Society's Pressure to Become Right Handed

Society’s Pressure to be Right Handed
Within the United States, right-handed people make up approximately 90% of the population. It has been proven that your dominant hand is genetically chosen. Desks scissors and notebooks are created for people with a dominant right hand. Is the huge gap in numbers between left and right brained partially due to societal pressure? In many languages right is a synonym for good and left is a synonym for evil. Being left-handed was previously thought of as being a sign of the devil. Research also shows that left and right-handed people think differently. Left brained people start a task usually and complete unlike right-brained people who start many at the same time. The schools system caters and praises those who are organized and articulate. They completely favor the left brained thinker. If school system made music and art as mandatory as math and science more people would practice using a different part of their brain and therefore contribute differently to society.

Advertising

Commercialization
Advertising a very interesting thing to think about. Studying the drawing techniques behind cults is sometime used by advertisements agencies. The advertisement companies claim that people buy certain products do the mere exposure effects and because they long to be part of a group and when the feeling of this desire is inevitably not fulfilled they must go shopping and continue the vicious cycle. I have problem believing that every product we buy is simply in order to fit in and to belong. I also acknowledge that I am probably not aware of the huge effects that advertising has on all of us. I wonder if one is able to live in contemporary, civilized society and not be affected by advertisements. They are everywhere; even at the bottom of golf holes.

Understanding my high-school Experience Through Julie Bettie's Commentary

Although I find myself cringing while reading some of Julie Bettie’s commentary, there was a lot of truth found in the dynamics of the interactions with different groups of girls. I have criticized how she seems to have a biased perspective and she regularly talks negatively about the preps. Many things about my high school seems to make a lot more sense after reading her novel. I went to a high school, which was considerably large and had the best football and girls soccer team in the nation. The school was a brutal and continuous place for girl confrontation and conflict. Similarly to the novel, the preps practically ran the school. They were the only ones who were solely involved in school government and sports. The preps staked their lunch spot in the very center of the student center in front of the library. Just like in the book, everyone agreed on the different titles for the cliques, and many of them were the same as in the novel. The prep girls were the only ones on the sport teams, and they wore matching clothes with ribbons in the hair. We had 4,000 people who attended La Costa Canyon, and it was typical to see new people every day and then never see them again. After Reading Girls Without Class, I feel that I have a better understanding of why certain cliques distinguished them selves in some ways that seemed obscure and irrational. Girls were eager to form an identity and claim importance. There were often fights, which mostly took place amongst the Latino girls. During these fights, the entire school would crowd around them and cheer them on. This was the only time when the Mexican students interacted with the jocks and preps. Girls were incredibly vicious and gossip was what they collectively thrived on. Personally, I had problems understanding where I fit in amongst all of these groups that seemed to be so distinguished. Surprising, I was voted homecoming princess freshman year. This is usually something that is reserve red for only preps, and so I was a bit confused. Our school was the epitome of catty, cliquey American high school. Because of this, I ended up leaving in order to attend an alternative private school, which had only 12 people in each grade. Unlike many of the Latino girls, or the smokers I was fortunate to have the resources and opportunity to make this decision.

Julie Bettie's Bias

As I am reading Girls Without Class, I am astonished by consistent negativity that Julie Betty uses to describe the preps. From the beginning of the novel she describes the impossible nature of subjectivity, which all sociologists are unable to escape. She also describes the ways in which she would go about her analysis to remand the most neutral toward all of the students. She goes into great detail about her dress and her intention on having only small amounts of discourse with the factually to minimize chances of being affiliated with them. Julie Betty seems to side with the Mexican-American girls who express so much slander against the girls who are considered preps. I wonder how Julie Betty’s growing up experience shaped her study, and her expectations. At times she even joins the Latina girls as they talk negatively towards the preps. Julie Betty expresses that the entire school seems to be run by the preps, and the award ceremonies, pep rallies, are a celebration of preps. The other students are forced to go to these events which only recognize the preps. At one point in the novel Julie Betty said to one of the Latino girl students named Wendy, “so did you like the prep award ceremony”? Julie Betty then claimed that Wendy appreciated her recognition of what the ceremony was really about. It might be true that the preps were granted opportunities, which they did not have to work as hard as other students at the school would have to in order to attain the same achievemnts. Julie Betty seems to cross some unprofessional boundries which might in en be helpful, since it seems that she is looking to reaveal specific information regarding specific groups. Julie Betty seems to have spent the least amount of time with the preps, and many of her conclusions were based off of surface judgments. Julie Betty seems to have some repressed anger toward preps, and it proposes the possibility that she maybe have had problems with their seemingly underserved achievments in the past.

