Unit #2 Take Home Test (3 questions) Saving the TREES!

To start, I kinda wanna apologize for this + a few other things being super late, both to teacher, self and internet (in case someone is reading this that I don't know of, if so I love you!) I think the class in general talked and complained about these questions for super long and thats why more time was needed. I know I was part of the problem too...but I wrote all of #1 in class, and felt pretty beastly. Then got home and got the writers cramp, as always! Also kinda wanna say, Unit 2 wasn't all that bad, the whole class is sort of meant to be disjointed with time devoted to reading, presentations or discussion. Just because the notes and basic school stuff doesn't seem to be working out doesn't mean we aren't actually learning a lot of interesting stuff! Everyone should lighten up :D So here's my test. 12 more things to write, I think I'm on a roll!!!


1. Socialization is intended to turn us into conforming members of society. As a result, we are under considerable pressure to “do the right thing.” Explain the actual social forces that push us to act appropriately and then consider how socialization would explain the numerous individuals, from white-collar criminals to wife abusers who deviate from the social norms.

Through Socialization, every member of a society, starting at an extremely young age, learns the appropriate values and norms required to participate and fit in with the rest of society. We all have strong tendencies to conform when in groups, for example in a classroom when every student things the answer is “B” and someone might think otherwise, they may be reluctant to voice their opinion and just agree until the teacher states the correct answer. However, in society there is an extremely numerous amount of individuals who can be considered deviant. These people, such as thieves, abusers and murderers are definitely not the type of people society had intended. So how is it that people can resist conformity into what is easily the largest of groups? To discuss this further, each of the agents of socialization must be examined.

First, the family, which is considered to be the primary agent of socialization. As a child, your main role models are your parents. A person learns to talk by mimicking their parents, as well as learns many appropriate behaviours through their disciplines. For example “Do not hit your sister...or else!” Clearly a lot of responsibility is placed on the parents in teaching their kids right from wrong, or in other words to “Do the right thing”. The major concern here is that parents are only human. They have their own conflicts which can greatly impact their children. If the child witnesses his father beating his mother, then logically there is a greater chance that he could grow up and do the same thing. Also, the divorce rate is so high in these modern times that the child could lose a role model completely.

For this children must seek other guidance from other agents of socialization. This includes school and to a lesser degree Television. School works strongly in socializing a person because it has teachers to lay down rules and boundaries, as well as peers or friends for them to compare themselves with. If everyone is wearing clean brand named clothing, then why shouldn’t you? School also allows people to develop their own identity separate from that of their parents. This is extremely significant because although this is normal, depending on how strong the relationship with the parents was (which further proves their significant role) the youth may want to break away even further and join a counter- culture like a gang.

Another source of socialization is religion, which is perhaps slightly losing strength present day. Religion teaches some faith as well as good morals to follow or live by. This can be quite helpful, but we have discussed whether or not religion is really morality or if humans are inherently evil. I always think back to William Golding’s “The Lord of the Flies” where when all trace of society was lost, the children became savages. Even with instilled morals, there always must be some sort of higher power watching over. Whether this is God, or the Government, people need to be kept in line. Maybe deviance is a result of people who in a state of rage or desperation misjudge the consequences of their actions or don’t care about the punishment.

2. Canadians are not all equally likely to become sick or to suffer an injury. Some are more likely to develop diseases or disabilities. Why do you think there are differences in the heath and illness of Canadians based on sex and class?

