Foreign" depict conflicting viewpoints. I found that some of the connotations dehumanized the issue of illegal immigration, making people from Mexico especially feel that their presence in the United States is unwanted. This topic hits me personally, because earlier in the semester, I wrote a personal narrative on my friend who is an illegal immigrant. Throughout his life, he's struggled in so many ways...things many of us take for granted. He couldn't get a job without admitting of his legal status. He can't apply for a drivers license, so he is constantly paranoid that if he gets pulled over, he could face criminal charges. However, it was not his choice to come to the United States. His family moved here when he was young. His childhood is my hometown, not Mexico. If you want to read my personal narrative, here is a link to my friend's story.

 

http://cfren629.blogspot.com/2014/02/illegal-immigration-oppression.html

 

Immigration is a natural right for those looking for better opportunities in the United States. As a country, we should create a fair immigration reform.

 

 

Please watch this video. It will give you a wonderful perspective on how illegal immigration hurts younger generations that live with the stigma of being undocumented.

 



Transgender Parenting (Sumblog 7)

Casey French

This week, we watched an excerpt from Transgender Parenting which consisted of a series of interviews by different parents. Each parent discussed the difficulties of raising a child in our society. Our concept of "family" is defined as one man and one woman, but transgender parents challenge the social norm. What makes us male or female is determined solely on our reproductive organs at birth. All of our traits, behaviors, and attitudes are shaped around this critical factor. The roles of the family institution has been ingrained by the premise of biology and parent identity. What it means to be a mother or a father is interpreted by a distinct set of characteristics. For example, in the documentary, one transgender parent was contemplating what she considers herself to be once the baby is born. She questioned why she had to justify herself between the two roles.

Does this institution have to be like this? Of course not. The purpose of this institution is to provide children of future generations the same amount of care and affection as any other family unit. I believe that it is working, but it is faced with many obstacles. When the family unit separate, it creates a strain on parenting relationships for transgender people, especially if the child lives with the other parent. Another obstacle is revealing their new gender identity to their children, which could have a significant impact on how a child interprets gender transformation. No family is perfect, but if the intention is to raise a child, transgender parenting serves no threat to the structured family institution.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/12/sharon-shattuck-transgender-father_n_3910749.html

In this interview, a woman shares her experiences with her father who transitioned into a transgender woman while she was in middle school. Her father Trisha found it difficult to come out to his children for fear that exposing his new gender identity might negatively impact the family unit.

Experiencing Social Inequality (Sumblog 6)

Casey French

 

As with custodians, there is an obvious stigma attached to being a bus driver. The documentary film The Philosophy Kings reminded me of other occupations that are often assumed to be low-income, manual labor jobs. I take the bus almost every morning. Most people greet the bus driver with a friendly "hello", but others simply flash their student ID and find a seat. They barely give eye contact, because to them, it does not matter to them who the person behind the wheel is. Public transportation is sort of like custodial work...behind-the-scenes, uninteresting, and not worth their time. On most nights when I am returning home, I always get the same bus driver. I always greet him with a "How's it going" and his response is always "Wonderful!" in a very cheery, enthusiastic voice. One day, I asked him "Do you really mean it? You can't be wonderful every night. This weather is terrible!". He just laughed and said "Better to have an optimistic outlook on life. I mean, what am I suppose to say? I am a bus driver who drives in circles for hours. Nobody cares about anything other than their destination."

As I got to know him, he is actually a really nice guy. This job is temporary for him because he told me that he is able to retire, but is waiting for his wife to retire so they can travel the world together. I felt terrible that people could ignore such an interesting person based on his stigmatized occupation. He is alienated by his peers and the passenger he picks up. If people considered his ambitions and motivations to keep the job, our preconceptions would change. Whether to retire and travel with a spouse or simply to support a family, the struggle of having an occupation stigmatized by society makes the life of a bus driver so much more difficult.

 

Apparently there are quite a few job-shadowing clips that show how under-appreciated custodians are within the school environment. I thought his introductory quote "service is driven by needs" really demonstrates that their work is no different than any other profession.

