Final rewrite of Blog Post#1

I'm a Sight Unseen

I have chosen my first blog post to rewrite for the final. I chose this post because I received the worst score so why not make another attempt at a hard topic. I feel that I have a way better understanding of the term deviant now than three months ago.

Many have made imprints on my life. If someone takes my life and throws it through a social filter they will see that I was raised by two straight, Caucasian, middle class, married of 30+years parents. I have two brothers and we were all raised in a drug, alcohol, and cursing free atmosphere. My questions to you is why do we socially share our ways. Why do we filter data, images, opinions, and details of our daily lives? This socio-mental filter is what guides our understanding. It's just like a lens in a camera, what one can see with an image in front of them can change when it is placed on a piece of paper. Why do we alter how an image appears? What is it about our society that makes this change acceptable?

So how does one perceive me? Can you visually perceive someone? I was born in this world with an "empty" mind. The world was what we could perceive it. A perfect imprint of empirical reality. My world has been changed by my experiences with others. Many people struggle with the different labels they are given throughout their lives. Labels place people into categories like nerd, jock, dumb blonde, bible freak, and so on. These labels are examples of what society has created. Society has built a system that helps people have a better understanding of what they consider deviant and normal. Labeling helps this structure and these values are passed on generation after generation. These labels help us police each other, “Social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance, and by applying those rules to particular people and labeling them as outsiders” (Becker 39).

When you walk into a room with people you know, what is your emotional reaction? How about if you walk into a room and you don't know anyone. Will your reaction be the same? Most of us know that the answers are different in many ways. With our society we can label individuals as deviant when they haven’t committed a deviant act, “some people may be labeled deviant who in fact have not broken a rule” (Becker 39). This reminds me of a first impression. To have a social interaction with a person, we need to know how to talk to them. For example if one tries to speak to an individual who they don’t know if they are a male or female then the social interaction will different because the mind is focused on the persons gender. Our society doesn’t know how to treat people that have been labeled deviant and this can form grouping patterns. This brings me to the question of what conversations are okay in the presence of friends, family, and co-workers. Now, the way I speak in front of a friend is not the same as when I talk to my mother. Why is this?

This week I have been viewing each conversation from a different angle. I have always known that what I say to people always varies by who is in the room but the realization has changed many views on things. Now looking at the daily conversations with these individuals I have really seen how inappropriate and "Deviant" they can be. To me this is my "norm" and with my friends and co-workers they intermix. Two of my closest friends are my bosses or have a "higher rank." These personal associations can influence an individual’s behavior, “The person’s associations are determined in a general context of social organizations” (Sutherland 28).

Since labels have all these negative associations it creates a system of fear. People are so afraid of being labeled that they instead try to distance themselves away from this feared difference. The fact that as a society we dehumanize, demonize, stigmatize and so on has helped create these different categories of deviance. When people realize that what they say is inappropriate they will sometimes turn them into "inside jokes." Jokes that are still inappropriate to us but the average person would never guess and this helps cover up the inappropriate topics. And these topics aren't inappropriate to the people talking about them but instead this method is a way to cover up a deviant act. This is a very important detail that co-insides with my other job.

As a female firefighter I work in an all-male testosterone filled work environment and they never say anything that is appropriate. Organization is a big thing in the fire service and, “Much of social life is organized and routine, and many of our interactions take place within organizations” (Wharton 86). The fire house is a socialized atmosphere and they all think it is funny to see people’s reactions to each other’s jokes. When reviewing fire history one will read that these jokes are known as coping mechanism in regards to the many different calls medical or fire related that are run and sometimes don’t end well. I have seen more in one day then the average person will see in a life time. These boys are my family and these jokes are only said when we are within closed doors. The main comment that is pasted around is "I'm not racist, I hate all races equally." Is this right? It’s a different way to view the idea of racism and it pushes the ideology that focusing on only the black and white, which simply doesn’t represent all races. This reminded me of the differential theory and how groups influence/teach each other, “The principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups” (Sutherland 27).

Do you partake in labeling? Labeling is done at a cultural level because our society has set impossible standards. We all feed into the vicious cycle and give these labels power. The example below is a video of Katy Perry a famous musician that did a skit on Sesame Street. She wanted to play dress up with and then sang her song “Hot N Cold” with the famous Sesame Street character Elmo. As you can see the skit was very simple. But parents across the United States were very upset that Katy's breast were showing and that her dress was simply to short. Now, after watching the video I saw nothing inappropriate and in fact my three year old nephew loves it! But the media is a big influence on people’s lives and Sesame Street ended up pulling the show/skit in regards to the viewer’s requests.

The video below is one example of people questioning the reasons behind the show being pulled off the air. It point out that it is a kid friendly show. They talk about how the children are following Elmo and enjoying all the bright colors. It also spoke about how the children have no distention to why or how this video is controversial and instead this is just a conflict with the parents.

Then you have the classic video called 'Charlie Bit My Finger' which is about two brothers sitting in a chair. The older brother Harry decided to put his finger in his younger brother month. The younger brother then bit the finger and the peer entrainment of 56 seconds one can see the reaction. This film has over 449,790,848 views on youtube.com and is very funny might I add. But the interesting thing about this video is how much coverage it had from the media. I saw it on every news show for weeks even Oprah had Harry and Charlie on her show. This video was labeled funny and cute. But what if this was two adult brothers sitting in a chair and one bit the others finger. Would the label be different?

Oldspice is a brand of shower gel that has been around for years. The company started to advertise with “The man your man could smell like” campaign. These advertisements where directed toward a female audience. This advertisement style has changed how the media advertises. But this commercial below is an example of how society views the ideal man. This shows how society assumes this common value system towards groups that violate the norms. This brings up the question of “Why do men differ in their beliefs about what constitutes good and desirable conduct,” (Hirschi 31) and the assumption that the male is in this dominating group. 