It is really easy to imagine class playing a factor in health and illness. Mr. Carm Sirianni once described going to the clinic, feeling out of place. (probably wearing a pimpin suit) Illness happens to everyone at some point in time, its just natural, however a person’s lifestyle plays great impact. Both Siriannis seem to be really people, and have complained about touching things from the bathroom. Being a teacher does potentially put you in contact with sick youths, but with some hand sanitizer and 11 steps to washing your hands, the overall illness isn’t that bad. In comparison to someone with a lower class job however there is a huge difference. Imagine, with school still as an example, working as a janitor. Cleaning up everyone else’s mess (as well as the bathroom) is a very easy way to get into contact with more germs, and therefore diseases. Another case could be those guys who stand on or beside ladders, fixing the school up. Falling off of that ladder would result in a pretty painful injury, and they have to face that chance every single day! Also people who work outside more have to face the environment, working in the rain can’t be good for your health, and too much heat can also be bad. In the article there was an example of a woman who had a lung problem do to inhaling exhaust fumes from a pickup truck. Maybe this could also be a problem for people who pick up the garbage, plus that stuff smells REALLLLY BAD! Another lifestyle issue I can imagine would have to do with the stress. If you struggle through life constantly worrying, trying to push through a mortgage payment or have enough food on the table for your family, that can wear at your health as well. The article states “The more you think about the test, the worse you are likely to feel - legitimating to yourself the need to claim the sick role.” It explains how since it can be hard to know for sure when you are sick, other factors in your life can lead to you basing that judgement, such as stress over a test pushing you towards fully taking on a sickness, or a big party keeping you away from it.

Sex also plays an issue, although a much less significant one in my opinion. Our society has been striving to break down the gender roles that could lead to differences in health, through lifestyle things mentioned above. Since women can pursue any career they wish, things shouldn’t be too bad. However the feminist perspective in the article argues that “phsicians don’t take women’s health complaints as seriously as men’s. As a result, women are operated on at a later stage in heart disease, making it more likely that they will die” Well dieing is definitely not good, and so I guess doctors are going to have to work even harder to push past this, and also stop trying to remove women’s uterus’s. Its hard to discuss this issue, as I’m not really sure if the feminists are being too over exaggerative, or if the uterus removal surgery really is a good idea or not. I’m sure having a uterus would be a pretty “interesting” experience, but am not planning to give it a try. On the plus side, the article says the number of female doctors is rising! This is good and matches what I originally said.



3. Is the medicalization of society a good or bad thing? (nice and short question)

I’m assuming that medicalization in this question means having a country incorporate universal health care into their hospitals and pharmacies. This means that if a person wants to see a Doctor, they can get treated without having to fill out insurance forms or paying up cash. The movie “Sicko” really contrasted the difference between the capitalistic system in the United States and the ease of the free universal systems in Europe.

Michael Moore’s controversial documentary truly made it impossible to argue that this medicalization can be a bad thing. After showing numerous examples of how bad the American system can be for average people, such as an elder janitor forced to keep working in order to allow his family to have the insurance, or a man who cut off two fingers and had to decide which one to get re-attached. Yes all of these stories were meant to really pull at the viewers hearts, but the fact remains that this is a truly enormous issue. Life can be tough for everyone, but one thing that can’t be messed around with is your health. What’s even worse is the main reason behind the denial of care is so that others can PROFIT! Even though that is the way capitalism works, it just doesn’t seem right. If personally you could offer help, I’d like to think pretty much anyone would. However when dealing with large medical corporations who don’t even see the people, its easy to see how they would forget their “customers’” dire situations. Corporations were created for the sole purpose of making huge profits, and for this, they really shouldn’t be in control of any form of health products. Even over the counter drugs is pushing it, as the movie showed just how cheap some products were in Cuba. Health and Medicine just seems like something the Government has to handle. The Government controls the army, to protect the citizens, and should also control the medicine to protect the citizens from DISEASE.

The film also showed just how silly the idea of paying for health care seemed to people in Britain or France, and how happy they seemed to be, just knowing no matter what happens to them, they can be taken care of. It seemed fantastic, although I already LOVE British people! Canada’s system is a lot closer to this, which made me feel happy and secure. The security part seems really important, as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states that before you can feel truly happy and reach your full potential, you must fulfill basic needs such as hunger and safety. Americans always seem really proud about their country, which is a good thing, but they really should give Sicko a good watch and think about how it can become even better.