Category: Free Essays Templates on Sociology

The Blind Side movie tells the story of a teenage boy from Africa who is adopted by a family of white parents. Michael Oher, “Big Mike”, the adopted boy, was homeless for a long time and had learning impairments. Big Mike’s coach found out that Oher was not only a skilled football player, but also lacked confidence. Oher had to pass a rigorous academic test to be eligible for the American Football Scholarship. Oher was supported by his Caucasian family who helped him to overcome learning difficulties using alternate learning methods that were recommended by his school teachers. The film’s main focus is on homelessness and illiteracy which are significant problems for many minority communities. The film was intended to teach the public that people who are facing education illiteracy or homelessness can overcome these difficulties and succeed in life. He was homeless because of his economic difficulties, but the Oher family was Caucasian and allowed him to go to school to get the education tools he needed to excel in academics. One of his teachers noticed that the student struggled to read and write and suggested an alternative teaching strategy. It helped him achieve great academic results.

Persons who are homeless or are illiterate in education can also overcome these problems if their efforts and determination are focused. Oher knew that his new family offered him the opportunity to succeed and grow in life. Oher made a greater effort to get the American football scholarship. The main character had one goal: to get one of the highly coveted American football scholarships. Many universities search for footballers to represent their colleges and then offer full scholarships. Different universities saw his talent and offered him multiple deals. Oher was ultimately responsible for choosing from among the many universities that offered him scholarships. The athlete was responsible for making his own decision without the support of his family. Oher had to make a careful decision in selecting the University that was right for him. Oher had to see the proposals from each university representative in order for them to convince him to accept their invitations. Oher considered numerous factors, including the scholarship package, when making his decision. Oher’s GPA was the main obstacle. The final score of Oher’s test would have determined if the athlete would be granted the scholarship. The athlete was required to take decisions on his own to avoid being disqualified.

Oher’s rise from poverty in a family with no stability and facing financial challenges should be a teaching experience for all people who are poor or have limited opportunities. If offered, help should be given to the disadvantaged. People who offer assistance should not expect any return. Instead, the goal of those who provide assistance should be to make their beneficiaries successful in their daily lives. The goal of educators is to learn the needs of students and then use the appropriate teaching techniques to help them succeed. Finally, the film shows that Americans still have a dream. It is possible to achieve it if you work hard and focus on your challenges. You can trust the system.

Cites

Johnson, B., Kosove, A., Netter, G. (Producers), & Hancock, L. J. (2009). Motion picture of The Blind Side United States of America: Alcon Entertainment.

Chaffee, J. (2003). A guide to thinking critically. Boston, MA: Wadsworth.

Are social media great or bad? This is one of the most common questions these days. There are many aspects to the whole. It all depends on your perception of it. Social media is a new invention that many people see as revolutionary. However, some view it negatively. Social networks were created as a way to stay in touch with friends and have a smooth, easy way of doing so.

Many of your school friends may be among them. Social networks have given us the ability to communicate with others and create better relationships with those we cannot satisfy individually. They let us know about our lives, and allow us to give feedback on theirs. Social networks allow us to share our thoughts and opinions with large audiences and let them know. Social networks allow you to share your opinions on any topic matter with a large number of people. There are many options available to us. We can make groups with people we like and share information. Or ask them for their opinions or input. Numerous studies have demonstrated that users who use social media regularly are more likely to become dependent. They feel the need to check out others’ posts and post something at one point in their lives. Social networks have made it easy to interact with other people. Those who are not connected with others online may feel isolated and disconnected from the rest of the world.

Face-to–face communication and conference attendance has decreased. It sits somewhere between. These examples show that social media can be a positive or a terrible issue for society.

My analysis will focus on the cultural background and deviant tendencies that Dwight Schrute, a fictional character from ‘The Office’, reveals. Dwight Schrute from ‘The Office’ is an uptight character. His childhood experiences have shaped his character. This has made him sterner, more hard-working, less docile, and more condescending. The Office’ series is directed at younger generations (born 1990 to 2000) and those who are slightly older but hold office positions so they can relate to what happens.