Expectations of the Elderly

Elderly people in the United States seems to be valued differently compared to how they are valued in some other cultures around the world. Age is something that people are now trying to escape from; people are no longer embracing the positive assets that previously accompanied age. Wrinkles previously signified wisdom and advisability but now have become a physical representation of helplessness. Not much seems to be expected of the elderly anymore. Could society’s short expectations be partially responsible for the mental deterioration of the elderly? The street that I grew up on as child has completely transformed to make room for the demand of old homes. This is an institution that is growing at an alarming rate.
Putting the two most influential people in your life in a place where it is more convenient for you to smoothly carry out your life without distractions seems selfish. I wonder why this institution is growing so rapidly . I think that is shocking that the elderly are often assumed as delusional and mentally less capably. This is not a natural deterioration. This is not a process that has always occurred. When people stop using muscles in their body it is only natural that they stop working as well. This can also be applied to the capabilities of the brain.

The Appeal Veganism

The Appeal Veganism
The Vegan lifestyle is progressively becoming more popular. This can be observed by the type of food that is served at the Lewis and Clark cafeteria. This raises the following question.; Are people becoming more contentious toward animals or are other heath benefits making the vegan lifestyle more appealing? There is always plenty of vegan choices provided at the bone, and surprisingly there are often more vegan deserts than non-vegan deserts. It used to be easier to decipher the strong minority of vegans through their distinguishable appearance. Sometimes dreadlocks or hemp clothing would give it away. Now the vegan lifestyle seems to attract all different types of people. The possible health benefits have attracted an entire new realm of fashion-concerned people. The vegan lifestyle is now advertised and somewhat encouraged in popular magazines. There are now many more products, which make it easier to be vegan. Soy and rice milk are much more popular and accessible than ever before along with dairy free ice cream, yogurt ext. The items seem to be only accommodating for the large demand of requests from people eating in a different way. But what triggered this dramatic change in people’s eating habits? How much does being a vegan or vegetarian have to do with feeling empathy for animals, and how much does it have to do with being more educated and concerned about its effects o personal health?

Cafeteria Seating Arrangement

The seating arrangement in the cafeteria at Lewis and Clark is anything but random, and I never noticed how segregated and strategically placed every person is. Until my friend pointed it out to me the other day, I hadn’t really noticed the consistency complexity of something as simple as where one sits for dinner. Every single evening the jocks (meaning the football and baseball players) sit at the tables, which are located in the center front of the cafeteria. They sit in circular tables, which limit unwanted interaction, unlike the vertical tables. Their tables are also the closest to the food providing easy access. I notice myself feeling uncomfortable walking past their tables, because they seem to be constantly scanning their surroundings. The location of the seating arrangements seems to be reaffirming their attempts to be the center of activity. The kids from the multicultural dorm consistently sit in the first room at the long tables, which make it easy to socialize with people who they don’t necessarily know. The remainder of the room has round tables, which limit the amount unpredicted interaction. People who sit on the outer edges are often by the selves reading the newspaper. More often than not people seem to sit in the same general seating area.

Connection between Individualism Music

It is very interesting to examine the large changes in how people experience music today compared to just a few decades ago. I’m not sure if the manifestations of music have significantly contributed to the individualistic ideology of youth today, or if it is simply a byproduct of individualism. Most of the concerts that I have attended within the past years fall under the indie-folk genre, and I have observed that the fans are exceptionally individualistic. Concerts seem to be progressively becoming less of a group experience. There seems to be almost no common ground of music interest that my generation can bond over. People now identify themselves greatly by the type of music they listened to, and it is one of the first questions asked when meeting someone new. When bands are unknown people bond especially well when they discover that they share this common interest. Music has become a competitive subject. I think this is a strange concept. The i-pod is an extension of this and is a contributor to the isolation that music listening has seemingly created. People not only use i-pods in their private time, but it seems to serve as a social crutch. At meals people often listen to their i-pods, (as well as during conversations) , and this provides the comfort of allows one to be entirely selective in the conversation without fully engaging. Never before have people been able to “check out” so easily. I have also noticed people listening to their i-pods as they walk down the street, and it seems to add a cinematic quality to their lives.

