Sociology: Ozark Missouri

In the film, Inside Out directed by Pete Docter and Ronnie del Carmen it talks

Chapter 3 of The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology explains to the reader what culture is and goes into depth of the different concepts within culture. It defines culture as “the entire way of life for a group of people” (Ferris & Stein, 2010, p. 77). Culture is described as a “lens” through which one views the world and is passed from one generation to the next. This “entire way of life”, according to sociologists, consists of two major categories: material and symbolic culture. Material culture involves the entities associated with a cultural group, such as tools, machines, utensils, buildings, and artwork. When examining material culture, it can convey a great deal about a particular group or society. Symbolic culture embraces ways

As I grew older, it was impossible to notice that my world was imperfect. In elementary school, all my parent’s problems here hidden; I didn’t understand my family’s economic status. As I grew older and began to ask my parents question about our lifestyle and compared it to the other people around us. This conversation would always end in the same place; because we can't afford it. My high school is composed of economically unstable families, and economically stable families. Seeing that other families were better off than mine, I grew up with the idea that a comfortable life, is a luxurious life. I know that others around

Individuals have the ability to improve their economic and social status if they so choose. It is not our society that is at fault. Society may play a larger role in certain groups and situations, but it is still the responsibility of the individual to want to succeed in life. Society does not dictate that an individual must be poor; however it is their actions that dictate how much they succeed in life. The only true influences on an individual are that of legal and social norms which could affect the decisions one would make. In the end, I firmly feel it is still the decisions of the individual that places them in the socioeconomic status they are forced to

Imagine living in a town that was once thriving with successful businesses to a community that barely exist. As you travel down the deserted roads of your community you are surrounded by boarded up memorable buildings, deteriorating homes, and empty storefronts. The water tower that stands tall for all to see is now covered by rust. While the streets in which you are traveling on show signs of frequent patchwork in an effort to salvage the road. As you pass by what once was your favorite mom and pop’s restaurant you began to reminisce on the time you spent there with loved ones. This has become the story of residents in Boley, Oklahoma; one of the first all black towns in the state.

What was it like to live during a time when white and blacks went to separate schools? Thanks to the Little Rock Nine, younger and future generations will never have to know. Led by Daisy Gatson Bates; students Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Patillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls took action (History.com). These brave and determined students helped shape education into what it is today by being the first African American students to attend Central High, an all white school in Arkansas, on September 25th, 1957. They chose to fought for what they believe in no matter the consequences, all for the chance to gain equality. They broke the societal norms of segregation,

Growing up, almost every parent will tell you, “you can be anything you set your mind to!” or “the possibilities are endless”. But from an early childhood my parents were creating an opportunity structure for my life. Through my 20 years, how I was taught, the places I went to, the people I interacted with and the implications of society and societal norms followed me. As with many other families, my parents focused on setting me up for the best possible future. But little did they know, they were contributing to a society where some people are allotted more privileges and opportunities than others. I will attempt to deconstruct this complex social construction by looking at gender, social class, family influences, race, and socialization; which will be discussed in greater detail further along. When analyzing sociological concepts like gender, social class, and race sociologists use a “sociological lens”. Using a sociological lens will allow me to take the experiences I had and look at them on a broader cultural level. Ultimately sociologists use sociological lenses to better understand how personal experiences not only impact 1 person but how they can be applied in a broader context, allowing individuals to relate to others in society who may have had similar experiences.

In my life I have never had any political enforcement or strict religious influence. My parents were very lenient when it came too political preaching. I was taught to be a caring and respectful individual. My political understanding and beliefs have been molded from my early political memories and socialization experiences. As a young adult I have always strived to become knowledgeable about political ideals mainly because I was never really taught to believe in something specific. I eventually was drawn towards many different social and political perspectives, which is how I came to a logical conclusion of how I view the world politically

How would you describe your inner mind? crazy? genius? They say that both are two sides of the same side. Through my experiences, I shape the world around me, developing a unique perspective from my worldview. When it comes to how I perceive reality I just summarize it in these six concepts: culture, meaning, self, self-fulfilling prophecy, and scripts, and self-serving bias. My culture defines me down to my very genetic core. It explains why I drive the way I do, how I talk, what is socially acceptable, why I react to things the way I do , why I attend LIU, etc.