Dwight’s character is strengthened through the addition of information about his life and past. Dwight was born in Northeastern Pennsylvania to a conservative German family. Dwight, as a result of being raised in a conservative, German family in Northeastern PA, is able to describe his role clearly. Dwight is often seen as immature, even though he knows he can’t be trusted. Dwight is known for his strict rule-abiding nature and his hard work ethic in the office. Dwight grew up on a farm doing the laborious tasks required by a farm. Dwight has always been very proud of his farm work ethic and holds himself to high standards. Dwight has said, “How would my description of myself describe me? Utterance of three words. Hard-working, Alpha male. Jackhammer. Merciless. Insatiable” (“The Return” 2007). Throughout the series, Dwight’s inner beliefs are revealed. Dwight is known for having a misogyny due to his conservative upbringing. Dwight’s response to this is “Aw, man!” Do I look like a woman? Aww! “Boo!” to a question concerning a stereotype that was not related to women (“DiversityDay” 2005). Dwight is also known for believing in science fiction and fantasy products, including androids, vampires, etc. Dwight’s childhood experiences, which included being taught to follow rules, to work hard, and to be a good citizen, are likely what led to his isolation from other children. Dwight found refuge in stories, movies, and videogames, which enabled him to escape the difficulties he was facing. This proves that Dwight was influenced by his upbringing to immerse himself in stories and films that would take him away from the hardships he faced.

Dwight’s situation can be seen from a sociological viewpoint. Travis Hirschi proposes the Control Theory. Dwight’s life is governed by the Control Theory at two levels. His childhood and adulthood. His family was a different society than the rest. Dwight grew up in a conservative German family, which included farmers. What was normal for Dwight, was different for others. Dwight learned early that he must adhere to rules. The American family is more strict than the American one. Children are expected to be good students and keep out of trouble. However, children don’t usually work on farms and are not subject to harsh punishments. Dwight was unable to relate to other people because of the differences in social control between his family and the rest of society. We see Dwight’s adulthood as a result of the isolation he felt in his childhood. Dwight used science fiction and fantasy media to escape the harsh realities of his daily life and his isolation. Dwight has a low level of social skills due to his inability to connect with people who enjoy the same things. Dwight makes frequent references to these films, games, and shows to his fellow workers. They never get it. This leads to an awkward moment between Dwight and Dwight. Dwight believes medias are great. But only he likes them. Because he feels alone in these two ages, Control Theory clearly impacts his life. In the series, we see him use a diary to keep track of personal information and avoid interacting with others. These actions seem normal to him as they are consistent with his childhood, where he didn’t use technology and was always aware of safety procedures. He may think his actions are sound but others might find them strange or even crazy.

Dwight’s deviant and cultural tendencies as well as his social background are the issues that I found. While it is possible to have a child raised with different social norms than normal, there are many other instances. This can cause isolation and social problems. I believe it should be the parental responsibility to acknowledge and use the social control that is in place to raise their child.

Let’s say I take into consideration a couple that was born in 1930. It was not uncommon for Americans to use racial terms when referring to another ethnicity during that period. The 1970’s were a time when using racial terms was more common and more frowned upon. Parents are responsible for socializing their child so they don’t use racial words at home. It is likely that the child would feel rejected and isolated if they were to have used racial slurs as a child, even though this was a clearly deviant act. As time changes, parents must ensure their child’s education is in line with the new norms.

Table of Contents

Here is an introduction

What is Sociological Vision?

Problems with your personal life and social issues

South Africa’s University Students Face Suicide

Suicide as an Societal Problem

Black Students at Universities Suicide is a Social Cause

In conclusion

Sources

An introduction

I will now examine C Wright Mills’ sociological imagination. Then, I will make a distinction between personal problems or social issues. I will then examine suicide as an issue facing South African university students, particularly black South African males. I will explore the causes of the problem and the possible solutions. The sociological imagination will be discussed in this instance. What is Sociological imagination? It was created by C Wright Mills. C Wright Mills (1959.3) says that it is impossible to understand both the individual’s life and the history of the society without looking at both (Stewart-Zaaiman 2018:xxvi). It allows us to examine an individual’s relationship with the society and its impact on them. Objectively assessing personal problems and the impact of social issues on an individual is the goal. It is possible to objectively assess the personal troubles of an individual and the social issues experienced by the community. There’s a distinction between problems that affect one person and those that affect all members of a group. (Stewart und Zaaiman 2018, page xxxvi). These problems affect the person and are called personal problems. A learning disability is a condition that makes it more difficult for an individual to understand certain concepts. The social structure has an impact on all people. These can include water shortages or load-shedding. Imagine a suicide in the community. It would be devastating for the family and their close friends. But if suicides become a common problem, it affects the entire community. It is important to consider the context of an individual’s life, as well as their influences on their thinking and behavior. Because they are also affected by the historical and cultural contexts of their society, it is essential to examine these factors with complete objectivity.

