How Culture Effects Masculinity

In sociology we questioned society's ethics indicating gender roles and how this effects national tragedies.  Particularly how masculinity is associated with power, violence, and dominance, we were able to decipher the types of tragedies instigated by caucasian middle class males who were bullied and emasculated.

This unit is prevalently seen in the Boston phenomenon that occurred recently this week. Although the suspects are not identified to be caucasian, they nonetheless felt like pariahs in the American culture and were socially disconnected from American society. We often ask ourselves who would do such a thing or how deranged and neurotic individuals must be to carry out these tragedies. But perhaps sociology is much more credible than we think. Because the suspects felt disconnected from American culture, and were minorities, they perhaps felt devalued in American society. By feeling inferior, the suspects could have felt that they're voices as becoming citizens were unheard and irrelevant: thus as men in American culture they were not powerful, nor dominant enough, to be recognized. Ultimately resulting in showing their masculinity and dominance through violence in the Boston Bombing.

What I find to be the most interesting is how Boston's tragedy parallels the numerous Anarchist bombings in the 1920s (i.e Wall Street bombing 1920, Anarchist Bombings 1919). How the Sacco and Vanzetti court case eagerly criminalized and discriminated against Italians and new immigrants entering the country in the '20s parallels our national discrimination against muslims and our eagerness to pin the Boston Bombing on Muslim Terrorists due to the Iraq War.

Several decades later,  most Americans are still nationalistic and wrapped up in caucasian dominance. Although globalization is increasing and multiculturalism is taught throughout schools in the nation, Americans cannot seem to shake the elements of discrimination in our society. More importantly, Americans need to realize the damaging effects of preaching multiculturalism, yet attaining a sense of discrimination, may effect becoming citizens and the future of the country.

The Un-TV

While doing the Un-TV experiment, it became much easier to master ''doing-nothing;" and by doing nothing, I became aware of the stigma that occurs from watching TV as well as the effects it has on our lives.

The Un-TV experiment reminded me that the TV is a form of entertainment whereas I have a predetermined mentality that when I turn the TV on, I want to be entertained. Although some may argue that watching TV morphs people into zombies and essentially becomes a black-hole in reality, I believe it depends on your mindset. For instance, if you're going to the theater to watch a play, ballet, or opera you're looking to be entertained; though we tend not to morph into zombies when we watch these events. We often watch the show and seem to be drawing opinions about the characters, connecting the story line, drawing thematic conclusions, and over all analyzing the scenes before our eyes. The difference being, from watching these events and going to the movie theater and watching TV for entertainment, is that these shows are live and don't have technical events to keep us from blinking and glued to our entertainment. So why do people tend to zone-out and not think about what they're watching? Why do people become dormant when they watch TV instead of analyze the interactions among individuals?

I believe that the reason TV watching is associated with lazy couch-potatoes is because the majority of those who turn on the TV usually try to watch something to de-stress their mind, relax, have something to do while they wait, etc. Couch-potatoes aren't always necessarily looking to be entertained. While reading a book or magazine provides brain power, watching TV provides you instant relaxation by "zoning-out" with just a push of a button. Moreover, while going to the movies is associated as "doing something"--even though you're simply going out of the house to sit and do nothing--watching TV has a negative stigma, usually those who turn the TV on have trouble turning it off; while when you're at the movies, the movie you pay for only keeps you addicted to the screen for a set period of time, or when the movie is over.

Although many may make the case that TV controls our lives, or it's bad for us, or going to the movies is exactly like watching TV, I solely believe it depends on our mindset when we're entertained inside or outside of our homes. Similarly to spending hours on the internet, TV may be draining and may feel like it's sucking the minutes out of our day; though this doesn't mean that being effected by the TV is inevitable and only negative outcomes are possible. Just like most things in life, watching TV is what you make of it. Whether you want to become a lazy couch-potato or enjoy a few marathons of your favorite show, the TV is for entertainment--not to control you.

Is there such thing as too much attention?

Learning about abused feral children discovered in our generation made me understand how vital human interaction is in order for individuals to thrive. Although some may label themselves as introverts or choose to confine themselves in solitude, feral children are foreign to human affection and are left mentally, as well as physically, unfit to function in modern society. Unlike those of us who chose to distance ourselves from society, children who have been abandoned to be raised without human interaction develop differently and are denatured from human society.

