At the beginning of the semester, I didn’t really know what I was going to get out of taking soc. 119 and I definitely didn’t know what to expect. I had a bunch of friends who have taken the class before, and they raved about it, and said Sam was one of the best professors at Penn State. I thought of professors I’ve had in the past who also have PSU fame, and loved their classes so I decided to take it, not really knowing what it was even about. Even though I had to participate in a lot of different World In Conversation discussion groups, I really had no idea what to expect. On the first day of class when Sam started off the lecture by talking about smoking weed, I had so many different thoughts going through my head. Obviously, this guy was pretty chill and it was no wonder why all of my friends always gave great reviews about the class. The first day was a change of pace from all of my other routine courses on my schedule. Even though Sam’s outgoing behavior was pretty funny on the first day, and he still says some of the most ridiculous things ever, I have to admit that I found most of the classes to be kind of boring and repetitive.

Even though most of the classes were a pretty hard hour and fifteen minutes to sit through, Sam did introduce me to a lot of ideas that I probably would have never thought about on my own. I think the most interesting classes were the ones where students got to do most of the talking, rather than being lectured by Sam. I also liked how Sam would use demonstrations to make certain concepts more clear for us. One of my favorite parts of class would definitely be when we got to Skype with Maziar. Americans will probably always have that Middle-Eastern stereotype, but being able to talk to someone who is Muslim and living on the other side of the world was one of the most interesting things in my opinion. He seemed like such a normal guy, liking many of the same tv shows and musical artists, and even extended his condolences to all of us when he heard about the Boston Marathon Bombings. It really makes you think about the world in a different perspective, and if not the world at least about the people living in it. I also really liked the recitation groups, because being able to talk about your opinions in a 700 person class is pretty difficult. The discussion groups made it a lot easier to voice your mind and get other people’s perspectives in a more intimate setting.

I think there is a clear parallel between the white standard and the male standard. Both the white standard and the male standard come on top as being the more dominant in their categories. Even though I don’t really like to admit it, I think we’re still living in a male-dominated world, and males run the society majority of the time. As for the white standards, we have discussed in class that the white standard is usually the more dominant societal standard. One thing that really stuck out to me was the short video clip we watched about the black children picking between the black and the white doll. At first, I was shocked to see that children at seriously such a young age already had these ideas of what color is “better” than the other one. The experiment was so interesting, especially because even though the children knew which doll looked most like them, they would still rather play with the other one. I was also shocked to hear one girl say one doll was better than the other one, because it was white. Its crazy to me that the white standard is so dominant that even a 5 or 6 year old has it ingrained in their mind that white is better than black.

As far as the male standard goes, as history has shown, men have always been the breadwinners, and the ones with the highest paying jobs. These societal norms have in turn made the female world mostly about what the man wants, whether it be in regards to a job, sexually, physically, and more. I think every man has their own set of standards in women, and even though they might personally differ they are still all basically the same. Sometimes though, I think many of these standards come from outside factors that are beyond our control. Many women in society today base their weight, fashion, image, and sometimes interests on what the media produces as the standard, which is also what some men tend to idolize in a female. The statistics that Sam put up about females not having orgasms as often as men do also just goes to show that this is still a male-dominated world. I think the parallels between the white standard and the male standard are pretty clear, because in both cases they are the ones that possess the power and do everything they can to maintain that power. White males are that much luckier, because they have both of the dominant traits but this occurred because of outside factors that they had no control over. All in all, I think the past week’s lectures were interesting, and really applicable to the PSU population.

There were a variety of things that stood out in the class last week about immigration. It really got me thinking about how I view immigration policies and did somewhat change my opinions, especially Eric’s story. Obviously, one would have no idea that he had to endure that especially at such a young age, just by looking at him. I could really empathize with Eric and his story, because no five year old, whether or not he or she is aware of whats going on, should have to go on every day with the fear of not knowing whether or not his family would be deported back to their respective country. His story was honestly inspirational, and I’m glad to see that he has been able to adapt to living in a new country and becoming so successful. Being able to actually hear a story of immigration was really interesting to me, because it puts into perspective just how many immigrants there are coming into the country and end up with positive endings. Back home, there are many illegal immigrant myths, which I, of course, believed. At home, the majorities of illegal immigrants are perceived as Mexicans, working low-wage jobs such as at landscaping companies, and most importantly are receiving free health care and not paying taxes. Because my mother used to work in a high school with many diverse students, she had actually seen a few accounts of illegal students, and perceptions were formed. However, I now know that there are many cases in which people are making respectable livings and not fitting into the stereotypes. Also, I also realized that it is wrong to assume that all illegal immigrants come from Mexico, steal our jobs, and don’t pay into the tax system.
I think the immigration lecture was also interesting to me, because it made me realize that I have ancestors that also at one point had to immigrate to America. My ancestors came from all over Europe, including Italy, Russia, and Ireland. Without them ever having immigrated, I wouldn’t be here today. This realization allows me to empathize more with the immigration situation that is going on now in the United States. Like my ancestors, they are coming to America for a better life and the hope of a better future. Although there are many false immigration perceptions, I have to keep reality into perspective, and keep in mind that most people in America came from an immigrant at some point in time. Even though the time periods may be drastically different, the situation and goals are extremely similar. Those attempting to make it to America should be seen as nothing other than brave and determined individuals looking for new opportunities, just like my ancestors.