South Africa University Students Suicide: A Problem Yan (2012):14 states that suicides in South African universities are largely due to stressors like lack of support, alcohol abuse, mental illness, and social factors like sexuality and gender. The University population is more likely to die from suicide because of work overload, financial difficulties, or stress (Yan 2012 :14). Mail& Guardian 1999 says that David Malebana, a student of Tompi Seleka Agricultural College Northern Province, took three lectures before committing his suicide. The intense pressure he felt academically was evident in his story.

Suicide as an Societal ProblemAccording South African Depression and Anxiety Group 2016, suicide is second to accidents among university students. “The rising number of suicides among South African university student is a concern. Since 1950, white male suicide rates (15-24 years old) have tripled while white female suicide rates (15-24 years old) have more than doubled. The suicide rate of black males has increased by 2/3 in the past 15 years. ‘(SADAG 2016) Furthermore, Bantjies et al. Bantjies et al. (2016) suggest that up to 20% of university students experience suicidal thoughts. Statistics show that suicide is a problem that is affected by larger societal structures. This isn’t just a matter where there are a few suicides, but a lot of people. This suggests that suicide is an issue that is part of society. Suicide can be attributed to society and its structure.

Black University Students Suicide is a Social Cause Peltzer and colleagues 2000 found that black South Africans have higher expectations of themselves, such as financial hardships, family problems, or high personal goals. They move to university in search of a better life. They are aware that they need academic excellence to succeed in university and be able support their families. Bursaries recipients may sometimes need to borrow money from their families to pay for home repairs. The academic pressure and the responsibility are too much. It becomes overwhelming. Suicide seems an easy option. Black people don’t talk about their feelings, and are considered weak for expressing them. For black men, it is common to be told to suppress emotions and to show strength. Suicide can be seen as an attention-seeking mechanism. Once it succeeds, it’s not recommended to take it lightly. Peltzer, Cluver et al.(2000) investigated how ethnic differences influence suicide rates among students at universities. “Suicide is stigmatized across many South African ethnicities, particularly Black South Africans.” (Young 2009; Cluver and al. 2015) believes that students at black universities are more likely to commit suicide than students of white universities.

Understanding black culture and the ways in which black communities function will help you understand why black men are subject to these pressures. The culture of black men is set from the moment they are born. Young black boys are taught that crying is a sign of weakness and that he should show his strength. As he gets older, his job becomes to look after his family. He carries so much with him to university. He is unwilling to admit that he feels weak and will not seek out help. Anger is the only acceptable expression.

First, we must change our mindset. Suicide does not indicate a need for attention. It is important to talk about the issue and express your feelings. People with mental disorders or racial differences should not be treated differently by therapy.

Conclusion. I believe that the sociological imagination can be very useful when dealing with issues that affect individuals or larger societies. It allows us to examine the causes of suicide in black university students and not place blame on them. It is likely that the social structure in black society has contributed to these suicides. Instead of seeing troubled young black men who cannot control their emotions, we now see young black men who have been subject to social pressures which have caused them to act in certain ways.

Citations

Bantjies J. R. Kagee A. McGowan T. Steel H. 2016. “Symptoms and predictors of suicidal thoughts among university students in South Africa: Depression, posttraumatic stress, and anxiety.” A study published in the Journal of American College Health focused on the frequency of cigarette smoking by college students. The research found that 64% of students reported smoking cigarettes at least once in their lifetime. Results also showed that the prevalence of smoking had decreased from 66% to 64% in the past six years.

Cluver?L?Orkin?M? Boyes??M.E. & Sherr??L. 2015. “Children and adolescents commit suicide by trying to kill themselves, suicidal behaviors, and negative childhood experiences in South Africa: An exploratory study.” A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health looked at the effects of physical activity on adolescents. The results indicated that physical activity was associated with improved physical and mental wellbeing in the study’s participants. Furthermore, the study found that regular physical activity was linked with increased self-esteem and body image satisfaction. The results support the notion that physical activity plays an important role in the health of adolescents.

The Mail & Guardian is a news outlet. 1999. ‘Law Society will transform’. Accessed 2 March 2020, https://mg.co.za/article/1999-01-18-law-society-to-transform/ .

Mills, C, W. 1959. The Sociological Imagination, published by Oxford University Press, was released in London.

Peltzer, K. Cherian,V.I and Cherian,L. 2000. Cross-cultural attitudes towards suicide in secondary school pupils in South Africa. The East African Journal recently published a study that examined the impact of varying educational levels on employment opportunities in East Africa. They discovered that those with higher levels of education had greater chances of obtaining gainful employment than those with lower levels of education. The study concluded that investing in education is essential for improving economic prospects in the region.

