Psychology Paper

Numeric Grade:

22 / 30  pts

The following questions should serve as a guide for your entry:

· What is one group (racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, gender, religious, social class, etc.) with which you feel you can identify in terms of belonging to this group?

· Would you consider this group a majority or minority group? Why?

· How important is this group identity to you? If it is very important, what do you think makes it important? If it is not, why do you think it is not important to you?

· In what way or ways might this group identity help to shape your view of the world?

· How is your ability to be objective about minority-majority issues influenced, either positively or negatively by this group identity?

Comments:

Carl, you’ve done a very good job on your first journal entry and your application of the concepts of “machismo” and objectivity. See my comment on the definition of minority. Are Hispanics considered a minority only due to their numbers? Other relevant concepts that might apply to what you’ve written here might be symbolic interaction and cultural differentiation.  

You needed to apply two theories this week. You might have used social identity theory to explain your feeling of comfort around those like you in terms of the ethnicity and social status. You might also have used Interactionist theory to explain the process of cultural transmission of Hispanic norms and values, especially those that apply to Hispanic males as well as to explain why skin color may be significant in the U.S. while it is not as significant in Latin American countries.  Interactionists would also suggest that taking one’s time may be interpreted as being lazy in the US and this might result in conflict. Our culture shapes our perceptions and in turn, this influences how we react to those who are not like us in certain respects. Your APA format is very good overall. If the information cited is quoted material, then you also need to include the page number on which the quoted material is located. 

As noted in the instructions, these journals are “practice” for the paper. They are meant to help you in applying concepts and theory, so be sure to follow my comments and the feedback I give you each week. Review the rubric below to see where you need to concentrate on improving your entries. If you do not understand something, please contact me. Thanks! Instructor C 🙂

The ethnic group with which I feel I can identify in terms of belonging to this group is Hispanic. I would consider this group to be a minority group and so does society. Although Hispanics have grown significantly in numbers throughout the United States their numbers as far as population goes are still low in comparison to others in the United States[k1] . Hispanics have grown to be the largest minority group in the United States (Parrillo, 2011). Being Hispanic to me is very important. It signifies who I am and what I am about. One thing that makes this identity important to me is its male image[k2] . Hispanic males are raised to be good providers for family, be the strength in face of adversity, be reliable, independent, and to protect the families honor at all times (Parrillo, 2011).

            “In most Latin American cultures skin color is less important than social class as an indicator of social status” (Parrillo, 2011, p[k3] . #). This view helps me to identify with society in a viewpoint that the person’s quality is what makes the difference and not where they are from or what color they may or may not be. Another thing that has shaped my view of the world is that I was brought up in the mentality that when you take your time things will get done right. Hispanics have a more casual attitude than others in the United States when it comes to rushing and believe that it robs one of dignity (Parrillo, 2011[k4] ).

            It’s hard to say I can be objective about minority-majority issues given my Hispanic background and upbringing. I try to be as objective as I can but I think this has to do with one’s level of education more than anything. It is my belief that in any given culture or ethnic group that the most there are those with a lesser degree of education who are severely subjective about minority-majority issues due to their lack of education about others.

Reference:

Parrillo, V. N. (2011). Strangers to these shores. (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon

 [k1]However, remember that in the context of minority-majority relations, minority does not refer to numbers but to other characteristics that distinguish a group from the majority.

 [k2]“Machismo”?

 [k3]Include the page number on which this quoted material is found.

 [k4]What theoretical perspective do you think explains the points you’ve written in this paragraph? What do Inteactionists say shapes our view of the world and of other groups?

