Emerging Issues in Society

Emerging Issues in Society By Stephanie Moss

    In today’s society emerging issues look a lot different than they did fifty years ago. With the changes in the family structure, religion, and how the different cultures view these changes as deviant or criminal have an effect on our world as a whole. What would the world look like if we understood each others' cultures better?

   A prime example is civil wars in which one religious group oppresses another. In religion, we tend to believe, we are responsible for making others believe as we do. Thus, creating  deviant or even criminal acts against those who do not fit within another group’s norms. Think about abortions and its protesters standing outside clinics or even worse,  threatening the lives of those who perform the procedures. 

 According to Learning Peace article on Religion and War, "Many wars have been fought with religion as their stated cause, and with peace as their hoped-for end."

   Family structures within different cultures spark controversy in today’s societies. One that seems to be a big topic is gay marriages. In the United States, this is a hot topic and many states on in the court systems battling the rights of gay marriage. Yet, this is not new just to the 20th or 21st century. Traditional non-European societies have acknowledged and formalized same-sex unions in the past and some continue to do so today.

   Culture includes ways of thinking as well as patterns of behavior. People within a given culture use shared symbols, language patterns, belief systems, and ways of thinking. Yet, what happens when these shared beliefs and ways of thinking are different?

   In order to adapt to change in society it is best to understand all aspect of what makes each society unique. Once the belief systems and ways of thinking within these different societies are examined, the better opportunity you will have to understand them. The significance of culture lies in the meaning it holds for people. The environment and religion help define how  cultural group lives and what the people do and think about. Solutions to problems are different for each group and what might work for one might, not be the best for the other. If everyone could develop a more cultural relative perspective of other groups and cultures, perhaps one day there could be peace on Earth.

References:

 Learn Peace, a article on World Religions: War and Peace. (n.d) [Quotation]. Retrieved from  http://www.ppu.org.uk/learn/infodocs/st_religions.html 

Thou Shalt Not Kill: Understanding Religious Wars by Morris Sullivan (n.d) [Quotation]. Retrieved from http://www.impactpress.com/articles/octnov00/religio101100.html

Deviance and Crime

Auguste Comte is credited as being the founder of sociology. He emphasized that the study of society must be scientific, and he urged sociologists to employ systematic observation, experimentation, and comparative historical analysis as their methods. He divided the study of society into social statics and social dynamics. In Chapter 7 of Sociology, The Essentials by Margaret L. Andersen, sociological theories of deviance is covered with a more in depth look at corporate crime, arrest rates and effects of races, class, and gender, along with labeling theory.

I found this chapter very interesting because it covers the topics relevant to today of things you often see in the media, such as;

• Why do the rich get richer and the poor get prison?
• How is crime related to race, class, and gender?
• What is the sociological perspective on deviance?

Deviance is simply whatever is defined as deviant by social audiences and helps society to recognize what is considered the “Norm”.

Is deviance always negative? Some deviance can cause disruptions to society by the outcomes being perceived negatively.

One recent form of deviance in the media was Michele Bachmann intro onto Jimmy Fallon's show. Where she unknowingly walked onto stage with the band playing a song called "Lyin' Ass B----."  This made headline news, as well as, sparking anger among Bachmann supporters. 

Deviance is a violation of norms and since we all violate norms from time to time, to sociologists we're all deviant.

I have added a YouTube video clip to for you to observer the reactions from people when a person does not follow the “Norm”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_HrzDoSHn4&feature=related Juan Manual Barrios, March 26, 2007

In this video you will learn the “norms” and “etiquette” of how to use a male restroom in the United States. Now, perhaps if you are the opposite sex like me, you would have to figure this out the hard way but this video will clue you in.

According to avideo made by Juan Manual Barrios, " It is not OK to make eye contact or speak while in a public restroom, especially to strangers".

 However, it has been my experience that in the ladies room this is very socially acceptable. Many females  travel in packs to the restrooms, even if one may not have to use it. Talking while using the restroom or asking for toilet paper from the next stall, is also not out of the “norm” for the female population but would be seen as a clear deviance against the social norms in a male restroom.


