1. Tribioni 2. Book Lovers Fear Dim Future for Notes in the Margins 3. Dirk Johnson 4. New York Times 5. February 20th, 2011 6. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/books/21margin.html
I describe “marginalia” as a way of using our language system. Every human being uses certain gestures, significant symbols and language because that is how we communicate as part of the human species. This marginalia, which is writing in the margins, is a way for the reader to converse with the author, although the author does not see it. What is written in the margins is an interesting way to see what other people have interpreted the book to mean or perhaps what kind of readers are also interested in the same book you became engrossed with.
Mark Twain used marginalia in “The Pen and the Book” to describe his frustration with the authors thoughts on using advertising to sell books as if they were apples and oranges in a market. Because Mark Twain could not verbalize his opinion on this particular matter to the author, he felt it would suffice to write on the sides of the book. We can look at this as his argument to why the idea was preposterous.
The other ways in which people would marginalize would be to describe what they were doing at the time of reading. An example of this is Billy Collins when he commented on the egg salad stains after daydreaming of the infatuation he had with a girl.
You might describe this action of marginalia as acting out in the fact that there is an impulse, a perception, a manipulation and then a consummation. The impulse is feeling the need to write your thoughts or feelings on the side of the paper. Then the marginalist then figures out what is important to them and decides what is important to divulge either to the author who would never read it or to the reader who would next pick up the book. They then manipulate the idea of marginalizing by thinking how it would be perceived once it is on the paper, rolling it around their minds, and picturing it written down. Lastly, consummation would be committing the action that was originally thought about, jotting the thought in the margin.
Marginalia will be thought of as a valuable way of communicating to other people without actually seeing the next reader or the author. We may not appreciate books once they are written in because it devalues the new smell of the book, however, marginalia should heighten the price as if it is added knowledge to what the author already put down.
1. JJBO 2. Qaddafi’s Son Warns of Civil War as Libyan Protests Widen/ Warplanes and Troops Besiege Protesters in Libyan Capital 3. David D. Kirkpatrick 4. New York Times 5. February 21, 2011 6. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/world/africa/22libya.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
What is taking place in Libya is a clear demonstration of an ongoing rationalization of modern order. The dictators among others in control at the present moment in Libya come from tribes and family lineage, a characteristic of traditional authority. This authority has recently come into question by the people of Libya due to Tunisia and Egypt’s overthrow of their dictatorships. With the social stratification the way it is within countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, it is inevitable that the people of lower class, status, and power will eventually gain social perspective or “verstehen” outlook understanding their ill begotten lower place in society. The conflicts happening in the Middle East seem illogical to us as Westerners because we have had this elaborate bureaucracy, a system these nations are striving for, in place for a long time. This system has made rationality the only feasible option to us and it appears we will never be able to escape its iron cage. The only downside to the revolutionizing action that’s taking place in Libya is that the military leadership is still in power and it appears they are not in an amenable state, bombing their citizens in what some would call genocide. Although some leaders have stepped down to join the protestors it appears the non-rational authority is fighting change in any way they see fit, even causing the economy catalysts to flee the country. Change is inescapable, thus the military dictators should step down and join the formal rationality that is shaping the country from a primitive to a modern society.
1. Niaps 2. Lahore shooting suspect Raymond Davis ‘was CIA’ 3. Ewen MacAskill 4. BBC News 5. 02/21/11 6. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/20/us-raymond-davis-lahore-cia?INTCMP=SRCH
Raymond Davis is being accused of murdering two men in Pakistan, whom he said threatened him and also were being suspected of robbery. Evidence is being confirmed that he was a CIA agent on a case when the shootings occurred, which would essentially protect him from being charged. Based on Cooleys idea of the Looking Glass Self, the first two steps are to imagine your appearance in the eyes of other people and imagine the judgment those people have towards your appearance. Several things could be going through the mind of Raymond Davis. Prior to this incident, Raymond Davis was among very few people who knew he is part of the CIA. However, that all changed over night and now this information is available to the world. He is probably thinking that people believe he is a killer and cannot be trusted. He is the only one that knows the truth to the situation, so he probably thinks people will not believe him regardless of what he says to clarify the situation. As far as judgment goes, Davis is currently in jail and is dealing with the guilt of killing two men, as well as feeling socially rejected because a lot of people think he has done a terrible thing regardless of his position with the government. It states in the article that people are threatening to act similarly to the way protestors did in Egypt if he is let out of jail without punishment. With little information present about the outcome of the situation, regarding the last step of the Looking Glass Self, Davis might be feeling both pride and mortification. If he was assigned to a case by the government that required him to keep an eye on these two men that were killed, then he accomplished his task. However, the disaster this has created between the US and Pakistan governments and organizations is riding on Davis as a CIA agent and might be a little difficult to take in given the circumstances.
1. Cupcake 2. Report Details Sabotage of Birth Control 3. Roni Caryn Rabin 4. New York Times 5. February 15th, 2011 6. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/health/research/15pregnant.html?_r=3
Men do not enter into partnership with women on business matters; he takes comfort from his wife differently as he would a business partner. The ultimate partnership shared by a man and wife is the mutual obligations and common love, duty, and service to their children.
If we entertain, in theory, the consideration that motherhood is a business and form of commercial exchange, we can see potential motivation for these men who sabotage their partner's contraception. By covertly producing a pregnancy the man exerts power over his partner, perhaps in an attempt to force her into dependence on on his support.
In contemporary society women are not as likely to be considered unable to earn her own living as they once were. This does not mean they have not been subjected to long hours of work and a "second shift" of housework and childcare at the end of the work day. The human mother spends countless hours laboring at the expense of male relatives, particularly a husband to whom she is economically tied.
A man who is generally abusive and then tampers with contraceptives would likely not hesitate to deny their female partner independence on the grounds of her motherhood. This of course is unfair, because women work enough extra-marital hours in the home to earn an independent living were they paid for the work. Irrespective of motherhood women are capable of balancing many tasks and working many hours at household tasks; there is no reason they could not spend these hours working at a job that will bring monetary gains.