South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) 2016.’ Teen Suicide, Accessed 2 March 2020, http://www.sadag.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=744:are-more-suicide-in-universities-to-be-expected-this-year&catid=92&Itemid=154 .

Stewart, P. 2018. Sociological theory’, Sociology: An Introduction to South Africa, edited by Johan Zaaiman & Paul Stewart, Cape Town: Juta.

World Health Organisation, 2014 Preventing Suicide: “A Global Imperative” Accessed 2 March 2020, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide .

Young, C. 2009. “The CORE-OM intake norms for students attending a South African university counseling service: A comparison of UK counselling data” In the British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, a study was conducted that explored the connection between resilience and perceived self-efficacy among adolescents. Results indicated that resilient adolescents tend to possess greater confidence in their own abilities than those who are less resilient. The study concluded that resilience is connected to an individual’s perception of their own competence.

Yan (2013) noted that… “The lived experiences of Black South African University Students who had suicidal thoughts: a descriptive Phenomenological Study

Master’s dissertation. Johannesburg: University of Johannesburg Available from: http:hdl.handle.net/102000/0002 (Accessed: 22 August 2017)

Naguib Mahfouz’s captivating narrative, The Thiefs and the Dogs, tells of Said Mahran, who was just released from prison. He was convicted of thieving and feels betrayed. Ilish Sidra was his ex-colleague and railed against him. Nabawiya became his wife and Sana became his custody. Sidra brainwashes Sana into rejecting Said. Rauf Ilwan, his mentor from the past, also felt betrayed. Said now has a mission: to get revenge. The contrasting influences and texts used by Mahfouz to guide Said create internal conflict, I believe. Said feels trapped by the contrasting influences of religion and media. Through such storytelling, Mahfouz seems to be highlighting the importance of religion and media to the people of post-revolutionary Egypt in 1952.

First, you need to understand Mahfouz’s religion use. It is mentioned throughout the book as The Sacred Law, The Qur’an, and through the words of a sheik. Said’s father was a religious figure who Said trusted and followed as a disciple. After he is released from jail, Said visits the shelter of the sheik. Said talks about his time in the sheikh’s household with his father. He said, “Look and listen, Learn and Open Your Heart” (25). Mahfouz depicts the sheik’s home as a safe, peaceful, inviting, and tranquil place. His father said that the door was always wide open and it was “a joy unlike the joys in paradise”. When he looks back at his time with the sheikh in the father’s house, he views it as a place where he can find wisdom and sanctuary. He gives answers but his answers aren’t clear. They are also not very practical due to his cryptic nature. This character was created by mahfouz to represent the characteristics of religion. Said said that while the Sheik’s words can be difficult to understand, his answers and replies are often in the form a riddle. (28) He is demonstrating that the Sheik wasn’t welcoming.

The sheik’s ideal cryptic nature can be seen in his statement, “Aren’t you ashamed of asking for his good pleasure when you aren’t pleased with him?” (29). Said believed he was doing the right thing (acting in robinhood and supporting militant activities during the revolution struggle). He therefore cannot understand why he is being punished. Said is angry at religion for all of his misfortunes. This idea was ideal, but it wasn’t practical. Even though the idea seemed ideal, it was not practical. Said is given hope through this paradox. But he feels trapped because he doesn’t know where to go or how to solve his problems.

Said gets into an angry rage and recounts his misfortunes. Sheik told him to clean himself and read Qur’an. Next, the Sheik attempts to feed him words with hope. The advice is good, but it’s difficult to follow. Mahfouz, a Mahfouz-speaking Muslim scholar, is making a statement about religion’s ambiguity and confusing nature. He also wants to emphasize the purity and importance of religion.

Next, Mahfouz’s media use is to be considered. Newspapers are used for most of the media information in this book. Said seems more passionate about media than religion. His obsession with newspapers is constant. He will buy them or ask about them at Nur’s home. Said visits his ex-mentor Raufilwan in order to obtain a job at his paper as a journalist. Rauf reacts in an angry and discouraged manner to Said. You are a new writer. This is wasteful of my time. Said is now questioning his future and may return to thievery. Mahfouz already made this clear by saying that “In all my life, I’ve only mastered one trade” (44). Mahfouz might be pointing out Egypt’s negativity in order to shut down the dreamers.