This hierarchy of gender enforces those beliefs of able bodied individuals. The idea that every person in a wheelchair wants to be able to walk is a myth. Society creates these filters that allow these ideas to happen and then reinforces them with videos like below which make fun of a disabled body. This adds to the stigma. The film below is about a horse that only has two legs. It is a 'retarded' horse and when you listen to the music you can see how demeaning it truly is. But maybe it’s okay not to walk because one can still have a very fulfilling life. People like Mark Zupan challenge the stigma of being disabled.

So in the end what is deviancy? Who is deviant? What makes them deviant? I'm not going to sit here and say I'm not deviant but in comparison to others I'm not. Why am I able to compare myself to others. Growing up in a society that offers less to people that have a deviant behavior has created an individual that fears breaking the norm. The strive to perfection is an incredible journey but not very piratical. Why is it that our society has set standards that are too hard to reach by the average joe?

This leads me into the pictures above. Religion is always a tough topic to speak about but religion has many ties into society consideration of fornication. The social norm of abstinence before marriage used to be considered normal but now it's abnormal, “you got to try it before you tie it,” are many jokes that are said in regards to getting married. Now, classifying this behavior as deviant would make people feel uncomfortable so instead society has now taken the behavior and made it acceptable. It is an encouraged and even desired behavior. A thing that most religions like to consider an deviant act is pornography. This is a topic that almost everyone has partaken in durning some point in their lives but it is consider 'dirty'. I don't know a single man that has ever told me he has never seen porn but this can be because women have been more sexualize in our society than men.

So what is deviancy? It is a word that has evolved over many years. It can be used to label people as a rule breaker or different from the daily norm. But the term will always be around even though as a society we have evolved and developed a sense of tolerance for many human behaviors. For example almost half the population participates in divorce. How as a society can we consider this deviant when it has slowly became the norm? We may not look at it as a deviant behavior but instead we can view it as a social problem.

Word Count: 2013 (barely made it!)

Citations:

YouTube. YouTube. Web. 27 Apr. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/?tab=w1>.

Wharton, Amy S. The Sociology of Gender: An Introduction to Theory and Research. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2005. Print.

http://crimeanddeviance.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CH08figure1.png
Thio, Alex, and Thomas C. Calhoun. Readings in Deviant Behavior. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2001. Print.

Howard S. Becker. "Labeling Theory." Readings in Deviant Behavior. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2001. Print.

Sutherland, Edwin H., and Donald R. Cressey. "Differential Association Theory." Readings in Deviant Behavior. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2001. Print.

Thio, Alex, and Travis C. Hirschi. "Control Theory." Readings in Deviant Behavior. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2001. Print.

Union NUDE$...

Bad Girls like Good Contracts

Live Nude Girls is a documentary film that focuses on stripper’s situations and their fight to form the first stripper union through their experiences at the Lusty Lady. This is a better insight on the sex world and the working conditions. This group of woman opened the door for many other females to come. The main focus of the film is on a woman named Julia Query. Julia made a decision to leave graduate school and start stripping. She is a Stripper/Comedian that helped create the first union of exotic dancers in the United States.

Most of the women working at this location are going to college or supporting their families. The performers at the Lusty Lady have children to raise and tuition to pay, and the claims they make aren’t extravagant: job security, paid sick days, a safe working environment. These female performers work at the Lusty Lady where their clients sit in a booth and receive a peep show. The girls are in a big room that was described as a fish bowl. The working condition within this peep show was better than similar venues which put pressure for illegal contact. Performers at the Lusty Lady were given no sick leave, salary reductions, and ethic-minority scheduling by race, hair color, and breast size. 

Some of the windows onto the peep show stage where one-way mirrors which allowed customers to secretly videotape the workers and these videos could show up anywhere even the on the internet. Also, before these women started to unionize they were being routinely fired and discriminated.

The women fighting for the union went on strike after management fired an employee ‘Summer’ because they claimed she broke a rule. When the ladies picket-line chant was, “2-4-6-8, don’t go in to masturbate!”  Most of their loyal customers supported the ladies and didn’t go in. Management then did a lockout as an attempt to scare the girls. This didn’t work and they later met the demands and allowed Summer to gain her job back.

This film followed Julia Query through her fight and struggles with starting the union. It showed an insight into Julia’s comedy and why she chose to become a stripper. The film also showed her telling her mother she is a stripper. Julia’s mother is a well known doctor that helped start/run a program for prostitutes and was in shock when her daughter told her about being a stripper. Julia grew up with very strong Jewish traditions and her mother couldn’t understand where she went wrong.

This film relates to the course work in many ways. I feel that it has given me a better understanding and appreciation of these performers. This subject is very hard to talk about in society because society likes to keep strip clubs as their dirty little secret. But traditions like the bachelors party is normally involved with strip clubs, having lap dances, and drinking. This is The Mans last chance to be free before he falls in the stereotypical roll of the husband in a monogamist relationship.

Something that I disagreed with was how Julia could stand up and tell everyone that she was a stripper but when it came to talking to her mother she couldn’t. I feel like she held a feeling of shame and dishonor because she was being deviant. In the end her mother still accepted her chose but simply didn’t agree with it.

Riot Acts

Tara Caldwell

March 8^th, 2012

Extra Credit

Riot Acts: flaunting gender deviance in music performance

Riot Act is a documentary film that focuses on the lives of the transgender community and there influence on music. They argue the social norms of what makes it a true all girl bands and also cover the perception of a rock band. They show the judgment that is placed on these individuals’ but it also covers their life goals and challenges. It covers the not only their gender experiences but also their stage performances. It talks about how there is a transition with not only their physical body image but also their voice. This shows the independent musicians and bands in the transgender stories during their transition and musical influences.

This film is talks about as much as being on the road as being a transgendered artist. Having personal testimonies of their transition and how the hormones affect each individual differently. The film also covers the fact that the research on these hormones and their affects are almost unknown. Many of the musicians were scared to take the hormones because they didn’t want to have a change in their voices that would affect their musical dreams.

