Analysis Of Individual Autonomy And Social Structure

Imagine the pressure of being expected to follow your culture’s traditions even if you want to rebel and create your own identity. Carrying on traditions can be difficult for many young people who are searching for their identities as they grow up. Two texts, “Life in the age of the mimis” by Domingo Martinez and “El Olvido” by Judith Ortiz, tell about the struggles of losing one’s culture. One shows the reader that forgetting your own roots simply because of being ashamed or embarrassed can really harm you, while the other demonstrates that forgetting your culture for the sake of fame and fortune can also do the same damage.

Frequently, we do not put too much attention to our own cultural values and traditions until we are exposed to a different culture, and start comparing. In order to have a more productive and fruitful life I believe we need to become more self-aware and more sensitive to the culturally and ethnically diverse community we live in. Two cultures that have been sharing the same living space for centuries are the Hispanic and American culture. In this paper I would be analyzing each culture giving a brief background and pointing out some aspects in how they differ, like the perception of time, family, orientation, and others. American culture has a couple of aspects in which it differs from the Hispanic culture, which for the

What makes a child determine at such a young age to defy her mom on every hand for the rest of their life? The sad realization that Ni’Kan would rather see her mother angry at her than disappointed in her became her revelation.

modules gives many examples how strong cultural pasts lead to identity problems in a new society. Also, the module shows us that many Mexicans were not happy with the stereotype formed about their identity. In Between the Lines, we see how Mexicans in America suffer through harsh discrimination, while trying to stay close to their relatives and culture. The letters talk about how Whites did not have concerns with family values or cultural beliefs. Whites based many of their values off succeeding in the economy. Whites in general had no regard for Mexicans as people.

In “Individual Autonomy and Social Structure”, Dorothy Lee discusses different types of cultures within a given society. Lee states that “the principle of personal autonomy is supported by the cultural framework.”(Lee, 5). Lee examines the differences between the individual autonomy of non-western societies and the autonomy of western societies in order to better the society we live in. The reading gave Lee’s point of view on how different societies deal with their conflicts. The conflict between the social structure in western society and individual autonomy is the key social problem that Lee is addressing. Individual autonomy is understood by one’s capacity to decide for them self, to be one’s own person, and the ability to determine their own actions. Individual autonomy is a large principle in western society, as individuals are free to make their own decisions, without being restricted by societies norms. In the article, Lee describes that personal autonomy can lead to lawlessness and chaos in our western culture. Dorothy Lee talks about individual autonomy and the social structure in western culture, and how it is very difficult to comply these two areas in order for them to work in accordance to one another.

In a constant state of mental nepantilism, la mestiza is a product of the transfer of the cultural and spiritual values of one group to another. Cradled in one culture, sandwiched between two cultures, staddling all three cultures and their value systems, la mestiza undergoes a struggle of flesh, a struggle of borders, an inner war. Like all people, we recognize the version of reality that our culture communicates. The coming together of two self-consistent but habitually incompatible frames of reference causes a cultural collision. We attempt to block with opposition in terms of culture, but it is not enough to stand on opposite position. The counterstance refutes the dominant coulture’s view and beliefs, and, for this, they become someties aggressive, but it is not a way of life. Once we decide how we behave, there are enormous possibilities.

Loung’s tragic loss of her Father, Mother and youngest sister Geak, leaves her with no father or mother. These deaths have a severe emotional impact on Loung. . From this we get a glimpse of the power that family relationships have in Loung’s life. After Loung has lost both of her parents she is left with an empty space in her life – the two most essential elements in her family are gone. Loung dives into a short-lived quest for a family like her own. We see this in her observations of a foster family (quote). From this we see Loung’s longing for a family which she no longer has.

The mother begins to rebel against tradition by taking an active role in educating and freeing herself. Through her radio, telephone and trips out with her sons she develops her own opinions about the world, the war, and the domination and seclusion of woman. She loses her innocence as a result to her new knowledge and experience.

