Week 7, Chapter 19 #2

Geertz writes about writing ethnographies and ways to research different cultures. I have to say that the cultural approach to research and communication is one of my favorite kinds of approaches. This semester, I am also taking Qualitative Research and I absolutley love it. I love writing thick descriptions and ethnographies and I love studying and exploring different cultures in a qualitative research approach. I like this approach better than quantatative because you get to interview and experience the culture first hand rather than conduct surveys which is mostly good for statistical research. I love the idea of going to a culture and studying them in a way where I can really get something out of it. Plus, it is challenging because there are research ethics you should follow and sometimes you may have a fear of that particular culture. Someone in my class asked why we even did qualitative research, since it is not straight logical and there is not real correct answer. You can find something in your research and sometone else can find something else totally different, yet both findings would be correct because qualitative research is about finding new things and theories about cultures. It is not like math, where there is only one right answer. I think that even if there is not only one answer, it is still imporatant to learn. It is because you personally can take information and experience with you, which is very rewarding. I think that this is what education should be about, the experience and knowledge you take with you, even if it is not the "only" correct answer.

Week 7, Chapter 19

Geertz defines the word culture and what it is in the beginning of Chapter 19. Even though there are so many different definitions that can fit into the term "culture", I agree with Geertz's definition. He defines it as "webs of significance systems of shared meaning." (p. 251) Geertz stated what culture was and was not. He said that "culture is not whole or undivided" (p. 251), which made me agree with his definition of culture the most. I think that culture is not just one thing, it is not whole. It has many aspects and influences to it. I think that it is a certain way of life or doing something. It can't just be one thing or another. Culture is fluid and can't just be black or white, or whole and undivided. It is broken into all of these different parts that can also intertwine with each other. Like a web, it all goes in separate ways or paths but it also connects in some ways.

Week 6, Chapter 18 #2

"Some people make things happen.
Some people watch things happen.
Some people have things happen to them.
Some people don't even know things are happening."
(p. 244)

I read this and my mind started wandering from the book and into that quote. I'm not sure why, but I fell in love with this quote when I first read it. I thought it was so true. People can be all around each other physically but in such different worlds. This is true in groups as well. In my experience with small groups. there has always been individuals who fit this quote. There is always the person who wants to get everything done, the person who watches, the person who gets things put on them and some members of the group don't even know what is happening. In my experience, only one or two members are left to do all the work while everyone else is clueless. I think these types of problems can be solved by communication and having a deadline and outline for everyone in the group so they all do an equal amount of work and no one feels like they are doing everything or like they have done nothing.

Week 6, Chapter 18

In the beginning of chapter 18, British sociologist Anthony Giddens "suggests that people in society are active agents in the sense that they are "able to act otherwise" and have the capacity "to make a difference." (p. 237) I agree with Giddens statement. I think people in society can almost in a way structure what society is. I think if how society used to be and how society is today. People have changed that. They have stood up and fought for their rights and practiced what they believed in. Society used to be more conservative and now it has more liberal and less conservative traits. Today's society is also much more materialistic than it was 20 years ago. I don't know from experience but I know that even when I was a kid, I used to play sports and with beanie babies and creepy crawlers.. that was fun and entertaining for me! But now it seems like my nephew and neices all want video games! I know this has a lot to do with advances in technology, but it also has to do with the people wanting more and more materialistic things. I don't know many people my age who don't have the latest video game console, an ipod, or the latest "hip" phone. I think it kind of sucks that todays society is so materialistic because you have to keep on spending money to feel "status" or satisfied with fitting, but I guess it also depends on how you live your life.