Numeric Grade:  25 / 30  pts

Letter Grade:

Carl, you’ve done a very good job here of tying the research you used to your example of discrimination. Another major point made by the research that you might consider bringing out in your core assessment is the idea that non-white characteristics are usually defined as “deviant.” Deviance itself is a social construction as explained using interactionist theory and the labeling perspective. This would tie your research to a specific theory. See my note on the prejudice you noted. A specific example would have clarified this. Remember to include the page number in your in-text citation when you are quoting a source. Journal articles also have page numbers, just as your textbook has them. *Submit your entry by the due date to avoid a late penalty. Thanks and keep up the good work! Instructor C 

I feel my group identity has an influence on my day to day interaction with others. I have been raised to respect my elders no matter if they are wrong or right. I treat others with the respect I deserve to be treated with. My experiences helping others each day is a strong influence from my Latino upbringing. I strive to help whoever I can in whichever way possible. The “never let anything stop you” cultural upbringing that I have does not leave room for me to not be able to help with something. If there is desire, there will always be a way to do things. That’s[k1]  the way I see it and the way I was raised. A prejudice I have is towards cultures who allow their children to crash so to say in an “effort” to let them become mature[k2] , and adults on their own. I do act discriminatory at times towards cultures like this because it goes against everything I was raised and brought up on.

            I have been discriminated against for being Hispanic by people saying I can’t do things on my own, and that I would always live in poverty like my ancestors before me. My classmates in school would say derogatory statements about my ethnicity saying I was a dirty field worker and there was no need for me to be in school. I was told I was wasting valuable classroom space and should go cut sugarcane and make them drinks because they where thirsty. “By assigning expectation states to status characteristics, one can observe the differentiation of social relations into positive or negative events” (Aguirre, 2004, p. 932[k3] ). School became increasingly difficult to deal with because the other cultures and ethnicities did not always treat me with the respect I deserved. I kept my head held high as I was raised to do and kept pushing forward.

Reference:

 Aguirre, A. (2004). Profiling Mexican American identity: Issues and concerns. American Behavioral Scientist, 47(7), 928-922. Doi: 10.1177/0002764203261072. Retrieved from
http://abs.sagepub.com.pegleg.park.edu/content/47/7/928.full +html

 [k1]Watch comma splices. You have a tendency to separate two independent clauses with a comma rather than a period.

 [k2]This needs further clarification. What is meant by “crash”? Do you mean that the parents believe it is appropriate to allow their children to make mistakes in order to learn from those mistakes? Are you saying that such parents might be using this as an excuse to shirk their own duties as parents? A specific example would be good here. What culture or cultures practice this?

 [k3]Include the page number where this quoted material is located.

Numeric Grade:  30 / 30  pts

Letter Grade: 

· How did your ancestors (or you) become part of this society? What types of factors may have influenced their or your decisions to come here?

· Did the way in which you or your ancestors became part of this society influence the ability to assimilate? If so, why and how? If not, why not?

· How do you feel the history of your identity group compares to the history of your ancestors and your personal family history? What are the similarities and/or differences?

· What major historical events do you feel have helped to shape the circumstances of your identity group and that of your ancestors/family?

Comments:

Carl, you’ve done  a good job applying theory and concepts this week. Interactionist theory is a good theory to use when you want to discuss how perceptions and socialization to cultural norms and values can affect intergroup relations. Interactionist theory would also be a good theory to explain how different Cuban immigrants were perceived, depending upon the time period and the circumstances of their immigration. Cubans who came during the time Castro took power in Cuba are often viewed much differently than those who came in the 1980s. Good APA format this week as well.  Thanks and keep up the good work! Instructor C 

My grandmother on my mother’s side came to the United States from Cuba in 1967 when my mother was only five months old. Poverty was amongst them, in the town where they lived, and my grandfather who was the breadwinner, passed away.  There were scarce opportunities to make money that would support my family so my grandmother fought hard and alone against all odds to come to the United States. The United States has always been a land of opportunity and endless possibilities. Many Cubans knew this and this part of why my family moved here.