This film really relates to the course by showing that this “other” section is bridging the gap in society and helping make some changes. They are taking terms that have been used to demean their community like “tranny” and using them in a new way. They have found that they may be different to these social norms but are they really different. The film also covers how the community supports each other and how these bands play in “safe” environments because there is still that fear of having a violent act placed on them because they go against the social norms. 

The personal experience of viewing the film from an individual that is not in this course. In the course we have heard many stories and been shown a little of the LBGT communities language. I found that many of the questions were based from confusion with some of the terms and the community’s language. They also were amazed by how these individuals have transitioned and how if they met these people in public there would be no question to their gender role either FTM or MTF one could simply not see this. One thing about music is that helps pull people together. The film expressed that the change in gender role is a challenging experience but is so beautifully interpreted in this documentary film. We feel that these individuals are helping society rethink gender and sexual orientation. 

Straightlaced

Tara Caldwell

March 01, 2012

Extra Credit

Straightlaced: How Gender Got Us All Tied Up

     This is a documentary film that was produced in 2009. Focusing on how society places the pressure on gender and sexuality of teens. The film shows how expectations and hemophilia have been interwoven into society.  The film discusses about how hard it is to go against the rigid gender roles. The roles of gender affect how the youth are not only having trouble with in their social environments but also their gender roles affect them hen entering the workforce.   

     This film showed how homophobia in American schools remains unsafe for many young people. The youth in today’s society that choose to go against the social norms are victimized because they do not match the dominant social norms. This affects these individuals by creating a dangerous social and emotional well-being.  Straightlaced shares stories of many U.S. high school students who speak about their experiences in a very powerful way. They speak about their experiences with gender, sexuality, and homophobia. This film covers the relationships with peers and teachers and they answer the questions about gender identity.

     Focusing on how the gender role doesn’t always fit clearly fit into a box. It also talks about how it is society have decided that there are two genders but nature has shown us there are many more. Many of the individuals interviewed either identified as male or female but it also focused on how society feels like there are only two choices in gender.  The film shows how gender roles have been interwoven in culture, race, and class. They touched on the social mantra of “you’re hiding in the closet?,” and how many of the individuals expressed that is wasn’t a closet but instead it is more like a prison. The personal testimonies of the painful experiences with their social environments and how its personal friends that have helped influence them to feel safe in these hazardous social environment that they are forced to deal with daily.  The youth honesty wants to be heard and trusted. They spoke about how these individuals were sexually harassed and their experiences with antigay harassment. They disclosed how they were close to teachers and adults but these individuals would never stick up for them. Some individuals had to file lawsuits to protect themselves.

     Straightlaced is a film that shows a gender lens into the lives of adolescents across America. The film serves as a powerful introduction to the social environments which the individuals had not only emotionally experience but intellectually as well. This film shows how consistent and committed gender, sexuality, and safety in schools are and how its overlooked by the adults but instead the voices of the youth.  The film touched on how in society girls feel like they need to dumb down so they don’t intimidate boys and how boys need to show that they are sexually active to prove that they are not gay. The relentless bullying is on the non-conforming teens that say the ultimate insult is being called gay. This film has come out at a time where teen suicides are running rapid because of the unhealthy and dangerous impact that they have to experience from their gender role change in life.

     This film showed how homophobia in American schools remains unsafe for many young people. The youth in today’s society that choose to go against the social norms are victimized because they do not match the dominant social norms. This affects these individuals by creating a dangerous social and emotional well-being.  Straightlaced shares stories of many U.S. high school students who speak about their experiences in a very powerful way. They speak about their experiences with gender, sexuality, and homophobia. This film covers the relationships with peers and teachers and they answer the questions about gender identity.

Focusing on how the gender role doesn’t always fit clearly fit into a box. It also talks about how it is society have decided that there are two genders but nature has shown us there are many more. Many of the individuals interviewed either identified as male or female but it also focused on how society feels like there are only two choices in gender.  The film shows how gender roles have been interwoven in culture, race, and class. They touched on the social mantra of “you’re hiding in the closet?,” and how many of the individuals expressed that is wasn’t a closet but instead it is more like a prison. The personal testimonies of the painful experiences with their social environments and how its personal friends that have helped influence them to feel safe in these hazardous social environment that they are forced to deal with daily.  The youth honesty wants to be heard and trusted. They spoke about how these individuals were sexually harassed and their experiences with antigay harassment. They disclosed how they were close to teachers and adults but these individuals would never stick up for them. Some individuals had to file lawsuits to protect themselves.

      Straightlaced is a film that shows a gender lens into the lives of adolescents across America. The film serves as a powerful introduction to the social environments which the individuals had not only emotionally experience but intellectually as well. This film shows how consistent and committed gender, sexuality, and safety in schools are and how its overlooked by the adults but instead the voices of the youth.  The film touched on how in society girls feel like they need to dumb down so they don’t intimidate boys and how boys need to show that they are sexually active to prove that they are not gay. The relentless bullying is on the non-conforming teens that say the ultimate insult is being called gay. This film has come out at a time where teen suicides are running rapid because of the unhealthy and dangerous impact that they have to experience from their gender role change in life.

       Focusing on how the gender role doesn’t always fit clearly fit into a box. It also talks about how it is society have decided that there are two genders but nature has shown us there are many more. Many of the individuals interviewed either identified as male or female but it also focused on how society feels like there are only two choices in gender.  The film shows how gender roles have been interwoven in culture, race, and class. They touched on the social mantra of “you’re hiding in the closet?,” and how many of the individuals expressed that is wasn’t a closet but instead it is more like a prison. The personal testimonies of the painful experiences with their social environments and how its personal friends that have helped influence them to feel safe in these hazardous social environment that they are forced to deal with daily.  The youth honesty wants to be heard and trusted. They spoke about how these individuals were sexually harassed and their experiences with antigay harassment. They disclosed how they were close to teachers and adults but these individuals would never stick up for them. Some individuals had to file lawsuits to protect themselves.