 How you would feel if a male came out of the women's room as you were walking in it or vice versa? This would be another example of violating the social norm. 

                                                                                 

"Deviance is not a quality of the act the person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an "offender". -Howard S. Becker

CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Crime is a form of deviance. Yet, not all forms of deviance is a crime. When deviance because a crime it is because the behavior and/or action crossed societies laws.

Types of crimes:

• Personal and Property Crimes
• Organized Crimes
• Corporate Crimes

Diversity within these different types of crimes exist and sociologist shows that there is a bias in the treatment of those accused of a crime. When researching this in more detail, I found numerous studies showed that  middle class commits the same amount, if not more than those of the lower class. Yet, police choose to arrest those in poverty at a higher rate.

 "Poverty is one of the main factors for committing a crime", according to Shipali Sharma.  My first thought would be that they would produce a higher turn-over rate of convictions. Many of the poor can not afford to hire the best attorneys and rely on public defenders who are known for not always fighting fair for their court appointed clients.

MYTH: The criminal justice system is not biased against the poor.

FACT: Nearly everyone commits crime -- only the poor are generally punished for it.

 

FACT: Racial minorities account for more than half of the federal and state male prisoners in the United State.


FACT: Blacks have the highest rate of imprisonment.


FACT: Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in prisons.

 Are we really helping those who commit a crime by incarcerating them, only to release them back out on to the streets without getting to the route of what caused them to do the crime in the first place? 

Why do people commit crimes? According to an article from Security World News,  "People are not criminals by birth. Their circumstances, needs and their upbringing make them criminals".

 SmartJustice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxzdMsRnnTw    Graham Clayton Chance, 2008
 
In London, England they are addressing these very same issues with their youth through SmartJustice. SmartJustice provides comprehensive information on initiatives that are effective in changing offenders' behavior, stopping crime before it starts and tackling the causes of crime for adults and young people.


 20/20 NEWS LINK :    http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5454083

 On 20/20, news commentator Elizabeth Vargas did a story on elephants. The focus of this piece was about how and why these gentle giants can suddenly turn on their trainers and others and become highly dangerous killers. "Elephants are very emotional and suffer severe trauma when separated from their primary groups or witness the death of loved ones. The same is true of people. Stressors, combined with other biological and environmental factors, can trigger criminal and deviant behavior, which seems to be a natural reaction".

References:

Juan Manual Barrios, March 26, 2007 [Quotation]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_HrzDoSHn4&feature=related YouTube Video," Social Norms...". This link will take you to a YOUTUBE video displaying what the norms are of using a male restroom. I chose this link because, I would have no idea how to act, being that I was not raised in this environment. I also referenced to a quote from this video.

Elizabeth Vargas, 7/26/2008 [Quotation]. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5454083 20/20 Video, "Under an Elephants’ Tough Exterior" This link show how the effects of stressors combined with other biological and environmental factors can trigger criminal and deviant behavior in elephants.

"Why do people commit crime?"  Shipali Sharma, 6/1/2010 [Quotation]. Retrieved from http://www.securityworldnews.com/2010/06/01/why-do-people-commit-crime/  This link takes you to a news article on why people commit crime. Sometimes we think we know why a person commits a crime but do we really understand why?

"No Author" Huffington Post on the web 11/22/201. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/22/jimmy-fallon-apologizes-for-roots-michelle-bachmann_n_1108996.html This news post goes more in depth of the Jimmy Fallon and Michele Bachman incident. This shows deviance in the media and politics, which happened recently in 2011.

Howard Becker (No Date) [Quotation]. Retrieved from Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deviance_(sociology)

Graham Clayton Chance, 2008 [Video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxzdMsRnnTw  RAW-Made for the SmartJustice for Young People campaign by Graham Clayton Chance.This film answers such questions as; Why do young people commit crime and what should we do about it? 

 www.class.uidaho.edu/gbabcock/ Dr. Babcock has been teaching at the University of Idaho since 1989 (University of Idaho,n.d.). University of Idaho Faculty Website. (2011).Overview. Retrieved from www.class.uidaho.edu/gbabcock/

http://www.smartjustice.org/indexyoung.php  This link will take you to a web page that offers solutions to crime, provides facts, and various links regarding race and the justice system within London, England. I think something like this should be available within the United States. Let's get to the root of the problem and come up with a solution to fix it.

http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-CJSpoor.htm I really like this link because it shows data to support a bias in the criminal justice system in America. Studies in this report show a bias in arrest rates, convictions, and sentencing. I have seen the first hand growing up and it is nice to see it with some data to back it up.