            After the long hard battle was over and my grandmother arrived in the United States, things where difficult for her since she did not know English. Luckily she quickly moved to Hialeah Florida where there was a heavy Latino and minority presence which quickly helped her to get on her feet. [k1] Even though everyone was not Hispanic or even spoke Spanish in that neighborhood everyone blended in and had a sense of understanding, a common purpose and expression. The interactionist theory examines the shared interpretations and interaction patterns of everyday life (Parrillo, 2011 pg. 19). It doesn’t take everyone speaking the same language or even being from the same place to understand each other and interact[k2] .

Other than the language barrier, which made it difficult to get certain things done, my ancestors quickly applied what they were raised on and did not let anything stop them from living the American Dream and providing a safe, stable, healthy environment for themselves[k3] . Avoidance, a minority group response to prejudice and discrimination became common amongst many of my ancestors to those who would make things difficult for them by insulting them and their culture (Parrillo. 2011 pg.71).  My ancestors where often made fun of and where talked down to when they first came to this country. It was a form of self-justification in which people are denigrated in an effort to justify their maltreatment (Parrillo, 2011 pg. 47).

            A major historical event that basically made my family need to move to the United States was Fidel Castro going into power. My grandmother talks about it almost every day. She says once he took over he promised the world and delivered to a very scare percentage and robbed everyone else from the daily necessities they needed to live on a day to day basis. A major historical event which allowed more family to come to the United States from Cuba and help my grandmother as well as save themselves from a falling country and economy was the Mariel boat lift which allowed Cubans to freely leave Cuba in 1980. Even though my ancestors suffered much prejudice in thinking they were less than they were and lower class people before even getting to know them, they lived with their heads held high. This is a tradition I hope to carry on in my family till the end of time.

 
Reference:
 

Parrillo, V. N. (2011). Strangers to these shores. (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

 [k1]This might be an example of “chain migration.”

 [k2]That is true, but your grandmother obviously went where she knew she would be able to speak Spanish and where she felt more comfortable. Interactionists suggest that when a group shares a similar history, they also share similar symbols that allow them to communicate easily. Likewise, if they do not share a similar history, it may be more difficult for them to communicate.

 [k3]Something I’ve noticed in your postings and entries is that you seem to gloss over the challenges faced or the conflicts that could and do occur. Acknowledging these things doesn’t mean that individuals have to give in to them or that they will not achieve their American Dream. When you do not acknowledge these issues as legitimate issues to be confronted, your statements can appear contradictory. For example, you are trying to apply Interactionist theory but instead of pointing out how differences can create conflict, you are trying to say they make no difference and that everyone in your grandmother’s neighborhood got along great, regardless of race/ethnicity or the language they spoke. Then later you point out that language barriers made it difficult to get some things done. This appears contradictory to the reader.

Carl, you’ve done an excellent job in applying the findings of this research to your own experiences. Your entry demonstrates that you have a very good understanding of what the research encompassed as well as how it relates to you personally. *Continue to work on your APA format. See my comments on including the page number in your in-text citation when you are quoting word-for-word from your source. Thanks and keep up the great work! Instructor C 

Religion has played a major role in the life of my ancestors. Most Cubans in Cuba are Hispanic and come to the United States with the mentality of those around them share similar beliefs and religious views. When moving to the United States they had to deal with others of different religions questioning their beliefs. Religion also plays a role in my life. Although while it can be scary to think someone is always watching over you, it often serves to keep you in the right direction when you may be falling off track. Religion has helped me treat others respectfully and has been a foundation of my upbringing and a major reason I am the way I am to this very day.   

            Embracement of religion and acceptance of God or any other higher being in your religion is an essential step in being accepted by others of your ethnic group. Catholics have big parties and celebrations once members of their youth complete their communion. Becoming close to one’s religion is becoming close to their family. Religion brings people together and has brought my ancestors together for years. No matter what may be going on there will always be a common belief in a greater good that brings people together for a common good. Religion is very close to culture and ethnicity. “Sometimes it is very difficult to work out where a religious identity ends and a cultural identity begins” (Michell, 2006, p[k1] . #).