Although most of us can agree that we enjoy getting attention whether it may be from preforming on stage, recognized academically, or simply complemented, these interactions influence the chemical balance in our brains that not only stimulate socialization, but help reach our fullest mental capacity. So perhaps we shouldn't condem those who thrive for attention to be pretentious because we all need human affection to mentally prosper.

This made me become more aware of how the debate between nature vs nurture may in fact be invalid, as both our environments, and the nurture process, allow us to achieve our fullest ability. Both nature and nurture work together to shape how we develop and to what extent we personally advance. Knowing that not all individuals are raised in a healthy environment, I was able to build upon the idea of sociological mindfulness; for not all individuals are given the opportunity to receive human affection and are not influenced and nurtured to the same extent.

An Extra Cheesy Love Post

Watching the movie Tuesday's with Morrie in sociology this week, it broadened my view of how the values of American culture unknowingly seep into the nooks and crannies of our character and personality.

In the movie, Morrie greatly emphasizes love. Love was ultimately a topic that made the protagonist uncomfortable as he typically saw love to be strictly romantic. Although I don't think we can judge whether it's a commonality for Americans to culturally to be afraid to love or to receive love, there are definitely cultural hindrances in America that may take away from a loving experience.

Americans value practicality, directness, and a strong work ethic; basically, Americans are do-ers. Because of these values, we tend to outlaw emotion-based decision making as our emotions typically don't guide us into accomplishing tasks on time, or make the work environment more professional. Americans tend to focus more on what needs to be accomplished and what they can do to achieve their long term goals, rather than advocate questions like "how do you feel about that?" Because the American culture promotes individuals to become do-ers, this has altered a complete perception of our emotions as we're not accustomed, nor see those around us, to be publicly emotional. Therefore, love is a topic that most view to be strictly romantic because what we see in movies, books, and even national holidays like Valentine's day target love to be a sappy emotion that only couples share.

However, the protagonist in the movie realizes the love he shares with Morrie is not romantic but nonetheless love. Morrie helps the protagonist become comfortable with his emotions when the protagonist shows his love for Morrie through his tears and deep grief for Morrie's decaying when he breaks down in irrevocable sobs. This is a huge turning point for the protagonist as he is no longer afraid to feel deep emotion, show his mourning through tears, and he ultimately learns how to express his love.

As a culture, I believe that it's not whether we fail to accept or give love, I believe we don't know how to love. Love is felt between those who we would feel lost, lonely, and incomplete without. Love allows us to put others first and put our egos aside. You may love someone differently than you love someone else simply because the relationships we poses with others are not all the same, nor the people or circumstances. Although love is often over-complicated, it should be simple. If you love someone, romantically or not, you will always find a way to stay together--and everything else will follow. American culture is warped up in innovative technology, progressiveness, due dates, and work ethic; but we don't always learn how to love.

Cultural Numbness

The concept of subcultures and cultural values were the main focuses of class this week. The discussions in class orbited around how we, as Americans, view our culture and how it subconsciously influences our character and decisions.


Although I thought being bicultural would elevate my perception of American cultural and values, I discovered how these values shaped me as a person much more than I hoped. Reading Kohl's "Values American's Live by" in class, Kohl explains for Americans to more direct, honest, and casual in their manners and habits than other cultures. When I'm greeting my friends or meeting my parents' work friends, I often use the same greeting--usually a form of 'hello' or 'how are you.' Whereas in Russian culture, there are different forms of saying hello that should be appropriately used depending on different types of situations and what is deemed more respectful.


