'People Like Us'

The video ‘People like us’ discusses the social class in our society. The point this video tries to make was that products we use and choices we make represent our “Social location.” It has been believed that money allows us to have a freedom to create our own lifestyle. On the other hand, others claim that no matter how much money you have, it doesn’t change your social status. The upper class requires not only money, but manners, attitude, and so on. People can tell where you are belonging to depending on how you speak, what you wear, where you live, how you treat people, and even which brand bread do you eat every morning. White’s upper class dominates American lifestyle culturally and politically. In addition, race is a huge part of defining class. Upper middle class in African American community insists they have a trouble to be treated as they deserve. The fact they can’t move up their social status or they can’t get invited by White’s certain club, even though they are belonging to the certain club class’ criteria statistically and financially teaches wrong value to their children. As in, African American kids think they should act like a white kid to move up or to be invited. This class is very deep in our society even unconsciously. I believe nobody is free from class stratification. No one, whether you are rich or you are poor. 

Positive functions undeserving poor

             The reading was about upside of the undeserving poor in society. It’s said that everything has a function positively and negatively. The reading reminds me of the first time I read the Sociology book. Specifically, it made me think of sociological thinking. The book emphasizes how sociologists look at the society. It’s like looking at a glass of water. Some might think there’s only a half glass of water, whereas others think there’s even a half glass of water. However, sociologists should consider how much water is left, how much water remains, and how much air there was. Their thinking should not be ‘either/or’, but ‘both/and’. In fact, ‘Functional Structuralism’ helps to understand this reading better. When we talked about ‘Functional Structuralism’ in class, we discuss positive function of homeless person sitting in the subway train in society. The person will make us motivated. We might think ‘I WILL NEVER BE LIKE THAT. I SHOULD WORK HARD.’ I believe that it is a positive function in society for sure. I would move on the real reading. Among thirteen positive functions that writer suggested, some of them were a little tricky to understand and others were very impressive. First of all, people who are out of formal labor market are more likely to supply illegal goods. The fascinating thing was people who are supplied by them are usually rich. And another impressive one was they create jobs in markets. Lately, unemployment issue is getting more serious. Then, undeserving poor create jobs. They are more likely to suffer mentally and physically, so a lot of job such as doctor, teacher, healer, consultant, counselor and psychologist will be needed. The way of they live as an undeserving poor actually helps people who are not banished from labor market in many ways. However, we don’t appreciate enough. We don’t feel bad for them enough either. Everything started from the one point. The only way we can help undeserving poor suffer less is helping our country overcome this serious poverty.

Reading

             For this week, I don’t really have much to talk about. Thus, I’m going to respond a little bit about this week reading, ‘Race and Class in the American Criminal Justice System’ by David Cole. After reading it, I’ve thought about what the “Race” really means in our society. Of course, I’ve been influenced in some way, but relatively not much. So I’ve never had a feeling about this issue. Even though I’m an Asian in America, I didn’t feel much about discrimination or unprivileged treat. Or it is possible that I just didn’t care. As we’ve talked about it, things like race, ethnicity, and the society I belong to shaped my identity. And those are crucial factors for one’s socialization, for they have a great impact on each individual. However, sometimes, we don’t have control over things. I believe that perception, stereotype, and bias are very natural. Even it is difficult to tell when it’s formed because it was formed subconsciously. However, they don’t come from nothing. In fact, they come from real sources, evidences, or experiences. Only thing is it’s a little exaggerated. I know my writing is not very well-organized this time, but I was trying to write my train of thought after reading. Everyone should be keenly aware of what their behavior makes the result consequently. Somebody will be discriminated unfairly because of our behavior or attitude in the past. I know it is not as easy as saying. Just ideally, I HOPE.