            Over time other ethnic groups have shared and expressed their religious views and ideas in various ways. Over time ones religion tends to shape throughout the decades. New testaments and beliefs are created based on a religion’s experiences and beliefs. Even if with time one tends not to be such engaged in the church and or religion is still forever apart of them and who they are. “Whilst the individual’s relationship with religious beliefs may be ambiguous, beliefs are clearly still a factor in their social relationships” (Michell[k2] , 2006). From the days my ancestors came to the United States till now I believe our religious beliefs as a family have changed quite a bit. Experiences change people.

Mitchell, C. (2006). The religious content of ethnic identities. Sociology, 40(6), 1135-1152. Doi: 10.1177/0038038506069854. Retrieved from
http://soc.sagepub.com.pegleg.park.edu/content/40/6/1135.full +html

 [k1]Include the page number of the journal on which the quoted material can be located.

 [k2]See comment 1.

Numeric Grade:  24 / 30  pts

· What specific strategies were used by your identity group in its attempt to establish itself in American society?

· How would you characterize these according to the response patterns presented in Parrillo (2011) Chapter 4 and to the coping strategies outlined by Michael LeMay (Week 2 Lecture)?

· What course concepts and theories do you feel are most relevant in explaining the experience of your identity group? Why?

· Were the response patterns and strategies used by your ancestors similar or different from those identified by social theorists for your identity group?

· How successful do you believe these response patterns and strategies have been in accomplishing group goals?

Comments:

Carl, you are on the right track here in terms of pointing out behavior that links to the response patterns in your text. I would agree that acceptance is a response pattern practice by Hispanics and has been from the beginning of their immigration. See my comments on other response patterns and on LeMay’s Model and how they might be applied. *You needed to apply LeMay’s Model in this entry, along with an additional theory. Thanks and keep up the good work! Instructor C 

In establishing themselves in the United States, Hispanics have gone through many trials and tribulations. My ancestors got jobs in factories and crop fields where they received low pay. This was not much, but it served enough to put food on the table and take care of their own. Through the years they worked their way up in factories taking on tougher challenges proving that they could do more. Doing so slowly established a positive identity for them in society and they were less looked down upon and more respected. In coping with the typical response patterns presented in Parrillo (2011) acceptance had to be one of the first responses from Hispanics establishing themselves in the United States (Parrillo, 2011). Acceptance of a minority status and being less than an American needed to be the way they took things in order to get ahead in life. They simply could not let being a minority and being put down stop them from their dream of success for them and their family[k1] .

The responses used by ancestors were very similar to those identified by social theorists for my identity group. Prejudice is a concept that is very relevant to the identity of my group. There are those who think of Hispanics as nothing but field and factory workers good for manual labor and not much more. I believe that my ancestors did what they had to do in terms of laying low and not creating a big disturbance at first when they were put down. They knew who they were and what they were about and fought hard to make in somewhere in the work place before coming out more aggressively towards equality. Discrimination has affected my ancestors tremendously and the Hispanic ethnicity. A head held high and a continued show of a positive attitude, continued education, and dedication will provide for the biggest step to overcome discrimination and head towards a more equal form of society[k2] .  

Reference:
Parrillo, V. N. (2011). Strangers to these shores. (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon

 [k1]This is a good application of the minority response pattern of acceptance. Keep in mind that not all members of a group will utilize the same strategies and may try different strategies, depending on the time period and circumstances. One might also apply the response pattern of defiance or deviance as some choose to ignore immigration law to come here illegally and still do today. Deviance can also be seen in gang membership and activity.

What coping strategy identified by LeMay would you say is reflected in the overall Hispanic experience? Economic accommodation is definitely a strategy as Hispanics/Latinos have been recruited for labor in the United States.  The Chicano Movement would be an example of New Style Radicalism. Separatism is also a coping strategy that has been used by Hispanic/Latino Americans.

 [k2]This would represent a functionalist view of Hispanic/Latino assimilation. That is one theory you might have used here in addition to an application of LeMay’s Model.