While reading this article, my thoughts went back to one of the readings in our Intersections book regarding the five potential sexes. Different from popular belief, gender is not just a biological distinction among our species. There are numerous social aspects of gender that form notions most of our populations use to separate males from females. One’s hobbies, taste in music, colors, TV shows or movies, and type of dress are a few of the norms society has constructing based on gender. While many of these dividing lines are blurring based on civil rights movements and concepts, labels of boy are girl are often still designated based on these factors. There are often the labels such as “tomboy” or even “girly man” to point out those who deviate from their specific gender-designated characteristics. Usually parents try to help their children develop into and nice young man or women, by surrounding them with the right toys or by signing them up for the right sporting activities. It seems as though society has a prescribed way to nurture their kids so they grow up “properly”. This may relate to many of the issues regarding homosexual parents. Those close-minded folks worry that having two fathers or two mothers may lead the children down a less “normal” path into homosexuality or other “gender confusion”. Based on biology and anatomy, I can understand how many people believe that a person born with a penis is a man and a person born with a vagina is a woman. As evident in this case, once these physical attributes are altered, the situation changes completely. This is where society’s perception of gender comes into play. If the man featured in this article has always felt a strong relation to the male gender, even though he was technically born with female reproductive parts, he could be viewed as more of a male. In most of these cases, the person’s mind is telling them they are one gender, but their bodies are showing something else. In order to try to fit into the world’s view of gender, these people end up surgically altering these inconsistencies. Such processes are being used to help these people fit in to such a narrow-minded culture. And now that people such as the man in this article faces troubles regarding employment, society is eventually just going to have to accept those viewed to be “different”. Let people live their lives the way the want to.

While reading this article, my thoughts went back to one of the readings in our Intersections book regarding the five potential sexes. Different from popular belief, gender is not just a biological distinction among our species. There are numerous social aspects of gender that form notions most of our populations use to separate males from females. One’s hobbies, taste in music, colors, TV shows or movies, and type of dress are a few of the norms society has constructing based on gender. While many of these dividing lines are blurring based on civil rights movements and concepts, labels of boy are girl are often still designated based on these factors. There are often the labels such as “tomboy” or even “girly man” to point out those who deviate from their specific gender-designated characteristics. Usually parents try to help their children develop into and nice young man or women, by surrounding them with the right toys or by signing them up for the right sporting activities. It seems as though society has a prescribed way to nurture their kids so they grow up “properly”. This may relate to many of the issues regarding homosexual parents. Those close-minded folks worry that having two fathers or two mothers may lead the children down a less “normal” path into homosexuality or other “gender confusion”. Based on biology and anatomy, I can understand how many people believe that a person born with a penis is a man and a person born with a vagina is a woman. As evident in this case, once these physical attributes are altered, the situation changes completely. This is where society’s perception of gender comes into play. If the man featured in this article has always felt a strong relation to the male gender, even though he was technically born with female reproductive parts, he could be viewed as more of a male. In most of these cases, the person’s mind is telling them they are one gender, but their bodies are showing something else. In order to try to fit into the world’s view of gender, these people end up surgically altering these inconsistencies. Such processes are being used to help these people fit in to such a narrow-minded culture. And now that people such as the man in this article faces troubles regarding employment, society is eventually just going to have to accept those viewed to be “different”. Let people live their lives the way the want to.

To me, this piece of writing shows how incarceration allows people to have time to seriously reflect on their lives and the way they’ve lived them. When you are “trapped” behind bars for so long, your mind probably wanders to all sorts of things. Mistakes are reviewed and regrets become more apparent. So many aspects of life that people take for granted are just immediately taken from you. As you sit and contemplate, you think of where you went wrong, or how you could have been better. Similar feelings may occur after a break up or something. You take time and go over why certain things happen, and you may realize how good it had been and how you may have messed it up. This man obviously regrets how he treated women earlier in his life. He claims to have been conditioned by the media, which is often the culprit. Earlier in the semester, we viewed a film regarding the portrayal of women in popular music videos. We learned that the basis for most of these videos is the adolescent sexual fantasies many young men share. Women are basically shown as sexual objects, used solely for the pleasure and entertainment of the male. The more often such media is viewed, it can be misinterpreted as reality, thus, men have a skewed perspective of a woman’s role in society. As long as these men have access to women and get away with treating them in such a negative way, they won’t take a second look at their actions. However, in the case of this man, now that he has been stripped of his ties to women, he’s beginning to appreciate what he had. He has learned that when you have something good going on (especially in the relationship realm), you should cherish it and show it(her) why she should pick or stay with you. Many people say the chivalry is dead. I believe that society has become accustomed to allowing such mistreatment to “slide”, that men feel like they don’t need to be a courteous gentlemen to succeed with women. The second these females wise up to our acts, we’ll have to 180 our attitudes before they give up on our gender.