The partnership between a man and wife need not be so inequitable. A balance of household duties may produce more economic prosperity if it allows the woman the freedom to work outside the home.
1.Blessing 2.Man’s First Best Friend Might Have Been A Fox 3.NPR Staff 4.NPR 5.February 19, 2011 6.http://www.npr.org/2011/02/19/133898499/mans-first-best-friend-might-have-been-a-fox?ft=1&f=1024
As I read over this discovery, a few points come into mind that strengthens this story and makes the research even more so plausible. The tendency of the fox accompanying the human burial as a spiritual ritual tends to work in this context. Just as was shown by the act of burying dogs with their human owner as a cultural ritual 4,000 years later, the fact that the fox is buried in the same manner 4,000 years prior makes it reasonable to conclude that the fox was a sort of pet to the person in the burial site. This is practical to assume that these ancient people domesticated and put significance to having the fox as a pet.
On another note, it would be practical for ancient people to experiment and try to domesticate almost any animal. There is no apparent difference in the communication and abilities of a dog over any other animal excluding humans. Fox just as Dogs make gestures and perceive stimulus that enables them to act in a certain manner that s desired by the human trying to domesticate it. So it is plausible that the fox could have been the domesticated pet at that time 4000 years prior to the findings of dogs alongside human remains.
1. Odnalro 2. The Gender Pay Gap by Industry 3. CATHERINE RAMPELL 4. NY Times 5. Feb 17, 2011 6.http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/the-gender-pay-gap-by-industry/?scp=1&sq=women%20and%20jobs&st=cse
Although the equality between men and women has increased since my time of being a young woman, I can see that a gap still remains. This gap allows men to still hold the power within a family. His wife, who does not earn as much as he does or can, will depend on him for financial support, even if she is working. I am glad that more women are receiving an education and taking more jobs, but I still feel that women are forced to choose jobs that work around the family.
Maybe society is using an income gap to discourage women from taking on occupations that may conflict with family life and duties. For example, construction has little difference in pay between men and women. Most construction occurs in the day due to the necessity of light. Day jobs are ideal for a working mother so that she can tend to her children and husband when she comes home. Manufacturing, however, has a greater pay gap. Maybe manufacturing conflicts with family life leading to no dinner on the table or clean laundry folded nice and neat.
Women are not valued for their work at home. Women are also not valued for their work outside of the home. They receive a lesser pay compared to their male counterparts.
1. Rambogt 2. Don't Ask Don't Tell Law Remains in Effect Months After Passage of Law to End it. 3.John Schwartz 4. New York Times 5. 02/22/11 6.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/us/politics/23repeal.html?_r=1&ref=us
The "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy that persists in the U.S. military creates a sense of double consciousness for those in the military that consider themselves homosexual. It is apparent as history has shown us that the prejudice, even in modern times like these, of people who do not fit the White Protestant heterosexual stereotype, is deeply ingrained in our society and culture. So much so to the point were new policies are being ignored and homosexual military officials are still being relieved of their positions for their sexual orientation.
You see the homosexual in the military, like the negro of the past (and sometimes still present), is forced to conceal his true identity and measure himself based on the perceptions of others, to keep his job, to keep his respect, dignity, family and all other things dear to him. He is an American soldier, a homosexual, and the two are ever so divided.
1. Tebow404 2. It’s Time for a Corporate Women’s Uprising 3. Marcia Reynolds 4. Huffington Post 5. February 22, 2011 6. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcia-reynolds/women-leadership_b_825868.html
Although woman today are not nearly as marginalized as they were in the past, more has to be done if we ever want to achieve gender equality. According to this article there are nearly the same number of men and women in the workforce, yet women continue to do twice the amount of housework than men. With this statistic still in place, who’s to say that we are really on our way to closing the economic gender gap?
With women being held responsible for the majority of household duties and having to support our families financially, it’s more difficult for us to make decisions based purely on workforce equality. In other words, although we want change and equality we can’t just get up and leave our jobs, if that job is providing a stable income for our families. Therefore the solution is simple, a “unified uprising.” Women can’t be expected to fight this individually. They will eventually tire and settle for a lower-paying job simply because there isn’t another option. However, if all women band together and demand equal opportunity, and proper recognition there is a great chance that something will have to change.
This shouldn’t be a fight for higher income for women, but instead it should be about equal rights and opportunities. It should be about sparking ideas of how a world run collectively by men and women would be like. It has been proven that when people from many different perspectives come together, these highly diverse groups produce better outcomes and solutions. Highly male-dominated groups risk “groupthink,” which discourages individual creativity.
Women, stay united and speak up. Only then will you make way for change, transformation, and innovation.
1.Martha 2.The Threatening Scent of Fertile Women 3.John Tierney 4.The New York Times 5.February 21, 2011 6.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/science/22tier.html?_r=1
After pondering away on the study that was done by the Florida State University student on how men relate differently to fertile women based on their current relationship status I can come to a conclusion of how these two different groups of men react based on how society wants them to be perceived, the generalized other. In my theory of development of role taking I speak about the stages which the self develops as an object in interaction. Society wants fidelity and frowns upon infidelity. One begins to think of himself as an object and how the consequences of their actions will be perceived in their lives. If a man in a relationship begins to think about another woman as attractive there is a chance for that man to have his thoughts motivate him to take things to the next level and react to his feelings. That man might have an affair but the consequences are greater.
