A lot of circumstances influence a person’s choice in choosing where or not he/she comes out of the closet and openly embraces his/her sexuality. After a tremendous amount of research for a final paper in another class I’m taking, I’ve come to discover that homosexuals are equally as fit to be parents as are heterosexuals. The negative stigma associated with gay parenting has invaded the media and those who don’t support gay rights (including parenting), further back this information. However, there are many proven instances in which gay, particularly lesbians, are actually better fit to be parents than heterosexuals for a number of reasons. There are fewer instances of physical violence in households where homosexual parents are raising children and there are also better parent-child interactions and relationships. Children raised by gay parents are also generally more accepting of homosexuality and identifying as a member of a sexual minority, though their gender and sexual identity is proven to develop at the same rate of those raised in heterosexual households.
Coming out to parents, friends, and the world often marks an important milestone in the lives of many LGBT people. Many people struggle with coming out to parents because the majority of children are raised in heterosexual households. From a young age, it’s often made clear whether or not homosexuality is accepted in one’s home environment. Though a person’s parents may be “accepting,” views often change when a heterosexual parent’s child comes out of the closet. Personally, I have absolutely no idea how my parents would respond if I told them I was gay. Religious reasons should also be taken into effect here. A majority of the various branches of Christianity say only a man and a woman should be together, that we’re placed on this earth for each other, and being gay is against God’s will. The more religious people are generally less accepting and open to the idea of homosexuality, believing it’s something that can be controlled and rid of. Many parent’s disown their children in these instances, leaving children stranded, feeling like an outcast from a once normal world.
People who identify as homosexual are generally less religious, and more open and accepting of other homosexuals. Coming out to parents who are homosexual themselves would probably be fairly easy (at least compared to that of coming out to heterosexual parents). They’ve been through the same types of things in discovering their own sexuality and would likely be supportive of their child’s decision and there every step of the way to help them through the hardest of times. I actually think coming out as gay to gay parents would be an intense bonding session, and a greater closeness to parents may result because of this similarity.

Our view of the world is constructed by the media. Many of us don’t experience such negative things in our personal lives but the world is depicted through the few negative stories that plaster newspaper headlines and receive the most attention in national media. Because it takes such a tremendous effort for a single person or organization to made front-page headlines for doing something positive, we consequentially view the world as incredibly unsafe.
I think it’s good that the media is so open about these horrible things that happen in everyday life, and these events rightfully deserve to be broadcasted nation-wide, such as the Treyvon Martin shooting. It’s better to have the negative out there and known about as opposed to trying to suppress it and act as though it’s not prevalent in our world. However, all this negative media has many people fear their lives, never knowing when something can happen. And although I believe that anything can happen anywhere and at any time, being well aware of your surroundings and not being in the wrong place at the wrong time can prevent a large deal of these incidents.
The media, because these crime stories are their main focus, makes them seem a lot more prevalent than they actually are. Our world is now viewed as more unsafe than ever before and can be seen as a very cynical place to many. People seem to be constantly on their guard about letting their children roam the streets for long periods of time; most children now ride the bus to school or are driven by parents rather than walking. It struck me as extremely odd that Sam says the chances of a child getting abducted today is less likely than it was when our parents were growing up. I think this is probably because people were less aware of such instances back then because media didn’t play as large of a role in people’s lives as it does today.
I also though 100 was an incredibly low number for non-family related child abductions on a yearly basis in the US. I would assume I feel this is a low number because “missing children” stories are always on the news. It’s also a shame that many people think murder is one of the top crimes committed in everyday life when it’s actually drunk driving and incidents involving drugs. The media, through not only news aspects, but through television shows and movies, depicts our world as more horrible than it actually is.
The media has instilled a sense of fear in many Americans. It’s a shame this is how our society has to be, and with the way things currently are, it’s hard to tell when we’ll start to think more optimistically.