The Dangerous mixture of Politics and Indivisualism

One might assume that the student body at Lewis and Clark is exceedingly politically conscious and proactive. In class students seem passionate and in tune with a large and colorful pallet of current events. People are also very engaging passionate and seemingly eager to have conversations regarding the declining state of this country and our future predictions. On the surface this observation made me feel a bit optimistic. The approach and outlook that my generation specifically carries is one that now provokes dire pessimism.
American youth is unarguable much more individualistic than most countries around the world. The middle and upper class youth dream of careers that will provoke revolutionary action where they do not follow but instead lead. Self-fulfillment has always been the greatest incentive but a country of revolutionary leaders can not exist. People seem to voice their opinions for the sake of personal recognition rather than sincere and intended change.
I was absolutely astounded when I observed some of my peers during the political debates. I imagined watching the debates in a large group and sitting in my room watching them on my computer did seem appropriate by any means. I imagined watching them in the main lounge in platt-howard, amongst my peers who were just as passionate, and interested in what we were watching as I was. In reality people were unable to stay focused and interested for the entire 2 hours of the debates. By the time the debates finished only one third of the students were able to stay the entire time of the debates. I rushed to the debates from dinner accompanied by two of my friends. After a half hour, they decided to watch in on their lab top in their rooms. I was interested if they really would follow through with doing what they said and so I asked them about it later on. As expected, they responded with something along the lines of “ distracted and forgetting”. During the debates people were texting, talking on the phone, or usually just leaving all together. I feel a lack of collaborate efforts and genuine understanding of the dire situation that is worsening every day in our country.

The Contradiction of Community Service

Community service is an activity that is intended to provide humility for the contributor and assistance for the receiver. At the high school that I attended, a certain amount of community service was necessary, and I wonder if this having this requirement generates the same self fulfilling goals.
I can not imagine that forced or congratulated community service provokes a life long pattern of philanthropic fulfillment in the same way that self initiated community service might.
Against my will, I was a member of an elite mother daughter group, during high school, which was designed to practice community service. The community service always seemed to have an artificial quality to it. The group was devoted to doing charity work for the community, but I quickly gathered that most of the girls were merely a part of the group because of the group’s reputation for being a valuable asset to put on ones resume. Once a year the group would meet for a luxurious luncheon. During this luncheon the head of the National Charity League would recognize a few honorable members, and distribute a select amount of gold plaques to the girls who received the most community service hours. I cannot deny the positive outcome that must have come from the devotion of these girls, but the entire process was competitive and far from selfless. I wonder if the intrinsic incentive behind the outcome should be as valued as the extrinsic motivation that comes from the service.
The college acceptance process highly praises individuals who engage in community service and it makes me contemplate if this rewarding strategy is having an adverse effect.

Differences Between Betty and Mcloud

Julie Betty constantly claims that it is impossible to get a completely objective perspective on any analytical research. This personal critique is a theme with the first few chapters and is very admirable.
As an attempt to introduce the book, Betty spends a great deal of effort in describing the context of the girls and their school. She explains her incentive behind the book and the contributing factors that lead her to end up at the location that she did.
Unlike Mcloud, Julie Betty gives the reader a much more complete illustration of the novels setting. She explains her tactics and strategies that she used to accumulate trust between members of opposing cliques. She seems to pay close attention to small details that might provoke a negative influence on her reputation with each group. For example, she goes into great detail about her apparel to bring about a neutral attitude.
Mcloud’s insight was matchlessly articulate but he failed to accomplish some of the thorough introductory details that might have been helpful for the reader to better understand the following raw data.
Betty constantly identifies the relentless subjectivity that is ingrained within all research, and this reoccurring honesty seems to give her work more credibility. She is constantly describing her personal influence on her interactions. A great deal of researchers seems to dismiss their own personal characteristic and purely dwell on the subject without recognizing their magnitude of their personal influence. Because of the mere title of a sociologist or researcher people tend to assume sociologists as an objective point of reference; Bettie reminds the reader that biases are fundamentally ingrained.