Since single people are pushed to find a mate, their reactions to an attractive fertile woman is a completely different scenario. This man is “supposed” to be motivated to woo her over. His job as a single male is to pair up. Many internal conversations arise in our minds during this process, whether is be to turn away and not stare or to find the right words to say when approaching the attractive female. The norms of society influence every action we do and when thinking about how we are to react to a situation we alternate our thought to think of ourselves as a subject “I” or an object “me”. During this study the “I” and the “me” are currently being used. When the male in a relationship responds to the female and turns away he is acting towards the object, the “I”. When the same man imagines the situation that just took place and begins to have thoughts flowing through his mind and realizes how others would have thought of him if he was to stare at the attractive lady he perceives himself as an object, the “me”. I believe that “relationship maintenance” is a societal norm where the generalized other poses the development of role taking.
1. Cabrini 2. Bank Branch Closings Tilt Toward Poorer Areas 3.Nelson D. Schwartz 4.NY Times 5.2/22/11 6.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/business/23banks.html?ref=us
Because of the iron cage we have reached the end of modernization. The article brought to the open the issue of banks shutting down in poorer income areas leaving many people without fair banking systems. Actions to close down bank branches in areas of Cleveland, Ohio where quality of life isn't seen as the most positive, were based on calculation and weighing of means and ends. This form of formal rationality, from a business sense works, but perhaps because the individuals that are affected the most by these happenings are affected in a negative way, there could have been more actions based on basic values and emotions of those tied to the banks. By operating with calculability, efficiency, predictability, and making sure to set some control over uncertainties, banks are focusing more on their function and less on their goals. Many people in the poorer neighborhoods are left to invest their money in things like check cashing centers and lenders. These companies charge for their services and are more expensive than it is to bank at a bank.
1. Taboo 2. “For Women in the Workplace, an ‘Upgrade Problem’” 3. Nicola Clark 4. New York Times 5. January 26, 2011 6. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/world/europe/27iht-women27.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=women%20workplace&st=cse Most companies world-wide are male dominated industries. However, in this article, Ms. Bethke who is a 36 year-old mother of 3-year-old twin boys is a manager at Siemens, an engineering firm in Germany. This is especially rare because in Germany only 8.5% of women are managers in high executive board and only 12% in the European Union all together. This article articulates Charlotte Gilman’s Sexuo-Economic Relation because we see that Ms. Bethke could not work for 11 months when she took parental leave thus having to rely on her husband. Her household labor and raising the children lead her husband to be able to work and become wealthier thus perpetuating the cycle. Her domestic industry work was unappreciated and unaccounted for when she was not making nearly as much as she would have if she had been in the office managing others. It is kind of disappointing to see that almost 80 years have gone by since Gilman’s time and such a large part of the world (Europe) is still experiencing this sexist blockade in the offices. It is stated in this article, “Despite efforts to recruit ever more women into management, the number of female leaders dwindles dramatically the closer one gets to the top.” This just goes to show the kind of sexism that takes place Gilman was arguing for and the high stereotype of the nature and place of women that has prevailed for so long in many societies. However, things are looking up. In America, roughly 40% of all private sectors managers are women and places like Norway, France, the Netherlands and Spain are taking action to set laws to have minimum quotas for women at supervisory boards of publicly listed companies. We can still see that the “Second Shift” Gilman spoke about so long ago has not disintegrated with women such as Ms. Bethke who must perform many household labors as well as be in the office just as long as her male counterparts, if not longer. However, we are seeing an awakening in other foreign countries to break the old mold and strive for equality for all.
1. Yosemite 2. Number of US Hate groups on the rise, report says 3.CNN Wire Staff 4.CNN.com 5.2/23/11 6.http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/02/23/splc.hate.groups/index.html?hpt=Sbin
Lately, I've heard that a number of white folks are scared of the increasing minority population. As this study reports, the number of radical hate groups in the US has increased by 7.5% since only last year. As an adult black male, I feel I must always see myself from the perspective of a white male in order to not threaten or scare them and at the same time view myself as who I am. This double consciousness produces a great amount of anxiety and fuels prejudice thoughts in everyone. If this increase in radical hate groups continues, I fear that America will become how it was in my time; a segregated community. This must not happen. -W.E.B.Dubois
1. Quailman 2. Workers Appeal To Apple Over Chemical Poisoning Fears 3. Royston Chan 4. The Huffington Post 5. Feb 22, 2011 6. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/22/apple-workers-appeal-_n_826443.html?ir=Business
The 137 Chinese workers in Apple’s factory were hospitalized because the company failed to account for how much damage their chemicals harm their workers. This is a prime example of being locked into rationality. The most optimal course of action was to make the touchscreens with harmful materials and this is dangerous to the people putting them together. While rational, it is not looking out for the well-being of humans. Apple’s thinking became more automatic and mechanical in order to net them higher profits of 10 million per month. This never should have happened in the first place because the chemical only allows them to make a larger number of products quicker. It fails to benefit the majority and only advantages Apple. In the case of these hospitalized men, working conditions must be remedied in order for us to escape this machinelike efficiency.
The four characteristics of formal rationality are seen in this article as well. Calculability is displayed in the number of I-Pads and I-Phones produced as well as the number of workers that report becoming sick and increased profits for the company. The factory like assembly lines illustrates Predictability. Every product is assembled the same way with no changes. Efficiency is demonstrated in the way they use harmful chemicals like hexyl hydride to produce more touchscreens faster. Control over Uncertainties is reflected in the Apple’s reports stating that the surviving workers are recovering quickly. They want to draw attention away from the deaths and continue to be an efficient company. While Apple is currently working to remedy these problems in their factories, the fact that this chemical was used to accelerate the number of units created is an example of how we become more entwined in this iron cage of rationality.