Culture and How We Define It

Culture is the complex system of meaning and behavior that defines the way of life for a given group or society. Even at a young age we are influenced by the culture around use. This would include our beliefs, morals, values, habits, customs, and even language, among many others. I chose Chapter 2 because it explains how the difference cultures exist within a society.

"We live in a culturally diverse world. People will encounter individuals from different races, religions, and nationalities in their day to day encounters". - Dr. Deborah Swallow, 2009

Being raised in American you can get accustom to these vase cultural differences that surround us. My grandparents, for example; one set came from Czech and the other Germany. Many of the customs of my family stems from the culture they were raised in. To keep up with the German customs my grandparents always insisted we come over on the evening of December 24^th to open gifts for this is how they celebrated instead of the 25^th.  Christmas day was more for visiting with extended family and hosting a larger gathering. For my Czech side of the family, which would be my father’s side, they celebrate Masopust. This Czech Mardi Gras type celebration, yet over the years the tradition has not been as celebrated within my generation. Many customs like these can get lost as older generations fade.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTswaV6d_yI&feature=related Watch a Czech Masopust Celebration.



Czech girls celebrating Masopust in traditional costumes.



 When people speak of German, Spanish, or Japanese culture, they are referring to the shared language, traditions, and beliefs that set each of these peoples apart from others.  In most cases, those who share your culture do so because they learned it as they were raised by parents and other family members who have it thus easily passed on from generation to generation.

When you are new to an environment part of your survival is to learn what is expected while you are in that cultural. Observing culture involves studying what people think, how they interact, and the objects they use. For example, Mexicans embrace the manana attitude and are more relax and laid back. They focus less on the time-is-money unlike other cultures like here in America. There is an old Mexican saying is that "North Americans live to work, but Mexicans work to live!" Thus in order to survive in that culture one must respect their sense of time and traditions. If you do not, you can come off rude and will not be accepted. Since culture includes ways of thinking as well as patterns of behavior, if you do not conform to those specific in the culture in which you are in, you will be seen as an outcast.


Material Culture versus Non-material Culture


A culture is made up of both material and non-material cultures. For example, the costumes worn by the Czech girls in the picture above would be part of a material culture. The material culture is made up of objects created in a given society. The costumes represent a meaning given by culture in which they came from. A non-material culture would consists of the laws, norms, customs, and beliefs of a group of people. Not objects like the clothing but rather custom of wearing them during the cultures' celebrated tradition.

 "There is often anxiety surrounding unfamiliar cultures and much hype concerning understanding cultural differences".  - Dr. Deborah Swallow, 2009
 

These cultural differences is what makes us so unique within a mixed society. For one  culture, what might be considered "norm" could be viewed as odd in another.  What are some experience you have witness from a culture which you thought was odd?

Culture gives society a feeling of belonging and is what keeps us connected. Cultural patterns makes each individual unique and interesting. With such a diversity that exist in our world we could learn a lot from each other just by observing one another.

"Culture is  the widening of the mind and of the spirit" - Jawaharal Nehru

Blackfoot Indian hunting bison.

 I often find myself going to museums with my family and the last one I went to had an exhibit on the Blackfoot Indian Tribe, which also happens to be a small part of my husbands cultural heritage. Learning about their history and survival techniques was very interesting for it was a part of who he is.

Blackfoot people and various aspects of their society exist because of traditional values many of which has survived through the centuries. Much of their survival consisted of material and non-material components of their cultural. For example, hides and leather are a large theme among the Blackfoot, since the bison played a major role in their survival. Blankets, rugs, clothing, moccasins and battle dress are among the items that this group of people produced from the bison which is part of their material culture.