Rauf was once a political activist. He wrote in his papers about Egypt’s struggle for class and corruption (revolutionary 1952), where Said used robinhood to steal from the rich. They shared a common bond, a kind of common ground. Rauf made Said feel guilty for removing this common ground to conform to menial norms. Rauf stopped writing about politics and civil disorder and began writing about gossip, fashion and other topics. That could make it easier to comment on Egypt’s media. Its loss of focus on the important things to make profit through superficial reporting. This news feeds siads negative emotions, but it is still addictive. Said causes two murders inadvertently to his victims after he set out to exact revenge. Said was accused of killing innocent people. The headline that first appears is “Dastardly Murder at the Citadel Quarter!” (80). Rauf also views the news as a media outlet through which he is publicly rejected by the newspapers, and decides to assassinate Rauf. He feels angry at himself because he killed innocent people. While it is obvious that the news drowns the protagonist with negativity, Said’s enthusiasm for the news does not waver.

Mahfouz’s mocking of media and news can be seen in his mentions. The book raises important questions about the characterisation of Said by Mahfouz. Said is an internal conflict-ridden character. He goes to Allah for help and the Sheik for protection, while cursing both of them for their misfortunes. He also expresses his anger towards news throughout the story. But, he continues to love it and reads it no matter what. Said, in certain respects, represents Egypt’s people.

Mahfouz made Said to represent the defining characteristics and values of Egyptians. He uses Said for this purpose, to show how Egypt is related to media and religion. The goal of his use of Said is to inform current Egyptians about the dangers of blindly following the media. Media should focus less on superficial trends and more on the important issues. For the sake of avoiding creating a population that acts and thinks just like Said, younger generations must be more clear about religion.

Are you a polite person? A communication theory called politeness theory is used to communicate between humans. This theory is all about maintaining both the listener and speaker’s faces using specific techniques. The theory will be explained in detail. These examples will demonstrate how to sustain effective communication as well as interpersonal relationships. A polite behavior is one that shows respect and consideration for others.

Politeness theory has two faces: a positive and a negative one. The eastern culture defines “face” as the person’s public self-image. This theory helps to reduce face threatening. Positive face means that a person is willing to share their hopes and desires for society’s appreciation. Providers might need to be respected by the recipients. This could help maintain an unchanging and positive self-image. One example: A boy purchased new clothes and took them to school. His friend was to be impressed by the new clothes. The positive outlook of the boy can be considered positive. You can reduce the negative impact on the receiver’s face by using positive politeness strategies. To fulfill the boy’s wish, you can say, “Bro, your shirt looks cool!” to be a friend. This is called positive politeness. This example shows how to agree with your friend’s interests and identify as a common ingroup model. He should smile, keep it friendly, and have a friend nod his head. You should not say that the boy’s clothes are unattractive or not respond to your questions. This is a sign you don’t care how they feel. This is a threatening and positive act that could damage the friendship. If you use the politeness principle, you can have a stronger friendship because you respect your friend and share the same thought. This will ensure that they don’t feel embarrassed, embarrassed or insulted.

Positive politeness theory can be used to reduce discrimination. Human respect for others can lower the barriers between age, skin colour, and sex. It’s a way to keep communication open and avoid unreasonable disrespect. It may be a way to build a stronger relationship with your friends. A second important aspect of the politeness theory is to have effective communication between friends. It’s about their independence and not being controlled by others. Providers may allow receivers choices in order to let them take control and feel respected. You might ask your colleague to lend you his pen. I was wondering if your pen would be okay to lend me.”

The first sentence used negative politeness strategies, such as apologetic and indirect words, to show respect for the listener. The listener has the option to reject your request at his or her own discretion. The listener will not have to reject the speaker’s request. Listeners and speakers can have more meaningful communication if they respect each other and are more willing to help one another. They will be more likely to become friends because they will respect each other. An order, which are negative acts that threaten the face of the listener, was used in the second sentence. This does not allow the listener any choice. They may not be respected, which could impact the listener’s relationship.

A person should not make jokes when they are in a formal meeting. Jokes should be avoided in formal meetings, as everyone is serious about the topic. They will be treated disrespectfully and face-threatening. Politeness theory could be an effective way to foster interpersonal communication and good relationships.

Communication is vital in society because humans are social animals. Politeness theory can be used to save the face of others, and allow for effective communication that integrates both speaker/listener.

