Society

Society is a collection of individuals and institutions, bounded by space in a coherent territory, subject to the same political authority, and organized through a shared set of cultural expectations and values. This is what I have learned from reading chapter 3 in Sociology Now. Its amazing to me of how we as an American Society can all share in this society and yet be so different. For example groups. We all belong to a group. Be it a primary group in which we share with our loved ones or secondary group in which we share with co-workers, colleagues and perhaps club members. In groups and out groups, well, we all know about those. Who is in the in group and who is in the out group? Well that's for society to decide right? Really, the in group is the one we are suppose to feel comfortable in and of course their is the out group in which, well, not so comfortable. I have certainly experienced both. In my work place, in my church and even at BMCC. I remember growing up and being in a clique with the girls and then in a few weeks being out. I guess that was just the beginning of understanding my place in society.

Today we have facebook and texting. The whole world can know everything about you without even ever catching a glimpse of you. Yet we become part of this global network that people are involved in just to be part of a group. I guess that goes with roles. We play a role in order to belong. I remember when facebook came out I was really against it until my co-worker told me she used it and loved it. I figured what do I have to lose. Let me keep up with the Joneses. Well, what I lost was a lot. My account got hacked into and you can just imagine what I went through to get my privacy back.

Statuses and Bureaucracy are a big part of my daily life. I am not at the status I would like to be and sometimes wonder if I will ever be. I am enjoying this class because it helps me to see life from two different perspectives. The me and the history. The place where I am and how I got to be here. Interesting!

In the end, I am still a part of society and contribute probably in ways I don't even know. My only hope is to help make it better or at least more tolerable for those who are not feeling so comfortable in the group they are in. That is if I can achieve my status and become a Social Worker. Being at BMCC has given me a good start.