Extra blog - Technology (2) / posted by So Jeong Yeon (연소정)

Technology and Our lifes



Facebook
Wikimedia Commons

 

You know, we judge roommates by their facebook covers. Before they meet each other, many incoming freshmen can know about their future roommates. They use SNS such as Facebook, Twitter and Kakaotalk and research on their future roommates. In the past, people should approach a live person to get to know an utter stranger. We have to come face to face with and have a talk with him or her.

 

roommate

Wikimedia Commons

 

With Internet technology advances, however, people don't need to meet with stranger personally. We only need to sit in front of our computer and just research on that person by seeing his or her profile that includes photos, quotes, and the newest video link. It takes only a few minutes to do so.

 

Of course, it is helpful to know who that person is in advance. The problem is that we may have unknowingly prejudice by researching on him or her. So we should not depend so much on the SNS and judge roommates by their facebook covers. That's not all.

Extra blog - Technology (1) / posted by So Jeong Yeon (연소정)

The biometric technology

 

Wikimedia Commons

 

   

 

Have you heard about the biometric technology? This technology analyzes the features of the face to establish a person's identity. It records an event where there are many people and identities the person one by one. It can be used to catch dangerous people involved in the event and prevent crimes beforehand.

 

I think using face-recognition technology is a good idea. These days, we can see there is ever-increasing news of hideous crimes. A biometric system is actually so useful to protect the security of society in modern times.

 

However, we also have to consider problems that it can cause. If it analyzes not only facial characteristics but also DNA, many serious problems such as invasion of privacy will arise. Therefore, I think we should use it appropriately. Of course, it is difficult to keep within bounds but we can fix the limit through a law.

Week 15 blog - "Family(2)" / posted by So Jeong Yeon (연소정)

Family and Kinship

 

We learned about family, kinship and relationships through sociological lenses.  
 

Wikimedia Commons

 

First of all, we need to know the difference of family and kinship. A family is a group of people who are related to each other, especially parents and their children. Kinship is the relationship between members of the same family. In other words, kinship is a type of relationship and family is a group of people affiliated by kinship.

 

Families can be created with blood relation, a relation by marriage, and adoption.

Among them, marriage is one of key family-related relations. It is a socially approved mating relationship.

 

 

 

 

 

The family is the nucleus of the community. The number of family members has fallen, and the forms of families have changed. The problem is an increase in the divorce rate. The number of single parent families is increasing with the increasing divorce rate.

    

Wikimedia Commons

 

 

The reason and effect of divorce

 

Then, why people divorce? Why does the divorce rate increase?

 

Wikimedia Commons

First, married couples file for divorce because they are very different in character. Conflict and abuse can be the reason. Marital discord is the fundamental reason why people get divorced. In addition, communication problems are also among the top reasons of divorce for the couples.

 

Divorce has a negative impact on the person directly involved and society. Divorced couple suffer from social isolation, financial hardship. And of course the children in those divorces are affected by that.

 

So we need to think of this phenomenon carefully and have to make an effort to reduce an increase in the divorce rate.

Week 14 blog - "Family" / posted by So Jeong Yeon (연소정)

 

Family

 

 

My answer of the question

 

 

Q. What are the marriage rule in Korea? How have they changed?

 

 

Korean_traditional_wedding

Wikimedia Commons

 

In the past, the economic aspects of marriage was highlighted. Agriculture was so important in the past. So work forces was also a major issue for people in the past naturally. In this respect, marriage is one of solutions to its labor shortage. We can say marriage was happened because of basic human rights of reproduction. They get married and have many children. Their children were work forces to help agricultural work on farms.

 

Korea had a strong tradition of preferring sons to daughters in the past. It is because sons are usually stronger than daughters. And each family wanted at least one son to carry on his family line.

 

In addition, marriage was happened between same social classes. Marriage functioned to pass down social class to one's children.