Straightlaced is a film that shows a gender lens into the lives of adolescents across America. The film serves as a powerful introduction to the social environments which the individuals had not only emotionally experience but intellectually as well. This film shows how consistent and committed gender, sexuality, and safety in schools are and how its overlooked by the adults but instead the voices of the youth.  The film touched on how in society girls feel like they need to dumb down so they don’t intimidate boys and how boys need to show that they are sexually active to prove that they are not gay. The relentless bullying is on the non-conforming teens that say the ultimate insult is being called gay. This film has come out at a time where teen suicides are running rapid because of the unhealthy and dangerous impact that they have to experience from their gender role change in life.

      Straightlaced is a film that shows a gender lens into the lives of adolescents across America. The film serves as a powerful introduction to the social environments which the individuals had not only emotionally experience but intellectually as well. This film shows how consistent and committed gender, sexuality, and safety in schools are and how its overlooked by the adults but instead the voices of the youth.  The film touched on how in society girls feel like they need to dumb down so they don’t intimidate boys and how boys need to show that they are sexually active to prove that they are not gay. The relentless bullying is on the non-conforming teens that say the ultimate insult is being called gay. This film has come out at a time where teen suicides are running rapid because of the unhealthy and dangerous impact that they have to experience from their gender role change in life.

Gender Code

Gender Code is a documentary film that explores the way the body is presented in the media through advertising. It looks beyond the “norms” about masculinity and femininity that is communicated to society. The film covers the importance of gender, power, and how it is reproduced and reinforced by the culture.  This film takes modern advertisement mainly focusing on the poses of models.

Males and females are governed by codes and rules that have been submerged into our culture for many years, the way we walk, our body postures, our emotions, and our sense of normal. The film enforces that the culture has entirely constructed, assigned, and taught these gender roles. Because these codes are reinforced it brings up the films arguments of, “There is nothing natural about gender identity” (Goffman).

The film covers how society photography is controlled. Men are placed in more powerful positions and women are placed in more subjected positions. Using familiar model’s stances like the bent-knee or contorted torso, to an array of different physical cues, and neck-bends. Also, the film placed men in female poses which I found interesting because they looked silly like it was a joke. 

This film relates to the course work in many ways. It challenges society’s social norms and show us a new path. It helps broaden the spectrum in which masculinity and femininity is formed. My friend found that the men in the more feminine poses weren’t weird to him. He asked if he should be concerned about this as if he it made him question his masculinity. He said that seeing these females and males in the same poses isn’t weird because it’s art/ just a photo. I found that interesting but I have always felt female models poses are weird and when seeing a male in these poses it really through me off. This film really broadened my views of advertisement within our culture. 

orchid

Orchid is a documentary film on intersex. This film started out about a female who grow up knowing she was different. It wasn't until she was 13 that her parents told her that she was intersex and she went in for surgery. After finding out what made Bonnie Hart different she started to enbrace that side of herself. She broke the family secret and found out that her little sister had the same secret. The idea of these sisters going through such a tramatic stage in their lives and never being able to talk about it is very challenging to think of because they didn't know what the other was going through.

Hart did research online about AIS her condition and found others that were having the same experience. She talked to them online and over the phone. The documentary is about her journey to meet all these intersex individuals and hear their story. She even found out that one of her school teachers that help influence her life in the film industry was also an intersex individual.

This film relates to our class because it covers how society feels what our "norms" are and who fall within the spectrum. Hart didn't need the surgery but because she was different the doctors felt she needed to fit in a "box" being female or male only. Hart was different but at the time the social enviroment was telling her that was a bad thing. Hart is unable to bare a child but was able to adopt. She is living a wonderful life w/ her baby and husband. On the out side she fits what society views proper but on the inside she is different because she has a deviant body.

Know I have brought my friend shawn to every movie in the film series. When I first started this course I told him about intersex but didn't go into detail. He was still curious about what intersex was so he found this film very interesting. He was happy that Hart found a male partner that could look past societies perceptions about she her being different and loves her for who she is. He didn't understand why the mother couldn't talk to her daughters about there conditions but he did notice that their father was very accepting of his daughters, just loving them for who they are. The mother was very depressed and close-minded about speaking to her daughters, even at the end when she begain to open up she was still upset speaking in a negative way.

WSU Drag Show 2012

  On Thursday, March 29th, 2012 WSU held a drag show. This was my first experience of a drag show. Now, on our way to the show we got into a little fender bender unfortunately but that didn’t stop us from going to the show.  The environment was upbeat with smiles and laughter throughout the audience. It was a wonderful experience watching people sing and dance. Also, you can forget the tips and how all the proceeds where going to such a great event. 

  
  The show reminded me of a middle school talent show. Maybe it was just the backstreet boys or the energetic atmosphere but the for sure thing is that this event wasn’t PG ☺. Drag is a different form of art. I sat in the back row because I arrived a little late like normal and unfortunately almost all seats where taken. The only thing I didn’t like was that it was hard to see over all the bobbling heads. So sitting or standing on the chairs was what I had to do but the show was great. I wish I could of stayed for the dance show but I had an eight am class so we left after the show.  I enjoyed every performer. The more crowd involvement the better I felt they were. The couples (Amanda and her partner) I felt were the best! They did an excellent job and I loved the song choice. At first I didn’t get why it was the same five performers but as the show went on I got excited to see what performer was next and finding out their song choice. All I can say to the people who couldn’t go is that you all will regret not going next year!   
  
  You can relate this to our class work because it gives to you a better view of the LGBT community. The performers didn’t match the “norm” of society and are considered deviant for being who they are. It really gives the extra push on our society to broaden our definition of normal. I feel that WSU is going in the right direction by having the Drag Show and then next week having gender-neutral bathrooms. This class has really helped me broaden my norms and I’m proud to be part of these experiences.

Obesity is an illness?