To see the world from another perspective can only enhance one’s acceptance of other cultures. Though I believe an individual should embrace his/her native culture, exploring the culture of others can only result in positive awakenings of awareness. I thought the videos Sam showed in class yesterday were particularly interesting, especially the comparison of tribal dances and rituals as compared to the level of extremism college football fans go to.
I have traveled to various different countries such as Iceland, Mexico, Jamaica, etc. Though mostly for vacationing purposes, while on such adventures, I was able to get a glimpse into what the culture in those places is like. European countries live similarly to the way we do in the United States, but there were noticeable changes in Iceland. As a country, they are much further along fashion-wise and live in different style houses. They dress similarly, but much of their lives revolves around family and not so much the individualistic idea forced upon the people of America. Their families are built upon generations, all of which live within walking distance if not in the same household. This seems to be a similar aspect of Mexican culture. There seem to be more similarities between American culture and Icelandic culture and Mexican culture and Jamaican culture. In Mexico and Jamaica, though it may be simply a means of making money, many things are hand-crafted and delicately painted to perfection. They have dances custom to their culture that they take great pride in such as the Cha-Cha and Salsa; these dances are also taught to foreigners in order to allow them to be introduced and in-touch with Mexican culture while in the country. In Jamaica, the women wear colorful dresses and head pieces. They dance to the beat of enthusiastic drumming and portray messages through their bodies. They also embrace the idea of family more than we do in America.
I think the idea of building strong family relations is extremely important and is something we’ve definitely strayed away from in western society. The idea of the nuclear family is heavily embraced here, but I strongly believe sold family ties are important.
Living in a culture other than that of America would be extremely difficult simply because this is what I have been born and raised to know and live. I think after seeing how people of other countries and cultures lives, I have more of an appreciation of my own culture. However, I have questioned certain things we do that are unlike the people elsewhere in the world. For instance, as Sam showed, drinking milk from a cow… and why we’re the only mammals who drink the milk of that from another mammal… but we think it’s disgusting to drink the milk of any mammal other than that of which we’re used to? Judging another culture’s way of life immediately puts oneself on a pedestal, but who are you to say the way you live is “normal?”

I feel as though this video fits the stereotype Americans have placed on Asians in the United States. We generally associate them to be nerdy, uninterested in sports, and to speak with strong accents. This seems to be a long-stand stereotype and I’m unaware of where it originated, but it acts as a form on discrimination. Though I have met Asians who definitely fit this stereotype, I know of others who are far from it. To classify all Asians into this category is wrong. They’ve come to America to get an education and adjusting from Asian culture to America culture must be extremely difficult. To expect individuals to adjust to western culture so quickly is ridiculous. These individuals clearly are new to the country. I think the intent behind the video was to make jokes at the fact that Asians, who attended USC, had no idea about who their school athletic team was playing against, which most other individuals would’ve been well aware of. However, it came off as being extremely offensive.
I don’t think this video would’ve been nearly as offensive if the camera crew was interviewing white foreigners because they’re not a minority in American society. It all has to do with stereotypes. White foreigners, though they may talk with an accent, are not nearly as distinguishable as Asians are. It’s not as easy to pinpoint them on the street without having talked to them first to find out they’re not from America.
If I was in an Asian country, I would be easily put on the spot because my heritage is not comprised of any Asian decent, making me stand out like a sore thumb. At the time of being interviewed, I would feel incredibly nervous and probably have no idea as to anything going on other than what I’m there to focus on. I wouldn’t know to be embarrassed because I would never imagine it would be broadcasted into a video shown nationally. I wouldn’t take a great deal of interest in activities such as sports because they don’t seem to be as popular in Asian countries and coming to understand them would be an extremely complex process. However, if I were to ever see a video of myself put on display, as the Asians in America one was, I would be more embarrassed than offended. I am proud of my American heritage and have no desire to fit in completely when I travel to new places, as I am clearly an outsider.
Though the video didn’t offend me, I can see how it would easily offend Asians. When the news reported corrected them on their pronunciation it further heightened the discrimination that Asians often mispronounce American words.