Problem with Capitalism

As a class we collectively criticized the school structure that is present in the working class projects. We seemed to come to common coconscious that the school was partially responsible for the outcome of the Hallways Hangers and others who are unsuccessful. The school in the project seems to produce a social system which produces a cookie cutter type of student who is obedient toward authority and is fit for the working class. They do not seem to encourage students to question that authority, so those that fail these demands create a subculture. Teachers that encourage the questioning of their own authority seem to be nonexistent in the schools located in the projects. Questioning seems to be a luxury among the upper and middle class. The schools within the projects seems to be trying to merely ingrain the fundamental skills which will provide them with social skills which are necessary with in working class jobs. Those who were unable to keep up with the rigid expectations of these schools became similar to the Hallway Hangers. These skills differ greatly among the skills that are necessary among upper class jobs. In my high school we did extensive research on revolutionary figure that went against the status quo. We were encouraged to question our teachers and to write racy commentary.
During this class, we seemed to discourage the method in which the schools in the projects use. Many seemed to voice that it was unfair how they were not presented with the tools and values that would give them a chance to rise above the working class. We seemed to all wish that this entire teaching style should be abolished. The reality of the situation is that we depend entirely on these people that dwell in the projects. They are the ones that are willing to work for minimum wage jobs. It is entirely unrealistic to strive for schools that are all similar and mimic the creative lucid structure of many of the schools that are located in the upper class neighborhoods. Although this seems fair, the values that each social class deems are entirely contradictory toward each other. It is optimistic and hopeful to strive to engrain this approach to life that is unbound by social class for every child. As cenacle as it might seem, the economy relies on the working class which mold to the low expectations of the teachers and schools who mentor them. Not everyone can own their own business, or acquire jobs of an upper class stature. In a capitalistic society this is not possible. This does not disregard the randomness, hostility, and pain that is unfair for the majority that suffer from this structure. But nevertheless, it is impossible to deny that they are necessary for the upper class to exist. In class we seem to antagonize the schools and systems, and we brainstorm alternative methods, which present a more aspiring future for these children. But our social structure does not make this aspiration beneficial for the economy as a whole. The outcome of this reality is grim, and bleak which seems to be the fundamental reason why this issue is not addressed.

Connection Analysis

The sociological analysis of racial influence upon class and therefore employment struggles is surprising and complex. From the beginning of the book “Ain’t No Makin’ It” it is well established that the Hallway hangers target the black community as the sole reason for their economic and social problems. It is interesting that personal connection could be the single most important determining factor within all social classes. The pool of applicants is so much greater than the amount of available jobs, and mere skill is not always the most valuable asset. This was present in 1991 but it is still if not more of a concern for youth in today’s job market. I read a statistic, which claimed that only 30% of teenagers looking for a job this past summer of 2008 were successful. Back home, many of my friends were not including in the positive portion of the statistic, and those who were successful admitted that this was due to a family connection or something of the sort. This past summer of 2008 I searched for jobs and interviewed to about 6 different places and ended up getting a job working at the hospital where my father is a neurologist. The success had nothing to do with my personal skill, and I was granted a 12 dollar an hour job for almost no reason at all. The recession that is taking place seems to be demonstrating its effects through ones such as the previously mentioned example.
There seems to be an assortment of reasons why the Hallways Hangers are incapable of holding steady jobs or finding jobs at all. There is not enough demand for the type of the work that the Hallways Hangers offer. Secondly the Hallways Hangers, with the exception of Frankie, battle with drinking and drug habits and this makes them hardly the best candidate for job positions. Frankie who has been going to counseling sessions, has stopped drinking for years and has overcome a before seemingly unbearable hurdle. Even after vigorous searching he remains unemployed. Frankie discusses the importance of connection and politics. Both of his brothers are cops, and he claims that his family is well known. He also claims that this “fame” has caused him to be more obvious and vulnerable to criticism in the eyes of the general public and he has burned all possible bridges that could have been a catalyst for positive progression on his life.

the #1 godless campus

Lewis and Clark student body consists of a striking majority of non-religious students. Liberalism and atheism seems to be progressively very closely associated amongst one another. Some college poles have even rated us as the #1 Godless campus. Is not believing in God a popular belief or is it something that each student passionately believes and as disvovered through their own unique path. This caused me to wonder what makes people believe in God. One interesting hypthosesis to entertain is that there are physical elements in the body that might cause some people to be more prone to believe in God than others. It seems to be evolutionary beneficial. The majority of human beings believe in some manifestation of the supernatural, this suggests that we might have a similar gene which has continued to be passed on for generations. Ever sense there is written documentation proving human existence there has been reference to the supernatural. It suggests that this is perhaps a survival trait, and is consistent with Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest. A common belief is that the faith in God might call for less cognitive effort than the disbelief in God.