1) Beachbum 2) On Mondays, Look Forward to Coming in 3) Adam Bryant 4) New York Times 5) February 19, 2011 6) http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/business/20corner.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=business Laura Ching graces us with her account of business management in her interview, relating her experiences to my views of rationality. One of the questions she was asked was about how she wanted her new business to run when she left walmart.com which is a classic question of the bureaucracy involved in capital markets. Even when she answers the question regarding the process they take to hire the right candidates can be attributed to calculability, predictability and control over uncertainties. All in all, in every business there is rationality. Even one that started out as small as did Laura Ching’s company, Tiny Prints, had its fair share of rationality. - Max Weber
1. xkcdqtbh 2. The Threatening Scent of Fertile Women 3. John Tierney 4. The New York Times 5. 2/21/11 6. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/science/22tier.html?_r=1
The article discusses a recently discovered phenomenon that would seem to be a biological extension of the "I" and "me" processes. In the experiment, the men were asked to rate a woman's attractiveness. The "I" would be the impulsive attractiveness of the men to the woman. But, the woman's attractiveness was increased at her peak fertility if the men were uninvolved in a relationship but decreased at her peak fertility if the men were involved in a relationship. Thus, depending on the man's relationship status, his view of a woman's attractiveness varies. After the initial "I", the "me" reshapes the impulse depending on relationship status. If the men are uninvolved in a relationship, the "me" may leave the the initial impulse relatively similar. But, if the men are involved in a relationship, their attractiveness to another female during her peak fertility may represent the greatest threat to their relationship. Thus, the "me" diminishes the attractive impulse. However, since the apparent signals sent are subconscious, the "me" cannot be consciously aware of the attractive impulse created by a subconscious "I". Thus, the "me" must also be able to work subconsciously.
1. Gardenia 2. “Breaking the silence around miscarriage” 3. Jane Watkinson 4. The F Word – Contemporary UK Feminism 5. February 16, 2011 6. http://www.thefword.org.uk/features/2011/02/breaking_the_si
When it comes to feminism and breaking the silence that we females have had to endure, this female has definitely embodied the epitome of repression. As a pregnant female, she has had so many obstacles come her way. From worrying if her unborn child was healthy, to worrying if she was going to lose her job or not, and worrying if she would have to take time off from work due to the pregnancy. This female is a case of women having to stay silent due to oppressive means. She is afraid that if she does speak of her pregnancy that she will be treated differently…differently in the sense that she will be pitied and will not be considered as valuable as a worker as opposed to a male.
In addition to this, this female has the stress upon her about worrying if her unborn child will make it or not. Repressing these feelings can cause more stress on a person and will undoubtedly negatively affect an unborn child. This could cause a higher risk of miscarriage. Also, it is unfair that she has to worry about whether or not she will lose her job. She feels that if she takes off from work that she may not make it in this occupation. Males obviously do not have to face this obstacle. It’s as if females are viewed to have the same health reasons for missing work, which is of course untrue.
As stated in my book, The Yellow Paper, I wrote about altering the mindsets of society about the role of women. The lack of independence is detrimental to emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing. All of this pertains to the female described in this article. In my book, I spoke of a female who received treatment from her doctor although the treatment was not meeting the needs of the female. This seems to be the case of the woman in this article.
All in all, females need to have the weight of mental, emotional, and physical stress off of their shoulders. They should not be looked at as any lesser than males, but it must be understood that females and males have different health needs and there must be different ways to go about dealing with them.
Three fourths of women still believe that the “glass ceiling” still exists. The amount of women in leadership positions in companies is significantly lower than the amount of men in these positions. Women are still finding it hard to have agency and they still believe that their value and worth is lower than men’s. I think that our domestic environment also holds back women from holding these positions. Women are still oppressed by the patriarchal ideas help up within society. Because of this, many women are still lacking confident in their abilities and have lower career expectations.
Many women feel that a way to break down this “glass ceiling” is to use positive action in encouraging women to take leadership roles instead of encouraging them to find their fulfillment in helping others to set and execute projects (be good wives and mothers). Some women even believe that a statuary quota would be beneficial in increasing their probability of being in leadership positions. In our society now, women shouldn’t be forced to rely on men or even be accepting of holding positions below men. Women have agency and they shouldn’t feel like they don’t. I think they need to realize this have more confidence in themselves and higher aspirations for a career. The only way we can break down this glass ceiling is to realize our agency and worth and not let the patriarchal views hold us back. - Gilman
MayBell Article: News to use: High School Juniors should Start Now on College Admissions Process Author: Lee Bierer Source: Detroit Free Press Date of news article: February 19, 2011 http://www.freep.com/article/20110219/FEATURES01/102190303/1026/FEATURES01/News-use-High-school-juniors-should-start-now-college-admissions-process
The fact that is article is telling students they must start preparing for college at a younger age reinforces my Theory of the Development of Role taking. The idea that students must start preparin for college at 15-16 years old is an example of understanding the generalized other stage. Students are expected to graduate and go to straight to college. We understand that there are certain things we have to do within a society because we just know that’s what we are suppose to do- the generalized other tells us to do so and going to college is a prime example of this.
Since there is an unspoken understanding that you are suppose to graduate from high school and go to college, this makes the acceptance process much more competitive. This competition is forcing students to start studying for their SATS, seeking guidance, and searching for schools sooner. Students are not asking as much questions and accepting the fact that they have to do well starting at a younger age in hope to out do competitors and get into a college. College has become the unspoken understanding that in order to become successful you must seek a degree.
At the top of each post you must list the following information: 1. Your Codeword 2. Title of the news article you choose (see suggestions below) 3. Author of the news article 4. Source of the news article 5. Date of the news article 6. Link (url) to the news article
Those six lines should be followed by your reflection from the perspective of the social theorist you choose from the list of options for each due date. A reflection is not a summary. Instead, what you are expected to do is to thoroughly read the news article of your choice and reflect on it from the perspective of one of the assigned Social Theorists. Note that your reflection may include a bit of summary, but it must not consist entirely of summarizing the article. Good reflections will analyze the issue discussed in the article from the perspective of one of the assigned Social Theorists; outstanding posts will even take the voice (write in the tone and style of) the Social Theorist. Reflections should be a minimum of one paragraph. They must be posted no later than 4pm on the due date below and the article you choose must have been published within two weeks of the due date. There are 3 points possible of Extra Credit for each post.