Double Consciousness (Sumblog 5)

Casey French

This week, we discussed about majority and minority cultures and the four considerations of microaggressions. Certain minority groups are divided by this concept of double consciousness. In this theory proposed by W.E.B. Du Bois, specific environments influence the language and behavior of an individual. They are faced with this dilemma of polarizing both environments in which an individual would mediate between the two equally and therefore would not have a pure form of culture. By not associating oneself with either culture completely, that individual would face an identity conflict known as double consciousness. The other option is to pick one and associate themselves with one culture while facing the consequences set by society. I like the example of The Butler shown in class. Although I haven't watch the movie, there is a clear understanding that the butler, who essentially lives two realities, stays stagnate between a white and black environment. His son, however, proudly associates himself with the black movement, but his decision ultimately causes conflicts within the community. 

I also thought that the idea of microaggressions was an interesting concept. We as a society use subtle attempts at stereotypes without consciously understanding the psychological damage of our actions or words. The "Shit Girls Say" example shows how we are discriminating against a group of people to make an individual superior or an exception. It's meant to be a compliment, but also an insult at the same time. We don't always mean it, but on the receiving end, it is highly offensive.

I have the best example of how stereotypes and prejudices influence the way we perceive minority groups within the United States. In this episode of The Office, Michael hosts a diversity training activity in which he puts a variety of different races and ethnicities on a note card. The employees have no idea what they represent and have to rely on how others treat them to understand their identity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK-Cf9R4q-c

By using these preconceived stereotypes, it shows a symbolic form of microaggressions that associate a certain ideology onto a specific culture.  Although it is a funny clip, it really shows how society acknowledges minorities with sometimes derogatory association.

Illegal Immigration & Oppression (Sumblog 4)

Casey French

In Wednesday's lecture, we discussed Matrix of Domination, a model that explains how society values certain traits over others and categorizes them into those who experience oppression and those who experience privileges. We had two readings on individual accounts of oppression, but I'd like to share my own personal experience with you. 

I have a friend that illegally came to the United States. We met in 6th grade, but I did not know he was undocumented until the beginning of my high school year. It did not matter to me whether he was illegal or native to Fond du Lac. I was just glad he was able to play soccer or bike around town with me on the weekends. However, it was always a difficult issue for him to discuss with me. I was his best friend and yet, he was hesitant to telling anyone his secret. He did not have to hide anything from me, but it felt like he was living under constant scrutiny. He lived in Mexico until he was around 6 years old, and barely remembers anything about his childhood. I hardly remember mine at that age. The only life he knows was in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. That's the life he grew up in and the life his parents provided him. His parents looked for opportunities in the United States and have been situated in Wisconsin for over 20 years. His father has been working two jobs for years in order to provide for his family. He sleeps in-between shifts and everything they pay for is out of pocket for the most part.

I watched as my friend struggled to pay for college and how he was denied jobs due to lack of documentation. I sensed this stigma between others who judged him in high school or made inadvertent jokes about his nationality. He spent his whole life fighting this label that he had no control over. It was an identity that was ascribed to him at a young age. Socially and economically, he was always oppressed and it felt like he could never catch a break.

What made it worse was that he was smart. I mean, really smart. He was in the top of my high school graduating class after taking an overload of advanced placement classes. I would always get frustrated at his incredible memory retention with little effort. I would study for hours for a very important exam and he would glance over the material before class and receive a perfect score. He had so much potential and his ambitions were starting to seem impossible due to his status in society.

He could not apply for scholarships. He could not apply for all the schools he was interested in and it seemed like an education was just too expensive. However, my mom, who works at the UW-Fond du Lac, guided him into enrolling at the out-of-state tuition rate. The catch was that he had to pay double the amount I had. The bright side was that he was able to continue school. 