Although I respect Jasiri X for coming into class and sharing his talents, I wasn’t all that impressed with his guest lecture for a couple of different reasons. I understand that he is a seemingly intellectual man, completing his degree and pursuing a lifelong interest, I don’t think it was fair of him to come into a class where we are trying to explain racial differences without pointing fingers, and start pointing fingers. Maybe as a middle-class white girl I was offended because I felt like the accusations were being directed towards me, but at times when I was reading some of the lyrics that were presented on the screen I was kind of thinking, “Uhhh..ok?” I wish the lyrics of his songs were posted somewhere for me to reflect on because I don’t remember anything specifically, but I do know that he would touch upon elements of a “white supremacy”. Although I am aware of the racial inequalities that still exist in some areas of society today, I think the way in which he worded his message was strong, biased, and accusatory. However, I’m keeping in mind that he is seeing this issue from the other end of the spectrum.
Regardless, I respect Jasiri X for trying to make a change in society, and there were some elements of his lecture that I could empathize with. His rap that I respected the most was the one regarding the George Zimmerman and Treyvon Martin case, because I felt like that was a absolutely horrific act. For a young, innocent man to have tragically died after he was running to the store to get some Skittles for his friend. However, I think there are some inequalities in this situation, similar to all others, as well. I feel as though if the situation were different, and had a black neighborhood watch shot a white kid due to suspicious activity or what have you, no one would have known either of their names. Nonetheless, regardless of race, what George Zimmerman did was wrong, and he was wrongly let go.
I think Jasiri X has a lot of potential to do well in the field, and I have a great deal of respect for him trying to make a change and act upon it. However, if he continues to bash on the white race, and make white people feel as though all the racial inequalities are completely their fault he won’t get the respect of many. Hopefully, he’ll realize how to reword his opinions into a less matter-of-fact manner and put them so that it is more than just finger-pointing, and something a little more constructive. All in all, I don’t think I could really empathize with that lecture.

I am not against affirmative action because I feel that everyone can benefit from what it offers in some way, and if I were to be offered a job by a family member, given I had all of the necessary qualifications, there is no way that I would turn down a job. I feel that especially in today’s society, a certain level of success comes from networking – it is all about who you know. For example, my roommate’s father is pretty business-savvy, and always manages to find internships and jobs for her. At times, I do think it is unfair, as I am sitting and applying to numerous internship opportunities; she has never had to go through the process in her life. But then I think, if I were in her position, I would probably do the same exact thing. Even thinking about my group of friends here at Penn State or hearing of other student’s stories, I can bet there are thousands of students who don’t need to attend career fairs, or furiously look for internships, because they already have jobs waiting for them upon their graduation thanks to their families. I think that if the student is genuinely qualified for the position, then a “handout” in this instance is acceptable. I wouldn’t appreciate it, however, if the person didn’t know anything about the respective field because the acceptance of the position could cause more harm than good. Generally speaking, however, I think handouts are acceptable.
Although I haven’t been given any “handouts” (yet), I can honestly say I have looked for them upon my search for a job and an internship in the past. A previous employer of mine was very good friends with a highly acclaimed ESPN broadcaster, and I had asked her if there was anyway she could assist me in finding an internship. Also, one of my cousins has a high-ranking job with the New York Yankees, and I plan on asking him of any opportunities as well. However, this is given that I feel that I am qualified for these positions that I am looking for. I feel when it comes to a family-owned or “governed” corporation, handing down high-ranking official positions to children is completely normal, people tend to scrutinize it more however if the company is worth more. For example, if someone owned a gas station and planned on giving their son or daughter a job there, I don’t feel as though that would bother many people. When it comes to CEO positions or internships at Fortune 500 companies that is when society tends to become more skeptical. I think handouts are acceptable in today’s society, and I can assure that once I graduate, I will also be on the lookout for as many handouts as possible.

