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FOR THIS THIRD REFLECTION PAPER, STUDENTS ARE ASKED TO CHOOSE …
– TWO OF THE THREE REQUIREMENTS LISTED UNDER CHAPTER SEVEN,
– TWO OF THE THREE PARTS LISTED UNDER CHAPTER EIGHT, AND
– TWO OF THE THREE PARTS LISTED UNDER CHAPTER NINE.
THAT IS, STUDENTS ARE PRESENTED WITH A TOTAL OF NINE REQUIREMENTS IN THIS REFLECTION PAPER (THREE FOR EACH OF THE ASSIGNED CHAPTERS). THIS TIME AROUND, STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SELECT AND WRITE ON A TOTAL OF SIX – TWO FROM EACH CHAPTER.
HERE IS YOUR REFLECTION PAPER ASSIGNMENT.
Make sure to label headings for each section!
THIRD LEARNING SESSION
REFLECTION PAPER ASSIGNMENT
CHAPTER SEVEN
SOCIAL CLASS AND THE STRUCTURE OF INEQUALITY
Requirement One:
Our Class System: Open…Yes, but How Open?
Part A
I would like you to offer a detailed, personal analysis (based on your readings, thoughts, and experiences) about how open, or closed-off, you believe the social class system is in America. Within your assigned readings, there are many terms and theories related to the content of this requirement – – so please do not neglect to incorporate a few in your response.
Part B
Also, how does your social class impact your own life chances? Consider going back over the part of your chapter entitled, “Socio-economic status and Life Chances”. Doing so may give you some ideas about how your social class impacts your life in many different ways.
Requirement Two:
An Abundance of Misery and Suffering in a Land of Plenty
Here you go…a question that should make you think about things that may make you uncomfortable. I am not being political here, but, rather, wish for you to take a long, honest look at our system of stratification with a focus on the horrible amounts of misery and suffering in the “land of plenty”. Here you go:
Since we are blessed to live in the wealthiest, most successful country in the world,
why is it that millions of American families must struggled as they live in poverty, or near-poverty?
This is a very good reflection paper requirement which can be answered by employing Mills’ Sociological Imagination (from chapter one), to the topic of why so much individualistic suffering goes on (and is tolerated) in America. The sociological imagination allows you to more easily link a person’s “personal troubles” (being poor), with society’s “social issues” which refers to society’s social structure (how institutions like the government, the economy, the class system in America, cultural beliefs and values, and so forth are set up and function. Serving a few very well, while the majority of Americans are left to suffer and fight over “what falls from the table”.
Requirement Three
Welfare
How it is Defined in Different Ways When Applied to the Poor and to the Wealthy
Part A
Welfare as Defined for the Poor
For this requirement, I ask you to offer me your take on all things related to our welfare system. In order to get your “brain juices” flowing, some issues you might wish to ponder (you do not have to respond to them unless you elect to do that) include, but are certainly NOT limited to, related questions and issues like:
What do you feel about welfare programs which target the poor and disadvantaged?
What changes, if any, do you feel need to be implemented?
Should the government continue to “means test” those requesting help (i.e., the poor need to prove that they are poor) to see if such people really qualify/deserve taxpayer funded help?
To what degree do you feel our welfare system causes and perpetuates laziness, fatalism, and is really anti-American in nature?
Should there be strict limits to the number of years a person receives welfare? If so, how do you compensate for the chronic poor in America?
Part B
Welfare as defined for the Rich
The topic for this part of the requirement remains unchanged: Welfare. However, this time lets look at free-money give-a-ways and other welfare programs the wealthiest American take advantage of each year.
In other words – if welfare amounts to giving free money and other programs developed to help out the neediest of American individuals and families, then what about the free money give-a-ways and other welfare programs specifically created to benefit the wealthiest individuals, families, and corporations?
For this part, focus your thoughts on what has been called “wealth-fare”. You are invited to take your thoughts about giving advantage (some say an unfair advantage), to the wealthiest individuals, families, and large corporations.
CHAPTER EIGHT
RACE AND ETHNICITY AS A LIVING EXPERIENCE
Requirement Four
(Three Parts)
Racism and Its Many Forms
This requirement has multiple parts, so please make sure that you offer a well-organized, outlined (use of major and minor headings) format. Doing this will help you write a much better set of responses. Here you go…
As you must know, racism is one of the many characteristics found in American life that is flatly troubling and flies in the face of several of the core beliefs and values which most Americans think of as very important. This requirement asks that you respond to the following:
Part One:
What do you feel is the basis for racism in America? When you strip away all the reasons encircling the topic of racism in America, what do you feel is the single most profound element that you find at the very core of racism?
Part Two:
For this question, I want you to consider what life would be like if your race classification was different. If you are white, I want you to put yourself in the shoes of a Black person. If you are a person of color, please put yourself in the shoes of a white person. Again, your question is: In what ways would your life be impacted if your race classification was different? You may wish to start your thinking by reviewing the contents of the section in your Chapter entitled, “Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances”.
Part Three:
Have you ever been victimized by prejudice and discrimination when it comes to race and ethnicity? If yes, provide some details about what happened and any outcome you may wish to discuss. IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN VICTIMIZED DUE TO YOUR RACE, then please provide details about a situation you witnessed that involved race-motivate prejudice and discrimination.
For example, when I played high school football, I can clearly recall a time when my head coach used horrible racial slurs when talking about the one black player on a visiting team (from Cedar Falls). He even directed one of our most prolific “hitters” to “take him out” by the end of the first quarter. In response, my teammate ran the young black player into one of the light poles that were only a few feet off the field on the opening kickoff. The poor guy never returned to the game. My coach complimented my teammate for his actions. The entire situation left me feeling empty, sick to my stomach, and I never again regarded my coach in anything close to a favorable light…still do not!
CHAPTER NINE
CONSTRUCTION GENDER AND SEXUALITY
Requirement Five
(Three Parts)
The Origins of One’s Sexual Identity and Other Issues
Part One
The Role of Biology
Do you believe that “biology is destiny” when it comes to sexual identity and your life-chances? Should it matter what sex you are when it comes to your chances for enjoying a good life? There are some folks who believe that, as James Brown used to sing, “It’s a Man’s World”, that men do (and should) play a dominant role when it comes to the sexes. Please explain your position on this subject. That is, what justification do you have that supports either position you decide to take on the subject?
Part Two
Known for One Thing Only
When it comes to homosexuality, do you feel that it is fair to think of, and react to, a person when only a single individual trait is taken into account, i.e., Is it fair to allow a person’s sexual orientation to trump all other personal traits a person possesses? Another way to think of this question comes from one interpretation of the Bible which some believe teaches that homosexual is sinful – full stop with no additional discussion required. Another way to think of this…if you are “straight”, would you be happy with others judging you on that single trait, i.e., because you are straight, others feel quite content (and justified) to simply devalue or dehumanize you?
Part Three
Being Male or Female
How does your sex (being a male or female) both benefit you, and, at the same time, work against you? You may wish to sit back and think about your past life-journey, your current situation, and how your future may be impacted. As you think of your life in these ways, I think that you may receive a few insights by going back and reviewing the section in your text which covers, “Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances”.
NOTE:
This reflection paper contains requirements with many parts. It is vitally important that you offer a very well-organized set of responses that employ an outline format. It will help to mark when you start and stop writing about certain issues. Also, please remember to not use really long paragraphs.
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