According Social Inequality: Patterns and Processes by Martin Marger, life chances includes “education, physical and mental health, residence and justice;” which are opportunities that we must procure through social resources (18). Our position within society determines our life chances; for children their parent’s positions within society determines the child’s social status within society. “Life chances are acquired, then, as a result of factors that are only partially in the control of individuals…people’s initial class position and, therefore, the dimensions of their opportunities and future prospects are essentially an “accident of birth.” Certainly, people may subsequently enhance their life chances through individual effort, but those of lower social origins will need to overcome many socially imposed handicaps to do so” (Marger, 19-20). It is completely possible for someone to shape their life chances through their own efforts however; this occurrence is rare which is the reason sociologists tend to focus on the typical pattern society follow. Looking at life chance opportunities such as health, justice, and education; people’s social resources are not only shaped through individual choices but mainly by group membership.

On May 17, 1954, The Supreme Court declared that all public schools segregation unconstitutional. In, 1955, The Unite States Supreme Court ruled that all schools need to be integrated as soon as possible after the case Brown v. Board of Education. Daisy Gaston Bates, President of the National Association for Advancement of Colored People in the Arkansas Branch, enlisted nine African American students to attend the largest predominately white Central High School. Bates and her husband, L.C Bates, co-published the prominent African American newspaper of the Arkansas Press that encouraged the Little Rock nine to be known everywhere. African American students went through numerous interviews to determine if they were qualified to attend a predominantly

“We wanted to widen options for ourselves, and later our children.” These are the words of Earnest Green, the first African American student to graduate from Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Earnest Green, along with eight other African American students, was a part of what was nicknamed the Little Rock Nine, the group that integrated Central High, an all white public school in Arkansas. This integration was a result of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, which said segregation of black and white students in schools, was unconstitutional. These nine students attempted to enter Central High September 1957. The Little Rock Nine’s integration was met with extreme opposition, including Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus calling in

Many American children grow up in horrible social and cultural living environments. These living conditions not only affect the child's upbringing, but also affects the choices they make once they reach adulthood. Yet so many people disbelieve that your social environment affects your life decisions and choices you make. This stems from the thought that you can be or do anything as long as you work hard enough. This concept is known as “the American Dream”. Though many Americans have started off at the lower rungs of society and have worked their way to the top, there are still many who make every effort for a better life, but are marginalized because of their position in society. They are not granted access to the resources

College of the Ozarks is a Christian college located in Point Lookout, Missouri that was established in 1906. This college has a highly selective rate of admittance for students who apply due to high demand for its unique approach to college tuition. Absolutely no formal tuition is required of its full time students. Instead, the college has its students work on-campus for fifteen hours every week during the school year and two 40-hour weeks each year during school breaks. CO also accepts donations from anyone who wants to help it educate today's young people and will accept scholarships and federal student aid. It typically has less than 1,500 students each year, and the college nickname and motto is “Hard Work U” due to the dedication students

Second, my economic status has affected how I see myself. As one of the many Americans in the lower middle class I’ve had to work for everything that I have. I grew up in a very wealthy and privileged town and while most of my friends lived in the lap of luxury, I started working when I was 13 so that I could help my mom support our family. In being from a less fortunate economic background, I’ve pushed myself through multiple adversities. For example, in applying to college I knew I would have to get a scholarship to in order to attend. The motivation I found to apply to and win a scholarship was developed by my economic background. Being lower middle class has shaped my work ethic and my levels of motivation to get things done. In Goleman’s article about what makes a leader in