I think it was very interesting how in class Sam was wondering how many girls were on their menstrual cycle and very few girls raised there hand, but I don’t agree with the statement that women aren’t really “free” because there are certain issues that we can’t talk about in public. The fact of the matter is, the girls in the room who actually did have their period could have very easily raised their hands and shared with the class that they did. I feel girls are just much more reserved than guys are and there are certain things that they might not be as open about sharing with. Another reason why the girls in the room might have been reluctant to share whether or not they had their period or not was mainly because the room was filled with 600 students of both genders. Girls know from experience how guys react to hearing about someone having their period, and I’m sure sharing with a group of at least 300 guys wouldn’t have been the most comfortable thing to do given the normal reaction from guys. Like one student in class mentioned, if the room were to have been filled with only females, I think a lot more people would have willingly raised their hands. On the other hand, suppose everyone in the room was being entirely honest. It could also be true that none of the girls were actually menstruating, such as myself. It is highly unlikely, of course, but it is still something to think about. I feel girls are actually free; they are just more reserved, especially around different groups of people.
I think another factor that affected the amount of girls that raised their hands was the way in which Sam asked the question by saying, “How many girls are bleeding?” I understand that if that is the way he is used to wording it because that is the term his wife uses, why he would feel comfortable wording it that way in class. However, I may be wrong, but I feel a lot of students wouldn’t normally say that, which might’ve taken many of the female students back. After Sam asked the question so matter of factly and out of the blue, many students were just so shocked that they didn’t even know how to respond. It was kind of a “What did he just say?” moment that more than likely made everyone reluctant to answer. All in all however, I still disagree with the statement that girls aren’t entirely free, and I could see why some of the girls in the classroom were irritated by the statement. Some girls just have their own reasons for not sharing things so personal, but it doesn’t mean that they physically do not have the freedom to do so.

Trying to find a logical reason as to why lighter skin is so popular among the African American community is a question that I will probably never be able to find a solution to. However, I think many people, whether they are white or black, or have dark hair or light hair that is straight or curly, strive to look like something that they are not naturally. I, for one, am the type of person who also alters my appearance into something that I consider looks “better”. Naturally, I have very dark brown, somewhat curly hair. I’ve always wanted to lighten it, but I was always scared to do so fearing that it wouldn’t look right. This past summer, I ended up slightly highlighting it and was very happy with the way I looked, so I’ve continued getting it colored lighter ever since. Although my hair is curly, I prefer it to be straight, I just don’t have the patience to blow dry and straighten my hair every day. Also, I put make up on every single day, one of the most unnatural things someone can do to alter their appearance. Simply, I think people are just never satisfied with the way they look, and always have a standard on what they think looks more appealing.
I find it very interesting how African Americans think having lighter skin is more attractive in their communities, while people with lighter skin would rather be darker. Once again, I am guilty of doing this as well. Even though my skin does drastically darken in the summer, during the winter my skin is not that dark. On occasion, meaning maybe once every couple months, I like to go tanning for a couple of reasons. Obviously, all people with lighter skin believe they look better with a tan, but I feel as though without some color I look so pale that I look almost sick. Because my hair is so dark, I feel washed out without a little bit of color on my face and therefore enjoy going tanning every so often.
It is also interesting to compare the African American fascination with having lighter skin with the Asian perspective. Asians believe that having lighter skin shows somewhat of a superiority, and therefore will buy whitening creams in order to keep their skin lighter, or, as Sam showed in class, completely protect themselves from the sun, even if that means wearing a mask that covers your entire face and neck with the exception of two holes for the eyes. Perhaps the African American reasoning for wanting to have lighter skin traces back to our country’s history, where having white or lighter skin was seen as superior.

I feel that it was shocking at the very least to learn that genetically, the human race is 99.9% similar in our genetic make-ups and that we are all only .01% different. I know more fully understand that we are much more similar to each other than we may originally think, in more ways than one. Although our physical differences may seem like a large difference, as a human race we are all extremely emotionally, behaviorally, and cognitively similar. In this sense, we should all be more aware of how we treat each other, because we are more similar and equality created than everyone thinks.
That being said, I normally try to watch the way I act around people of races different than mine because I don’t want to say anything that might offend someone. Otherwise, I feel like my actions around people of other races are the same as they are around people of my own race. I don’t think it makes any sense to act differently around people of a different race. Even though I watch what I say to don’t offend anyone, I feel as though I do that around everyone, no matter what race they are. To me, it’s just basically common sense to not say anything that someone else may find rude or offensive.
Although I don’t tend to behave differently around different races, I have a very close friend of mine that does. I have been a friend of his for about 7 years now, and I have come to learn his behaviors pretty well. This friend is biracial, with an African American father and a white mother. His skin color is still fairly light, but darker than a white persons. My high school consisted of predominantly white students, and this friend was the only biracial one in my pretty tight-knit circle of friends. Around us, he spoke in a much more conservative and proper manner but when he was around black students, his demeanor dramatically changed. He would act in loud boisterous ways, and talk in a completely different slang. At times, it was almost amusing to witness because of how dramatically he changed. Of course, I wouldn’t let him get by without calling him out on his behavioral changes, but I asked him why he felt he needed to do this. Although I never got a clear answer, what I gathered is that he was used to acting different ways around different people, as his parents were divorced and he grew up in two completely different environments. As we started applying to colleges, we collectively told him that as soon as he got to college, he probably would have a majority of black friends rather than white. We were right, but this brings me back to my original statement. I don’t think it makes sense to behave differently around different people, especially since we are all so genetically similar.

