Week 2: Socialization
What is socialization? How do we do it? How did it come about? How does affect us? These are all good questions, and they can all be answered if you look at yourself, the people around you and think about the things that you have been taught since you were a baby. First, I would look at myself and list off my physically attributes, economic status, and class status (which is mostly depends on how much money you have, “sometimes”). So, then I would look around the environment that I live in and then I would see the individuals that I choose to communicate and operate within society. Lastly, I would reflect on what have I been taught by my parents, school teacher, pastors, coaches and other influential authoritative figures. However, with socialization comes oppression, it seems that these concepts go hand in hand. For the simple, fact that when we are socialized there are status and groups that we are put based on the different attributes that we posses physical and nonphysical. In the reading Adams explains in depth with, “The Cycle of Socialization”, how the repetitive cycle allows socialization to be continuous. Adams starts by letting us know that we are born into certain situation that we didn't/ Don’t have control over, this is the beginning of both our socialization as well as oppression. Then after birth we are then taught certain things in our immediate environment and family members, which causes an even stronger belief because these are the people that care about us so they will never teach us anything wrong or that isn’t true. However, in some cases we find out that they were wrong, and that can because that’s what they were taught and that’s what has always been taught. Adams, also goes on to speak on how the institutions and other environments outside of the individual’s home usually sends the same socialized messages taught in the immediate environment. Which leads to the results, the individuals then began to believe what it being taught is truth. However, something that is was interesting to me was when Adams expressed, “Something makes us began to think, to challenge, to question the system... We begin to see that something is wrong with this picture.”. Meaning that some people decide to know something different, this begins the start of Liberation from socialization as well oppression. This is also referred to as, “The Cycle of Liberation”, at the first stage of waking up and realizing that something is wrong. This cycle involves empathizing with people, and trying to get to understand their differences. However, the core of The Cycle of Liberation, is self love, joy, hope, and authentic love of others, these are the positive reinforcements that are needed get us out of the repetitive cycle of Socialization, which will ultimately deliver us from oppression. I would like to reference the film, when one of the ladies was describing the conditions of one the neighborhoods in New York, and she stated that “none of the people asked to be born here”. That’s why I believe that it is so important to understand socialization, and just because that’s all one has known and has been taught, is all the world has to offer. That misconception can be dismissed by liberation of the oppression that individual faces.
I also agree about the environment we are born into. We are taught by our parents, and our extending family of certain values which they probably also received when they were children, too. The people in school, church, and work, whether be a co-worker, teacher, coach or pastor, are the ones who shape are minds when growing up. It takes so much more to stand up for your beliefs when it clashes with the people who raised you and considered our role models. It is our respect to them from all the times they looked out for us when we were young and growing up into adulthood. We find it hard to contradict their beliefs because fearing it as disrespect to them. As an adult, it turns out that our family members can respect you for your own beliefs. They can listen to your point of view and why it became important to you. It turns out our socialization from infancy to young adults, and beyond are fluid and ever changing. As we learn and get more information we adjust our own views. Society is not the same a decade ago, nor it the same from that point going another ten years. I can see that if we choose to keep our views from two decades ago and reinforce those views to our children, and our children's children, that we will find ourselves stuck in the cycle of socialization. I know that with the help of others and their understanding that we can break from the cycle and enter into the cycle of liberation, realizing what is wrong and ending oppressive acts.
ReplyDeleteJamarquis,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog post to be very interesting! I particular like how you quoted Adams when he stated, “Something makes us began to think, to challenge, to question the system...We begin to see that something is wrong with this picture.” We cannot control the environment we are born into, but we can control how we think and challenge the system. As we become social workers, our biggest job should be to challenge discrimination and promote social and economic equality for all people. I like how you mentioned in the “Cycle of Liberation” that our job involves empathizing with people and trying to get to understand their differences. It is often hard to empathize with others when you cannot relate to the situation that they are going through. I remember when I did my service learning hours with Harbor Hospice, how it was an extremely emotional experience that I often had trouble dealing with because I could not let my emotions take over my ability to be an effective social worker. It was hard to empathize with people whose loved one’s were in hospice. I have never dealt with a family member or close friend in hospice, but I tried to maintain my professionalism by not letting my emotions interfere. I also demonstrated good listening techniques by engaging with the client and creating listening skills that ensured my client knew I cared about her awful situation. Even though my words could not save her loved one, my client appreciated my kind words, which ties back into your statement that our job involves empathizing with people and trying to understand their differences.
Jamarquis, I thoroughly enjoyed the introspective work you've put into this in linking the Cycle of Socialization to how the reality we perceive is socially constructed and sometimes unjustified. The last statement where you mentioned from the video “none of the people asked to be born here,” was insightful to how marginalized identities are forced to live in environments set in place by the Cycle of Socialization for difficulty in advancement and continued oppression. The invocation of the thought process you quoted reminds me of a personal value that guide us through liberation – knowledge. Sure, self-love, joy, hope, and authentic love for others, but knowledge documents experience that challenges oppression. One could have “authentic love for others,” but stay guided in agency views that oppress a marginalized identity. It’s the very force of motion that gets the liberation ball going – knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed the stream of consciousness at the introduction and outline for steps towards self-assessment of how socialization has influenced your personal worldviews. Influential leaders often project their worldviews upon those who look up to them, and it’s essential to see how socialization has played a role in their position which thus shapes your perspective. When you pointed out how difficult it can be disarming the layers of socialization placed upon oneself from those who love you like your caretaker or guardian, it’s an entirely vulnerable experience that can be scary. Stripping down the constructs and looking at things objectively to promote a society of liberation is fulfilling and justified work to not let our fellow human slip in the cracks.