American Values: Past Due 10/12/14 In No More Than One Parag

American Values50ptspast Due 101214in No More Than One Parag

In no more than one paragraph, describe two significant values that persist in American culture. Next, and in about two paragraphs, discuss how these values may have influenced the way you were socialized while growing up. (Remember that socialization occurs within the family, among peers, at school, at work, etc.) Finally, reflect upon your adult life thus far: to what extent have these two values influenced the way you attempt to socialize others (i.e., at work, within your own family context, within your friendships, etc.)?

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American culture is deeply rooted in values that continue to shape societal behaviors and individual identities. Among these, the pursuit of individualism and the value of hard work stand out as fundamental. The pursuit of individualism emphasizes personal independence, self-reliance, and the importance of individual rights and freedoms, fostering a society where personal achievement and self-expression are highly regarded. Conversely, the value of hard work is celebrated as a pathway to success, encouraging perseverance, diligence, and the belief that effort correlates with social mobility. These core values are not only embedded in societal institutions like education and the workplace but also influence personal aspirations and social expectations, sustaining a culture that prizes independence and effort as keys to success and fulfillment.

Growing up in an American environment, these values significantly shaped my socialization process. The emphasis on individualism encouraged me to develop a strong sense of self and independence, influencing how I interacted within my family and peer groups. For instance, I was encouraged to pursue my own interests and express my opinions freely, reinforcing the idea that personal fulfillment and uniqueness were important. The value of hard work was embedded through academic expectations, extracurricular activities, and later, part-time jobs, instilling a work ethic that prioritized effort and perseverance as essential for achieving goals. This socialization process also reinforced societal norms that rewarded initiative and personal responsibility, which became foundational to my worldview and approach to life.

As an adult, these values continue to influence how I socialize others in various contexts, such as in my professional environment and my personal relationships. I tend to foster independence and self-reliance among colleagues and friends, encouraging individual initiative and accountability. For example, I support team members in taking ownership of their projects, believing that autonomy enhances motivation and creativity. Within my family, I promote the importance of education and diligent effort as pathways to personal and collective success. These values also shape my approach to community involvement, where I emphasize empowerment and self-sufficiency. Overall, the principles of individualism and hard work remain central to my social interactions, guiding how I influence and relate to others across different social spheres.

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The dramaturgical perspective is a sociological approach that views social interactions as theatrical performances, where individuals perform roles tailored to their audience and social context. Unlike other approaches that focus on societal structures or macro-level forces, dramaturgy emphasizes the micro-level, examining how people manage impressions and create social reality through everyday interactions. This approach draws from the metaphor of theater, suggesting that social life involves actors, costumes, scripts, and stages, with individuals engaging in strategic behavior to achieve social goals and maintain Face (Goffman, 1959). The core distinction of dramaturgy is its focus on performance and impression management, highlighting the fluidity of identity and the performative nature of social interactions.

Recently, I participated in a casual social gathering where I interacted with friends and acquaintances. During the event, each person consciously performed roles—some behaved jovially to entertain, others adopted a more reserved demeanor to avoid conflict, and some used humor to foster camaraderie. These behaviors can be understood through dramaturgical concepts: individuals actively managed their impressions to align with expected social scripts, maintain harmony, and present themselves favorably. People acted differently based on their understanding of social norms and the context’s expectations, demonstrating strategic behavior in everyday life. This encounter underscores how social reality is constructed through ongoing performances, where individuals navigate roles to sustain social order and personal identity. Such analysis reveals the sociological significance of impression management as a fundamental aspect of human interaction, shaping the way individuals negotiate societal expectations and personal identities.

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Two significant aspects of poverty in the U.S., as described on the National Poverty Center’s website, are the persistent income inequality and the multifaceted nature of poverty. Income inequality manifests in the substantial gap between the wealthiest and the poorest populations, leading to disparities in access to resources, education, and healthcare. Additionally, poverty is not solely defined by income but includes factors such as lack of access to stable housing, healthcare, and sufficient nutrition, which exacerbate social exclusion and hinder upward mobility. These aspects highlight that poverty is a complex issue intertwined with broader socioeconomic structures. The second aspect pertains to the structural causes and consequences of poverty, emphasizing how systemic factors, such as economic policies and social stratification, perpetuate disparities. Poverty is thus both a result and a reinforcer of social inequalities, creating cycles of disadvantage that are difficult to break.

Using a conflict perspective, these aspects of poverty can be understood as outcomes of systemic inequalities embedded within capitalism. Conflict theory posits that society is characterized by ongoing struggles over power and resources, with the wealthy and powerful maintaining their dominance at the expense of marginalized groups. In this context, poverty results from the deliberate design of economic and political systems that favor the affluent, leading to class stratification and limited social mobility for the impoverished. Structural inequalities favor the wealthy’s continued accumulation of wealth and influence, often at the expense of the working and poor classes. This perspective elucidates how policies and economic structures sustain inequality, making poverty a mechanism of social control and reproduction of class differences. It further highlights the need for structural reforms to address these deep-seated disparities and promote social justice.

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Gender as "structure" refers to the idea that gender is a foundational and enduring social institution that shapes individuals' identities, behaviors, and societal roles. It mentalizes the notion that gender is not merely an individual trait but a systemic framework deeply embedded in social norms, laws, and institutions that organize societal life. To explain "gender as a social institution," one might say it is a set of expectations and roles assigned to people based on their perceived sex, which influences everything from personal interactions to public policies. These roles create distinct expectations for men and women, guiding behaviors and interactions in various contexts, thereby maintaining a societal order based on gender distinctions.

Judith Lorber demonstrates the different significance of gender categories for individuals and society by highlighting the concepts of "sameness" and "difference." She discusses how society tends to enforce gender norms through repeated socialization, emphasizing differences based on biological sex, yet simultaneously expects individuals to adhere to certain gendered behaviors. For individuals, gender provides a sense of identity and belonging, shaping their self-concept and daily routines. For society, gender categories serve to organize and stratify social roles, legitimizing inequalities and maintaining social order. Lorber’s analysis reveals that gender categories are constructed through social processes that attribute particular traits and roles to men and women, deeply influencing personal lives and social structures alike, often reinforcing hierarchies based on perceived differences and sameness.

References

• Goffman, E. (1959). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Anchor Books.
• Lorber, J. (1994). Night to His Day: The Social Construction of Gender. In J. Lorber & S. Moore (Eds.), Gender and Society: Critical Readings (pp. 107-118). Oxford University Press.
• National Poverty Center. (2021). Research on Poverty in the U.S. Retrieved from https://www.npc.umich.edu/
• Ritzer, G. (2010). Modern Sociological Theory. McGraw-Hill Education.
• Collins, P. H. (2000). Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment. Routledge.
• McIntosh, P. (1988). White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming To See Different Oppressions. Wellesley College Center for Research on Women.
• Hochschild, A. R. (1989). The Second Shift: Working Families and the Revolution at Home. Yale University Press.
• Marx, K. (1867). Capital: A Critique of Political Economy. Penguin Classics.
• Weber, M. (1946). From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology. Oxford University Press.
• Du Bois, W. E. B. (1903). The Souls of Black Folk. A.C. McClurg & Co.