The subconscious calls for attention when you explore emotions and your inner thoughts. If you are a weak or feminine person, it is easy to wander off and be alone. Your vulnerabilities are what create trust. All of humanity seeks companionship, but trust is the only way to have such relationships. It is essential to understand how trust is fundamentally important for society. It is more difficult to have this emotion than it was when we were first trying to create it. We can build trust once we learn how it works.

Understanding what constitutes trust is key to understanding trust. From looking back on history, it is clear that integrity plays a crucial role in building trusting relationships. Integrity can be a questioning tool. Are you trustworthy? Integrity comes with competence and the ability of doing what is necessary. These elements are important in establishing trust. However, it’s difficult to assess whether someone can trust you. Trust has been built over centuries and is still a part of our daily lives. Modern influencers say that our psychological need for companionship as well as loyalty is essential. This is true for all relationships. The foundation of trust within companionship seems to require a combination of physical, social and mental interactions. Trust between individuals is built on mutual dependability and predictability. Sometimes it is necessary to make some sacrifices to support one another in the context of companionship. Some people give up on trusting in companionship and turn to self-reliance. Some individuals choose to cheat rather than work hard to make the relationship last. Scientists state that to build trust in companionship, you must believe in each other and go beyond what is available. This idea is not new in society. However, as time passes, we notice a decline of steady trusting companionships.

A society that lacks trust is a society that lacks unity. Society members must trust one another and the systems of the community. You are putting your trust in the pilot of the plane. More people start to distrust government officials and other members of the society, for both cause and association. This distrust by association is what makes a society broken. A lack of trust within a community can cause a lack in empathy, dishonesty and passive-aggression. These elements may seem innocuous in small quantities but could pose a threat to the entire society if they are not addressed. All of these elements can cause corruption and disloyalty in the nation.

Trust can only be built upon a foundation of honesty, competence, and patience. The importance of trust can be seen in the way it is created and how society would be without it. Although there is a stigma attached to trusting others, it is vital for our world to work. Although trust is often viewed as weak or feminine, it is a common trait that everyone has in their daily lives. Our community members are responsible for building a society that is both complete and successful.

Most people accept that friendships are based on same-sex friendships. These friendships are most common in high school groups of boys or girls who often move with each other. The popular teenage TV series “The Leading B*tch”, which is based on the society’s views about same-sex friendship, is well-known. Making friends with the same sex is a necessary task in early adolescence. There are many reasons to befriend someone, but all will point to the end goal of personality formation.

Teenagers’ independence, self-esteem, communication and friendship skills increase in early adolescence. During this time, anxiety disorders and other mental problems are common. Qing Liu (2013) states that teenagers seek to belong in society. But, since they spend most of their time in school, they are more likely to find belonging in their friends. High school is a new place for many people. They will soon feel isolated and need to identify themselves. It is possible to make friends and share their feelings of loneliness with other students. High school students have less life experience than adults due to their young age. Because they are still developing their personalities, this can lead to dependence on others. Students tend to be more focused on the relationships they have with their closest friends and classmates, so they rely on them. The survey by Mei Zhang (2016), which included 998 students from elementary, high, and middle schools, found that up to 72 per cent of females prefer to share their feelings and express them with friends.

Students need friendship because of differences between their genders. Xueqin & Mei (2016) have distinguished friendship between female and male students. While male students are motivated to make friends based on material activities, female students view friendship in terms of emotional connections and communication. Female students create their personality through communication. They can also learn from others and exchange values. At a young age, male students may meet someone who has a different opinion than they do. The choice is between accepting this value (accept friend) and dislodging it (break friends). This will allow them to form their own total valuation of society. The male students’ personality functions in the same way as the females. Although their same-sex friendships will not last as long, male students’ personalities will influence their friends more than the friends of their female friends. The formation of a male characteristic is completed when friends influence one another. If friendships last, friends are often able to share similar personalities.

There is more to personality development in schools than the gender differences between male and female. Girls are more familiar with females than boys and have a greater understanding of males. Friendships with people of the same gender mean that you will have friends who can understand one another better than yourself. Friends will begin to compare each other and start competing through the same hobbies or activities. But competition can be harmful. If there is conflict between the two of you, then it can cause a breakup and other negative effects on your friendship.

Summary: Same-sex relationships play a major role in personality formation during early adolescence. Different genders have different effects on how teenagers view the world.