I remember specifically one day during our first semester of college in the library computer lab. He was watching Congress vote for this new bill called The DREAM Act to allow deportation immunity for the children of illegal immigrants. The bill would also provide easier access for these immigrants who fit certain criteria to gain residency and enroll in universities at a permanent resident tuition rate. The Dream Act required 60 votes to be passed. I remember watching him count the totals. 52 for: 48 against. The bill was revoked with the shortage of 8 votes. It was heartbreaking to watch his hopes and ambitions crush by such a small margin. 

Oppression in the United States is prevalent for many minorities who are here legally. For my friend, he had even more limitations. It was not his decision to live this way. His situation is an example of oppression in society. He was denied opportunities and equality based on his parent's decision to provide a better life for their children. As time progressed, things have been getting better for him. 

He currently is attending school in UW-Oshkosh with a triple major in Microbiology, Physics, and Chemistry and will be graduating on track. He wants to go to graduate school to become a doctor. I realize that illegal immigration is a heated topic for some people and that my friend's experience is not representative whatsoever of illegal immigrants as a whole. However, I always see them as people first. Our society oppresses those for "breaking the law", but a good proportion of them are oppressed unconditionally by society. They lack basic opportunities toward education and occupations. This locks them in their current situation their whole lives. I feel that it's easy to generalize when you have limited interaction with those who are inflicted. 

The media portrays all undocumented immigrants as criminals, but I do not see them this way. It is a completely different perspective once you experience it firsthand. Put yourself in my friend's situation. Apply it to your childhood. Imagine being given a label/identity from society that was out of your control. This label will haunt all facets of opportunity and hinder you from achieving any ambitions you may have. To me, that sounds like oppression. Thanks for reading my personal narrative. 

Social Identity & The Westboro Baptist Church (Sumblog 3)

Casey French

 

 

On Wednesday, our class watched a documentary about the notoriously controversial religious group known as Westboro Baptist Church. I was actually extremely curious how this group looked four years afterwards. The daughter of the former filmmaker left the group. The father expelled his own daughter out of the family and even took the photos off the walls. Lauren was totally transformed with multiple piercings and her choice of clothing. The family claims "she wanted a man" and despite the obvious hole in their family structure, the father was relieved to let her go for her decision to not obey the church. The group thrives off their idea of setting aside emotions and desires for their religion. Belonging to the church and those associated with it seems to set aside the basic qualities that make us human. According to Berger, religion is a social institution involving beliefs and practices based on the sacred, and I believe that the mastermind of this following truly identifies with this ideology that they are preaching. They add value and significance to the idea that God is actually an entity to be fearful of and the membership to this group is very rigid with certain expectations on the individuals involved. Everyone has a specific duty, whether it is making signs or spreading the word. The conformity to this idea supports the theory of in/out-groups who categorize themselves between two polarized groups. You're either with us or with them. That is why so many of the former members feel that they were shut out from the rest of their family. "Some people lose their family to cancer or a car accident...I lost mine to a cult".

 

I had to share this clip because it was hilarious. Of course, this reinforces the idea for the younger children, but the spin-offs off Lady Gaga and Queen hit songs made me laugh. They parodied popular pop songs as propaganda. Here's the clip:

 

http://youtu.be/qF1oAsgzchA?t=25m28s



 

In the documentary, society ultimately rejected the ideology of the group by passively retaliating with picket signs saying "Drink the kool-aid already", in reference to the cult that committed mass suicide by drank cyanide. With lawsuits claiming that they inflicted emotional pain onto others, the Westboro Baptist Church is attempting to combat them by sending their children to law school. However, as people leave and the rigid boundaries of their exclusive religion disallows outsiders to have membership, all signs seems to point to their inevitable downfall as a social institution.

