Social Interactions

This is a sociology assignment. In it I was supposed to answer a list of questions. I chose to do this in essay form.

On a typical Friday I occupy my work space, which is an office setting, and a restaurant with my boyfriend. At work I am professional and focused on the task at hand. In order to have total focus I wear headphones and listen to music. Occasionally I take them off to discuss business matters with my coworkers. Even in times that we are talking about things outside of work there is a level of professionalism that I maintain. In the restaurant I laugh and joke with my boyfriend while having little interaction with anyone else there. But, I am still mindful of the other people in the restaurant and tailor my volume and tone to not disturb anyone.

My backstage areas would be in the car and at home. In the protective bubble of my car I dance and sing like no one is watching. At home I am completely able to be myself. I might take off all my clothes and eat a quart of ice cream while watching a mindless reality show. Or I might sit at my desk and work on my homework in a studious fashion.

All in all I do act differently in my front and back stage areas. When I am in a place where I can absolutely be myself I tend to be loud and vocal. In order to not be that way on the front stage I avoid interacting with other people.

I believe that there are many people who act in socially desirable ways even in their backstage areas. I can think of quite a few instances just off the top of my head. However, I am not one of those people. My brother once told me I have the ability to be anything I need to be in any given situation. (I should have been a spy) But, in my personal areas, with the people I feel completely comfortable with, I don’t have any socially desirable pretenses.

I absolutely believe that we are who we are at the core of our being. I have five biological siblings who were all raised by the same people in the same way. Even though there are six of us, every one of us has our own very distinct personality and our very own special quirks. I think that saying we are all essentially blobs cut from the same mold and are only a product of our circumstances is a total disservice to people and to the human spirit. If that were true then we would not have revolutionaries. We would all be content to just wander through life doing the exact same things, in the exact same ways as all the people around us. Granted, some of our traits are forged through our life circumstances but to say that we are only made through those circumstances would be to say that the unfortunate parents of serial killers raise them up to be that way. To me that sounds like a cop out to place the blame on someone else besides yourself.

Group dynamics

This is my first Sociology assignment.

I am a 33 year old white female, a single mom, a nurse, a student, a sister/aunt/daughter, and a Christian. At 33 years old I am beginning into the portion of my life where my grandparents are dying, my parents are starting to have major health problems, and I have to start facing my own mortality. As a Caucasian in the Midwest I am similar to most of the people around me, without a particular culture or heritage. Being female means living with the stereotypes that people place on women. I am considered to be weak or ignorant by some people. As a single mom I have to play the roles of father and mother. As a nurse I hold the health and lives of people in my hands. As a student I am expected to strive for academic excellence. As a sister/aunt/daughter I am looked to by my family for support and help. As a Christian, society looks at me to be a good role model and to not mess up.

All of these things work together to put a tremendous load of responsibility on my shoulders. At any given moment of any given day someone is looking to me for answers, for a helping hand, for food, or for one of another plethora of things that they need. Instead of making me angry or bitter, this has made me into a stronger person who can, and will, face whatever challenges come my way. This doesn’t always mean that it’s going to be easy or enjoyable. It will however be worth it.

If I imagine I were to be the opposite of who I am I would be a minority, male, married with a wife but no children, a businessman, a teacher, an only child with no parents, and an atheist. Let’s say as a minority I were African American I imagine that I would feel somewhat out of place in the Midwest where seeing someone else that looked like me would be a rare thing. A black face in a sea of white. As a male I would still have to deal with some of the stereotypes but they would tend to be more positive. I would be considered competent and able. I can’t even fathom what it would be like in a world without my son. He is my world, every decision I make is based on his best interests. A wife probably wouldn’t be happy with my already full schedule. As a businessman I wouldn’t necessarily be in the position of helping people like I am now. I have actually thought about going into teaching when I get a master’s degree so teaching is not outside the realm of my imagination. As an only child with no parents who would I go to with my problems and for support? Who would I laugh with? Who would know me best because they had always been with me? As an atheist there wouldn’t be a guiding hand in my life. Something larger than me to be there in good times and bad.

I think I’ll stay me.