Obesity in America is a very hot topic. The question is what makes someone obese? The medical community is constantly challenging the number of misguided assumptions about obesity and other misguided facts that have come from old wives tales. Chocolate, coffee, and beer are many things that have been known as unhealthy treats but now all confirmed to be healthy treats with major health benefits. Society learns more about the true nutrition values and health benefits of foods as science and studies evolve.

In process of science the BMI chart was made. Now the picture below is an image found from Google Image and may not be the best and most updated graph.

Mr. Adolphe Quetelet was pioneer in the field of polymath and helped the concept of Body Mass Index (BMI) move forward in society. This concept is not based on how much fat an individual really has but instead the BMI is a measurement of the body fat based on the height and weight of an adult man or woman. “BMI calculator does not actually show the percentage of body fat that you have but it is just a mere proxy of your obesity”  (1). Quetelet was a Belgian scientist that found an easy way to find out how healthy an adult is in their current health state.

Now obesity is a, “chronic, relapsing, neurochemical disease with a genetic basis” (4). The theory of eating less and exercising more is ineffective because for many people it is a life long challenge. With long-term calorie reduction and exercise enhancement it is not necessary for adequate weight loss because there are biological and environmental reasons that we overlook. Diet and exercise are obviously key elements to a better lifestyle change and plan against obesity, but there is so much more. Obesity patients that have chronic conditions will require lifelong treatment and interventions, which will be from many lifelong components such as diabetes and hypertension. Obesity deserves serious treatment and it is hard for many people because of financial costs. To be healthy and thin in today’s society is hard because healthier foods cost more. The image below, “I can’t afford to be skinny,” talks about how being skinny is looked at as one being poor. This was considered a negative in the 1960s and this ad talks about how you can talk to your doctor about your bad eat habits.

Now how do we know someone is suffering from obesity? Many may think this is a funny question because everyone knows what an overweight “fat” person looks like. But if we look more in depth on things like their behaviors and less on their attributes it becomes a little bit harder to describe. Someone who eats larger unhealthy meals and sits around all day is the common unscholarly definition. But when reviewing studies I found that Obesity has a relationship with stress and eating behaviors, “Stress appears to alter overall food intake in two ways, resulting in under- or overeating, which may be influenced by stressor severity. Chronic life stress seems to be associated with a greater preference for energy- and nutrient-dense foods, namely those that are high in sugar and fat. Evidence from longitudinal studies suggests that chronic life stress may be causally linked to weight gain, with a greater effect seen in men. Stress-induced eating may be one factor contributing to the development of obesity”(5).  Many studies have been examined in animals and humans on how stress influences eating behaviors. The relationship between stress and eating behaviors gives the conclusion that it can influences ones chances of being diagnosed with obesity.

Many doctors are worried that people will use the diagnosis of obesity a way out. By having a diagnosis many people believe that there will be this magical pill that will make them lose weight. Unfortunately it isn’t that easy because every individual is different. A pill may work for certain people who have other underlying conditions but exercise and eating behavior will be needed.  

The major players of the decision making is not the “lazy” individual but as an article describes, “that human overeating is  not just a passive response to salient environmental triggers and powerful physiological drives; it is also about making choices” (6).  Most articles covered that an obese individual hasn’t made the right choices health wise but they also factor in what kind of lifestyles these individuals lead. Why is there a diagnosis if it is just a simple lifestyle change? For a doctor to diagnose a patient with obesity they will usually take these steps: take the health history, check for other health problems (tumors, etc.), calculate your BMI, measure the waist, and run a blood test. When doctors measure the waist they are looking to see how much fat storage is held in that area of the body.  The fat stored around the waist is called visceral fat or abdominal fat. This fat may further increase the risk for diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

There are many parties that gain from the diagnosis of obesity and there are many that lose. Obesity is a topic with lots of detail because everyone is different.  The label of obesity is heartbreaking to many individuals and empowering to others. In society we believe that individuals should be thin and in shape. Women are fed the stigma of being thin and there are many groups that support eating disorders to help them succeed. Below are images I found from a group that supports eating disorders and being the ultimate thin. 

Thinspiration - inspiration for a thinner society

It is also not young females that are sucked into being thin but even men. The photo below is an image of a young male trying to fit society’s image. Also an image of a young boy making the change from skinny, healthy, and ending with being obese(look at his face in the image to the right).

 

Where is society’s line of healthy and fat? The media plays a big role in what men and woman should look like. The advertisements are everywhere and now are focused on children. It is more common for a child to watch TV in their spare time and with the increase in ads it begins this slow drip of what an individual should be instead of seeing and loving who they are. Parents are already worried about TV’s influences on their children behaviors. Many groups have come together to help fight childhood obesity, but is childhood obesity a disease? The video below covers the topic of childhood obesity and the ad’s that are being used in the state of Georgia.

The underlying social constructions of obesity are based on this image of the person being a poor/middle class individual who is usually female. If it is an obese woman than she will be called “the cat lady” meaning she is living alone with multiple cats(her friends since society befriends the obese),  in which she has multiple allergies (breathing problems, infections, etc.), constantly goes to the doctor for Rx, uses a motorized wheelchair, and upset/bitter individual (because she has either been enabled or lonely). Many people have the perception that they are overweight but not obese. Obesity is an illness but it is also a perception in many ways.  The label that is placed on the individual is proof that it is their fault that they are like this. “Fat people are considered less worthy human beings than thin people are. They receive less of the good things that life has to offer, and more of the bad” (8). The simple fact that the media covers the head of any image of an obese person is society’s way of showing how it is shameful to be overweight.  But there is too much research against society’s perception that every individual just needs to exercise more and eat less. The weight loss companies like weight watcher and food companies “ORGANIC” are making a huge profit off this simple perception that being obese is a “social disgrace”  (8).

Word Count: 1,375

Citations:

1.       "Calculate Your Body Mass Index." Calculate Your BMI. Web. 25 Mar. 2012. <http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/>.