I completely agree with the comment expressed in this video. I was taught to be accepting of everyone no matter their race, ethnicity, religion, etc from the moment I entered kindergarten in a public school setting. From what I can remember, teachers tried to inflict the idea of embracing diversity upon not only myself, but also my peers from a young age. They taught us about our ancestry and how we differed from one another through completion of various at-home activities that required the help of adults with things such as family trees. I distinctly recall my first grade teacher telling us that everyone is beautiful in his/her own way and that we all have something special to offer to the world. I was clearly at Stage 1 during this point in my life, never really questioning the person I played with on the playground or the person I sat next to in class simply because their features differed from mine. To me, we were all kids going through the same phases of childhood at the same time. However, at the same time, I was well aware of the fact that I wasn’t the same as everyone else, but as a result of such positive preaching via teachers, parents, and other adults in my life, this idea of being different wasn’t a bad thing.
However, when elementary was over and middle school rolled around, I definitely noticed a change in the way I interacted with others. By this age, kids are maturing and beginning to develop into their own persons. Because the teachers weren’t on our backs as much, we were able to go our own separate ways and friendships weren’t nearly as forced. Because of this allowed exploration and freedom, I feel I began to notice the distinct differences as people began to separate themselves based on racial differences. This seemed to be especially common among students who were new to the district in middle school, many of whom were inner-city kids that had previously attended schools comprised mostly of minorities. As I traveled through the stages, and learned about the differences between races, I began to question myself and others while seeking the desired answers. I eventually met my best friend in 8th grade who is Nigerian. Both her parents attended college in the United States but have held true to their ethnic roots. When we first met in 8th grade her skin color was definitely the first thing I noticed about her, but I knew that shouldn’t stop us from being friends. As I progressively got to know her better throughout the years, I became more comfortable asking her personal questions about her culture and what it’s like to be black in America. My transition into Stage 5 is largely due in part to her but can also be attributed to the fact that my high school was incredibly diverse.
Many people who attend school here at Penn State didn’t have such experiences throughout their childhood years and are still transitioning through Stages 1 and 2. I wouldn’t trade my diverse experiences for the world; I feel they’ve molded me into a better person.

Many people in college are still discovering who exactly they are and what they feel they’re set out to do in their lifetime. I believe that the vast majority of people, though they claim to be “finding themselves,” take on the viewpoints and opinions of their parents. Soc 119 addresses many issues within the world, many of which people have already formed prior opinions on, and if these people disagree with Sam, they immediately feel the need to challenge him. The lack of open-mindedness that some people approach this class with only allows for a build-up of disagreements and negative attitudes toward the class. Being that it’s a sociology class, one must not take a specific viewpoint and look at the facts with a bias opinion, but rather, face the facts with an open mind, knowing that the information found is simply what’s true of the people in a certain context.
I am an extreme advocate of social media and love Twitter, Facebook, and the like. I think it’s awesome that #soc119 exists, as it acts as a forum for people to express their opinions (in addition to posting nonsense) about relevant and irrelevant topics during lecture. It’s awesome to see what other people are thinking and how they’re feeling in response to certain topics. Extremely opinionated people are generally not afraid to express themselves, voicing out their opinions to Sam and others in the class, as seen on a daily basis. Nearly every person in the United States knows someone in a close circle of friends or family who has fought for our country or is currently doing so. These people generally support such strong-willed Americans, as they are doing good for our country and putting their lives on the line for other people’s freedom. While Sam may have come off in class today as being liberal and approached the situation with a closed mind, he was simply stating the facts. The information he presents to the class does not necessarily comprise his ideas and beliefs. To teach in such a way would be incredibly bias and less factual.
Close-minded people get extremely defensive when someone with an opposing viewpoint states something they don’t necessarily believe to be true. I feel that these acts of speaking out can be beneficial to others who are less educated on certain subjects, and it allows people to see two different sides of an opposing argument. However, I believe that in the classroom setting, getting so defensive and being so close-minded about a certain subject places a stigma upon a person that ultimately makes them less accepting and willing to see and hear the other side of a situation. Taking the time to consider what’s factual and what opinion-based is important before choosing to speak out, though speaking out and making one’s opinion known is something we’ve been granted the freedom to do in America. However, one must understand the consequences of such decisions.