The Effect of Stimulants on America's Youth

The Effect Speed has on America's Youth
Never before have pharmaceutical drugs affected such a large percent of the population. Furthermore these drugs are progressively being prescribed to a younger age group. It almost seems as though pharmaceutical companies are inventing diseases/illnesses. The prescription drugs that I see most commonly prescribed to misdiagnosed patients are stimulants. Adderall, Ritalin, and many more are revolutionary phenomena. They are given to control the natural behavior of children as young as 7 years old.
Ritalin and adderall have been around for quite for some time now, but just recently has attention deficit disorder been such a common diagnosis. Could it be true that current generations are just developing more problems with focusing, and the pharmaceutical companies are merely compensating to keep up with the demand for the drug? If this is true, than what is the changing variable in the present world, which has created such an unnatural state of mind? Psychiatrists often claim that patient’s brains are not producing enough of a certain chemical and these pills simply bring the brain to its nature/normal state. Or are the majority of these cases being misdiagnosed while the pharmaceutical companies make large profit. Almost any student who has tried the drug will admit that adderall (or other stimulants in the same class) help them study. Whether one has or doesn’t have attention deficit disorder, it doesn’t change the fact that the drug is beneficiary to some degree. Unlike a diabetic who needs insulin to function, while a non-diabetic would not get the same beneficiary results, stimulants help almost everybody, feel absolutely fascinated toward subjects that were possibly the most laborious and dry. A drug that gives you confidence to participate in class and speak colorfully in ways that you would have never imagined. The drug does not seem to provoke “one’s natural state of mind” at all. Since the drug is relatively new, not all long-term effects can really be understood.
It seems absurd that speed is legal and even encouraged in many ways by the government and society. The effects of stimulants help mold people in to a successful member of society. Children suddenly get good feed back from impressed teachers. It provokes a sudden desire to organize and clean your surroundings. List making is very common. Kids that previously found them selves’ daydreaming and making unpredictable decisions now want to spend every moment doing something productive and planned. Our society seems to cater to predominantly left-brain thinkers, and this drug is leeching the spontaneity and creative nature of many right brain thinkers.

Effects of Birth Order

I have always been interested in birth order and its influence on how it shapes peoples lives. I think it is a subject of great interest for me because of my own personal challenges regarding to a possible correlation of birth order.
When I first meet people and I attempt to understand them as a person, I frequently ask if they were a first born, middle etc. child. I am guilty of generalizations but my hypothesis about what I expect is surprisingly accurate. I can usually learn more about that person through this answer than from knowing that their favorite sport is soccer or favorite color is green.
In my personal observation, only children seem to commonly present themselves with opposite characteristics. There seems to be little middle ground. Due to their lack of siblings, some seem to become comfortable being alone and fail to develop sharing habits while others become eager to share due to their years of being alone and not having the opportunity. Some seem to be poor and rude regarding confrontation while others shy away from it.

I have noticed that youngest children often have significant difficult with making decisions, big or small. This may be due to years of older children making decisions for them and their tendency to go with the flow instead of lead the pack.
Birth order may also play a crucial role in the combinations for successful dating. For example youngest children seem to have a hard time dating due to their inability to make decisions. They might be unable to decide on where and when to hang out. I have witnessed both getting annoyed with this quality in their partner without realizing that they possess the same characteristic.
I haven’t done any formal research, and the only conclusions that I have are based on my own personal observations. Most people that I know who regularly see psychologist happen to be middle children. Conclusive accurate data to support this claim does not exist but it’s an interesting idea to entertain nonetheless. Middle children might possibly be overwhelmed with expectation from the eldest child. I have also observed that middle or second children seem to be the most artistic and unorthodox out of the other children in the family. Middle children (obviously ) where neither the child who was praised for being the first nor savored for being the last. This might cause a lack in identity.
Middle children seem generally easy going and tend to go with the flow of things. They seem to be more of right brain thinkers rather thank left. Middle children also seem to start several projects but rarely finish. I have also noticed that middle children tend to be polite and interested in pleasing people. A possible explanation for this finding of pleasing people might be due to numerous years of mediating between the other children who had a large age gap. Middle children are often battling for attention for reasons mentioned earlier and this may carry on to their relationships outside of the family.

Oldest children naturally take leadership roles in the family but as well as in the world. Most of the U.S. presidents have been oldest children. That claim alone supports the significant amount influence that the mere order in birth has on your perceptions that one carries for one’s entire life.