2.      Discovery Health. Web. 25 Mar. 2012. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/diet-fitness/weight-loss/bmi3.htm>.

3.      "Bmi Calculator “ How Does It Work." Bmi Calculator €“ an Estimate of Your Obesity.” Web. 25 Mar. 2012. <http://weightlosscalculatorfree.net/bmi-calculator-an-estimate-of-your-obesity>.

4.      "Obesity: Character Flaw or Neurochemical Disease?" The Huffington Post. Web. <https://lms.wsu.edu/section/content/default.asp?WCI=pgDisplay&WCU=CRSCNT&ENTRY_ID=1E37BB054E3C46C2A62E056B3753C45D>.

5.      "Relationship between Stress, Eating Behavior, and Obesity." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Web. 25 Mar. 2012. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17869482>.

6.      “Decision-Making Deficits and Overeating: A Risk Model for Obesity." Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group. Web. 25 Mar. 2012. <http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v12/n6/full/oby2004113a.html>.

7.      Grinberg, Emanuella. "Georgia's Child Obesity Ads Aim to Create Movement out of Controversy - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network, 07 Feb. 2012. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/07/health/atlanta-child-obesity-ads/index.html>.

8.      Erich Goode, “The Stigme of Obesity,” Social Deviance. Boston, 1996

Film Review: Generation Rx

Generation Rx

This is a documentary film that focuses on the society and how pharisaical companies are controlling the medical field. We are medicating our health active children because it is the prefect babysitter. The pharmaceutical companies are profiting billions of dollars each year by brainwashing the public. These companies advertise on billboards, TV’s, magazines and anywhere else they can put an ad. These companies also invest money into school’s and help further the education of the next generations MD’s. Many MD’s are being given commissions if they prescribe certain drugs. Most of these big pharmaceutical companies have been covering up and botching studies. This in turn allows them to clam the drugs are safe but in reality they’re not.

Generation Rx argues that the FDA is not acting against these drug companies because the members on the board have too many ties with the pharmaceutical companies. The film focused on a drug call Prozac. This drug has more negatives than positives, mainly having psychological and physical side effects. The FDA had a conference about Prozac and the board members where shown the testimony of hundreds of people that were personally affected by Prozac or they shared the tragic stories of their loved ones. After hearing hundreds of negative results the FDA said that there was no factual conclusion that shows Prozac is an unsafe drug. The film also focused on Ritalin. With the increase of diagnosis of ADHD in the 80s and 90s our nation consumed more than 400% of Ritalin compared to all the other nations combined.  The fraud and deception that had been unrecognized by the public for so long can be shown from many of the startling statistics that Generation Rx provides. This documentary wasn’t an opinion, it was a fact.   

Generation Rx relates to our course work in many ways. The construction of deviance is societies way to have the “others” box. These pharmaceutical companies are taking advantage of these boxes and making a profit. Our medical field is being controlled by the nations pharmaceutical companies and this is demonstrated by the fact that we go to the doctors because they have “what is best for our health” in mind. They will give us a prescription and advice to calm us in the worst circumstances.  But how can these doctors be trusted if they are being given financial incentivizes to prescribe these drugs. Do our doctors really prescribe what is best for us or is it what is best for them? The pharmaceutical companies have now found a new label and target consumer. They now take these drugs and have them prescribe to our children. Children are now expected to behave like mature adults. It is no longer acceptable to be a kid anymore. The quicker a child matures the more successful they shall be. These new drugs that are being poured into children’s systems are causing a chemical imbalance in their brain. This is because the drugs are 5-HT antagonist (aka: blocker of Serotonin in the brain).

The scary fact is that about 56% of the MD’s on the FDA board are in financial ties with these pharmaceutical companies. This is a huge conflict of interest and it is effecting our nations youth. These minors are being fed doses of these clinically unsafe drugs. Where is the FDA to protect them?  Should these minors be punished for having the psychological side effects? Out of the 13 school shootings researchers have found that 8 of the children were on anti-depressants like Prozac. The stories are always the same but there is no change to our nations system.

The film also showed a conference on ADHD. A question that was asked to a doctor was, “What symptoms does a child with ADHD typically exhibit?” This doctor has diagnosis hundreds of children with ADHD and he simply could not explain what ADHA symptoms are. This was very upsetting because it shows how flawed the medical system is and how this doctors financial ties with these companies is so strong. It is the prefect example of how children in today’s society are being given ill-informed diagnosis.  

I would like to hear more about how these companies produce these drugs.  I’m really interested in how the United States allows these companies to advertise so much when other countries do not. I would like to see the comparison that other countries have with financial ties with these drug companies. Also hearing a little more information on the top schools that our doctors can go to for there education and find out how many of them are financed through these big drug companies.

R U suffering from NRNS?

I just saw this on TV and thought this would go well with the next blog posting. "Are you suffering from NRNS?"

Film Review: Tough Guise

Film Review #3

            Tough Guise is a documentary film that focuses on how the media portrays masculinity over time. The film compares society and how the public is feed this version that a true man has to be strong, have huge muscles, and smell good with old spice.  The stigma that men are given is well known in today’s society.

By showing how men have been given this slow drip about how manly they should be it has created this impossible version of a man. Society has also reassure men that women are beneath them. In movies like horror films they are shown a highly attractive female in a sexual way. Then the next scene is the female being murdered, beaten, or raped. These films arouse men right before a violent act is going to accrue. The media constantly is showing men that they are suppose to treat women in a negative manor.

Tough Guise explains and points out how the United States media views men. This fits into this course because this film shows how men are deviant. This film covers the emotional damage that is inflicted on men’s masculinity. The film also covers the fear that many men have if they choose to go against the social norms.

