Geneseo: A Social Intertextual Analysis

When watching a movie about high schoolers, there are usually many different groups of students who all conform to one social group only. Take the movie High School Musical for example. There is specifically one scene devoted to a song about fitting in with the “status quo”. There are stereotypical groups such as jocks, nerds, theater geeks, skater kids, and the popular kids in this movie and in other movies like it. Each of these groups can be broken down and explained more in depth.

The groups that are formed as adolescents often determine group associations as adults and define an individual within their social group that will either set them with or against other groups. This is described in an article on social groupings by Colin Allen, which mentions that our social associations as adolescents are strong indicators to future patterns of social norms as adults. Therefore, the group of students in the movie, The Breakfast Club, can also be extrapolated to adult group dynamics. However, the varying social norms between groups can present conflicts when adults are required to function within a very diverse group of individuals. In The Breakfast Club, the Jock, Geek, Prom Queen, Delinquent, and the Freak groups are brought together initially through an autocratic or directive leadership role, used to bring the group together in order to proceed to the next phase of group development. This stage is particularly important within a group of

There is much debate about the issue of social class in the United States. There are arguments about whether social classes are distinctly separate or fluid, dependent upon one’s community or society as a whole, and if they are subjective or objective (Hughes and Jenkins). However, despite the debate surrounding social classes, it is still important to try to define them and analyze their effects, as they are such an important part of our identity and our opportunities in society. Although our society has tried to appear as though we have no classes, and it is becoming harder to tell what class someone is in by material goods, classes do still exist today (Scott and Leonhardt). The trend has been to divide the U.S. into four major

The myth that boys in today’s society are encouraged to follow this “Guy Code” in order to be accepted amongst their peers, friends and family members can cause great emotional side effects. In “Bros Before Hos”: The Guy Code” by Michael Kimmel, he did a survey amongst college campuses and the question was simple “what is a man?” and the responses were pretty predictable. A few phrases stood out amongst this “Real Guys Top Ten List”: “ Boys Don’t Cry”, “Size Matters” and “Take It Like A Man” (Kimmel 462). All these phrases feed into this myth that men are to be aggressive and strong at all times. This “Guy Code” that is spoken of is a gathering of values, attitudes and traits that describe what a man is to be (Kimmel 462). Boys in todays day

In addition to the students who does not fit into these categories, they were considered as “others”. One of the questions I had asked Ms. Elena is “when you were in high school, was social class, gender, and race classified?” She explained that “in high school, I remember much emphasis placed on race and ethnicity. There were many rallies discussing how our school was a melting pot of various races. That didn’t seem to make a difference; however, because when I think back to the different cliques of students, I remember various races segregating themselves from others such as Filipinos, Whites, African American Asians, etc. The different groups did not seem to meld together at school or outside gathering.” In her book “Women Without Class”, Bettie argued that “a primary way students understand class and racial/ethnic differences about themselves is through their informal peer hierarchy, with cliques and their corresponding styles largely organized by racial/ethnic and class identities” (Bettie, pg. 49). With that said, Bettie explained that the way students understand class racial/ethnic difference is by their own complementary with peers because they build their racial/ethnic and class identities together. In addition to this, I followed up that question to briefly tell me how social class was describe throughout her school days. She briefly told me: “I went to

In the chapter Girls in Guyland: Eyes on the Guys, Kimmel implies that girls play a significant role in the world of boys (Kimmel 245). As a female, I fully understand that we influence guys’ behaviors and help continue the distasteful behavior. Kimmel states that, “ Girls are necessary to Guyland. They enable us, legitimate guys’ behaviors, normalize it, and machete seem natural…” (Kimmel 245).

Individuals tend to affiliate themselves with a certain social class. Only 5% of Australian’s claim they have no class affiliation (Western and Baxter, 2011). Class creates social divisions within a population. People who share classes also tend to share similar life opportunities. Example of these are private or public health care, fine dining restaurants or take-away shops, private or public schools, and exclusive or overcrowded suburbs.

Jewish, white, upper middle class, I have always been lucky. My surroundings remind me of this daily. Pikesville High School is a melting pot of differences, with kids from high class families with parents who attended schools like Harvard, Yale, MIT and then kids on the total other spectrum. We have students in their sophomore year of school, reading at a fifth grade level. Many of the attendees of my school have blinded themselves to these

In Daniel Luzer’s article, “Is Alcohol Really to Blame for the Prevalence of Sexual Assault on College Campuses?” published on November 18, 2013 by Pacific Standard, the author argues that alcohol is not the only thing to blame for sexual assault on college campuses. He observed that alcohol has always been a risk factor when it comes to sexual assault, but drinking is not what has changed throughout the years. What has changed is the way men and women socialize with one another. Throughout the years, interaction between young men and women in college has become less instructed. Back then colleges were not coed and there were rules for when women were allowed in the male dorms including certain times they were allowed there. There are not as

We are in a privileged environment with nice homes, designer clothes and specialty cars and great expectations for education and successful careers. The expectations begin in our early years competing for the top preschool; the right type of traditional vs. Wickliffe-like alternative educational style; the best high school with over achieving students in IB programs and competitive athletes in upper divisions for the state titles. But is every student a comparison to that mold? Not all students are exuberant in their personalities or can or choose to focus on supreme achievement. Some students have average goals and ambitions in comparison to the greater Columbus area, but seem to be labeled the lesser ones in this sheltered and privileged society.

Secondly, a wide range of economic classes and racial and ethnic groups attended schools. Thus, diverse groups with differing mannerism and outlooks blended in schools. These elements were key in producing a peer culture.

Social Class is a division of a society based on social and economic status. In today’s society there are three main social groups in America: upper, middle, and lower class; these rankings are contributed by mass amounts of factors, but one of the main factors that people cannot control is their race and ethnicity. Race and ethnicity, likewise as gender, can also play a part in a variety of other concerns such as, education level, income, and where you reside.

Even within their own districts the social classes are apparent

I chose to select high school as the time period to explain the social institution and social hierarchy as it relates to my high school. The reasoning for choosing this time period in my educational journey is because it is what I can remember the best. Social institutions are established or standardized patterns of rule-governed behavior. They include the family, education, religion, and economic and political institutions. In this case it would be the education portion. School is a setting for a substantial portion of a person’s life. Students learn facts, different skills, and a multitude of concepts that are taught to them via lectures and textbook information, but this is the time where students also learn the rules of membership in a social institution. Whether it be Student Council, Science Club, or any other group or organization on campus. This is where the interaction begins and the development starts to take pace. For example, in my high school classes were always filled to capacity, so when it came time to do assignments we were always allowed to work with a group of at least 3 or 4 other students to complete assignments. This was because it was easier for grading purposes for teachers to not have to grade 30-35 individual assignments, but rather oversee how the group is working with each other and deliver a grade based on that. When it comes to the social hierarchy of my high school that was something that was very clear, cut, and dry. You had your typical

In American society, there is an obvious gender hierarchy in which men are viewed as strong, powerful, and valuable while women are viewed as weak and timid. Women face this challenge every day, and more prominently when they are trying to go against the hierarchy. Regardless of how many social norms or “power ceilings” that women break, they constantly face messages that perpetuate stereotypes, which reinforces this gender hierarchy. At the same time, men are also facing similar, gender-related pressures. Because men are on the top of the social hierarchy, there is an expectation that they be strong, brave, and confident. This causes an undue burden on the men that are unable to fulfill these gendered expectations.