1. Tribioni
ReplyDelete2. Book Lovers Fear Dim Future for Notes in the Margins
3. Dirk Johnson
4. New York Times
5. February 20th, 2011
6. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/books/21margin.html
I describe “marginalia” as a way of using our language system. Every human being uses certain gestures, significant symbols and language because that is how we communicate as part of the human species. This marginalia, which is writing in the margins, is a way for the reader to converse with the author, although the author does not see it. What is written in the margins is an interesting way to see what other people have interpreted the book to mean or perhaps what kind of readers are also interested in the same book you became engrossed with.
Mark Twain used marginalia in “The Pen and the Book” to describe his frustration with the authors thoughts on using advertising to sell books as if they were apples and oranges in a market. Because Mark Twain could not verbalize his opinion on this particular matter to the author, he felt it would suffice to write on the sides of the book. We can look at this as his argument to why the idea was preposterous.
The other ways in which people would marginalize would be to describe what they were doing at the time of reading. An example of this is Billy Collins when he commented on the egg salad stains after daydreaming of the infatuation he had with a girl.
You might describe this action of marginalia as acting out in the fact that there is an impulse, a perception, a manipulation and then a consummation. The impulse is feeling the need to write your thoughts or feelings on the side of the paper. Then the marginalist then figures out what is important to them and decides what is important to divulge either to the author who would never read it or to the reader who would next pick up the book. They then manipulate the idea of marginalizing by thinking how it would be perceived once it is on the paper, rolling it around their minds, and picturing it written down. Lastly, consummation would be committing the action that was originally thought about, jotting the thought in the margin.
Marginalia will be thought of as a valuable way of communicating to other people without actually seeing the next reader or the author. We may not appreciate books once they are written in because it devalues the new smell of the book, however, marginalia should heighten the price as if it is added knowledge to what the author already put down.
-George Herbert Mead
1. JJBO
ReplyDelete2. Qaddafi’s Son Warns of Civil War as Libyan Protests Widen/ Warplanes and Troops Besiege Protesters in Libyan Capital
3. David D. Kirkpatrick
4. New York Times
5. February 21, 2011
6. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/world/africa/22libya.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
What is taking place in Libya is a clear demonstration of an ongoing rationalization of modern order. The dictators among others in control at the present moment in Libya come from tribes and family lineage, a characteristic of traditional authority. This authority has recently come into question by the people of Libya due to Tunisia and Egypt’s overthrow of their dictatorships. With the social stratification the way it is within countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, it is inevitable that the people of lower class, status, and power will eventually gain social perspective or “verstehen” outlook understanding their ill begotten lower place in society. The conflicts happening in the Middle East seem illogical to us as Westerners because we have had this elaborate bureaucracy, a system these nations are striving for, in place for a long time. This system has made rationality the only feasible option to us and it appears we will never be able to escape its iron cage. The only downside to the revolutionizing action that’s taking place in Libya is that the military leadership is still in power and it appears they are not in an amenable state, bombing their citizens in what some would call genocide. Although some leaders have stepped down to join the protestors it appears the non-rational authority is fighting change in any way they see fit, even causing the economy catalysts to flee the country. Change is inescapable, thus the military dictators should step down and join the formal rationality that is shaping the country from a primitive to a modern society.
1. Niaps
ReplyDelete2. Lahore shooting suspect Raymond Davis ‘was CIA’
3. Ewen MacAskill
4. BBC News
5. 02/21/11
6. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/20/us-raymond-davis-lahore-cia?INTCMP=SRCH
Raymond Davis is being accused of murdering two men in Pakistan, whom he said threatened him and also were being suspected of robbery. Evidence is being confirmed that he was a CIA agent on a case when the shootings occurred, which would essentially protect him from being charged.
Based on Cooleys idea of the Looking Glass Self, the first two steps are to imagine your appearance in the eyes of other people and imagine the judgment those people have towards your appearance. Several things could be going through the mind of Raymond Davis. Prior to this incident, Raymond Davis was among very few people who knew he is part of the CIA. However, that all changed over night and now this information is available to the world. He is probably thinking that people believe he is a killer and cannot be trusted. He is the only one that knows the truth to the situation, so he probably thinks people will not believe him regardless of what he says to clarify the situation. As far as judgment goes, Davis is currently in jail and is dealing with the guilt of killing two men, as well as feeling socially rejected because a lot of people think he has done a terrible thing regardless of his position with the government. It states in the article that people are threatening to act similarly to the way protestors did in Egypt if he is let out of jail without punishment.
With little information present about the outcome of the situation, regarding the last step of the Looking Glass Self, Davis might be feeling both pride and mortification. If he was assigned to a case by the government that required him to keep an eye on these two men that were killed, then he accomplished his task. However, the disaster this has created between the US and Pakistan governments and organizations is riding on Davis as a CIA agent and might be a little difficult to take in given the circumstances.
1. Cupcake
ReplyDelete2. Report Details Sabotage of Birth Control
3. Roni Caryn Rabin
4. New York Times
5. February 15th, 2011
6. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/health/research/15pregnant.html?_r=3
Men do not enter into partnership with women on business matters; he takes comfort from his wife differently as he would a business partner. The ultimate partnership shared by a man and wife is the mutual obligations and common love, duty, and service to their children.
If we entertain, in theory, the consideration that motherhood is a business and form of commercial exchange, we can see potential motivation for these men who sabotage their partner's contraception. By covertly producing a pregnancy the man exerts power over his partner, perhaps in an attempt to force her into dependence on on his support.
In contemporary society women are not as likely to be considered unable to earn her own living as they once were. This does not mean they have not been subjected to long hours of work and a "second shift" of housework and childcare at the end of the work day. The human mother spends countless hours laboring at the expense of male relatives, particularly a husband to whom she is economically tied.