It’s hard to say that comparing two individual’s lives is an easy task. When looking at my life and Esmerelda Santiago’s life, the sociological imagination could be used to assist in doing that. The following concepts will be used to better understand the surprising similarities and differences: immigration, doing gender, conformist, double consciousness, deviance and traditional authority. I will start by analyzing Esmerelda Santiago’s life. Following that, I will analyze my life and will finish with a conclusion that draws out the comparisons and differences of both.

After watching the film “Babies” and reading chapter one, I can positively say that the movie encourages us to view child development in its cultural context. The movie “Babies” focused its development in four regions of the world, Opuwo, Namibia, Tokyo, Japan, Bayanchandmani, Mongolia and San Francisco, California. In Namibia, Ponijao lives with her family who are part of the Himba tribe. I was most interested in watch Ponijao develop because their lifestyle and culture was so diverse compared to the average American life. Mari, raised in the center of the bustle of Tokyo, was raised in a contemporary urban lifestyle. Farm raised, Bayar lives the lifestyle of a Mongolian child. Finally, American born; Hattie lives the “green” life where her parents are equally involved in the development of her

For thousands of years, waves of immigrants continue joining the developed countries in the world, bringing with them the unique cultures, languages, and ideas. Over time, those unique values might be faded away with each generation because of the new culture exposition. The second-generation immigrants experience a cultural conflict between that of their parents and that of host society. Most of them are unable to preserve and empower their origin cultures. Many differences between the first-generation and the second-generation immigrants arise. Through the analysis of the mother in “Death of a Young Son by Drowning” and the Das family in “Interpreter of Maladies”, I would like to demonstrate the differences between the first-generation immigrants, who travel from other countries, and the second-generation immigrants, who were born and raised on the immigrated land. These differences include the purpose of being in the foreign land, the connections to their homelands, society’s view, and the culture differences.

The issue concerning the patient, Jimmy relates to the idea of autonomy and beneficence. Autonomy means that all individuals are given the ability to make their own choices and to develop their own lives (Morrison & Furlong, 2013). Although, according to US law it is required to have informed consent before any invasive procedures. It is also important to know that there are a few exceptions. The term beneficence means “to do well.” It is the practice of doing the right and beneficial thing (Morrison & Furlong, 2013). Although Jimmy was unconscious, it was discussed amongst other physicians to amputate his arm due to any further health issues.

This passage is adapted from Wayson Choy’s ‘The Jade Peony’ and portrays the fear of a young boy who has recently lost his mother. The reader is able to infer the situation from the passage despite it not being clearly mentioned. The reader infers that the passage is about a juvenile boy who sits beside his dying mother and is then taken care of by family friends, predominantly the Chins.

One of the facets of living within civilized society is that there are certain norms and social conventions that people must follow. Frequently, there is a large effort on the part of government, financial, and social institutions to keep people doing most of the same thing as others going to work, driving cars, buying homes, etc. Despite the fact that people engage in these efforts individually, the simple fact that they are all attempting to do the same thing, in much the same way, is indicative of the fact that they are engaged in collective behavior. THESIS: Those who are able to overcome collective behavior and allow for their individuality to determine their own outcomes exemplify the best of human nature.

In the reading of the article "Individual Autonomy and Social Structure" in the course kit the key social problem that Dorothy Lee is pointing out is the conflict between individual autonomy and the social structure in western society. Social structure means to have a stable and set way of doing things in a certain pattern and through that they are able to coexist. Whereas the meaning of individual autonomy is that there is a freedom to decide things that are not governed by what is considered the norm in society as well as society itself. Although in western society the thought of individual autonomy is largely standardized. The idea of individual autonomy in the western sense is mostly manipulated by norms and the society which makes the thought of individual autonomy in the western society more of a misconception than reality. The social structure that is set through the laws or norms are seen as a obligation that individuals must adhered to lest they receive severe punishment that society has deemed fit. Lee says that the conflict of individual autonomy and social structure happened because society as a whole has a set way of addressing and regarding things in which people are not seen as individuals but as possessions of others. Lee said that in some societies we encounter a conception of individual autonomy and democratic procedures which far outstrip anything we have practiced or even have conceived of as democracy (Course Kit, pg. 26) which leads to the thought