Sociology: Gender and American Dream Essay

Submitted By 8793markia
Words: 874
Pages: 4
Open Document
E. Cherilen
April 16, 2012
Reflection Paper
Sociology the science or study of the origin, development, organization, and functioning of human society, the science of the fundamental laws of social relations. A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same physical or effective territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Human societies are characterized by patterns of relationships between individuals who share a distinctive culture and institutions; a given society may be described as the sum total of such relationships.
Over the years society has made many different images, not only for our society but us as human beings. Especially women the cultural ideal of women today is much more complex than years past. An ideal woman in the fifties was expected to be the ultimate homemaker. She should support her husband and children, cook delicious meals, keep a spotless home and embody an attractive, immaculately dressed wife and mother. Despite the evolution of the female ideal, women are still pressured to demonstrate their femininity. Feminine dress remains the symbol of femininity to which women retreat.
Now this is where society looks at young woman like myself and already has expectations on how my life should be or the way I should act. Society has this image where it’s all about the “American Dream”. The “American Dream” in my eyes is the typical family with wife, husband, and children. The husband of course is the bread winner who brings home the money, while the wife sits at home take care of the kids makes sure the house is clean, dinner is cooked and everyone is happy. But in my eyes I will not be living the “American dream”, because I have my own dreams and goals that I shall conquer. I was not brought up to depend on a man to take care of me, I will provide for myself. I will go to school and get my degree and get a good paying job, which will not only support me but my family as well. I look at myself as independent a woman who doesn’t need this so called “American Dream” that the society plays images for. I’ve seen my mother take care of me and my sister without this American dream and we are just doing fine, so I know if she can do it I sure can. My mother wasn’t a sit at home wife who waited for their husband to come home with all the money; instead she went out there and did it herself. A lot of women believe that they can’t do a job that a man can do, because women aren’t taken seriously, so that pushes them back from going out there and showing society, that women can do it just as well. Women are beyond just some housewife’s who sit at home clean and cook; they are our future and can do anything they please as long as they put their heart and soul into it.
As a society, we love the media. Sometimes it seems like entertainment is the only reason to live. However, sometimes we have to question certain myths and stereotypes that arises that predictability affect our society. In entertainment, there are beauties galore. From the fashion world, to movies, TV, book covers. It’s a huge stereotype that has
Show More

Related Documents: Sociology: Gender and American Dream Essay

Visual Sociology Essay

Photographs, and films have allowed a new way in which people can study, and analyze the world. As Douglas Harper explains in Visual Sociology, “The visual approach makes it possible to study subjects, themes and areas that can be studied in no other way” (Harper). Visual sociology is important to social science in three ways. It allows data collection using cameras and other recording technology, it allows researchers to uncover the role of visualization communication of societies values, and finally…

Words 1637 - Pages 7

Gender Role and Mass Media Ronda Essay

Courtney D’Agostino Sociology 101 Application Paper Mrs. Bohmer Ronda Rousey and the Fight to Break Gender Inequality Barriers In life everyone is born to do something, for Ronda Rousey that something is fighting. Not only has Ronda fought physically but has also fought to disprove critics of men’s based physical sports, break gender inequality barriers such as traditional gender roles and has overcome sex segregation in the work place. Not only has she had success against her opponents in the…

Words 940 - Pages 4

Essay on Boss: African American and Parks Elementary School

Jeffrey Jackson Sociology 100 For my summary review I will be discussing Bad Boys, written by Ann Arnett Ferguson. The article as a whole shows how schools produce race and social class distinctions here in the United States. This article describes the effects racial stereotyping and gender has on African American school children. In addition, Ferguson question why African American children are more often labeled as ‘trouble makers’ than other ethnic child groups. Ferguson suggests that just as…

Words 619 - Pages 3

Research Paper On Marriage

12/2/2010 Sociology Final Paper Marriage and Family The simplest and most basic foundation of a sociological civilization or group begins at the core center of sociology; which is marriage and the inner-fabric creation of a family. It is said that matches are made in heaven, however finding and defining your “soul mate” differs from one social group to the next. The social institution of marriage changes and adapts consistently through time, religious practice, and national beliefs…

Words 1626 - Pages 7

Techno15 16ANT 1 Essay

Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris [Centre for the Sociology of Innovation [located at the] Paris National Graduate School of Mining] • Michel Callon, Bruno Latour, Madeleine Akrich, John Law, Michael Lynch, Stephen Woolgar, Donna Haraway • Began as model for the dynamics of science, then for: – information systems analysis, medical science, cartography, disability, economics and market studies, organization and work, communication, gender, politics, the Arts, management studies, etc. What is…

Words 621 - Pages 3

Sociology and Social Sciences Essay

Chapter 1: Sociology Part 1 In gaining an understanding about our world, we have developed two sets of sciences. The first one is called the natural sciences-developed to explain and predict the events in our natural environment. The natural sciences are divided in to specialized fields of research- such as biology, geology, biology, chemistry and physics. Each area investigates a particular “slice” of nature. Given that, people have not limited themselves to investigating…

Words 2284 - Pages 10

Crime: Sociology and Upper Class Children Essay

the solution to deviant behavior, its means justify the norms. The American dream is a fantasy by many, but in this society there are people that will go to drastic measures to make sure that it becomes a reality. This is where our economy plays a role in excessive criminal behavior due from what we consider “deviant” behaviors. People tend to want what they don’t have and are on a constant pursuit to achieve the American dream that they have always wanted. There are many different types of crime…

Words 1776 - Pages 8

Essay about AMERICAN DREAM

Inequality of America Instructor: Dr. J. Foster Kendra L. Stokes November 21, 2012 THE AMERICAN DREAM The American Dream was of owning a home, having a child, and of booming business opportunities. Decades of transformation for society were underway, the global impact of these wars resulted in mounting tensions that lasted throughout the Cold War. This is a brief synopsis of a time that has far influenced our generations today. This was the armageddon of social stratification that a morphing…

Words 1385 - Pages 6

American Women Equality Analysis

“Women Demand Equality” and “I’m A Second Class Citizen” were few of many posters seen throughout the American Feminist Movement. The life of an American woman was limited in every aspect, from family life to the workplace. Women were expected to follow a similar life style that included one path; to marry in her early 20s, start a family quickly, and devote her life to home making. As one woman at the time put it, “The female doesn’t really expect a lot from life. She’s here as someone’s keeper…

Words 1183 - Pages 5

What Elements Create A Social Structure

generation to the next • Microsociology deals primarily with the small interactions of daily life THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. By studying workers in the United States and France, Michéle Lamont illustrates that there is a clear link between the smallscale and large-scale components of a society. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Social Structure…

Words 2588 - Pages 11