Kohl also points out that Americans are in no way humble in their opinions, as they're eager to deliver their evaluations, and "...consider anything other than the most direct and open approach to be dishonest and insincere and will quickly lose confidence in and distrust anyone who hints at what is intended rather than saying it outright." Ironically, Americans are good at tucking cultural issues under the carpet just well as they deliver evaluations. For instance, Chris Jordan in his TED talk points out that more than 400,000 people die from the addiction of cigarette smoking every year. We seem to look at this number lacking empathy because the statistic is so great and intangible that it doesn't register in our minds. Compared to the response that reverberated around the world of the 3,000 deaths of Americans in 9/11, and will continue to be talked about through history. Jordan makes the connection that 1,100 Americans died due to cigarette smoking on the same day of 9/11, and 1,100 Americans will continue to pass away each day from smoking; though as a culture we dismiss the cigarette statistic and create excuses that the tobacco lobbyists are too powerful, or that it's out of our personal control to regulate. He also advocates that one third of all deaths caused by overdoses are due to the overdoses of over the counter prescription medication. Such statistical data Jordan points out is measured on such an enormous scale, that we're unable to perceive how largely it affects our culture; and as a result, we don't do much about it. Americans tend to dismiss these cultural phenomenons as it has numbness our sense of assertiveness. Although as Americans we may take pride in our verbal directness and honesty, it's important to approach these values from an opposite angle, and comprehend how they affect us on a larger, cultural scale.

The Lost Boys

Expanding upon our discussions of culture shock, we watched a movie about refugees coming to America and experiencing modern culture, it's titled God Grew Tired of Us. It was very interesting to see The Lost Boys, or the refugees, to encounter things that we deem to be simplistic; such as donuts, light switches, balloons, and packaged snacks.

As the movie went in depth of their experience, the Lost Boys discussed how they were very lonely in American culture; not because they didn't know anyone, but because Americans are not as nearly friendly or open as African cultures are in Sudan. The Lost Boys explained that Sudanese typically welcome newcomers in their house, and like to spend their time with large groups of friends and family. While in America, we typically call the cops if strangers persist to meet us in our own households and we live by "solitude is bliss."

Watching the movie made me largely aware of how isolated American culture really is. Of course everyone enjoys company once and awhile, or we like to have someone to tag along with to go to the movies, but Americans are much more independent than most cultures. Perhaps this is because of the American Dream, and at a young age we're all taught that we're in a land of opportunities where we must strive for our own personal success to become the very best we can be. The American Dream itself exemplifies the competitiveness between individuals, causing us to focus on our internal goals and do what is necessary for ourselves.

Although the Lost Boys ultimately came to America to achieve the American Dream, this also means that they'll be greatly influenced by the isolationist American culture. Perhaps Americans should take a break from blaming technology for their hindered communication, and reflect upon how naturally lonely American culture can be.

Supernatural

One of the most interesting topics we focused on in sociology this week was culture shock. Feeling disoriented, or out of place, in a new cultural environment is described as culture shock. My previous post about my confusion of the "black-hole" washing machines in England would serve the best example of complete and utter confusion of culture shock; however, a more cultural-difference type of example came to mind.

My family originally came to America from Russia and experiencing a culture shock, on any level, was inevitable. Growing up on the borderline of American and Russian culture, I have come to notice certain cultural differences. The most captivating and unique difference that I've recognized are the types of superstitions present in each culture.

Russians are known to be quite superstitious. If you leave the house to later realize that you've forgotten something, it's considered bad luck to return for the item. Or if you've returned for the item, you mustn't dare look at your reflection in the mirror. Whistling inside the house or opening up your umbrella inside the house is a taboo, and if you're afraid to stir the negative energies in the universe and jinx yourself, you must spit across your shoulder three times. And there are many, many more.

Though Russians seem to take their superstitions seriously, the American superstitions that I can recall have been introduced to me, by my friends when we were kids, as we tried to scare each other with supernatural stories. For instance, you must lift your feet in any moving vehicle when going over train tracks or under a bridge. Holding your breath or touching something red when passing a graveyard will save you from the frightening supernatural energies of the universe.

The only common superstitions I could muster up are that to not jinx anything you must knock on wood, and if a black cat crosses the street before you--you better turn around and find a new path.

Although some may find superstitions to be humorous or absurd, all cultures commonly contain superstitions or rituals in hope to scare off the spooky supernatural energies. Being in a different cultural environment and encountering someone doing a ''supernatural ritual'' may definitely leave you culture-shocked; not only because the individual's actions may seem completely out of the ordinary without any warning, but because it's interesting to encounter cultures that have very different superstitions  We often leave superstitions for the gullible, but more often we find ourselves obeying them simply because we know deep down we don't want to disturb the cosmic demons.