Week 6, Chapter 17

The concept that stood out most to me from this chapter was Hirokawa and Gouran's "Four Functions of Effective Decision Making" (requisite functions). They are problem analysis, goal setting, identification of alternatives and evaluation of positive and negative consequences. I enjoyed reading about their experience of searching for the "perfect candidate". It made me think of my own experiences when it came to decision making.
For me, an important decision had to be made about where I wanted to move and go to school. I had quite a few options of where I could go to school so it was hard for me because I am so indecisive and impulsive. My analysis of the problem was that I could not go to the JC anymore because I graduated and it was time for a change, and to go to a four year institution. I know I wanted to go to a large city and a well respected school. Yet I also wanted a a sense of community feeling at the school because I knew I was going to live on campus.
My goal was to of course, work towards my B.A. But I also wanted to go to a school that had a good Social Sciences department, clubs on campus, and athletics. I had about seven options of where I wanted to go. At first, my heart was set on Mills College, an all women's private school in Oakland. Even though I was totally set on wanting to go there, I identified my alternatives and kept on exploring other CSU's. I made a list of pros and cons about Mills and realized that the cons about Mills stood out a lot. Yet Mills was 40k a year.. and I was not eligible for scholarships or financial aid. Also, it was a private school. If for some reason I did not like it, it would be very had for me to transfer to a CSU. So after evaluating the positive and negative characteristics about school, I realized that a CSU was for me and SJSU was a great school that could give me what I wanted. Even though it didn't seem appealing at first because my attention was focused somewhere else, I realized that it was the best school for me to go to.

Week 5, Chapter 13

Watzlawick labels a family as a system. I think his idea makes a lot of sense. A family works together to bring out the best of each other, to be there for support and stay together. I liked Watzalawick's description of a family being like a "mobile suspended from a ceiling... Tug any string, and the force sends a shock wave throughout the whole network." (p. 170) I relate to this very well. I am the youngest of 6 children. There is a 19 year age difference between my eldest brother and I. When I was born, and when I was a child, my older brothers and sisters were in there teens. My eldest brother died in a motorcycle accident when he was 17, my mom's first husband died in a car accident, my elder sister ran away and my other two brothers and sisters got into drugs. I was born and raised in their time of grieving and pain from the loss of our loved ones. I was young, so I didn't necessarily understand why my older brothers and sisters would act the way they did, I was just told that they were making "bad choices". It seemed like everyone's actions effected all of us. If my brother or sister were in trouble, I would see if effect my parents in a negative way, which would effect me in a negative way. It was exactly like the mobile effect, and almost like a domino reaction.
When I became a teenager, I got into a lot of trouble too. To me, I thought it was normal because I grew up with it. When I was negative and doing bad things, it effected my parents. they were angry and more stressed out. It was like a never ending fuse. Yet when I became happier and stopped getting into as much trouble, I saw my parents become more happier and we could actually have a civil coversation without any arguing. I used to think that I would never be able to talk to my parents again after what we went through when I was a teenager, but now I am really grateful that we can. My father told me last Christmas that "seeing me happy makes the whole household a lot happier".

Week 5, Chapter 12

In this chapter, I could relate to the integration/ separation definition and examples. It made me think of when I was in a secret relationship or a relationship which not many other people knew about. I remember we had to act differently when around other people. Yet when we were alone, things were different. Sometimes acting differently towards each other in public or while around other people was hard. It caused arguments and disagreements, with both of us feeling at different times of the relationship that we were inadequate and did not like the feeling of being a "secret". It definitely messed with our emotions and couldn't handle that pressure at that time. I thought a good example of a relationship like that is the movie called "Lost and Delirious".
Though, in other relationships that I have been in, my partner and I communicated with each other directly and honestly about how our relationship would be and things worked out fine and lasted longer with no arguments. I think it all depends on how both people perceive it, and if they are willing to live a secret life. It is also like the relationship between Joe and Jess (in Bend it Like Beckham). They have a more intimate relationship with each other but no one really knows about it. Joe is Jess' coach and has to act professionally and different while in front of others. Sometimes that is hard for Jess and messes with her emotions, just like it would with anybody else. I think that communicating is the most important thing to do in this kind of relationship.