A man who is generally abusive and then tampers with contraceptives would likely not hesitate to deny their female partner independence on the grounds of her motherhood. This of course is unfair, because women work enough extra-marital hours in the home to earn an independent living were they paid for the work. Irrespective of motherhood women are capable of balancing many tasks and working many hours at household tasks; there is no reason they could not spend these hours working at a job that will bring monetary gains.
The partnership between a man and wife need not be so inequitable. A balance of household duties may produce more economic prosperity if it allows the woman the freedom to work outside the home.
-- Charlotte Perkins Gilman
1.Blessing
ReplyDelete2.Man’s First Best Friend Might Have Been A Fox
3.NPR Staff
4.NPR
5.February 19, 2011
6.http://www.npr.org/2011/02/19/133898499/mans-first-best-friend-might-have-been-a-fox?ft=1&f=1024
As I read over this discovery, a few points come into mind that strengthens this story and makes the research even more so plausible. The tendency of the fox accompanying the human burial as a spiritual ritual tends to work in this context. Just as was shown by the act of burying dogs with their human owner as a cultural ritual 4,000 years later, the fact that the fox is buried in the same manner 4,000 years prior makes it reasonable to conclude that the fox was a sort of pet to the person in the burial site. This is practical to assume that these ancient people domesticated and put significance to having the fox as a pet.
On another note, it would be practical for ancient people to experiment and try to domesticate almost any animal. There is no apparent difference in the communication and abilities of a dog over any other animal excluding humans. Fox just as Dogs make gestures and perceive stimulus that enables them to act in a certain manner that s desired by the human trying to domesticate it. So it is plausible that the fox could have been the domesticated pet at that time 4000 years prior to the findings of dogs alongside human remains.
~George Herbert Mead
1. Odnalro
ReplyDelete2. The Gender Pay Gap by Industry
3. CATHERINE RAMPELL
4. NY Times
5. Feb 17, 2011
6.http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/the-gender-pay-gap-by-industry/?scp=1&sq=women%20and%20jobs&st=cse
Although the equality between men and women has increased since my time of being a young woman, I can see that a gap still remains. This gap allows men to still hold the power within a family. His wife, who does not earn as much as he does or can, will depend on him for financial support, even if she is working. I am glad that more women are receiving an education and taking more jobs, but I still feel that women are forced to choose jobs that work around the family.
Maybe society is using an income gap to discourage women from taking on occupations that may conflict with family life and duties. For example, construction has little difference in pay between men and women. Most construction occurs in the day due to the necessity of light. Day jobs are ideal for a working mother so that she can tend to her children and husband when she comes home. Manufacturing, however, has a greater pay gap. Maybe manufacturing conflicts with family life leading to no dinner on the table or clean laundry folded nice and neat.
Women are not valued for their work at home. Women are also not valued for their work outside of the home. They receive a lesser pay compared to their male counterparts.
-Charlotte Perkins Gillman
1. Rambogt
ReplyDelete2. Don't Ask Don't Tell Law Remains in Effect Months After Passage of Law to End it.
3.John Schwartz
4. New York Times
5. 02/22/11
6.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/us/politics/23repeal.html?_r=1&ref=us
The "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy that persists in the U.S. military creates a sense of double consciousness for those in the military that consider themselves homosexual. It is apparent as history has shown us that the prejudice, even in modern times like these, of people who do not fit the White Protestant heterosexual stereotype, is deeply ingrained in our society and culture. So much so to the point were new policies are being ignored and homosexual military officials are still being relieved of their positions for their sexual orientation.
You see the homosexual in the military, like the negro of the past (and sometimes still present), is forced to conceal his true identity and measure himself based on the perceptions of others, to keep his job, to keep his respect, dignity, family and all other things dear to him. He is an American soldier, a homosexual, and the two are ever so divided.
-W.E.B Dubois
1. Tebow404
ReplyDelete2. It’s Time for a Corporate Women’s Uprising
3. Marcia Reynolds
4. Huffington Post
5. February 22, 2011
6. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcia-reynolds/women-leadership_b_825868.html
Although woman today are not nearly as marginalized as they were in the past, more has to be done if we ever want to achieve gender equality. According to this article there are nearly the same number of men and women in the workforce, yet women continue to do twice the amount of housework than men. With this statistic still in place, who’s to say that we are really on our way to closing the economic gender gap?
With women being held responsible for the majority of household duties and having to support our families financially, it’s more difficult for us to make decisions based purely on workforce equality. In other words, although we want change and equality we can’t just get up and leave our jobs, if that job is providing a stable income for our families. Therefore the solution is simple, a “unified uprising.” Women can’t be expected to fight this individually. They will eventually tire and settle for a lower-paying job simply because there isn’t another option. However, if all women band together and demand equal opportunity, and proper recognition there is a great chance that something will have to change.
This shouldn’t be a fight for higher income for women, but instead it should be about equal rights and opportunities. It should be about sparking ideas of how a world run collectively by men and women would be like. It has been proven that when people from many different perspectives come together, these highly diverse groups produce better outcomes and solutions. Highly male-dominated groups risk “groupthink,” which discourages individual creativity.
Women, stay united and speak up. Only then will you make way for change, transformation, and innovation.
-Charlotte Perkins Gilman
1.Martha
ReplyDelete2.The Threatening Scent of Fertile Women
3.John Tierney
4.The New York Times
5.February 21, 2011
6.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/science/22tier.html?_r=1
After pondering away on the study that was done by the Florida State University student on how men relate differently to fertile women based on their current relationship status I can come to a conclusion of how these two different groups of men react based on how society wants them to be perceived, the generalized other. In my theory of development of role taking I speak about the stages which the self develops as an object in interaction. Society wants fidelity and frowns upon infidelity. One begins to think of himself as an object and how the consequences of their actions will be perceived in their lives. If a man in a relationship begins to think about another woman as attractive there is a chance for that man to have his thoughts motivate him to take things to the next level and react to his feelings. That man might have an affair but the consequences are greater.