 

 

Marriage
Wikimedia Commons

 

   

But nowadays, the social aspects of marriage are stressed. The marriage rule is to make solidarity and create strong emotional bond between people and to fulfil a person's greatest emotional need. It seems rooted in social behavior, rather than simple economic terms. To get married and to have spouse can give mental and emotional support to people.

 

Also, people marry for love. The act of marriage expresses pure love between a man and a woman. They love and so get married.

Week 13 blog - "Social movements" / posted by So Jeong Yeon (연소정)

 

Social movements

 

 

Q. How to combat modern slavery?

 

 

Modern incidence of slavery
Wikimedia commons

 

 

We watched video for discussion. It was about modern slavery. The speaker said that slavery is practiced in many countries and there are businesses based on human slavery accordingly. It is not about the past. This is what happens at present. He said we have to end all human slavery and told how we free today's slaves. He thinks we can help to end modern slavery by reducing our consumption. For example, one way is to reduce the number of buying coffee or watching the movie at the cinema or going shopping.

    

 

Slaves in Africa
Wikimedia commons

 

According to his opinion, the poor become slaves because they need a job. Poverty is one of the causes of modern slavery. I think another cause is the poor legal system. I agreed with the speaker but I want to add something more. I think we can act if we know. First, we have to become truly aware of its existence of modern slavery.

Before watching the video, I didn't know from nothing that there is modern slavery. I thought slavery has been abolished. Through that video, I got to know that there are many slaves in many countries. And I realized specifically that I can help to end modern slavery by reducing consumption. Like this, first of all, it is important to become truly aware of its existence of modern slavery. So we can act what we have to do.

 

Week 12 blog - "Electricity" / posted by So Jeong Yeon (연소정)

Introduction 

 



Blackout
wikimedia commons
 

 

There was blackout in our class on Monday. We couldn’t use computer and look the slides of the lecture. But we saw the crisis as an opportunity and took advantage of it by discussing about that situation. I think it was a good experience. Then, let’s look into the effects of blackout and the importance of electricity.

    

 
 

 

 

My answer of the question

      

Q. What happens if electricity is gone?

    



Toronto Blackout
 wikimedia commons

Events, great and small, occurred if electricity is gone. Firstly, anything which is run by electricity won’t work very well. For example, all the lights will go out and we’ll be left in the dark. We also can’t use computer, television, refrigerator and so on. The power cuts bring underground and parts of the rail network to a standstill for hours. In severe cases, surgery, X-rays or other treatment vital to a patient's health or life may come to a halt and so the patient could die. (Of course, if there is an Emergency Electric Power Sources, it doesn't matter.) Meanwhile, the blackout can result in any collateral damage such as a fire.

 

 

Q. Why electricity is important?

 

Electricity
wikimedia commons

 

As we can see above, it’s because electricity takes a big part of our lives. It is definitely affecting more and more aspects of our lives. Electricity is something that most of us take for granted. But, without electricity, everything stops – literally.
 

 

Conclusion

 

We sometimes don’t recognize the importance of the simple things in our lives that we take for granted. By discussing some questions in this week, I realized the importance of electricity and value of things around us. We should not have to take it for granted and should feel great. It is possible by assuming that those things do not exist and thinking of how those things affect our lives.

 

 

Week 11 blog - "Conflict" / posted by So Jeong Yeon (연소정)

 

Introduction

 

In this week's class, we studied Conflict. It refers to some form of friction, disagreement, or discord arising within a group when the beliefs or actions of one or more members of the group are either resisted by or unacceptable to one or more members of another group. Groups with differing wishes each believe that the other will act or is acting against them, and engage in behavior seeking to damage the other group. In reality, we can see that conflicts occur on micro scale and macro scale. Nowadays, you know, terrorism which is one of conflicts has become a hot issue in many countries. It is a global issue. In this week, I want to post about this on blog.