The film covered how masculinity starts being enforced when children are young. Starting with everything blue if it’s a boy and pink for girls to what their toys look like. An example of this was G.I. Joe toys and how the toy has changed over time. This stood out to me the most because it gives us a better understanding on how at a young age children are given these toys. They are not an example of the normal man but our society wants everyone to think that more muscle is better. And its not just the toys made for boys that help give them the idea of a true masculinity but the female toys do this as well. Barbie’s are now the image of perfection. Barbie can do everything from being a nurse to a childbearing mother. She is a skinny and usually a blonde haired blue eye doll.

One thing I would like to see in society with children toys is the Average Joe doll.  This doll would be the correct size of an average female and male in America. Why is it bad to have curves are a female? It’s natural to have hips and fat on the body. Why should our society strive to be these images of perfection? I feel that many are forgetting that they are stuck in there bodies until the bitter end. The drugs and alternations that they perform on their bodies will have affects that are unknown at this time.

   

Tomboy

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Blog Post 3

            Words and phrases are contagious and sometimes hurtful. One word that many people have heard and used over the years is Tomboy.  This word describes a gender role change in reference to a female having more masculine oriented traits. Society controls what is considered masculine and what is considered feminine, “A second element of the cultural structure defines, regulates, and controls the acceptable modes of reaching out for these goals” (Merton 1985).  

Tomboy is a word that has been used since about 1550 and at that time described a rude, boisterous boy. Later the meaning of the word changed to bold or immodest girl in 1592. Tomboy is a word described as a girl who acts like a spirited boy and with this description I believe that it has a lot in common with the differential association theory, “ Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication” (Cressey 1977). Now a tomboy isn’t necessarily a criminal but they are females that play a different gender role that is learned from interactions with a male figure. A tomboy is that girl who isn’t “girly” enough or the one who dresses like a boy by wearing pants and more masculine clothing. A female having more masculine traits is one who commonly has an interest in sports or physical activities. Also, it is believed that a female who has an increased interest in science and technology are commonly called tomboys as well.

This word is followed with a stigma of being lesbian or having the assumption of wanting to be a male. Now many believe that being a tomboy is a phase that many young women go through. All young girls will try to change their gender role in curiosity. “The crucial distinctions is between shaming that is reintegrative and shaming that is disintegrative (stigmatization)” (Braithwaite 1989).  The stigma of being lesbian is placed on females who don’t grow out of this young phase. I can personally understand this idea because I’m a firefighter, where I work in a male dominated profession.

The underlying social construction of Tomboy can be formed from many things. The most common description is a girl who acts like a boy in regards to schooling atmosphere.  Another perspective is a girl trying to live up to her father’s expectations or father issues. Being a daughter from a male dominated household or trying to hold the roles of both the daughter and the son, which are to help those unfulfilled expectations for the father. “The best place to see reintegrative shaming at work is in loving families…” (Braithwaite 1989) Now gender roles are looked at and handled differently for tomboys. “Gender scholar Judith 'Jack' Halberstam has claimed that while the defying of gender roles is often tolerated in young girls, older girls and adolescents who display masculine traits are often repressed and punished” (unknown 2012).

Many theories have been provided to answer why young females go through a tomboy phase but to sum them up, most focus on a female who spends most of her childhood/adolescence in an environment where a male predominates.  She doesn’t have a strong female role model to influence her to be girlier.


The film below is a trailer of Tomboy(2011). A french film that is about a girl who plays a more masculine role in society. She not only has short hair but she plays all the sports with the boys. Skins vs shirts and even cuts up her bathing suit to be more like the guys. Another thing this young girl does is tell her friends that she is a boy.


The third film is about how to be a proper tomboy. It shows the rules and advice on how to become a true tomboy. I found that it was interesting film that points out masculine traits and things that make most females uncomfortable.   

Word Count: 612

Citations:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tomboy

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070628225916AAS2IZ6

Murderball

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Film Review 2

Murderball

A documentary film that focuses on the lives of disabled individuals that can do just as much as an able bodied person or even more. This film compares the social roles that individuals play in the Paralympics. It follows the United States rugby team winnings and defeats vs. Canada.  Quad-rugby was originally called murderball and this is a sport that is played with custom-built wheelchairs. The film covers three main individuals and their life stories about how they became disabled. It also covers many different stories about Team America.

By not only using the personal testimonies of individuals but also showing the viewer the game and each persons amazing story. This film argued the social view of a disabled person and how the able-bodied society portrays them. Society feels that being disabled is the worst thing that can ever happen. The individuals in this film show that they love how they are and hate that others feel the need to judge. An example of this would be a statement from Mark Zupan, “Fucking hit me, I’ll hit you back.” Equal opportunity is not given to disabled individuals and there is absolutely no reason why it can’t be given. This film covers most questions that people have towards disabled individuals. One of the most common questions asked was if they could have sexual intercourse. They took the myth that disabled individuals can’t have sex and went into detail explaining that they can still have intercourse.

Murderball relates to the course in many ways. The film talks about how being different against our social norms is okay. Talking about deviant bodies and how they are portrayed in an able-body society vs. disabled society. Many disabled individuals spoke about how they disliked people looking at them and treating them differently. “Disability can serve as a master status and can carry with it a stigma” (Taylor 2000).  This stigma not only discredits a person’s moral character but the individual is rejected by society.

Now what is so convincing about Murderball was the emotional affects that individuals have from being judge and dehumanized. Not everyone in a wheelchair wants to walk. The film talked about how disabled individuals are viewed as helpless, but in fact they are not and they do not want to be pitied.

One thing the film touched on was the stories of people Zupan spoke to in the hospital. I think it would be very interesting to hear how these people felt in the first year compared to there fifth year being a quadriplegics. To hear their story and relentless optimism they must have. Also, is it easier for a child to adapt or how life is affected for females. 

Citation: 

Taylor, "You're Not a Retard, You're Just Wise." February 2000

Film Review

Middle Sexes: Redefining He and She

A documentary film that focuses on the lives of transgender and intersex people not just in America, but around the world. This film compared the social roles and views of transgender and intersex people. With different out comes, it truly opens your eyes to a world of judgment and beauty that have been force in society . The stigma that has been placed on the intersex and transgender community and as individuals can sometimes lead to violent experiences that are done from others or ones self.  This film shows and speaks about personal experiences in their day to day survival, worries, and stories.