 

 

Sociology of Disability (Sumblog 2)

Casey French

In the beginning of class, Professor Barry asked us "how do you define happiness and how do you reach it?" and I don't think anyone answered this question. I mentioned that it is more individualistic in a sense that positive-thinking and inner peace is the true route to happiness. However, society has a way to criticize your actions and judge you whether you know it or not. I feel like the purpose of this question (before we ran out of time) was to put ourselves in the place of the "disabled". That's what I did and it was a real eye-opener. Sociologists like to categorize people into groups. They like to analyze the culture behind certain disabilities and the identities that might be associated with it. When Professor Barry drew a spectrum from high to low 'disability', I was unsettled by the placing certain 'disabilities' based on the severity. As seen by the clip in class, the media often reinforces this idea that the disabled are unfortunate, helpless people. The role of the disability is the behavior expected of someone who holds a particular status. In the readings, there was a woman who had an 'invisible' disability and could not be seen based solely on appearance. As a society, the expected role is challenged, and people have this idea of handicapped based on physical representation - a wheelchair, a cane, hearing aid, etc. When someone has no evidence of their disability such as mental or internal disabilities based on appearance, it contradicts what one is accustomed to. I was not shocked when I read that people assumed that she was joking about her condition. Even though I felt terrible about how people treated her, I think our society has always had negative connotations with disabled people. We always assume that disability is an achieved status and that the decisions one has made established their disability. It's disheartening.

I personally would agree with the alternative, holistic method in which you look at the character of a person rather than focus on their disability. The spectrum approach is only relevant for agencies in order to consider what is covered under health plans and how to accommodate them. Everybody has issues. There is variability among the "abled" category, but why divide ourselves from the "disabled"? We're all fighting the same battle. The solidification of looking at society as a whole is more appropriate and considerate of those who have disadvantages.

Michael Scott:	Can I ask you all a question? Do you know what it''s like to be disabled?
Phyllis:	I had scoliosis as a girl
Michael Scott:	Never heard of it. No, a real disability, not a woman's trouble.
Creed:	When I was a teenager, I was in an iron-lung.
Michael Scott:	Wha? How- how old are you? The point is: I am the only one here who has a legitimate disability. Although I am sure Stanley has had his fair share of obstacles.
Stanley:	I'm not disabled and neither are you.

Sadly my media source is unavailable unless you have Netflix. The Office has an episode called "The Injury" when Michael Scott accidentally burns his foot on a George Foreman grill. He wants sympathy from his coworkers so he brings in the building manager who has been in a wheelchair his whole life. Michael likes to bring in guest speakers to prove a point that usually doesn't go in his favorite. Ultimately, Michael addresses the common stereotypical assumptions of handicapped people and it would have been a great media source to share...

Portrayal of Poverty in the Media (Sumblog 1)

Casey French

Media is rather selective. Large corporations control the majority of the news coverage we consume through television, newspapers, radios, and other means of communication. Those that control the media have the power to manipulate our attitudes of society towards race and class. Driven by a profit-oriented mentality, these corporations are so influential that they can shape the identities of society. Gregory Mantsios discusses how poverty is rarely discussed in news broadcasts because they are portrayed as inferiors. The notion that the poor are undeserving of attention enhances the resentment and prejudice against them. It almost feels like the media combines the upper class and the middle class as one unified class, scolding those who are anything below that line. Poverty in media is replaced by the criminal activity of a few. The author makes an interesting connection between the crimes of the wealthy and those of the poor. They are identical, but the media emphasizes the poor more maliciously, claiming that only a  small portion of the upper class is flawed. The poor is in their situation because it's their fault in the eyes of these corporations. They only deserve recognition if they do something out of the ordinary or around Christmas time, when volunteers go out of their way to help in soup kitchens. It's a shame that our media is so backward.

I'm sure we've all encountered this video before. Ted Williams has a gift and the media consumed this story immediately. Media coverage on poverty and the poor is often neglected and quite shallow. As Gregory Mantsios suggests from our readings, the news thrives off "feel good" stories of poor people rising to the top and follow their success. It's interesting how his article forces you to rethink the media. For instance, I've never seen the "face of poverty", because according to their mentality, poverty is an "eyesore". All newscasts are statistics and are often associated with specific people such as African Americans or Latinos. 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201700214101202

This is a video from an independent media source that addresses the flaws that persist in our media.