Simon Bolivar (Creole) was born to a wealthy family. Bolivar put his effort and time into fighting for Venezuela’s independence. Bolivar was inspired in this endeavor by John Locke’s ideas about the Enlightenment. John Locke explains what state of nature people are currently in. The State of Nature refers to a situation in which people can do what they want without being controlled by a government. His enlightenment ideas stated that while people must follow government rules and regulations to be safe, they also have to meet the needs of the people. John Locke believes that the people can take power back from the government if it fails to deliver on the people’s demands. The Creoles and the rest of society are struggling to get independence from their Spanish governments. But Locke’s enlightenment ideas help them understand what they can and cannot do when ruled over by a government. “We’ve already seen the light, so it’s not necessary to return to the darkness …”. (bolivar) Simon Bolivar discusses how the Creoles and the spaniards are in this situation. He describes how Creoles could see freedom in past times and that they almost got there. The Spaniards are preventing them from achieving the freedom and peace they desire. “… When legislators seek to take away, destroy, or reduce the property of the citizens to slavery under arbitrary control, they enter into a state war with them.” (Locke). John Locke shows us what the citizens can do if the government fails its duties. The government may attempt to take and destroy the property of the people. However, society has the right to overthrow it. Both Bolivar as Locke share the same views on governmental control. They are both aware of the potential consequences if the government doesn’t fulfill citizens’ natural rights. The Creoles were unable to join the Spanish government nor to trade. The Spaniards had blocked any communication the Creoles might have been able to reach. Spain was too greedy to allow them to become merchants or traders. Their only concern was the creoles, not their own desires. Bolivar traders and emerchants became a result of Spain’s greed. They concentrated their attention only on the creoles work method, and not on their needs. Bolivar further expands on this idea and reveals how the Creoles were treated in government areas. Locke states that “… no person can be removed from the estate and subjected at will to the power of another individual” (Locke (6). Locke is saying that people are able to decide whether or not they wish to be under governmental control. The people have the right to decide whether they want protection. The government may try to remove consent from the people, but it is not possible.

Bolivar is a different thinker than Locke when it comes to government issues. Bolivar claimed that the Spanish government was only there to make the creoles miserable, while Locke said that the government should protect and preserve them. Bolivar’s description of the Spanish government’s harsh treatment was clear and concise. Bolivar 3, “We are constantly in fear. It is dishonorable and it is causing us harm. The Spanish government has actually done everything to put the Creoles in danger, instead of protecting them. The Spanish government is the “stepmother” of the creoles because they treat them so harshly. The government becomes more successful and less positive, which causes the creoles to become more upset. It makes them more nervous about the government’s next move. This could possibly lead to their death. Locke said that the government should uphold the rights of all citizens and protect them from any harm. The people have placed their trust in the government and given them freedom and liberty. “… is putting their property under government. There are many things lacking in Nature. The creoles would be giving the government power if they gave up their rights. The government was not able to have total and utter control over the people as they used them for safety and protection from other countries. Locke also stated that “the reason men enter into a society contract is to preserve their property.” (Locke 15). If people signed the social contract, they would give the government their rights. This would allow them to have much control over the laws and who is part of it. Bolivar’s and Locke’s views on government and its contribution to the people are therefore different.

How could Rousseau’s General Will eradicate the tendency of individuals not to be distinguished from one another as he had described in the Discourse On Inequality?

Rousseau, in his Discourse on Inequality, identifies the need for individuals to be different from others by living together. Rousseau claims that a General Will is able to control this tendency in order for a society’s functioning. Rousseau’s General Will, however, does not eliminate individuals’ tendency to differentiate themselves from one another. It only regulates it in certain ways to ensure that society can continue.

Rousseau points out two reasons why individuals are prone to be different from one another. It happens when people come together to accomplish concrete common goals (Keohane 1980: p440). From this, they found enjoyment in the social. This creates a competitive environment that allows people to make their own distinctions. Rousseau, in Discourse on Inequality, identifies agriculture’s invention as the reason for this distinction. It meant that people needed two things: property and workers to do it. Rousseau says that equality disappears as soon as one man requires the assistance of another (Gourevich 1997: P167). This refers more to moral and political equality (Gourevich1997) than to physical or natural equality. As people continue to live together, the wants (people to work for them and property) becomes needs (Gourevich 1998). This means that there is no longer an individual desire to stand out from others. “Amour proper” describes a nonnatural and factious form of self-love. Rousseau warned us about the dangers of toxic inequality. Because they are constantly able to distinguish themselves from the rest of humanity, the “amour appropriate” means that they can only be happy with having things (Gourevich 1998). In order to be able to possess property, one must also deprive other people of it (Gourevich, 1997). This creates inequality in society and forces people to interact with one another. Rousseau also identifies the phenomenon of wants becoming needs in societies (Gourevich 1997). Therefore, the individual’s desire to be happy is based on separating oneself from another by denying them property. Rousseau claims that luxury is the ultimate expression this need and leads to despotism. This has the potential of “completely evil”, as societies have started (Gourevich 1997 p202). This means that it will destroy the naturalness in people and create artificial men (Gourevich 2007 p186). Rousseau states that living within a society creates the potential for it to be destroyed if not managed. Rousseau found a solution: the General Will.