 

 

My answer of the question

 

 

Q. Why is terrorism seen as such a danger, if so few people have been affected by it?

 

 

Terrorism is commonly defined as violent acts intended to create fear, perpetrated for an economic, religious, political, or ideological goal, and which deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants such as neutral military personnel or civilians. (You can see more in here)

     

  

Terrorism seems as a danger. I think we actually shake with fear when we heard the news of terrorism. However, Many scholars argue that risks of terrorism and cyberterrorism have been greatly overstated. In fact, Many people are killed in car accidents rather than incidents of terrorism. Then, why is terrorism seen as such a danger? There are some reasons of that.

 

 

The 911 terror

Wikimedia Commons

      

First, the aspect of incident is different. Terrorism is frightening and the results are horrifying. It takes on frightening aspect like a war. The terrorists can shoot a gun and drop a bomb. We think terrorism can grow into a battle between nations. On the other hand, the result of traffic accident is also terrible but it isn't like a war. It is a kind of individual accident.

 

      

Secondly, we don't know exactly the cause of terror. Terror has not happened by accident and can arise from a variety of causes - economic, religious, political, or ideological goal- but when it happens we can't explain simply about that incident because of complexity and shifting sands. Also, anyone is at risk of a potential terror target. In the past, 911 terrorism which had caused total chaos of the whole U.S, resulted in violence that kills innocent civilians. However, when car accident happens we can comprehended the causes of it. The accident can be due to the carelessness of the driver or bad road conditions. So we can reduce the number of car accidents if we are careful. But terrorism seems unpredictable and out of control as indeed it is.

 

 

NYC WTC

Wikimedia Commons

 

Finally, the number of deaths by traffic accidents is high but it don't be released in the media whenever it happens. By contrast, the press reports widely on the terror even if one incident happens. So we can see a special bulletin about terrorism on TV. In result, we perceive that a car accident is an everyday happening but less dangerous and that terrorism is an exceptional accident and so dangerous.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion  

We studied what are the characteristics of terrorism through discussion up to here. Analyzing the causes of terror deeply and looking for ways to prevent terrorist attacks remains an issue on which we need to do more. Because terrorism is a worldwide problem that needs to stop.

 





 

Week 10 blog - "Gender Stratification" / posted by So Jeong Yeon (연소정)

Introduction

 

In this week's class, we studied Gender Stratification. It refers to the situation where members of one gender are advantaged on the basis of their sexual identities. In reality, males receive more power and resources than women in many countries. Males are more advantaged. We need to think carefully of this situation.

 

My answer of the question

 

Q. What other gendered cultural symbols can we think of?
 

First, we can see gendered cultural symbols in religion. We saw that God is usually identified as a male in christianity and the Buddha is also identified as a male in Buddhism. Also, Prophet Mohammed is male in islam. Secondly, Most famous historical characters we learn about are male. Even in biographies, we can learn male dominance.

Police officer
source: Wikimedia Commons

Kindergarten teacher
source: Wikimedia Commons

 


 

In addition to this, some words related to job are gendered cultural symbols. Police officer, Politician and so on are considered as the man's occupation. Actually, in the picture, police officer is usually described as policeman, a strong man in police uniform. On the other hand, Kindergarten teacher, Florist and so on are considered as the woman's occupation. Those words reinforce male dominance. And the thought that men are strong and assertive while women are delicate and passive has become a vital part of our everyday lives.

 

In the past, the person who is a warranted employee of a police force is usually called ‘policeman’ regardless of gender. The word provoked controversy. Surely this is a case of gender discrimination. So nowadays we correctly call the person who works for police a ‘police officer.’ The same is true of ‘fireman.’ Nowadays, we use clarify word, ‘firefighter.’

    
 

conclusion 

 

Many societies including South Korean are slowly moving towards gender equality. But I think we have to make a greater effort. We should examine carefully these many gendered cultural symbols including gender discriminative vocabulary,  correct an error and come up with the way to lessen gender discrimination.

