Long Live the 2nd Urinal!!!

Today in class we looked at aspects that make up cultures.
The main aspect of cultures are what are considered "norms".  These societal norms will often dictate how people act.  Norms help with decisions people make in their day to day life.

We acted out the "Urinal Game".  Most class members decided that if given their choice they would all choose the urinal the farthest from the door, but if that one is occupied they chose the urinal closest to the door.  But no one would choose the second urinal in either situation.  The norm of the bathroom is to avoid being next to someone.

We went through the other aspects that help create a culture

Norms-The basic idea of how to function within a group. What is “NORMAL” in a group or culture. Norms affect how individuals act in a group/culture/society

Mores-Serious norms that will disrupt a culture if violated or cause harm

Folkways-Norms in society that if broken don’t cause problems but may temporary instability or tension.

Taboos-Norms that are accepted but often are not discussed and can be embarrassing.

Language/Gestures-Words that are unique to a certain culture.  Outsiders might

not know what they mean

Symbols-Images that represent a group/culture.

Values

What is the following Seinfeld clip and example of?

Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteer Op: A Just Harvest

 Mrs. Fainman will be taking students to the Just Harvest soup kitchen friday, Oct 7 in

 Evanston. If you are interested, please email her at mfainman@d125.org. If

 you volunteer for this opportunity, SHS will provide a bus and you will leave school 

PROMPTLY at 3:30 and return to school at 7:30.  Wear closed-toed shoes.  

There will also be opportunities to go to this on the second Friday of each month.  

 If you need more info, please contact Mrs. Fainman.

Stereotypes and Generalizations

Please answer the following questions about Joel Charon's "Should We Generalize About People?"
1. Does Charon believe that categories and generalizations are useful? Why/Why not?

2.What is the difference between a generalization and a stereotype?

3.  What are some groups that you belong to that have been stereotyped?  Have you ever experienced that?
  

After reading Joel Charon's "Should We Generalize..." hopefully, you realize that yes we must generalize because it is what makes us intelligent human beings. But our great strength as humans can also be a horrible flaw. If we do not generalize and categorize accurately then we run the risk of stereotyping. We must realize that although individuals can be categorized into certain groups, it doesn't mean that all individuals fit that group's generalization. Toward the end of the reading, Charon says, 

"If we are open-minded and reflective, we can even evaluate how good or how poor our generalizations are, and we can alter what we know as we move from situation to situation."

This is both the task and the promise of sociology. Sociology challenges us to think about our generalizations and assumptions about what we know and it promises us that with proper thought and care we can understand people better. There is a poem I like that illustrates Charon's point. The poem called "The Cookie Thief" by Valerie Cox. We are all cookie thieves sometimes in how we erroneously use the categories that Charon talks about. When was the last time you were too quick to categorize or judge someone? Have you ever been stereotyped or judged wrongly?