I definitely believe that different people smell differently based off of natural body odors and hygiene products used, or lack thereof. It only makes sense for different racial groups to smell differently because of different amounts of oils secreted in our bodies. Just as racial groups differ in skin color, hair texture, and certain distinguishing features, naturally, our bodies are going to react to the weather differently.
I have never been told that I smell like a wet dog after being trapped in a thunderstorm, nor have I ever encountered another white individual who smelled anything like a wet dog. I believe that it’s harder for one to smell him/herself than it is for others to smell that person. However, I don’t think there’s something blocking the senses of white people that makes them unable to smell other people of the same race. If this is the case, why aren’t we able to smell ourselves and others? I would certainly tell my white friends they smell like wet dogs if that was the case, and I hope they would do the same for me.
People of different racial groups definitely smell differently. Those who cook and eat a lot of ethnic food generally have some kind of spice-scent to them. What we eat and drink is often broken down and released through our pores when we sweat, therefore causing us to smell differently. Body odors are natural and those that are harsh smelling are the result of waste being secreted through bodily pores. The healthier an individual eats, the more likely they’ll smell fresher than someone who eats fast food and fatty foods regularly.
Many of my friends have very distinctive smells to them. It’s probably a result of hygiene products, cleaning products, laundry detergent, perfumes, etc. I find it so weird that if a person washes my clothes and are in their presence for a period of time, when returned, the clothes smell like that person. In similar situations, people’s houses smell differently. My best friend from home is Nigerian and her house often smell of ethnic foods as a result of her mom’s cooking. However, they don’t eat ethnic food that often, but the smell seems to linger. Part of this could be that their bodies secrete different oils because they’re from a geographically different part of the world.
I am curious to know for how long people have associated wet white people with the scent of that of a wet dog. I had never known to smell as such before, and I assume it’s not a scent that can be associated with every white person. This may often be a lack of hygiene which results in such a smell. Is there something white people can do to avoid this smell?

Where a person was raised largely determines how cultured he/she is as an individual and how comfortable that person may be in associating with members of other racial, ethnic, and cultural upbringings. I personally don’t believe a person can be too cultured. Mingling and forming relationships with people of other backgrounds expands one’s perspectives and viewpoints. It allows one to be more knowledgeable of other lifestyles both in the US and beyond. Though it’s often people who live a sheltered life, such as communities in rural America that are predominantly white, parents are the main people who portray whether or not other cultures are acceptable. Many people break loose from their parents at some point in life, sometimes rebelling, but often times, children end up in the same social and economic class as their parents. Many people from small towns start their own life and family in the same town in which they were raised, never bothering to really branch out at all. Many negative stereotypes are often created in such small, white towns which get passed down from generation to generation.
I am friends with an incredibly diverse group of people here at Penn State, a few of which come from the same hometown. All being white, these girls and guys were shocked to see so many black people in one place here at Penn State. I can’t imagine not having gone to an incredibly diverse and accepting high school where nearly everyone I met was of a different background. As America’s diversity grows, I feel everyone should learn to be more cultured. Unless you’re totally secluded from the world, at some point or another in one’s lifetime, you’re going to have to interact with someone of a different ethnic, racial, religious, or cultural background. Those these interactions should take place without any doubt, fear, or reluctance, the negative myths and stereotypes that have been created in America’s past live on and instill such fear in people, especially white people, who are most dominant in America.
It peeves me to no avail to even think that a white person is more likely to be hired over someone of another race. I understand and can totally relate that a person is naturally drawn toward the people he/she feels most comfortable with, because they can probably relate. However, this form of discrimination, most prevalent in the job interview setting, is white supremacy at its finest. In our country, no matter how diverse, someone is always going to be on top. White people have obtained this position of power for an incredibly long time and though it’s slowly coming to an end as other races are beginning to dominate our country, it disadvantages those of minority groups. We will never be a country of complete equal opportunity until racism and stereotypes are eliminated from society. As we slowly move toward this greater idea of integration, we still have a long way to go.

