Social change happens because we begin to act in new ways.
What have you learned in this class? What actions and what changes, if any,
are you going to make as a result of taking SOC 101?

I learned a lot in this class. I did not know much about sociology and now seems like sociology is spotting the societal problems and trying to make the society as a whole better. I now can see the societal problems through “sociological eye”, I can relate the problems to the sociological terms now. Mahatma Gandhi said “be the change you want to see in the world.” I think this is the quote that I should live by. The change that I want to do is simply doing the things that are good for the society and the environment. I’d also like to share another quote. “Willing is not enough, we must do. Knowing is not enough, we must apply” by Bruce Lee.

Chapter 15

The United States is commonly referred to as a representative democracy.
Do Congressmen and women genuinely represent the masses or has the government
become a forum for the powerful elites?


I think we vote for the people who we think can help us. But it turns out they are not really helping us; they are not representing us. I think probably the U.S is sharing the same problem with my home country, Taiwan. We vote for people to represent us, but seems like they don’t really listen to us. They are doing the things that are beneficial to them only. Another problem is almost only rich and powerful people would get to participate in election. And I don’t think their intensions are to help and represent the rest of us. I personally think they do it for money. They have a good amount of salary, and they might take money under table. So I think the political system needs to be changed to something other than democracy, or it's just we have to make the system better. 

Chapter 12

Would you ever allow your parents, family and/or close friends to arrange a
marriage for you? What about matchmaking services e.g. match.com or eHarmony.com?
Would you be open to using their services? What are the disadvantages of relying on our
own contacts and judgment when it comes to finding a long term romantic partner?

I’d never let other people to arrange a marriage for me. They might arrange a date for me to know more girls, but I’d not let them to arrange a marriage. I’d be open to matchmaking services, because it is good to know more people. It enhances me to meet the one person that I’d like to spend the rest of my life with. The disadvantage of relying on my own judgment is that there are things that I am not able to see, observers always see well. Arranged marriage seems to work out better, but I think there are more behind it. It might be that they are harder to get divorced because their parents arranged it. I think the problem with high divorce rate might be because that people think that they can do whatever they want: they can marry the person they want and they can divorce whenever they want also.

Chapter 10

To what extent do race and ethnicity influence the opportunities you have
and obstacles you face? How conscious are you of your race and ethnicity and their
possible influence on your life.

I recently read an article about that it is harder for Asian to get into good universities. It’s basically saying that schools have a higher standard for Asian, so Asian must be super good in order to get the chance to get in. Therefore, some applicants would not reveal their race/ethnicity on their applications. That is totally unfair. I know most Asian appear to be smart and good at math. But I am not that kind of Asian. And even though I can choose not to tell my ethnicity, they will still know I am Asian by just knowing my name. I could not find the  original website, but I think they following article is very similar. http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2011-12-03/asian-students-college-applications/51620236/1

Chapter 8

On page 178 of our textbook, the following question is asked: “How much

are you responsible for your success?” On pages 190-191 another question is asked:

“How easy is it to change [your] social class?” What are your answers to these questions?

How do these questions intersect with one another?

I doubt that making tremendous amount of money equals success. However, the article seems to mean that money equals success. I think I am responsible for any kind of success. I have to work hard and at the same time looking for opportunities for me to success, and I better do well once the opportunities come. But I'd not claim that I could succeed by myself, there must be other people helping me somehow or probably the God is helping me too even though I am not a religious person. I think it is hard to change social class, because people are living in the social class their entire life. It is hard and uncomfortable for them to try to move up. Once they feel the discomfort, they'd rather stay in their social class. I think a strong will is required to be success and to change social class, because there will be a lot of problems to face and a lot of struggles.

Chapter 7

Should gambling, prostitution, and recreational drugs be legalized?

What are the consequences, both positive and negative, of doing so?

I think gambling, prostitution and recreational drugs should be legalized. I think they should be legalized even though I do none of those activities. I think by legalizing them the government can have better control over them and probably can have some taxes too. For example, if prostitution is legalized, the government can require them to hospital to make sure the prostitutes are healthy to reduce STD. I don't know if there will be negative consequences since people are doing those activities when they are illegal anyway. Also I am not sure if there are going to be more people participating in those activities when they are legalized. Because I used to be so eager to drink when I was underage, but once I hit 21, I started to feel drinking is not that big of deal and I just don't feel like drinking no more.

Chapter 5

List the social statuses you occupy. Which ones are ascribed, and which

are achieved? What roles are you expected to play as a consequence of the positions

you occupy? How do you resolve possible role conflicts? (see pages 110-115).

The social statuses I occupy are: son, little brother, cousin, boy friend, full-time student, and part-time worker etc. Son, little brother, cousin are my ascribed social statuses. Boy friend, full-time student, and part-time job are my achieved social statuses. There are a lot of roles that I expected to play. Growing up in an Asian family, I have been told to study hard as a student and that is my priority. I have been taught to be nice and polite to my parents and do what they want me to do in order to be a good son. As a boy friend, my girl friend expects me to spend time with her and listen to her all the time and remember everything she has told me. There are a lot of role conflicts; I should spent time with my parents as a son, I should spent time with my girl friend as her boy friend, but at the same time I have to study hard and I have to work hard in order to make money. I think time management is important, that allows me to play all the roles most of the time.

Chapter 3

How have smart phones and websites like Facebook (material culture) changed

the way we interact (nonmaterial culture, norms, and values) and communicate? How does frequent “texting” and less talking affect the nature of our relationships, both positively and negatively?

I think smart phones and Facebook are convenient. Smart phones help you to get internet access almost anywhere you go, you will never get bored with you smart phone because there are so much apps and games to play. Facebook allows you to make more friends and at the same time it allows you to know what your friends are doing. But I've always wonder do this kind of technologies help to bring us closer or farther apart? I used to work in restaurant last year and I noticed most of the customers had a smart phone and they were playing their smart phones in the restaurant. They barely talked to their friends who were sitting next to them. I think they were having fun with their phones not with their friends. I have two cousins, they are sister and brother who live together and their rooms are right next to each other. So one day the sister went out and check-in at a place, then her brother commented something like “wow, I thought you are home! You just got out?” The sister replied “I had been out since the morning.” I think smart phones and Facebook have some positive impacts on us, but they affect us more negatively. That's why I still use my “stupid” phone instead of smart phone.

Initial thought

Initial thought: How much responsibility do individuals have to make things better for society?

Conversely, how much should society (social institutions like colleges, religious organization and the government) do to support individuals--particularly those in need or disadvantaged?

I think individuals have a lot of responsibility to make things better for society. Because a lot of things will be better when everyone is trying their best to take care themselves and to help others when they have the ability. There will be people who are not able to take care themselves well or people who need helps, this is when the society as whole should come in and help. Government can offer welfare for people who need it. Schools can teach students how to take care themselves and how to help others. Religious organizations are also helpful, I remember the church, in “30 Days”, gives out free furniture to the people in need.