 By using personal testimony of individuals, not only from the transgender and intersex community, as well as testimony of individuals that have ties to the community. The film covers the emotional damage that has been caused by gender assignment which classifies an individual as one sex when the internal organs/wiring is truly different. This film also covers the violent attacks that this community fears because they are different and goes against the social "norm".

This film began with a young female named Gwen. She was murdered because she was transgender. One sentence that stood out to me was from Gwen's mother, "Hate kills and it killed my daughter." Gwen was murdered and hid in a forest late one October evening. Three men drove deep into a forest to hide her body after someone announced her secret of being transgender. Gwen had sexual interaction with two individuals that this party. They kicked and punch her and later on they placed her in a shallow grave and pushed her body down with heavy rocks. People feel that their identity has been threatened when they find out about a transgender individual. This tragic story shows the stigma about how not only being transgender but even the partner of a transgender individual they end with violent outcomes.

Middle Sexes relates to this course in many ways. The construction of deviance is society’s way to form an "other" section. The film talks about how people are different and how they are treated because of being born against such social norms. The film spoke about not only Gwen but a boy named Noah. Noah's father feels he didn't choose to be a girl, "It would be a relief if Noah's hormones kicked in and he stopped liking girl stuff." Fausto-Sterling spoke about how intersex children are squeezed into the two prevailing sexual categories. Also, speaking about how society feels that an intersex child would grow up as a "freak in loneliness and frustration."

Now, what is so convincing about Middle Sexes was emotional affects on the people that support the transgender and intersex individuals? Noah's mother and Step-father truly cared about allowing him to grow up how he chose. Noah likes girl things and he knows he's different but he doesn't go as far to call himself a "she/her/female/girl." Noah is not alone because people transition for many reasons, "It's not who you want to be with but who you are." Fausto-Sterling found that 4 percent of births are intersex. This means out of 6000 people about 240 are intersex individuals. It is society that hates variations because biology simply loves variations. It is a religious sacrifice to become a Hesra but now society looks at these individuals as "different." Forced to have only two options: Doing business or begging.

The one thing that film touched on was on how society feels about being transgender or intersex is from the results of an individual having a mental disorder. I feel that if people took this course they could see how this couldn't be true. Who would choose to be have a 50 percent chance that someone will kill them or they will kill themselves. This video we watched for class can show you that society needs to rethink gender and sexual orientation.

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Film Review: Middle Sexes: Redefining He and She

A de

Deviant or Not

Part: 1

Who is the deviant person in your social group? Our primary aim is to discover how some social structures exert a definite pressure upon certain persons in the society to engage in nonconforming rather than conforming conduct (Merton 21). When society seeks to discover whom an individual is they look at the individual’s goals, purposes, and interests. Does the individual have a conformist behavior or are they different/deviant? I am a conformist in some ways and deviant in others.

The Control Theory talks about goals and how different choices an individual makes can affect them; getting an education, building up a business, and acquiring a reputation for virtue (Hirschi).  This theory talks about how the individuals need to weigh the risk vs. benefit and consider the cost at which the label of being deviant can affect their future. Choosing a reserved profession I am held to a high standard. Personal safety, protecting someone’s life, property, and the environment are the goals and standards that I will be held to for the rest of my life.

At first I considered myself as exception or the default.  One reason why I’m not the default is because I’m a woman. I’m not the average female. I have never thought that I was going to grow up, meet the man of my dreams, have babies and settle down.  This “American Dream” isn’t something that has ever been in my cards. Every little boy wanted to be either a cop or a fireman when they grow up. By choosing not only one of the most physical but completive careers one can enter. Being a firefighter for over four years now, I have entered a male dominant career, which in tradition has violated the norms.

My middle class household taught me how to have the drive for success in school and life. By growing up in a household with a stay at home mother I was brought up in a stable environment. The Differential Association Theory talks about how an individuals learning environment has an extreme affect on their outcome in life. Is a deviant only a criminal? Criminal behavior is not inherited but instead is something learned. Either from participation or imitation it is an act that is considered breaking the rules. Sutherland and Cressey talk about the principle of differential association. In their theory it focuses on how a criminal’s behavior is learned and how the range of intensity is dependant on multiple interactions in the criminals life. This theory can relate by explaining why I’m not a criminal. Behavior is learned meaning someone in an individual’s life must teach them such behavior. The person’s associations are determined in a general context of social organization (Sutherland & Cressey).

Part Two:

My social experiment for this assignment was really hard for me to complete because I have a uniform required profession. Choosing to act out in a deviant way by wearing make-up, jewelry, or even taking my hair out of a ponytail is against the rules and are all thought of as a forbidden act. Thinking out of the box I decided to take the issue that I have always been interested in. The experiment started off with my fiancé and I going dinner at a fancy restaurant, Buffalo Wild Wings. Now, this restaurant has almost every wall surface covered with a TV. They are the ESPN update for Vancouver. Sitting in the bar watching pro-bowl and enjoying our food. I sent him off to socialize and have “guy talk”.  He had two sentences to say in each conversation, “ What sport is the super bowl? It’s baseball right?”  Everyone he spoke to at first laughed thinking it was a joke. Then the puzzled look came which was followed by shock and an almost immediate end to the conversation. Each person, female or male, judged him very quickly. It spread around the bar very quickly as well, which brought the eye glares and snickers. When he came back to sit next me we both received odd looks.

Many people asked where he was from or if he was from this country. When they found that he was born and raised here in Vancouver we found that they were even more stunned. They asked if he lived under a rock, was home schooled, and if he even owned a TV.

My fiancé had his masculinity questioned. He said that people made him feel a little silly about asking them those questions but after seeing people’s reactions he found it interesting. Was he instantly labeled?

We hold many labels but am I deviant or not is the question.

Word Count: 776