Now for Buddhist hunting bison would not be acceptable. They prohibit the eating of meat and any animal products which are the result of harming and killing of any living being. The Buddha states the only time it is acceptable for a monastic to accept and eat the flesh of sentient beings, meaning the animal died of natural causes. The Blackfoot believed the bison were controlled by spirits and that they provided the bison for their survival. This is an example that displays the important role of different religions within cultures and how they are very different from each other.

References:

Jawaharal Nehru, (n.d)  (Indian Prime Minister. 1889-1964) [Quotation]. Retrieved from

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/culture_is_the_widening_of_the_mind_and_of_the/212838.html

Youtube, Feb 3, 2007 Posted By eetrapper http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTswaV6d_yI&feature=related 

This is a YouTube video showing a typical Masopust celebration. This are not easily found in America but in Europe they happen every year in small villages.

"The Survival and Sustainability of the Blackfoot Nation and Culture", By James Craven/Blackfoot Name: Omahkohkiaayo i’poyi, Professor of Economics and Geography, Clark College, Vancouver Washington.
Presented at the 16th Congress of the IUAES, Kunming, China July 26-31 http://kboo.fm/node/18991
This link will give you a better understanding of the Blackfoot Indians and how they have survived the test of time. I really enjoyed exploring this website and seeing the pictures.

Patheos, Inc. Copyright 2008-2011. "Buddhism Sacred Narratives".
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Buddhism/Beliefs/Sacred-narratives.html
I am not to familiar with Buddhism but I do know that many of its teaching are very motivating and positive. This link explains more in detail.

Dr Deborah Swallow, 2009 [Quotation]. Retrieved from http://www.diversitytrainingtoday.com/understanding-cultural-differences.html 
I found this article very helpful when learning to understand the communication styles within different cultures . This can also come in handy when dealing with various people in a work place and public setting.

Families and Religion

  What is considered the ideal family? I chose Chapter 13 because it covers topics such as this and with the changes from generation to generation, family is not the only thing affected by change. In today’s society the family structure could come from many variations. Unlike what is portrayed on TV, not all families consist of a dad, mom, and 2.5 children. A family is defined as a primary of people, usually related by ancestry, marriage, or adoption, who form a cooperative economic unity to care for offspring and each other, and who are committed to maintaining the group over time.

·         Families are part of a kinship system (a pattern of relationships that define people’s   family relationships to one another)

·         Structures within a family change with society.

This Picture shows the different types of families that are common today.

The two primary family structures are polygamy and monogamy. Polygamy is men or women being married to multiple spouses at the same time. In some countries this may be acceptable however, in most states within the United States this would be considered illegal. States like Utah it is very much legal and normally practiced within Mormon fundamentalist which accounts for about 2 percent of the state’s population.

This picture shows what a polygamy family would look like.

In today’s rapidly changing society in America there is much diversity within contemporary families. Some of these changes would include smaller family sizes then previous generations, children staying at home longer and returning home after unsuccessful marriages, and people are waiting longer to get married and start a family.

Fact:

·         The percentage of households headed by women account for ¼.

·         Teen pregnancies are increasing.

·         There is a rise in commuter and cross-country marriages.

·         Stepchildren exist by 40% of all marriages.

·         Since 1960 the rate of divorce has more than doubled.

These statistic leads one to wonder what will the family structure look like in twenty years? How would this affect religion?

Religion

Sociologically, religion is an institutionalized system of symbols, beliefs, values, and practices by which a group of people interprets and responds to what they believe is sacred and to what provides answers to questions of ultimate meaning.

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” -Buddha (n.d)

Have you ever asked yourself, “Why was I born?” and/or “What happens after I die?” Religion provides answers to some of life’s meanings. It establishes norms of behavior within a society, establishes values and moral behavior.

In the United States, religion is a dominated characteristic with 42% of the population consider themselves to be born again while 2/3 of the population think religion can solve most of society’s problems.

Types of religions:

·         Animism - belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena.

·         Naturism - worship of nature

·         Polytheism – worship of many gods.