Since single people are pushed to find a mate, their reactions to an attractive fertile woman is a completely different scenario. This man is “supposed” to be motivated to woo her over. His job as a single male is to pair up. Many internal conversations arise in our minds during this process, whether is be to turn away and not stare or to find the right words to say when approaching the attractive female. The norms of society influence every action we do and when thinking about how we are to react to a situation we alternate our thought to think of ourselves as a subject “I” or an object “me”. During this study the “I” and the “me” are currently being used. When the male in a relationship responds to the female and turns away he is acting towards the object, the “I”. When the same man imagines the situation that just took place and begins to have thoughts flowing through his mind and realizes how others would have thought of him if he was to stare at the attractive lady he perceives himself as an object, the “me”. I believe that “relationship maintenance” is a societal norm where the generalized other poses the development of role taking.
-George Mead
1. Cabrini
ReplyDelete2. Bank Branch Closings Tilt Toward Poorer Areas
3.Nelson D. Schwartz
4.NY Times
5.2/22/11
6.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/business/23banks.html?ref=us
Because of the iron cage we have reached the end of modernization. The article brought to the open the issue of banks shutting down in poorer income areas leaving many people without fair banking systems. Actions to close down bank branches in areas of Cleveland, Ohio where quality of life isn't seen as the most positive, were based on calculation and weighing of means and ends. This form of formal rationality, from a business sense works, but perhaps because the individuals that are affected the most by these happenings are affected in a negative way, there could have been more actions based on basic values and emotions of those tied to the banks. By operating with calculability, efficiency, predictability, and making sure to set some control over uncertainties, banks are focusing more on their function and less on their goals. Many people in the poorer neighborhoods are left to invest their money in things like check cashing centers and lenders. These companies charge for their services and are more expensive than it is to bank at a bank.
-Max Weber
1. Taboo
ReplyDelete2. “For Women in the Workplace, an ‘Upgrade Problem’”
3. Nicola Clark
4. New York Times
5. January 26, 2011
6. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/world/europe/27iht-women27.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=women%20workplace&st=cse
Most companies world-wide are male dominated industries. However, in this article, Ms. Bethke who is a 36 year-old mother of 3-year-old twin boys is a manager at Siemens, an engineering firm in Germany. This is especially rare because in Germany only 8.5% of women are managers in high executive board and only 12% in the European Union all together. This article articulates Charlotte Gilman’s Sexuo-Economic Relation because we see that Ms. Bethke could not work for 11 months when she took parental leave thus having to rely on her husband. Her household labor and raising the children lead her husband to be able to work and become wealthier thus perpetuating the cycle. Her domestic industry work was unappreciated and unaccounted for when she was not making nearly as much as she would have if she had been in the office managing others. It is kind of disappointing to see that almost 80 years have gone by since Gilman’s time and such a large part of the world (Europe) is still experiencing this sexist blockade in the offices. It is stated in this article, “Despite efforts to recruit ever more women into management, the number of female leaders dwindles dramatically the closer one gets to the top.” This just goes to show the kind of sexism that takes place Gilman was arguing for and the high stereotype of the nature and place of women that has prevailed for so long in many societies. However, things are looking up. In America, roughly 40% of all private sectors managers are women and places like Norway, France, the Netherlands and Spain are taking action to set laws to have minimum quotas for women at supervisory boards of publicly listed companies. We can still see that the “Second Shift” Gilman spoke about so long ago has not disintegrated with women such as Ms. Bethke who must perform many household labors as well as be in the office just as long as her male counterparts, if not longer. However, we are seeing an awakening in other foreign countries to break the old mold and strive for equality for all.
-Charlotte Perkins Gilman
1. Yosemite
ReplyDelete2. Number of US Hate groups on the rise, report says
3.CNN Wire Staff
4.CNN.com
5.2/23/11
6.http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/02/23/splc.hate.groups/index.html?hpt=Sbin
Lately, I've heard that a number of white folks are scared of the increasing minority population. As this study reports, the number of radical hate groups in the US has increased by 7.5% since only last year. As an adult black male, I feel I must always see myself from the perspective of a white male in order to not threaten or scare them and at the same time view myself as who I am. This double consciousness produces a great amount of anxiety and fuels prejudice thoughts in everyone. If this increase in radical hate groups continues, I fear that America will become how it was in my time; a segregated community. This must not happen. -W.E.B.Dubois
1. Quailman
ReplyDelete2. Workers Appeal To Apple Over Chemical Poisoning Fears
3. Royston Chan
4. The Huffington Post
5. Feb 22, 2011
6. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/22/apple-workers-appeal-_n_826443.html?ir=Business
The 137 Chinese workers in Apple’s factory were hospitalized because the company failed to account for how much damage their chemicals harm their workers. This is a prime example of being locked into rationality. The most optimal course of action was to make the touchscreens with harmful materials and this is dangerous to the people putting them together. While rational, it is not looking out for the well-being of humans. Apple’s thinking became more automatic and mechanical in order to net them higher profits of 10 million per month. This never should have happened in the first place because the chemical only allows them to make a larger number of products quicker. It fails to benefit the majority and only advantages Apple. In the case of these hospitalized men, working conditions must be remedied in order for us to escape this machinelike efficiency.
The four characteristics of formal rationality are seen in this article as well. Calculability is displayed in the number of I-Pads and I-Phones produced as well as the number of workers that report becoming sick and increased profits for the company. The factory like assembly lines illustrates Predictability. Every product is assembled the same way with no changes. Efficiency is demonstrated in the way they use harmful chemicals like hexyl hydride to produce more touchscreens faster. Control over Uncertainties is reflected in the Apple’s reports stating that the surviving workers are recovering quickly. They want to draw attention away from the deaths and continue to be an efficient company. While Apple is currently working to remedy these problems in their factories, the fact that this chemical was used to accelerate the number of units created is an example of how we become more entwined in this iron cage of rationality.