Rousseau believed men always act in the best interests of their interpretations (Keohane 1988), so it would seem strange for them not to give up their individual interests to be part society. Rousseau explains how people should follow the General Will in his Discourse on Political Economy (Cole, 1993). This is how the magistrate can keep control of society and prevent it from becoming despotic. Rousseau’s use of terror and violence alone would lead to society’s downfall (Cole 1993). Keohane says that moral behavior is to conform to the common interests. These common interests don’t represent an agreement to share goals, but a harmony among all personal interest. These common interests are created by the legislator, which is not possible in nature (Keohane 1988). Rousseau’s argument, while Hobbesian in the sense that only one power has the authority for legislating, is actually Hobbesian in the sense that citizens can choose to follow General Will. If they don’t, then the sovereign’s responsibility (Cole 1993).

Rousseau proposes the General Will as a solution to political inequalities caused by humans’ tendency to differentiate themselves from one another, as described in the Discourse On Inequality. The General Will doesn’t eliminate humans’ tendency to differentiate themselves from one another, but it does allow this tendency to be controlled. Rousseau’s ideas regarding property and specific wills will be used to support my argument.

Rousseau doesn’t suggest that property should be banned. This means that humans still have the ability to differentiate themselves from one another. Keohane (1980), says that property is still permissible under the Social Contract (which allows for the General Will being followed), and therefore individuals can still remain individuals. Keohane 1980 states that the sovereign is the owner of all property. This is because slavery is, in Rousseau’s view, a violation of human dignity. This compromise allows for individual liberty while maintaining authoritarian moral equality. Rousseau claims that one of our human qualities is our ability as free agents. The sovereign’s control over all property would violate man’s freedom to act freely. Discourse on Inequality shows that the foundation of society was created by having property, which Rousseau explained (Gourevich, 1997). Rousseau addresses the issue of how the wealthy purchase luxury goods and arts to differentiate themselves from the rest (Cole 1993). Rousseau thinks the General Will can end this. However, Rousseau suggests instead that luxury goods be taxed (Cole 93), to allow people to continue to distinguish their properties from each others.

Rousseau states that political society can be made up of smaller, more specialized societies. Each of these smaller societies has its own set interests, expressed in particular wills. The General Will should always be the first priority. However, people will sometimes choose to follow their own interests and go with the particular (Cole 1993:p133). Rousseau assumes that people will follow what is in their best interests. Rousseau insists that the legislature must set the General Will to ensure citizens will follow it. The legislator must, however, “bring all the specific wills into compliance with it [the general will]” (Cole 1993 p140). This is necessary to make sure the General Will is accomplished. Rousseau does not intend to eliminate the human tendency for individuals to be different, but rather ensure that the wills of the distinguished groups are in line with the General Will.

You could argue that smaller societies with specific wills conforming to the General Will is a way to remove their individuality and allow them to follow the same interests. Rousseau, however, does not require that the General Will govern all areas. Rousseau doesn’t specify what the General will must include, so it is up to each legislator to decide. Rousseau states that the legislator must make the General Will according to the population’s wishes in order to maintain patriotism and popular support. However, it is not true that the General Will will eliminate all human differences in social life. This was also demonstrated by the personal property example.

The Discourse on Inequality, in conclusion, identifies the human need to be different from others, particularly in the area of property. Because agriculture requires men to work to make others successful and for men to own their property, it also reflects the desire to be unique. People eventually feel the need to differentiate themselves in society as these wants and needs become necessities. Rousseau believes this can lead society to dangerous despotism, so he proposes the General Will. A General Will allows members to come together and work towards common goals, as set forth by a legislator. The General Will prohibits wealthy men and women from being so self-deprecating that they are unable to give back to others their humanity. However, the General Will does not stop people from identifying themselves as one another. Individuals still have the right to own their property. This makes them distinct from other human beings. Smaller societies in larger political communities still have their individual political interests. Rousseau believes these interests should be aligned to the General Will. But he doesn’t suggest eliminating smaller societies. It is possible for people to be different from one another under the General Will.