My favorite part about reading these “Getting Life” articles and letters is the fact that I always gain a different view on these people, their situations and it kind of develops the image I used to how of just general people in prison. This inmate helped build both a somewhat initially negative view, but then all made several positive aspects of his situation. I guess the media shows us the image and a barbaric, filthy place with violence and drug deals going on in the yard. From this article we gain an understanding of the possibly nice guy who made a mistake, and is now just being gradually disconnected from those he was so close to. As his relationships began to fade, obviously thing would be challenging, and we might even assume someone could just give up. However, people such as this man are able to form a bond with others in the same situation. There’s just a mutual understanding and some type of enormous common ground. The strings are coming into play, but it seems this man is somewhat aware of it. He is able to watch younger inmates experience the same thing he did, and he can see the trends. He understands the system, and thus able to work into it in the best possible way, which in his case is gaining new friends and family and appreciating the love he is still receiving from the old ones. This is far from the image that is normally presented to us. And this may be part of the problem. Most people picture prison as the way the media does, leading them to misunderstand the situation these people are in. Maybe if more people view this letter, they’ll grasp the fact that such small forms of communication such as letters, are greatly appreciated by those who feel detached from their once everyday lives. And maybe if these people know someone in prison, they can write them a quick letter. We have all of these predetermined notions of things such as what prison is like, and if we just seek an understanding, we can help makes many lives more enjoyable. Inmates made a mistake, doesn’t mean they should be denied their ability to receive love and kindness.

First off, I am happy to see this man clarify the potential differences between people who are serving life sentences. I’ll admit, when I hear that someone has been sentenced to life, I assume they killed someone. It may not have been a premeditated murder, I just assume someone died at the hand of the lifer. Reading that this man just happened to be involved in a crime the resulted in the murder of another definitely gives me a different perspective of those incarcerated. So I completely understand why he wanted to clear that up for most of us. I guess there is a link to sociology in this situation, related primarily to assumptions people make based on the more popular or predominant situations. Whenever we hear that someone is found guilty of some type of murder or killing, we wait to see whether they get the death penalty or life in prison. Thus, when we hear life in prison, we automatically link the situations. Things are obviously not always that simple. On another note, I did notice that some of the information he revealed about himself showed some of those invisible strings in effect. He came from South Philly, not considered the most peaceful area, had an abusive stepfather, and eventually ended up becoming involved heavily in drugs. I feel as if the drug problem was possibly pre-empted by his location and his stepfather. Though this is obviously not certain, but in sociology, trends are searched for, and this appears to be a common situation seen. His life path may have already been partially paved for him based on such circumstances. Maybe if he didn’t experience abuse or live in South Philly, he wouldn’t have turned to drugs. Maybe if he didn’t get involved with drugs, he wouldn’t have gotten involved with people who could commit a murder. However, I am happy he elaborated on how he thinks he is freer than ever. Without all of these strings affecting him (since he is in jail) in the same way that they were, he was able to explore other things. I assume free of drugs, and free of these other people he was associated with, he was able to find all of this opportunity to learn about his own abilities.

After watching this video, I must say I am thrilled to know that someone made this great statement or argument with such intelligence and logic. The controversy over same sex marriages has gone on for far too long in my opinion. No one has the right to tell someone else who or what type of person they should marry. Some cultures still rely on arranged marriages. People in the United States may look down upon the notion of having parents or others control the fate of one’s love. Is the issue of same sex marriages not the same problem? The young man made the point that the government should not control who its citizen’s love. Many things in this world are subjective, especially when it comes to lust or love. People have their own preferences. Its obvious that our reproductive systems were created for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman in order to procreate. That does not mean that only men and women can only fall in love with each other and not their own gender. Through out history there are numerous incidents or even rituals based on same sex relations. However, because the current norms suggest a man and a woman are the only combination for love or marriage, society judges or frowns upon anything else. Media, books, religion and many other things contribute to these invisible strings that are controlling us to take a heterosexual perspective on life. As mentioned in class, some people claim that having same sex parents with lead to the child having a homosexual orientation. However, we discussed how this is not the case and they probably have a greater chance of being heterosexual. Even if that was the case, who cares. People can make as many claims regarding the negativity of homosexuality in our world, but when it comes down to the core of it all, it really doesn’t matter. If you’re a man and are attracted to other men, good for you. There are so many different types of people in this world, why do we have to focus on what some groups are interested in and prove them wrong? Live life to the fullest and have fun. If that means spending your life and sexual experiences with the same sex, then more power to you.