Skyping with Maziar in class was definitely a pretty cool experience for me. I really enjoyed how he was clearly so enthusiastic and excited to be talking to a whole class full of American students, who all have cultures and ideals much different from him, but at the same time are very similar. I particularly liked how Sam purposely asked Maziar what some of his favorite television shows are, and even some of his favorite singers so that the class could understand just how similar he is to us, although living on the other side of the world. I think I can speak for most of the class when I say I was surprised to hear that his answers were shows like “How I Met Your Mother”, and I think I might have even heard him say “Breaking Bad”, while his favorite artists were singers such as Adele.
Besides Maziar’s apparent love for American pop culture, there were a couple of other things he mentioned that stuck out to me. It was pretty surprising to hear his answer when Sam asked him if he was scared of Americans, and his response was that he was. After thinking about it, he made a pretty good point. It became obvious how we are the ones with excessive and random acts of gun violence, to the point where citizens can’t even be sure that they can go to school or a movie theatre and be safe. It’s interesting because most Americans feel the opposite, and that we’re usually the ones who are scared of the Iranians. I think this is because of all the media portrayal of Iranians that depicts them solely as terrorists, especially on the news and in movies. It was pretty obvious through Skyping with Maziar that they’re not, and his love for Americans and the American culture was really interesting. It was also pretty cool how he mentioned that if an American were to visit Iran they would be treated very well, and even when one student was speaking to Maziar in Farsi, Maziar was quick to comment by saying “You know, I can speak English!” Despite the slight language barrier, it was clear that Maziar was a genuinely funny guy, and Sam definitely made his point that we, as Americans, should not be so quick to judge the Iranian culture despite our history with them.
The other small thing that stuck out to me was when Sam wanted to show Maziar a video, but then quickly added that he couldn’t because the government has blocked YouTube. Even though you hear about things like this in other countries, it hadn’t really hit me until this point. I realized that I do take very little things, such as YouTube and forms of communication for granted, and that was pretty eye opening for me.

When girls and guys compliment each other, it is said in two very distinct ways, and every way that it is said has it’s own meaning. For example, it is perfectly normal for a girl to compliment another girl by saying “You look hot”, and there is rarely any ever confusion as to whether the girl giving the comment is heterosexual or not, because most of the time, it really doesn’t matter. I feel that this is because girls are always complimenting each other, whether they mean it or not. I think that girls are much more open to homosexual ideas and sayings, and do not feel as uncomfortable as a guy would when being complimented by someone of the same sex. Girls also always love a good compliment, no matter whom it comes from, and feed off of each other’s opinions and ideas. The phrase, “you look really hot,” has been deemed as having somewhat of a feminine connotation, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Most of the time, when someone is being described as hot, it is being used by a female, or being used to describe a female. There are certain phrases that if a girl said would sound weird as well, such as a girl calling one of her female friends “dude” or things of that nature. Some things have just been cultured into being used by certain people to mean certain things, and describing someone as “hot” is definitely one of them.
Although I do understand why the guy in class may have felt a little uncomfortable when he was told he was “hot”, I don’t think that it’s completely unnatural for guys to compliment each other. More specifically, I think it’s just the manner in which they say it which denotes the connotation and meaning of it. Many times, my guy friends will compliment each other and sincerely mean it. However, when they do so they usually will tell the other person that they look “fresh” or even just saying “oh, you look good”, but its never meant in a “homosexual” way, nor is it taken in a homosexual way. Maybe this is because when my friends compliment each other they know the sexual orientation of each other so it isn’t concerning. I think its also completely dependent on the guys personality, as well. For some guys, who may not be as open with their sexuality or homosexuality, I can see why being called hot may be a little uncomfortable. However, I also think there are tons of guys out there that would take a compliment and not be scared that they were being “hit on” by another guy. Just because someone is complimenting you, it doesn’t automatically mean they want something else from you, too.