Having been raised a Catholic, I know nothing about faiths other than Christianity. I have never taken the time to learn about other faith’s beliefs or read their religious doctrines. I, therefore, have never discriminated against someone because our beliefs differ. It would be hypocritical of me to tell someone of another religious belief that I don’t belief in their creator’s teachings and that what they have to offer is nonsense. Though I am Catholic, have been baptized and received First Holy Communications, and have been Confirmed, I hardly know enough about my own faith as is.
Growing up, I was always taught not to be judgmental of things I’m unaware of. It’s one thing to form an opinion on something, such as a faith’s religious teachings via scripture, if you’re knowledgeable of the subject. I am somewhat conflicted about faith and haven’t figured out exactly what it is I believe in yet. I think that as I find myself, I will figure out what/if any religious doctrines most closely match my beliefs.
I believe that the many people of the United States fill a wide range of religious beliefs. The immense amount of cultural diversity is something I am proud to be surrounded by. If everyone was of the same religious affiliation, there would be no variety. We would all have the same ideas about creation or evolution, or a combination of the two.
Part of the reason I took Soc 119 is because so many controversial subjects are touched on. The small sections that meet once a week allow for each individual’s input on the weekly topic discussed in lecture. My section is diverse, which also allows for religious diversity. I am interested to touch on this subject during that class time to find out where other people stand and to gain a better perspective on the beliefs other religions hold. It allows me to view the world from other sides, which brings about a sense of questioning about my own faith and beliefs. Though it’s not intended to make me change my beliefs, it definitely allows me to reevaluate how I approach life and view the world around me.
I don’t believe that people should automatically stick with the faith under which they were raised because then that person’s parents set out the life path for them to follow, not allowing them to do their own self exploration to figure out what best suits their wants and needs. Part of finding oneself is putting into context religious beliefs and how they believe the world and everything within it originated. I do believe in creationism and a higher being, but I would never tell another that I’m not going to read about their faith because I already believe what I believe.

I believe that a large part of one’s unhappiness in the realm of physical appearance comes from the media. In the United States, there is one idea of beauty: to have fair skin, long and shiny hair, and absolutely no body fat. I’m Christian, and believe that God is the ultimate creator of everything that exists here on Earth. However, I have never looked in the mirror and blamed my unhappiness on God’s wrongdoings. While I see where Sam is coming from in that by looking in the mirror and being unhappy with what we see is fully blaming God for his actions, I think this is only because of the media. Without realizing it, the media has a tremendous affect on the lives of everyone. They have portrayed the standard of beauty, which each person then feels the need to achieve. If it wasn’t for the media, each race and gender would have to establish their own standard of beauty, more fit to their ancestral ties and not the white standard.
I often refer to the motto: “Everything happens for a reason.” When I think about this quote, I realize that God made me the person who I am for a certain reason. And along with making me who I am, in particular, my physical features, he did the same for everyone else of both the same and different races. Though I often look in the mirror and am unhappy about what I see, I know that there is little I can do to change my appearance. At the end of the day, I realize that God made me who I am and he has my best interest in mind. I think it’s a shame that there is this one standard of beauty portrayed by the media because everyone is beautiful in his/her own way. As diversity increases in the United States, I think the media needs to come to realize that the typical standard of beauty is not going to suit everyone. It’s nearly unobtainable by people of any race other than Caucasian.
Through natural selection and survival of the fittest, we’re all here today because we were a part of the “chosen.” I think that the melting pot of races in today’s society is wonderful. It allows one to be more culturally appreciative and increases knowledge and awareness of other races and affiliated religious practices. White people often stray from talking about race because our country is largely white, and white supremacy determines many actions, choices, and decisions throughout a lifetime. Though I think this idea will eventually fade out, it doesn’t mean that the topic should go without discussion. From my experience, the majority of white people who avoid the topic of race are often from less diverse areas and aren’t surrounded by many people of different races. Therefore, they fear they’ll say something harmful and be punished. However, in my shoes, race is not a topic I fear because I’m knowledgeable of other races and their practices because I grew up in an extremely diverse area and had the chance to interact with people different from myself.