-Max Weber
1) Beachbum
ReplyDelete2) On Mondays, Look Forward to Coming in
3) Adam Bryant
4) New York Times
5) February 19, 2011
6) http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/business/20corner.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=business
Laura Ching graces us with her account of business management in her interview, relating her experiences to my views of rationality. One of the questions she was asked was about how she wanted her new business to run when she left walmart.com which is a classic question of the bureaucracy involved in capital markets. Even when she answers the question regarding the process they take to hire the right candidates can be attributed to calculability, predictability and control over uncertainties. All in all, in every business there is rationality. Even one that started out as small as did Laura Ching’s company, Tiny Prints, had its fair share of rationality.
- Max Weber
1. xkcdqtbh
ReplyDelete2. The Threatening Scent of Fertile Women
3. John Tierney
4. The New York Times
5. 2/21/11
6. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/science/22tier.html?_r=1
The article discusses a recently discovered phenomenon that would seem to be a biological extension of the "I" and "me" processes. In the experiment, the men were asked to rate a woman's attractiveness. The "I" would be the impulsive attractiveness of the men to the woman. But, the woman's attractiveness was increased at her peak fertility if the men were uninvolved in a relationship but decreased at her peak fertility if the men were involved in a relationship. Thus, depending on the man's relationship status, his view of a woman's attractiveness varies. After the initial "I", the "me" reshapes the impulse depending on relationship status. If the men are uninvolved in a relationship, the "me" may leave the the initial impulse relatively similar. But, if the men are involved in a relationship, their attractiveness to another female during her peak fertility may represent the greatest threat to their relationship. Thus, the "me" diminishes the attractive impulse. However, since the apparent signals sent are subconscious, the "me" cannot be consciously aware of the attractive impulse created by a subconscious "I". Thus, the "me" must also be able to work subconsciously.
1. Gardenia
ReplyDelete2. “Breaking the silence around miscarriage”
3. Jane Watkinson
4. The F Word – Contemporary UK Feminism
5. February 16, 2011
6. http://www.thefword.org.uk/features/2011/02/breaking_the_si
When it comes to feminism and breaking the silence that we females have had to endure, this female has definitely embodied the epitome of repression. As a pregnant female, she has had so many obstacles come her way. From worrying if her unborn child was healthy, to worrying if she was going to lose her job or not, and worrying if she would have to take time off from work due to the pregnancy. This female is a case of women having to stay silent due to oppressive means. She is afraid that if she does speak of her pregnancy that she will be treated differently…differently in the sense that she will be pitied and will not be considered as valuable as a worker as opposed to a male.
In addition to this, this female has the stress upon her about worrying if her unborn child will make it or not. Repressing these feelings can cause more stress on a person and will undoubtedly negatively affect an unborn child. This could cause a higher risk of miscarriage. Also, it is unfair that she has to worry about whether or not she will lose her job. She feels that if she takes off from work that she may not make it in this occupation. Males obviously do not have to face this obstacle. It’s as if females are viewed to have the same health reasons for missing work, which is of course untrue.
As stated in my book, The Yellow Paper, I wrote about altering the mindsets of society about the role of women. The lack of independence is detrimental to emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing. All of this pertains to the female described in this article. In my book, I spoke of a female who received treatment from her doctor although the treatment was not meeting the needs of the female. This seems to be the case of the woman in this article.
All in all, females need to have the weight of mental, emotional, and physical stress off of their shoulders. They should not be looked at as any lesser than males, but it must be understood that females and males have different health needs and there must be different ways to go about dealing with them.
--Charlotte Perkins Gilman
1. Bebop
ReplyDelete2. “Glass Ceiling Still Blocking Women”
3. Reuters
4. straitstimes.com
5. 2/21/11
6. http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_637288.html
Three fourths of women still believe that the “glass ceiling” still exists. The amount of women in leadership positions in companies is significantly lower than the amount of men in these positions. Women are still finding it hard to have agency and they still believe that their value and worth is lower than men’s. I think that our domestic environment also holds back women from holding these positions. Women are still oppressed by the patriarchal ideas help up within society. Because of this, many women are still lacking confident in their abilities and have lower career expectations.
Many women feel that a way to break down this “glass ceiling” is to use positive action in encouraging women to take leadership roles instead of encouraging them to find their fulfillment in helping others to set and execute projects (be good wives and mothers). Some women even believe that a statuary quota would be beneficial in increasing their probability of being in leadership positions. In our society now, women shouldn’t be forced to rely on men or even be accepting of holding positions below men. Women have agency and they shouldn’t feel like they don’t. I think they need to realize this have more confidence in themselves and higher aspirations for a career. The only way we can break down this glass ceiling is to realize our agency and worth and not let the patriarchal views hold us back.
- Gilman
MayBell
ReplyDeleteArticle: News to use: High School Juniors should Start Now on College Admissions Process
Author: Lee Bierer
Source: Detroit Free Press
Date of news article: February 19, 2011
http://www.freep.com/article/20110219/FEATURES01/102190303/1026/FEATURES01/News-use-High-school-juniors-should-start-now-college-admissions-process
The fact that is article is telling students they must start preparing for college at a younger age reinforces my Theory of the Development of Role taking. The idea that students must start preparin for college at 15-16 years old is an example of understanding the generalized other stage. Students are expected to graduate and go to straight to college. We understand that there are certain things we have to do within a society because we just know that’s what we are suppose to do- the generalized other tells us to do so and going to college is a prime example of this.
Since there is an unspoken understanding that you are suppose to graduate from high school and go to college, this makes the acceptance process much more competitive. This competition is forcing students to start studying for their SATS, seeking guidance, and searching for schools sooner. Students are not asking as much questions and accepting the fact that they have to do well starting at a younger age in hope to out do competitors and get into a college. College has become the unspoken understanding that in order to become successful you must seek a degree.
Mead
This is a topic that's close to my heart... Many thanks! Where are your contact details though?
ReplyDeleteMy weblog :: Sky deals for new customers ireland