 

 



 

Week 9 blog - "Stratification" / posted by So Jeong Yeon (연소정)

1. Introduction

 

 

In this week’s lecture, we learned "Stratification." About it, we studied gini coefficient of inequality with which we can measure the degree of income and wealth stratification in society. And then, we compared absolute poverty and relative poverty. In class, we also discussed some questions about inequality phenomenon and the function of stratification.

 

 

2. My answer of the question

 

Q1. Should Korean government do more to reduce poverty and promote equality?

 

    

http://www.shutterstock.com/

I think Korean government tries to reduce poverty and promote equality. For example, Korean government gives a subsidy to low-income workers and a supplementary living allowance to a child head of household. In doing so, Korean officials try to bridge the gap between the rich and poor. Their efforts help to relieve absolute poverty. However, relative inequality is still definitely a problem. So Korean government need to do more to reduce poverty by focusing on classes who live in relative poverty.

 

 

 

 

Q2. (A video for discussion) What is the main idea of the video?

 

     

economic inequality

http://blogforarizona.net/

The video is so interesting. What is refreshing is the argument of speaker.

He said that economic inequality become worse. If we do not solve the problem,

 many middle-class and low-income group may rise in rebellion against the high class. He said about the new kind of system, new capitalism. He argued the solution lies in the hands of a large number of people who are middle class, not a few people who are high class. In general, many people think that high class should solve the economic inequality and lead people. But the speaker said that high class only have to support middle class so that they can flourish. The rich and presidents of big enterprises should pay workers enough money. The prosperity of middle class is the leading force of reducing poverty and solving inequality.

Week 8 (midterm) blog - "Class stratification" / posted by So Jeong Yeon (연소정)

1. Introdution

 

In this week’s class, we learned about class stratification. We already learned social stratification briefly when studying social structure. I think class stratification and social stratification are a little bit different but this week’s topic is basically an extension of last classes.

 

 2. What I learned

 

The definition of stratification is the structuring of society by level of command over resources like wealth, power and prestige.
 

There are two theories related to class stratification. Karl Marx and Max Weber modeled stratification in different ways.

     



Karl Marx
soure:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Karl_Marx

Max Weber
soure:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Max_Weber





















Karl Marx divide all of society into two hierarchical social classes. Marx’s model of social stratification is based on control over the wealth, in particular, MEANS OF PRODUCTION(resources, capital). The BOURGEOISIE who control the means of production have the power. They exploits the PROLETARIAT who are workers and ensure they never get enough power.

 

In this class, I realized false consciousness. The proletariat are not necessarily aware of their status as a disadvantaged group. So Marx argued that if people would realize that a small group is manipulating them, they would rebel, overthrow the system and create a more classless society. I couldn’t think about this respect. Before, I thought simply that proletariat are always aware of their status as disadvantaged.

 

Unlike Karl Marx, Max Weber modeled stratification in three dimensions. CLASSES are economic, IDENTITIES are social, and PARTIES are political.

 

 

3. My opinion of the question

 

Q. In many places, including Korea, there is a strong relationship between education and social class, why?

 



who is an upper class?
soure:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Social_class

I think the more people get education, the higher the chance that people belong in the upper class is. People who receive high quality education and have a good educational background usually may be more likely to hold a white collar job.

 

I think, of course, a higher education does not necessarily prove that the person is competent. A person should be judged by their actions, ability, potential and dedication-not their educational background. However, Sadly, a person's educational background is all-important in many counties including Korea. Therefore, people who get a higher education are considered as capable and have a white collar job. And in general, white-collar jobs bring with it status and a high income than blue-collar jobs do.

 

Like this, education and financial status are related and social class is highly related to one’s income. As we learned in class, social class refers to grouping people into a set of hierarchical social categories, the most common being ‘the wealth’ based division into upper, middle, and lower classes.