This video definitely opened my eyes to the possible marriage arrangements that can exist in our world. As one poster mentioned earlier, this is a prime example of “culture shock”. In our society, it usually become engrained in our heads of how and what type of relationships should be form. When a child is born, from that point on they have the notion of a “mommy” and a “daddy”. This mommy is female, and this daddy is male. However, as our society becomes more open to different types of relationships, such homosexuality, these gender barriers become less and less. We are still an uptight society, but that is because these preconceived notions of what romance and love are pervade though out various aspects of life, especially the media. The image of an “ideal family” seen on television and in the movie industry helps form our perspective. This is another case of the “invisible strings” coming into play and taking away the freedoms we do not realize. Many people make jokes regarding the Mormon community and their acceptance of polygamy. The only reason this is happening is because it’s not what we were taught, or it is not the popular ideal. Our hegemony allows us to make judgments about those who are different. Obviously the most interesting part of this video is the fact that the woman is the one with multiple spouses. However, it is made clear by the family that they are happy with the way their lives our. Even the practicality of the situation is emphasized. So who are we to think that’s weird or wrong? They are living their lives the way they want, and it is obviously working for them. Some day the practice may be acceptable here in the United States. The more open-minded we become, the better the chances we will see people living the way the want without our social guides or constructs saying otherwise. I feel like that is the point of sociology. Looking at how we live based on all of these guides set for us telling us what to do. At some point, somebody said “this is the way things should be”, and people followed. Now we have to go back and say “this is how things CAN be, but let us know what you think or want to do”. Society needs feedback.

It is extremely obvious in this video to see how media, especially the news, gives the public a false sense of reality. The fact is the world is not a scary as many people think. Yes horrible things have happened and still do happen, but these things are very rare. If you tell some people that, they may just respond “I just don’t want to take that chance.” That seems understandable enough, but as Sam pointed out in both his post and lecture, many people run the risk of giving their children bad advice. There are definitely some sick and crazy people in the world, but most people are “normal” or at least don’t have intentions of doing horrible acts that affect others. They way fear is instilled in us seems like a never ending cycle. The news emphasizes such absurd yet rare actions or events to the viewers, making it seems as if it could happen anywhere and to anyone so people have to be cautious of impending problems. The public, usually adults, then relay that information to their children in hopes to prevent the unlikely occurrence. As long as journalists or news stations find out about these rare events, the cycle will continue and people will remain in fear. I feel that if people were shown the numbers and such things were discussed with the in the same way we discuss them in class, there would be a lot less fear, and a little more faith in other people. I understand it is difficult to prepare your child for the world and all that is in it, and their safety and health is usually of great importance, but if there was a way to explain to them what to look out for without presenting the world to them and a very scary and dangerous place I’m sure we would be in a much better place in regards to society. Some quick judgments or assumptions made be deterred and a chance for social growth and development may be welcomed. Until then, just remember to take media and especially the news with a grain of salt.

This piece of writing really helps to paint a picture of the progression of ones mind after they have been without many daily liberties for years. As Sam has mentioned several times during lecture, convicts still exercise various degrees of freedom, however it is obvious which ones this man is lacking and misses. It is apparent he has had a great deal of time to think and reflect on his life up until now, and he expresses some regret. I feel that most men would regret any decision they made that lead to their incarceration, but this man also seems to recognize some other consequences of his crime. This is a path that many convicts probably end up on. The invisible strings come into play, and I am sure there is evidence showing this. These men commit crimes, and after years of confinement, they are bound to share experiences and emotions (granted there are always exceptions). Such things may not all be the same or equivalent, but to a degree they are similar. This convict even acknowledges how “free persons” most likely view him in a negative light. He knows that there are some acts that are just unforgivable. However, this man seems to have found a way to help soothe his soul and maybe even empower him to endure or even (enjoy to the best of abilities) prison stay. He has placed his faith in God, a decision many lifers end up making. Throughout the duration of one’s sentence, there has to be something they can believe in or devote some time and energy to. Some choose religion, which provides both an outlet for emotions and a hope for something greater. The author of this piece believes at least God has forgiven him for his crime, which may be the only “person” who has, but in his mind, I am sure that means something. If you are going to spend the majority or the rest of your like behind bars, you need something to hold onto. In this case, that something has changed the convicts way of life. He may not have been such a bad person, but I am sure that after so many years of finding God, he’s change in some way (hopefully for the better).

I have seen the video previously in one of my psychology classes on conformity. Aside from being funny and entertaining, it is a great example of the power of conformity and trying to fit in. I believe the most interesting aspect of the video is the last gentleman who gets shifted 360 degrees or more through out his duration in the elevator. The scene reminded me of a non-church goer’s first time at mass. While the rest of the congregation stands up and down and does various motions, the newbie is forced to watch and try to follow. The only difference between these two scenarios is that I am sure this man has ridden in an elevator before. I feel that the main factor causing the non-actors to follow the others is to simply not feel stupid being different and looking the other passenger directly in the face. Once people are put in a situation during which it appears they may be acting incorrectly, they will generally try to fix themselves. This footage depicts that idea in such a simple form. Nobody told the riders they must face a specific way, and there are certainly no legitimate rules forcing them to do so. The people just feel out of place, which is a contradiction of humanity tendency to be in agreement. The same goes for the video we watch during lecture with the line comparisons. Initially the guy stated the correct number, but after noticing everyone else was picking a different number, he eventually began to follow to avoid feeling out of place. These types of situations occur everywhere. The way people dress; the things people watch on TV, the way people act in various social situations are all shaped by the group. Groupthink eventually always takes over causing people to act similar. Knowing this can help one realize how less free we actually are. We may think we are making conscious decisions; however, these decisions are based off the invisible strings that are shaping everyone. What is hip and cool is merely constructed by social interactions and conformity.