·         Monotheism – worship of one god.

Why Sociology of Religion is Important? Today, the study of religion in society has taken on a new importance as the clash of religions and cultures leads to violence and stereotyping in the US and the world.

According to an article in USA Today by Cathy Lynn Grossman,  6/23/2008 and data collected from Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life's U.S. Religious Landscape Survey of 35,000 Americans. “This new installment focuses on 60 questions about participants' religious beliefs and social and political views.  One of these questions in the survey addressed the beliefs systems and changes within society. The findings showed of those surveyed, “44% want to preserve their religion's traditional beliefs and practices. But most Catholics (67%), Jews (65%), mainline Christians (56%) and Muslims (51%) say their religion should either "adjust to new circumstances" or "adopt modern beliefs and practices."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTZEfTL2OMg&feature=related  Link of little girl praying.

The changes within families in society you can see that this will affect religion per the findings in the survey if 44% want to preserve their religion which leaves most to adapting to the changes within society. So where do you think family and religion will end up?

Reference Links:

Cathy Lynn Grossman, 6/28/2008 USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-06-23-pew-religions_N.htm?csp=1
This link will take you to an article in USA TODAY that reports the findings of Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life’s U.S, a religious landscape survey of 35,000 Americans. This article shows how change has affected religion.

Buddha, (n.d) (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)http://thinkexist.com/quotes/buddha/      This link will take you to several different quotes by Buddha like the one found in my blog. The great Buddha has cited several inspirational and motivational  quotes and sayings, even if you're not a believer of Buddha and his teachings there are many positive messages.

YouTube, July 19, 2007  [Video]. Retrieved from  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTZEfTL2OMg&feature=related 
I used this link to a YOUTUBE video of a little girl saying the Lord's Prayer before bed because it shows that traditions from one generation to the next are being passed down; listen as the mom helps guide her in saying it.

Sociology online course. (2011, Fall). [Video]. Retrieved from University of Idaho Faculty Website. (2011). Overview. Retrieved from www.class.uidaho.edu/gbabcock/

I used information found in my on-line lectures and PowerPoint presentations during this course at the University of Idaho, Fall 2011.

http://www.allpsychologycareers.com/topics/sociology-religion.html#link1
This link will take you to a informational website that discuss the effects of different views on religion and how this can cause a back lash within the different societies and goes in depth of the famous religious sociologist who paved the way for many of the debates today.

Homepage

  My name is Stephanie M. and I am a Psychology Major at the University of Idaho. Currently, I am enrolled in Sociology 101 and find it to be very interesting as I learn more about our own society and how it functions. It is sometimes easy to forget that everything we do, including our private thoughts and dreams,  is shaped through our interactions with others, especially others close to us. Whether we like it or not;  we are born into groups and spend most of our social lives in those very same groups. These groups teach us more than we realize about society and ourselves.

  Sociology makes you start to question your own culture and various cultures within our world. Have you ever questioned how did we get here? Look around you and could you imagine not having a TV, telephone, or even electricity. Well in some societies this is the "norm". What makes us unique? What would it be like if all societies where the same?These are some of the questions I started to ask myself in my sociology class. So come on in and see if you can answer some of these vary same questions with me as we review sociology at a glance. Don't take sociology for granted, it is what makes you unique!

Michael Jackson (1995) writes about the importance of our Earth and those who live on are destroying not only each other but their planet as well.

Earth Song

Songwriter: Michael Jackson

What about sunrise?
What about rain?
What about all the things?
That you said we were to gain

What about killing fields?
Is there a time?
What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine?

Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shared before?
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying earth the weeping shores?

Aah, ooh
Aah, ooh

What have we done to the world?
Look what we've done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son?

What about flowering fields?
Is there a time?
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine?

Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war?
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying earth this weeping shore?

Aah, ooh
Aah, ooh
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shared before?
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying earth this weeping shore?

Aah, ooh
Aah, ooh

References:

Michael Jackson, M. (1995). "Earth Song." Retrieved from http://www.metrolyrics.com/earth-song-lyrics-michael-jackson.html